Originally Posted by
BentMonk
Short form number one introduces proper body alignment, and power generation. The bow stance aligns and stretches the body. In this position the hips will be forced to move when punching. This helps the concept of generating power with the hips become second nature.
Blocking the head while punching, introduces the principle of simultaneous attack and defense.
The downward block and step through introduce the principle of deflecting force rather than blocking it, and allowing one technique to flow naturally into the next.
All effective MA techniques are built upon a foundation of solid body structure, proper body alignment, power generation, effective offense/defense, and proper body mechanics.
Short form number one teaches the basics of this solid foundation in a few very simple movements. I believe that is why it is one of the core techniques in SD.
There's also the downward block after the initial punch. I never even thought about the practical application to it until I threw a snap kick at my partner while sparring in class, and he blocks down like in sf#1; driving his elbow into the top of my foot *ouch*. After that, I was impressed by his application of such a simple motion, as I limped over to the benches to tend to my foot.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
- Aristotle
The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
- Arthur C. Clarke