JamesB said:
I think I understand....it's difficult to put the components of the syllabus in context as it's exactly that from my point of view - a 'syllabus', which I've not gotten to grips with yet. So it seems that Form-4, as it is popularly known, was a departure from the Parker teachings prior to it's existance.
Almost. Long Three came before Long Form Four and is similar in concept, and therefore is also based on being 'semetrically motion sound' over anatomically sound body mechanics.
Is there a timeline for the creation of this later material? When and where was form-4 developed, and how was this material typically spread around the schools?
Continuously from the late sixties into the early seventies as the business model developed and was expanded. The bulk was completed in the early seventies, with other material added 'as necessary' and/or as 'business dictated.' Most was disseminated through the business operations manual known as "Big Red." It included everything from how to answer the phone and field questions to outline ideas of the available form, sets, and techniques. Students were given 'outline booklets' color coded for each rank with a list of exercises, everything to be learned for testing, and check off boxes for what had been 'taught,' 'learned,' and tested for. These never made it beyond 'green.' Ultimately "Big Red" died as people broke away from Parker, and students were sold the 'technique manual' part of "Big Red" to create a money stream, and to help standardize the 'technique ideas.' These 'technique manuals' replaced the belt booklets.
I'm guessing that the new material was conceived at the Pasadena school and was most familiar to those who trained there at that time?
Not necessarily. Material and ideas flowed from many sources, with Mr. Parker assigning 'projects' to many of his students near and far. Then he would accept, reject, or refine the material as he saw fit. Sometimes it debuted in Pasadena, sometimes not. As an example, he had several people working on the adjustment of the commercial charts down from 32 to ultimately 16, and he approved all of the versions I was aware of. He allowed some to stay with the 32, some to move to the 24 (which he published), but still others to 16 which he didn't have time to publish. I was assigned a thesis for my 7th to help standardize rank amoug the diverse students coming to, and residing in the IKKA. I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one.
Also you say that you were taught short-3 differently than how it is taught today -
Careful with generalities. There are as many versions as there are teachers and practitioners. THERE IS NO STANDARD FOR MOTION KENPO - ONLY GENERAL GUIDELINES. Diversity was acceptable and encouraged by Mr. Parker, as long as the teacher/student accepted responsibility for his interpretation. He advised and guided, but never changed what teachers and students did. He wasn't available to finitely 'mold' those who called themselves 'students,' so he attempted to teach them to think for themselves.
would this also mean that short-3 was modified at a later date (for mass consumption) to include more motion principles? I'm also wondering how much short-1, long-1 etc have changed over the years or are they pretty consistent?
See above. There is no standard. The written version of the forms was published after his death, and teachers always have taught their interpretation. Remember, (and this is important), Mr. Parker after the fifties didn't teach 'basics.' Everything is based on basic skills, and Parker began teaching 'basic concepts' to allow students to work on their own because of his absence. How do you do a "Short From One" based on 'basic blocks,' if you haven't definitively taught the blocks in question. Partly because of his absence, and partly because EVERYTHING (motion and otherwise) was/is a work in progress.
