To understand the Universal Pattern is to understand movement. To understand movement is to understand the concepts of fighting.
SGM Ed Parker created the statement above. The Universal Pattern was created by Ed Parker and the UP contains all possible movements.
So to understand Kenpo you need to know what movement/motion is and you need to study the UP.
Motion can be devided into 5 sections. Most of these sections can be subdevided.
The first section is direction. Direction embodies the direction from where the attacker initiates his action. Such an action can be restricted or enforced by the location of the person(s) involved or the location of environmental objects. When this restricts your own action, you're forced to use other directions. Therefore action can stem from:
- the front
- the back
- the left side
- the right side
- above
- below
The second section is method. Method is the underlying movement in which a block or strike can be executed. There are only two possibilities. There is lineair and there is circular. All the others are variations of these two.
When you apply one of these methods, you'll have to use a certain path. Path is the third section of movement. The path of travel can be horizontal, vertical and diagonal.
This brings us to the fourth section, which is dimension. Dimensions of travel encompass height, width and depth of movement or the height, width and depth that can be created or controlled by motion.
The fifth and last section is angle. Angle of travel encompasses the measure of degree. For instance a kick. A kick can be executed at a 45 degree or a 90 degree.
In short:
Motion
Direction
o Front
o Back
o Left
o Right
o Up/Above
o Under
Method
o Lineair
o Circling
Path
o Horizontal
o Vertical
o Diagonal
Dimension
o Height
o Width
o Depth
Angle
o Measure of degree
How can we translate the above into the Universal Pattern?
First of all, it's important to know what your point of reference is. Let's say that you are the referencepoint yourself.
Well, let's start with direction. Place the UP flat on the ground and stand in the middle. Using the clock-principle we can draw a line from 3 o'clock towards 9 o'clock, you'll have a front section and a back section.
When drawing a line from 12 o'clock towards 6 o'clock you'll have a left section and a right section.
When placing the UP on it's side you can stand on the 12-6 line. Than you can draw again a line from 3 o'clock towards 9 o'clock and you'll have an upper section and an under section.
Next on the list is method. In the UP you'll find the lineair lines in the + and x signs, the diamond shape and of course the 8 lines that connect the + with the x sign.
The circling lines are the big circle, the smaller circle that embodies the four small circles. Those four small circles make two diagonal figure eights and a horizontal and a vertical elipse figure eight.
The following in order is path. As already written you can find the horizontal, vertical and diagonal paths in the + and x signs.
That brings us to the fourth section which is dimension. You can find the height and width of the UP in the standard model. But actually the UP is a 3D symbol, so there definitely is a depth zone in the UP.
The last section angle is now up. The measure of degree can also be found in the UP. For example, when standing in the center of the UP and executing a punch, you can punch at chest height (which can be the line from center towards 3 o'clock), head height (which can be the line from center towards 01:30 o'clock) or at stomach height (which can be the line from center towards 04:30 o'clock). Same goes for a kick etc.
Who of you can add more useful information on this interesting subject?
Thanks in advance!
Jeroen Hoevenaar
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