Short Form 1 - What does it teach?

[Rob Broad]

OPENING:
1. Attention Stance
2. Bow.
3. Signify.
4. Step your left foot to a meditative horse stance.


1. Start from a meditative horse stance facing 12 o’clock.

2. Drop your left foot back to 6 o’clock, into a right neutral bow while simultaneously delivering a right hammering inward block and a left back elbow strike.

3. Drop your right foot back to 6 o’clock, into a left neutral bow while simultaneously delivering a left thrusting inward block and a right back elbow strike.

4. Turn to face your next imaginary opponent at 9 o’clock. Step with your right foot to 3 o’clock, into a left neutral bow, while simultaneously delivering a left outward block and a right back elbow strike.

5. Drop your left foot back to 3 o’clock into a right neutral bow while simultaneously delivering a right outward block and a left back elbow strike.

6. Turn to face your next imaginary opponent at 3 o’clock, moving your right foot forward to "cover." Settle into a left neutral bow while simultaneously delivering a left upward block and a right back elbow strike.

7. Drop your left foot back to 9 o’clock into a right neutral bow while simultaneously delivering a right upward block and a left back elbow strike.

8. Turn to face your next imaginary opponent at 6 o’clock; step back with your left foot towards 12 o’clock, into a right neutral bow, while simultaneously delivering a right downward block and a left back elbow strike.

9. Drop your right foot back to a 12 o’clock, into a left neutral bow, while simultaneously delivering a left downward block and a right back elbow strike.

10. Step clockwise with your left foot to 12 o’clock, returning to a meditative horse stance, thus returning to point of origin.

Attention Stance.

Bow.


What does this form teach? Why is it so important?

[jdinca]

Question, what belt do you teach this form in? "Kata 1" is the first form we teach to white belts. The pattern is the same but ours only utilizes blocks. Inward, outward, upward and kick blocks (reverse hand and downward block combo).

The purpose is to teach the student how to execute the basic blocks and how to step through the middle as they change their fighting stance to the new direction. The rough equivalent of a child learning how to crawl.

[Miyu]

Ive seen Step #4 have a vertical block as opposed to an outward block. The purpose for this was to demonstrate a possible arm break, which I thought was really neat.

[Blindside]

Question, what belt do you teach this form in? "Kata 1" is the first form we teach to white belts. The pattern is the same but ours only utilizes blocks. Inward, outward, upward and kick blocks (reverse hand and downward block combo).

If everytime you see Rob write "back elbow strike" and think "chamber the rear hand" you will find that what you are doing and what he is doing is remarkably similar.

Lamont

[jdinca]

If everytime you see Rob write "back elbow strike" and think "chamber the rear hand" you will find that what you are doing and what he is doing is remarkably similar.

Lamont

Ah, thank you.

[amylong]

I add covering inward blocks between every transition.

From the inward blocks, as you move towards the outward blocks, do a right inward block, etc.

I tell the students that during a transition, you are most vulnerable, so protect yourself.

From the upward blocks, what goes up must go down, so drop the upward block into an inward block as you step back during the transition.

--Amy

[parkerkarate]

I add covering inward blocks between every transition.

From the inward blocks, as you move towards the outward blocks, do a right inward block, etc.

I tell the students that during a transition, you are most vulnerable, so protect yourself.

From the upward blocks, what goes up must go down, so drop the upward block into an inward block as you step back during the transition.

--Amy

Ok I can understand that. That covering block is in Long Form 1.

[KenpoTess]

As soon as the beginning student has the sequence down, it's important to start 'tweaking' the moves.

When stepping back, hips and shoulders remain toward 12:00.. then rotate the hips, shoulders follow and settle firmly into the stance, pushing out the knees and ankles.

Double Factoring with the open hand check.

The use of Torque.

Never expose your back unnecessarily.

The moves are strictly Defensive.

Always Look at your opponent.. (I've been dealing with a few students who have the form down Pat.. but constantly are looking down... I'll break em yet

Use of the opposite arm as a hidden weapon (Rear Elbow strike)

[parkerkarate]

As soon as the beginning student has the sequence down, it's important to start 'tweaking' the moves.

When stepping back, hips and shoulders remain toward 12:00.. then rotate the hips, shoulders follow and settle firmly into the stance, pushing out the knees and ankles.

Double Factoring with the open hand check.

The use of Torque.

Never expose your back unnecessarily.

The moves are strictly Defensive.

Always Look at your opponent.. (I've been dealing with a few students who have the form down Pat.. but constantly are looking down... I'll break em yet

Use of the opposite arm as a hidden weapon (Rear Elbow strike)

They either look down or up, I always ask if thee are notes on the sieling or ground. LOL. That is the first thing I learned from Mr. Petro always look straigh unless you opponent is supposed to be somewhere else.

[amylong]

I've heard it said (but this could be just a kenpo urban legend) that people have had their black belt tests consist of nothing more than short one.

The thinking is that if you don't have your basics right, then nothing else will look good either, but if your basics are strong and your short one is as correct as it can be, then the rest of your moves will be excellent as well.

--Amy

[parkerkarate]

The thinking is that if you don't have your basics right, then nothing else will look good either, but if your basics are strong and your short one is as correct as it can be, then the rest of your moves will be excellent as well.

--Amy

This is true. Everything starts and ends with your basics.

[KenpoTess]

we had one 11 yo who would of taken first for forms had he only looked straight ahead.. gawd wanted to Knock him out for that heheee

More things that Short Form 1 Teaches-

stay down while in a stance.
Erect Posture.
Increased Peripheral Vision
How to cover into a Neutral Bow
Keeping your head level at a constant when changing stance.
Basic timing of hands and feet
How to retreat from an opponent when turning to face the unknown.
How to Block while retreating.
Angle changes in preperation for a mass attack.
How to move up and down a 'L' shaped pattern.
To have your block make contact at a distance from you so your opponent's punch will be greatly diverted.

[jdinca]

I add covering inward blocks between every transition.

From the inward blocks, as you move towards the outward blocks, do a right inward block, etc.

I tell the students that during a transition, you are most vulnerable, so protect yourself.

From the upward blocks, what goes up must go down, so drop the upward block into an inward block as you step back during the transition.

--Amy

We also combine a back arm inward block with the outward and upward blocks.

[Rob Broad]

This form teaches "Distance is your friend" you are always retreating in this form.

[Seabrook]

Short Form 1 teaches students how to retreat from an oncoming punch attack, while executing a front hand block in a neutral bow stance. The foot pattern involved in this form looks like an addition sign (+). Short Form 1 highlights the torque power principle, both direct and counter-rotation. The second outward block and second downward block is where the counter-rotation is used.


Jamie Seabrook

[amylong]

On a simpler level, it also teaches to move and block.

I went to a school once to visit and the instructor has us doing some moving combinations up and down the mat. I was thinking, "No problem. Easy enough." But these people were having a terrible time.

I was then thinking, "Have they never done a kata?"

To move in different directions in response to various attacks is new for those learning short one, so I think it's a good intro.

--Amy

[Rob Broad]

So what else does this form teach?

[KenpoChanger]

Short form one is your very first kick set... honest!
Sean

[Rob Broad]

Short form one is your very first kick set... honest!
Sean

Please elaborate on that.

[KenpoChanger]

Please elaborate on that.

Kicks are exagerated steps, you step in Short one, ect.
Sean