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The Technical Corner...

By Tommy Burks

Why do we do forms? I find a lot of students view forms as being a set of movements which have to be learned for advancement to the next belt level. Mr. Parker defines Short Form One through Long Form Two as being dictionaries of motion and Short Form Three and higher as being encyclopedia of motion. Then is there meaning to the forms which we should be learning and understanding. Mr. Parker also states for every move, concept, principle, and theory there is an opposite and a reverse. If our techniques have principles and concepts shouldn’t we expect that so would everything in our system including forms and sets also be governed by concepts and principles. We as students should strive to understand why we do anything that we ever learn in Kenpo, and those of us who or given the responsibility of teaching the Art of Kenpo should endeavor to pass this knowledge on to the ones we have an opportunity to instruct. By learning and understanding concepts and principles the learning of the Art of Kenpo is greatly enhanced and made easier.

So again I ask why do we learn forms? Short Form One through Long Form Two teach us concepts and principles of motion. Short Form Three and up teach us additional concepts and principles of motion but also how to further define our motion. If you are interested in understanding Forms, make yourself a list of what you learned in Short Form One, then Long Form One etc. use the following items in each Form that you know and see if you can add to this list:
1. Stances
2. Blocks
3. Maneuvers
4. Strikes
5. Kicks
6. Covers (What type and what degree of angle change)
7. Patterns of Maneuvers
8. Concepts
9. Principles
10. Direction of Rotation (Direct or Counter-Rotation - Hint: We have this in Short One)
11. Stance transitions for the foot maneuver
12. Opposites and Reverses of a strike or block etc. which you learned previously.

What you are taught is up to the instructor, what you learn is up to you. The fastest and easiest way to learn and advance in the Art of Kenpo is to understand why you do everything you do. If you can’t figure it out, put us the instructors on the spot and ask, it helps us stay on our toes and advance in the Art. It is not a shame in not knowing or understanding, it is a shame if we don’t discover and learn.

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