<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Forms and Sets > Form 4 > Frequently Asked Questions > Why are some of the attacks for specific self-defense maneuvers left not fully defined?

As mentioned elsewhere in this guide, the self-defense techniques executed within a form, although almost always also executed within the self-defense division (and curriculum) of Kenpo, are being used for a different purpose in the forms (which are contained within the basics division of Kenpo). Because of this fact, not only are the self-defense maneuvers tailored to better meet the required themes and goals of the form in which they are contained; likewise, the potential attacks (and other potential attacker characteristics) may also be altered to the same end.

 

The important fact to understand about this specific question is that there are no "real" attackers in the execution of a form. Therefore, there are no "real" attacks. This leaves the potential attack scenarios open to interpretation by both the developer of the form and the practitioner of the form. Many times, this is the same attack sequence as presented for the self-defense maneuvers, as executed within the self-defense division. But this is not a requirement for forms.

 

Another way to look at this is in the opposite direction. Although the attack sequence may be not fully defined for a form (purposely), that is not true for a similar scenario within the self-defense division. These scenarios must be fully defined, but are not required to replicate the exact maneuvers (both offensive and defensive) contained within the form. Because of this, the practitioner should not expect that all points of view for specific attacks and maneuver sequences, within the form, do not have to directly match those within the self-defense division of Kenpo.