As Kenpo practitioners advance in their comprehension and proficiency in the system, they learn that there are eight actions that can be applied to any technique formulation. Ed Parker called it the equation formula (Seabrook 2006):
(1) PREFIX it, add a move or moves before it,
(2) SUFFIX it, add a move or moves after it,
(3) INSERT, add a simultaneous move with the already established sequence,
(4) REARRANGE, change the sequence of the moves,
(5) ALTER the weapon, the target, or both,
(6) ADJUST the range, the angle of execution, or both the angle of execution and the range,
(7) REGULATE the speed, the force, both speed and force, intent and speed,
(8) DELETE, exclude a move or moves from the sequence.
As a Kenpo Karate instructor, I believe that it is important for Kenpoists with considerable experience to work on the above 8 actions as they apply to self-defense. However, introducing the equation formula (or the what-if stage, rearrangement concept, ect) too early to students, in my opinion, confuses them and gives them less confidence in their ability to apply the ideal phase techniques in a street altercation.
There is more than enough material in American Kenpo (forms, sets, techniques, sparring) to learn in the beginner stages of learning; and because of the patience and discipline required to memorize all of that material, students want to be assured that they are learning techniques that will work. Teaching students the techniques in the ideal phase, and allowing them the opportunity to make those work will accomplish that goal. Bombarding them with the equation formula too early is counter-productive.
