Opposites and Reverses in Long Form 4

• Long Form 4
• Circular Motion in Long Form 4

The idea of opposites and reverses is nothing new to those who study American Kenpo. We learn it with the first few techniques, doing Delayed Sword with its inward block, front kick, outward hand sword and Sword of Destruction's extended outward block, front kick, inward hand sword routine. And as we move along, techniques like Crossing Talon and Crossed Twigs come to mind as well as reverse order of strikes in Deceptive Panther and Intellectual Departure. The idea is not new as we know every motion has an opposite and a reverse. We just need to recognize which are useable to us for self-defense. It is also not a surprise that elements of this are seen within Long Form 4. Of course, this is not an absolute list, but a list with some ideas on it.

• Protecting Fans -- finger poke simultaneous with kick using the opposite leg. Darting Leaves -- finger poke simultaneous with kick using the same leg.
• Unfurling Crane -- your arms move in the opposite directions simultaneously. Destructive Kneel -- your arms move in the same direction simultaneously.
• Destructive Kneel -- uses step drag, push drag, pivot to get behind your attacker. Flashing Wings -- uses same motion for opposite purpose, to get in front of your attacker.
• Circles of Protection -- contains defensive movements on a horizontal plane. Dance of Darkness -- contains defensive movements on a vertical plane.
• Circles of Protection -- circular defense and offense beneath the attacking punch. Prance of the Tiger -- is a circular defense and offense above the attacking punch.
• Thundering Hammers (during transitions) -- you twist away from your attacker before stepping into the next set. Unwinding Pendulum (during transitions) -- you will step twist into your attacker for the next set.
• Circling Windmills -- this technique contains a large series of inward circular strikes. Reversing Circles -- the technique contains outward circular strikes.
• Defensive Cross -- your left hand acts as the ceiling in the back knuckle sandwich. Also done with downward, downward, upward strike sequence. Bowing to Buddha -- left hand acts as the floor in the hammerfist sandwich. Done with upward, upward, downward strike sequence.
• Five Swords -- back up mass is behind your weapons to push the attacker. Twirling Hammers -- back up mass is in front of your weapons to pull on your attacker.
• Shield & Mace -- you execute the hammer fist strike before the kick. Circling Fans - you execute the thrusting back knuckle strike after the kick.
• Protecting Fans -- uses inward/outward parries. Destructive Kneel -- uses outward/inward parries.
• Thundering Hammers -- strikes descend onto your attacker's targets (hammerfists raining down). Unwinding Pendulum -- strikes ascend to your attacker's targets (kick and crane moving up into your attacker).
• Prance of the Tiger -- side kick with your front leg. Shield and Mace -- side kick with your rear leg.
• Prance of the Tiger -- you execute the thrusting sweep to your attacker's front leg. Unwinding Pendulum -- you execute the thrusting sweep to your attacker's rear leg.

And I am sure there are more. If I think of any or if any are suggested to me, I shall add them here. So use this a guide. Decide if they really are reverse or if their are other reverses to be found.