Short Form 2 teaches the three power principles – torque, marriage of gravity, and back-up mass. Unlike Short Form 1 and Long Form 1, we now begin advancing towards our opponent while blocking and countering with a strike. The first move (on both sides) involving the inward block and handsword is the start of Five Swords, as well as Delayed Sword without the kick. It is also the first form employing a block and immediate strike with the same hand. By doing so, Kenpoists learn the principle, "Block with cock to get travel for your knife hand."
Short Form 2 also gives students their first introduction to 45-degree angles and the "V" step. One application of the "cup and saucer" move as you pull back to the cat stance is that an opponent has you in a rear bear hug with your arms free. Your response is to step behind the opponent’s leg, thus off balancing the attacker and taking him off the line similar to the technique "Crashing Wings." It also teaches students the full range of motion prior to the simultaneous block and punch. There are a few reasons why a neutral (and not a forward) bow is employed when doing the simultaneous block and punch towards 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock: (i) it shows how to use back-up mass to get power (ii) it gives a foundation for more advanced self-defense techniques (e.g., "Shield and Mace") (iii) it shows how you don’t have to pivot to a forward bow to get power (thus differentiating between what was shown in Long Form 1, or such techniques as "Crashing Wings" and "Crushing Hammer"). The technique "Thrusting Salute" is also contained in the form in the downward block and heel palm sequence (with the exception of the kick). In the last move of the form, where we employ an extended outward block followed by a horizontal snapping half-fist strike to the throat area, I see a lot of people do this movement while staying in a neutral bow. The problem with this is that your half-fist has very little reach, not to mention that your strike will lack power because if you have not incorporated hip rotation into the strike. Hence, I highly recommend moving from a neutral bow as you do the extended outward block, to a forward bow as you execute the half-fist strike, and then back to the neutral bow as you draw the half-fist back. Short Form 2 is required for promotion to purple belt.
Reference: Seabrook J. American Kenpo Mastery: A Guide for Students and Instructors. Lincoln: iUniverse Inc, 2006
