One quick way to begin to think about Long Form One is to compare and contrast it to what is already known. In this case that would be Short Form One. If this comparison is done at a large and general scale, the form can be broken down into three (3) major sections:
1) Short Form One only with Punches and Forward Bows
2) The opposite side of Short Form One only incorporating the back hand block
3) The isolation (i.e. the new material)
Why is this an important way to break down Long Form One? Because it quickly exposes and enunciates some of the fundamental differences and similarities to Short Form One. This break down can then easily be used as a starting point in an analysis of Long Form One. Also, this break down can be used to remember the execution of Long Form One (albeit at a high level) if it is forgotten.
Through this break down it is quickly apparent how Long Form One uses the foundation laid out by Short Form One and then builds upon it. It is also quickly apparent that this extension to the foundation is done primarily through the use of opposites and reverses. For example: punches are the opposite of blocks (offense / defense), the use of the rear hand is the opposite of the use of the front hand (rear / front), and rotation from a neutral bow to a forward bow and back is a reverse (clockwise / counter clockwise).
Also, from the above break down one can quickly see that the major stance of Short Form One has to be the Neutral Bow. And, while Long Form One uses the Neutral Bow, it seems to be more preoccupied with the Forward Bow. This preoccupation with a specific stance is and will be a definite trend that is continued throughout the forms of American Kenpo. This preoccupation with a specific element of a form is referred to as a "theme" within the form. In this case, one can quickly deduce that the theme stance of Short Form One would be the Neutral Bow, while the theme stance of Long Form One would be the Forward Bow. To continue this analysis of themes, one should be able to deduce that another theme of Short Form One would be the major blocks (defense), while the theme of Long Form One would be punches (offense) and the continued expansion into non-major blocks (extending defense).