One of the most unique characteristics of American Kenpo forms are the transitions Mr. Parker used to maneuver us from one position to another.  Short Form #1 uses the step-thru in reverse, Short #2 has the step-thru forward, while Long #2 introduces the twist-thru timing of the step-thru foot maneuvers.  This article will address one of the initial angle change foot maneuvers contained in the Kenpo forms, the L-Step 90' angle change.  First, let's define some basic patterns used to represent maneuvers in the forms.

 

Mr. Parker used two geometric patterns to represent the foot transitions in the Kenpo forms.  One of these patterns is the plus (+) pattern, which involves the 12:00 - 3:00 - 6:00 - 9:00 directions.

 

The Plus (+) Pattern

The second pattern used In the Kenpo forms is the "x" pattern, which involves the 1:30 - 4:30 - 7:30 - 10:30 directions.

The "X" Pattern

Using these patterns as our reference, a 90' angle change can be thought of as a transition from the plus (+) pattern of the forms to the plus (+) pattern, or from the "x" pattern to the "x" pattern.  For example, an angle change from 12:00 to 9:00 is a 90' angle change, and a transition from 10:30 to 1:30 is a 90' angle change.  In contrast, a transition from 12:00 to 1:30 is a change from the plus (+) pattern to the "x", and therefore is not a 90' angle change.

The L-Step is one of the subcategories of this 90' angle change.  It involves a transition from the plus (+) to the plus (+) or from the "x" to the "x" in which your feet initially move towards each other and then away, creating an actual "L" shape along the floor.

Let's look at an example from the forms.  The first angle change demonstrated in Short Form #2 is an L-Step (90') angle change from the 12:00 - 6:00 line to the 9:00 - 3:00 line, and is shown in the drawings below. 

1. LNB Facing 12:00

2. Lt. Cat Transition

3. LNB Facing 9:00

The First "L-Step" In Short Form #2

This transition begins in a left neutral bow facing 12:00 (1) .  Your left foot first slides towards your right foot into a 45' cat transition (2).  With no hesitation your left foot moves away from your right foot into a left neutral bow facing 9:00 (3).  The above pictures clearly depict the "L" shape created by the movement of your left foot.

As with all of Mr. Parker's categories of motion, when you find all of the L-Steps in the forms, and organize this information, you will discover another "hidden" floor pattern (beyond the "L" shape) that  summarizes all 90' angle changes.