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To illustrate opposite and reverse motion I will use the first foot maneuver of Short Form #1. I will also refer to the picture at the top of this page and the five figures on it: A, B, C, D, and E.
Reverse Motion
Let's begin this discussion with reverse motion, since it is a little easier to understand than opposite motion. Mr. Parker, in his book: Infinite Insights Into Kenpo - Vol. 3, defined reverse motion as:
Returning on the same path of an initiated move. (pg. xiv)
In other words, reverse motion can be defined as the exact retracing of a movement from it's point-of-completion back to it's point-of-origin - without changing its path. For example, imagine driving down a narrow alley and coming to a dead-end. Now, in order to leave safely you must back the car up along the exact same path you entered the alley on.
To illustrate reverse motion in the Kenpo forms, let's use the first foot maneuver of Short Form #1 (we will limit this discussion to what the feet are doing, without regard to the hand motion). From a horse stance (facing 12:00) slide your left foot back (towards 6:00) into a right neutral bow stance (facing 12:00). If you are unfamiliar with this move, please refer to the picture at the top of the page. We are starting in a horse stance (Figure A) and stepping back to a right neutral bow stance (Figure B).
The reverse motion of this foot maneuver would be: From a right neutral bow stance (facing 12:00) slide your left foot forward (towards 12:00) into a horse stance (facing 12:00). This is an exact retracing of the left foot along its initial path. With this understanding we then turn to the Kenpo forms to find this example of reverse motion. As a hint, this example appears before the closing of Long Form #1. Also, when you find this motion you might want to compare what the hands are doing as you execute each of the two transitions.
By its definition, a motion can have only have one true reverse motion. This makes finding examples of reverse motion a bit easier throughout the Kenpo forms. With reverse motion understood, let's now examine the concept of opposite motion.
Opposite Motion
Understanding opposite motion and finding examples of the same in the Kenpo forms is somewhat more challenging than that of reverse motion. This is because the concept of opposite motion
incorporates various meanings and movement. To illustrate, let's turn again to our example from Short Form #1: From a horse stance (facing 12:00) slide your left foot back (towards 6:00) into a right neutral bow stance (facing 12:00).
Opposite Foot
The first concept of opposite motion to this foot maneuver is opposite foot. Applying this concept into the Short Form #1 foot maneuver we have: From a horse stance (facing 12:00) slide your right foot back (towards 6:00) into a left neutral bow stance (facing 12:00; see Figure E above).
Opposite Direction
The second concept of opposite motion to this foot maneuver is opposite direction. That is, instead of stepping back, we can step forward. Applying this concept into the Short Form #1 foot maneuver we have: From a horse stance (facing 12:00) slide your left foot forward (towards 12:00) into a left neutral bow stance (facing 12:00; see Figure D above).
Opposite Foot & Opposite Direction
Finally, these two concepts can be combined to make a third concept: opposite foot and opposite direction. Applying this concept into the Short Form #1 foot maneuver we have: From a horse stance (facing 12:00) slide your right foot forward (towards 12:00) into a right neutral bow stance (facing 12:00; see Figure C above).
Now that we have determined the category of opposite motion for the first foot maneuver in Short Form #1, search through the Kenpo forms for these three examples. Once you find them, you might compare what the hands are doing as you execute each of the three transitions.
Conclusions
Using the first foot maneuver of Short Form #1 as a reference, this article provides students with specific examples of opposite and reverse motion as used in the Kenpo forms. While each Kenpo move has only one true reverse motion, it may have several opposite moves associated with it. The examples of opposite motion used in this article are: opposite foot, opposite direction, and both opposite foot and opposite direction.
Naturally, this example is merely the tip of the proverbial Kenpo iceberg. A careful in-depth study of the Kenpo forms will lead you to a much greater appreciation of the genius Mr. Parker demonstrated in formulating his American Kenpo system.
Once again, my heartfelt thanks to my Instructor, Mr. Steve White, for teaching me an understanding of Mr. Parker's Kenpo system.
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