Thursday, January 10, 2008

Twirling Wings question

I rec'd a question through my website asking why the opposite side of Twirling Wings is in Short Form Three. Good question.
Kenpo is often called a "strong-sided" system. I don't necessarily agree with that term but it's commonly used alluding to the fact that most people are right handed. Most of the self-defense techniques finish with the right, "strong", hand.
Some don't, like Circles of Protection (the way most people teach it) and Twirling Wings, for examples. If you are right-handed, and agree with the "strong-side" label, Twirling Wings ends with your weak side.
In Short Three your first rib shot in Twirling Wings is with your weak hand. So, it's really the technique, and not the form, that's taught on the weak side.
Well, Ok, you might say. But the main reason is that the footwork is what's important, and I point that out in Kenpo 301. The footwork to get into Twirling Wings uses the lines of what you did in Crashing Wings, it's "flipped over". The reverse and opposites are in Long Three. If you map out the footwork you'll see what I mean.

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