Form Timing - Variations

A characteristic question that might pop into one's mind about further analyzing timing variations might be - why? With the implied logic being - timing changes are typically non-destructive and don't effect the information in the form. So what is to be gained by analyzing timing variations?

Some of the primary reasons for analysis of timing variations are:

1) further clarifying the rationale of the standard timing

2) illustrate some legitimate variations to timing

3) explain the logic behind variations in timing

4) validate why practitioners may want execute the form with different timing

5) convey important information about the form in relation to its timing

6) uncover some of the diverse set of thoughts that exist about the form

7) expose some of the nuances that exist within American Kenpo and its forms

The symbol legend used for timing is:

Symbol	Meaning
:	simple rest (i.e. single beat rest)
..	long rest (i.e. more than single beat rest)
...	undetermined rest (i.e. rest is a long as needed)
/	executed together (i.e. two or more moves executed simultaneously)
-	executed within a single beat (i.e. two or more moves executed within the approximate time span of a single move)
+	executed without delay between moves (i.e. executed continuously)
"	literal word (i.e. not a symbol - word contains symbol)

Note: For simplicity of analysis, each base set of maneuvers in this section corresponds numerically with the base set from the section "Execution of Long Form Two - Form Standard Timing".

1) - The standard timing is:

Step-Block : Chop+Shift-Poke .. Shift-Poke-Check

The primary rationale behind this timing is to put emphasis on the major themes of this form - i.e. to

1) draw a link back to the previous forms - by maintaining the same relative timing

2) highlight the physical reverse to Long Form One - via the last maneuver

one common variation is:

Step-Block .. Chop+Shift-Poke : Shift-Poke-Check

The rationale behind this timing change is to:

1) emphasize the link back to previous forms - by the pause after the first maneuver

2) de-emphasize the physical reverse to Long Form One - by not pausing before the last maneuver
3) "hide in plain sight" the reverse information of the last maneuver - by not emphasizing it