Short-hand Crib Notes
by Ĝan Ŭesli Starling Email
This document is meant only as a memory jog. Assumed is that you have already been taught the forms, that you know the moves but don't have the sequence fully memorized. These shorthand notes print out small enough to tuck into one's uniform for a quick, one-handed review while holding stance mid-practice.
An alternate use is to keep the slip in one's wallet for periodic referral at lunch, on breaks, or whenever.
The key is therefor none too very exacting as to the detailed nuances of these forms. This shorthand notation is only meant to serve as a rough outline, something to help you order already-learned techniques into their proper sequence. Anytime that this terse outline fails to be self-evident then it is best to refer to a book.
Below are the books which I employed in compiling these outlines.
As the three reference books differ slightly in terminology (both from one another and from WMTKD common usage) some reconcilliation was required. In each case I chose that term which, to me, seemed most unambiguous. For instance: the term hinge block is more often called a check in WMTKD classes. But as none of the books employed the term check while two out of three (including the official one) used the term hinge I deferred to the majority example.
In another case, the term diamond block prevails prominently in both unoffical books while the official book instead used it only diminutively, in parentheses. There are two variants, however, depending on whether the leading hand is low or mid-section, which is probalby why the official book was circumspect. I work to clarify any confusion by using colors: red for left, green for right, blue for symmetry. Since the diamond block is nowhere near symmetrical, I denote it like so DB
Similarly, all three books preferred the term scissors block for what WMTKD has often called a windmill block. Since all three books agree, I deferred to that usage. In this case too there are variants depending on which hand is high and which low. Here again I clarify like so SB
All three books varied slightly from one another when describing turns. Not that they disagreed. It's just that in describing a turn one may focus on either what the feet do or what the torso or the head does. It usually all works out the same...except where it doesn't. When turning into the same stance it does always work out the same. When turning into a different stance the relative geometry of feet, torso and head might vary. So for the sake of brevity and absolute consitency I denote instead where to find the next attacker. That is where your attention should be in any case.
The problem I'm working to overcome is this. Every book and video depicts the model facing you rather than facing the same way as you. This is the opposite perspective for when you are performing the techniques yourself. To translate those pictures into action you must hold the book upside down or else with the pages away from yourself to be in the same orientation as the model. Otherwise left and right, forward and back, all will be oppsite. A live instructor never does this. So the books and videos are a little inconvenient. What we need are holograms we can stand behind and follow along...but they don't sell those yet. I later intend to make my own videos with two simultaneous views at different angles. Both from perspectives nearer to ones own when performing the forms oneself.
Therefor my own notation system is meant to be used like a map. And later I'll provide diagrams with designations for N, S, E & W as the bar directions. For now just assume that you begin with such a map held upright and with the compass points marked out on the floor (or as Post-It notes on the walls). You begin in the center facing North. Assume, for example, you have just vanquished an opponent who attacked you from the North. In turning
By denoting turns in this fashion, it matters not what stance you turn from or turn into. You don't have to think in terms of either feet or head. Nor does any cumulative sucession of turns mix you up as to which way you ought to face now. To compare my notation against pictures in the books, prop those books up vertically with the open pages facing North.
Truly helpful suggestions will always be welcome. But as I have already given very considerable thought to each element in this short-hand notation be forewarned that I am rather attached to it. Any who email me simply to proffer a replacement host of their own cherished micro-criteria will be quietly ignored. Know that I have created this document by manually typing out the XML/XSLT markup into a plain ASCII text editor. Click View Source in your browser to get an idea of just how much effort that is. If my own humble system greatly displeases then you are free to publish your own. I'll even trade links with you provided they be reciprocal.
I have also provided links to YouTube videos of these forms. I chose those ones in particular without a great deal of vetting of the many others likewise available. In due course I shall make my own, featuring someone from WMTKD and showing two camera angles simultaneously. Until then, feel free to suggest any better examples (featuring a single person) of which you may know the link.
Don't bother trying to memorize this key. You should only need refer to it a few times early on. It is meant to be self-evident. Assumed is that you semi-know each form's moves from having been shown them beforehand. In that case the short-hand notated outlines below should, indeed, prove self-evident. Whithout your knowing the form at least to some degree then the extreme brevity of any short-hand notation whatever will likely only confuse you further.
The key is therefor intentionally non-exacting, so that there be not too many symbols. Balancing brevity against ambiguity, some few compromises were required. For instance, B indicates a block because blocks are far more common than backfists. A backfist is therefor denoted as F(back). For congruency, then, a hammer-fist is noted as F(hammer). Punches are frequent enough however to merit being denoted by P rather than something arcane like F(knuckle).
Memorize these as they are not elsewhere notated!
Just glance over these. They should be self-evident after five minutes usage.
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Slashes
Stances
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Arm Attacks
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Arm Blocks (Single)
Arm Blocks (Double)
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Leg Attacks
Subscripts
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Colors
Turns
Other
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Why
Video Reference: YouTube
Note 1: The only reference I have for this form is a page by one of Master Allen's students posted years ago on Anglefire.
Note 2: Said page on Angelfire describes a back stance as mirror image from this document. The Angelfire page cites a back stance by which foot is weight bearing rather than which foot leads.