<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Forms and Sets > Form 4 > Frequently Asked Questions > Why does Form Four have self-defense techniques that are not part of the standard curriculum?

The best way to understand this practice is to understand that the forms highlight specific areas of information. These areas are referred to as a theme. And, each form of the system concentrates on a specific set of themes.

 

Also, the upper forms (Short Form Three and above) are self-defense based, where the lower forms (the Ones and Twos) are basic based. Therefore, all maneuvers that are not within an isolation sequence in the upper forms are considered to be a self-defense technique sequence.

 

But, as stated elsewhere in this guide and other books of this series, the forms fall into the basics division of the art - not the self-defense division. Because of this, although a series of basics may compose a self-defense technique sequence, there is no requirement that this sequence be taught in the self-defense curriculum.

 

This is so, because although the sequence may have a purpose that is pertinent to the forms, it does not mean that it rises to the minimal requirements to be included as part of the self-defense curriculum. Because of this, these sequences are important from the perspective of the forms, but they are not as important from the perspective of the self-defense division of the system. This leaves specific self-defense technique sequences such as Darting Leaves as part of a form, but not part of the formal curriculum of self-defense.