<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Forms and Sets > Long Form 3 > Frequently Asked Questions > Are all the self-defense techniques in Long Form Three done on both sides?

The quick answer to this question is: not really. But there is more to this answer. Where long forms are generally designed to demonstrate both sides to the self-defense techniques used within the form, there are instances where this is not necessary or it is just redundant to do so.

 

In the case of Long Form Three, the technique combination Repeated Devastation / Scraping Hoof are not executed on both sides precisely for this reason. This is because these techniques contain both sides (double) of the incorporated maneuvers in their design. This means that it is not necessary to do both potential sides of the technique. It could be done, but there would be no additional information derived from this action and could be considered redundant and superfluous.

 

One might argue that the same could be said for the technique Blinding Sacrifice, but it is done on both sides. And, this is a fairly good argument. The major difference between these two comparisons is that including the second side of Blinding Sacrifice helps complete a design foot pattern for the form (where Repeated Devastation / Scraping Hoof does not), that it also as a left / right stance change (i.e. major foot forward); where this is also not true for Repeated Devastation / Scraping hoof combination, and Blinding Sacrifice does have one maneuver that is not double (the knee kick). And, this final point is the most important distinction.