<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Forms and Sets > Long Form 3 > Frequently Asked Questions > What is the difference between the web of knowledge and applied, minor, major?

One quick way to think about these two methodologies is that one is older and one is newer (replacing the older method); but both are a form of attack categorization.

 

If one were to go back to the beginning of the formulation of American Kenpo, one would see that the category of attacks was very simple and was only broken down into three types: applied (grabs, holds, hugs, etc...), minor (pushes, attempted chokes, attempted grabs, etc...), and major (punches, kicks, strikes, etc...).

 

But as one moved forward in time, they would see that the categorization of such attacks became more refined, with more distinction made by the nature of the attack (basically a combination of attack type and attack intent). This further classification resulted in what is now known as the Web of Knowledge. The new model of attack classification completely supplanted the original classification by the end of the 1970's. This new model was firmly entrenched after being highlighted in Mr. Parker's the Infinite Insight Series (book 5, chapter 5).

 

And, although the web of knowledge is admittedly a much better tool for graphical visualization and overall, systematic categorization, it is still sometimes easier to refer to the simpler categorization methodology - because it's very simple to describe and even simpler to verbally communicate to another.