Tailor your weapons to fit the target

Use a half-fist to strike in the throat.
Use the side of your foot when kicking the back of the knee.
Use middle knuckle to the eye.
Strike up or down on the Solar Plexus, never straight on. This gives you more Margin For Error and more damage. Everything in Kenpo has margin for error.

Similar attacks but different defenses
The main thing to note in this section is that everyone does not always understand that Lone Kimono and Conquering Shield, for example, are not simply defenses against a left handed lapel grab. I've seen people miss the finer points of the techniques, end up running them wrong and not understanding the real differences between some of the techniques.

Lone Kimono & Conquering Shield
Both are against a left handed grab on the right side of your chest, but Lone Kimono is when you are being pushed back, while Conquering Shield is when you are being pulled in. Same basic attack and defense, but you can't run Lone Kimono (very well anyway) if you are pulled in.

Fallen Cross & Cross Of Destruction

Both are against two-handed rear chokes. You can't simply pick which one you want to run when this attack happens. If you're being pushed forward during the choke, go with Fallen Cross. If you are being pulled back or are being held in place, go with Cross Of Destruction.

If you are held in place or going forward, you can also use Circling Wing.

Obscure Sword & Obscure Claws

Both are against a left handed grab on your right shoulder. Because we step forward in Obscure Sword, use this one when you're grabbed and pushed forward. If you are grabbed and pulled back, go with Obscure Claws, but, assume there's a right punch coming with that left handed grab.

With that said, you can run Obscure Sword if you are pulled back by stepping back to 7:00 with your right foot as you are pulled. You are now in the same position as you would have been if you stepped to 1:30 with your right foot. Much trickier this way.

Taking this further, if the attack is in close, go with Obscure Wing. If it's straight out to your side, use Sword & Hammer.

Mace Of Aggression & Twin Kimono

Both are defenses against two handed grabs on your chest. If you are being pushed back with the grab, go with Twin Kimono. If you are being pulled in with the grab, go with Mace of Aggression.

You can substitute Raking Mace or Destructive Twins for Mace of Aggression.

In place of Twin Kimono, you can substitute Aggressive Twins or Parting Wings.

Deflecting Hammer & Intellectual Departure

Both a defenses against front ball thrust kicks. Since we want to use economy of motion and, more directly, point of origin, use Deflecting Hammer if your hands are raised in the air. If your hands are down at your side, use Intellectual Departure.

What if techniques
The second technique on each line is the what if of the first technique. For example; what if you were running Locked Wing and the attacker blocked your rear elbow strike? You would run Flight To Freedom instead.

Locked Wing & Flight To Freedom
Backbreaker & Kneel Of Compulsion
Brushing The Storm & Escape From The Storm
Charging Ram & Broken Ram
Retreating Pendulum & Unwinding Pendulum
Retreating Pendulum & Dance Of Darkness
Circle Of Doom & Rotating Destruction
Destructive Kneel & Leap Of Death
Crashing Wings & Squatting Sacrifice
Delayed Sword & Sword Of Destruction
Sword Of Destruction & Shielding Hammer

Opposite Techniques
The first technique on each line is the opposite of the next technique. Opposites & Reverses are found throughout Kenpo techniques and forms. Refer to my Black Belt Assignment on Opposites & Reverses. Opposites in techniques also show an example of how to use the concepts of altering your targets and weapons.

Checking The Storm & Buckling Branch
1. Checking the Storm is a right hand attack with us defending from inside and high.
   
2. Buckling Branch is a left leg attack (opposite side and opposite weapon) with us defending from outside and low.
Glancing Spear & Gripping Talon
1. In Glancing Spear, we have a left wrist grab, we move up and back and take attacker down backwards.
   
2. In Gripping Talon, we have a right wrist grab, we move down and in and take attacker down forward.
Crossing Talons & Crossed Twigs
1. Opposite sides of the Outward Elbow, Overhead Downward Elbow and Knee strike. In addition, the direction we're facing in relation to the attacker is opposite.
Raining Claw & Darting Mace
1. In Raining Claw, we step back, Inward Block, opposite hand strike and remain inside the attacker.
   
2. In Darting Mace, we step in, Inward Block (opposite hand), opposite hand strike and keep pretty much outside the attacker.
Hooking Wings & Bow Of Compulsion
1. Hooking Wings is Bow of Compulsion in reverse and up high with some weapon (and obviously target) modifications.
2. In Hooking Wings, we do inward then outward back knuckles, upward elbow and downward claw.
3. In Bow of Compulsion, we do a downward rake, upward handsword, outward back knuckle then inward punch.
Locked Wing & Obscure Claws
1. The main opposite here is the first move. In Locked Wing we do a left Heel Palm Claw to the face, circle around and lock the attackers elbow. Same thing in Obscure Claws but on the opposite side with the opposite hand.
Buckling Branch & Brushing The Storm
1. The scoop kick and knee takeout at the end of Buckling Branch is the opposite of the same move in Brushing The Storm - opposite side and opposite weapons.
Leaping Crane & Circling The Horizon
1. These are opposites in 2 ways. First, in Leaping Crane we hit low (knee), middle (kidney) and high (head). In Circling the Horizon we hit high (head), middle (elbow to ribs) and low (handsword/hammerfist to back of knee/calf).
2. Second, in Leaping Crane we stay up while the attacker goes down (via the kick to the knee). In Circling the Horizon, we go down onto one knee while the attackers stays up (until the final takedown).
Securing The Storm & Broken Ram
1. The first half of the techniques are opposites, while the ends are both similar and opposite.
2. Securing the Storm starts with a left block and a right strike into a left arm wrap/elbow break. Broken Ram starts with a right check and a left strike into a right arm wrap/elbow break.
3. For the end of each technique, we use our right foot to take the attacker down (similar), but in Securing the Storm we take them down backwards with a right strike to the face while in Broken Ram we buckle them (pseudo takedown) forwards with a right strike to the face.
Intellectual Departure & Flight To Freedom
1. The final kicks are opposites. Intellectual Departure starts with a spin and a back kick while Flight to Freedon ends (2nd to last move) with a spin and a front ball kick.
Intellectual Departure & Deceptive Panther
1. These two are almost complete opposites.
2. Intellectual Departure starts with a back kick then goes into a back knuckle and a side kick.
3. Deceptive Panther starts with a side kick, then a back knuckle and a back kick (plus a few extras in the middle).

Similar Techniques
The reason it's interesting (and important I suppose) to note the similarities of numerous techniques is that you can see how to use the same general defense against varied attacks. You also see how to use the concepts of altering your targets and weapons.

Leaping Crane & Gathering Clouds
Same technique. The main difference is that Leaping Crane has a kick inserted after the first strike. This turns the attacker so the final 2 strikes have their targets altered from Gathering Coulds.
Clipping The Storm & Parting Wings & Darting Mace
Same technique. The hand movements are identical but done on different planes (horizontal and vertical). With Darting Mace, this is the same plane as Clipping The Storm but against a different attack. The motion of all 3 of almost identical.
Buckling Branch & Thrusting Salute
Same technique. One is from the front and the other from the rear, with Technique Alterations accounting for the difference in direction the attacker is facing.
Raining Claw and Alternating Maces
They have the same basic motion; step back with the left foot, right inward block, left strike, right strike. In addition, Raining Claw is on the inside while Alternating Maces is on the outside.
Attacking Mace and Evading The Storm
Attacking Mace is (almost completely) the middle of Evading the Storm.
Escape From Death and Obscure Wing and Grip Of Death
Escape From Death is nothing more than the beginning of Obscure Wing (left side) followed by Grip Of Death.
Grip Of Death and Crashing Wings
They have the same basic motion and strikes; both begin with a double strike (fists in Grip of Death and elbows in Crashing Wings), continue with an anchored elbow and end with a right handed strike to the chest. Both send the attacker in the same direction. I think the main difference between them is that we're grabbed high in Grip of Death (neck/head) and low in Crashing Wings (waist).
Fatal Deviation & Entwined Maces
The attacks are opposite (right/left punch and left right punch) but both begin with a Right Inward Block into a right Outward Block, left punch and right Inward Hand Sword. They both contine continue with a crossover foot maneuver (Fatal Deviation is a front while Entwined Maces is a rear).
Five Swords & Calming The Storm & Detour From Doom
Detour From Doom is just Calming The Storm against a roundhouse kick rather than a roundhouse club attack. We start with the left block with the right punch, setup for the next strike (via heel palm in Calming the Storm and right ball kick in Detour from Doom), then the left vertical punch and finally the right back knuckle. You'll notice we're altering our targets and weapons to account for the change in attack and position.
Lone Kimono & Twin Kimono
Same as Lone Kimono, but begins with us in the center line (attacker is straight on). We end up stepping back to 4:30 to cancel attackers width zone and give us back the Angle of Incidence for depth cancellation for the hand sword. We do strike the solar plexus as we step back because we need something to fill the gap as we move our stance. Twin Kimono is finished the same as Lone Kimono.
Reversing Mace & Destructive Fans
We're doing essentially the same thing on opposite sides of the body from the initial parry through the kick. Not sure if I consider these opposite techniques or simply similar techniques, so I'm leaving them as similar for now.
Triggered Salute & Gripping Talon
Although the attacks are entirely different, Gripping Talon is Triggered Salute on the outside of the body. In both case we're cancelling the attackers height using their arm, doing an inward then a side elbow and striking to the head.
Thundering Hammers & Intercepting The Ram
Intercepting the Ram looks a lot like a close range version of Thundering Hammers from the front. In both techniques we strike the solar plexus, the kidney and the base of the neck, in that order with Thundering Hammers being from the side with forearms and fists (longer range weapons) and Intercepting the Ram from the front with knees and elbows (shorter range weapons).
Five Swords & Broken Gift
After the elbow break of Broken Gift, the remainder of the technique looks a lot like Five Swords from the uppercut to the end. We have the Back Knuckle (in place of the uppercut), left foot shift, left hand sliding over the the let side of attackers neck, hooking down and a final strike (hand sword in Five Swords and Elbow in Broken Gift).
Gift In Return & Brushing The Storm
Basically the same technique against different attacks. In Gift in Return we have a mid-range attack and in Brushing the Storm we have a high attack. In both we work our way down the attackers body. The foot maneuvers are virtually identical throughout the two techniques. The first hand move in both are basically the same. Left hand checks while the right hand drives back into the attacker. Then we have the two followup strikes in Brushing the Storm and from there on the techniques are almost the same. Gift in Return cancels the attackers height by pulling the hand through while Brushing the Storm does it with the takedown and scoop kick.
Gift In Return & Capturing The Storm
Same general motion in these techniques; one is inside while the other is outside. In Gift in Return, the attackers arm remains inside their body while in Capturing the Storm it remains on the outside of their body. From the initial capture and break of Capturing the Storm you could drive the attackers arm into their groin and finish with Gift in Return.
Triggered Salute & Gripping Talon
Same basic motion in the first 3 moves. In Gripping Talon we stay on the outside of the body as we cancel their height, step in with an inward and outward elbow. In Triggered Salute, we remain on the inside of the attacker while doing the same thing.
Five Swords & Heavenly Ascent
Heavenly Ascent is the same basic motion as Five Swords, but on the vertical plane.
Gift Of Destruction & Destructive Kneel
The opening move of Gift of Destruction is basicially the same as the opening move of Destructive Kneel. In both we're holding the attackers right wrist/hand with our right hand, pulling towards up and breaking the elbow with a left Heel Palm.
Twirling Hammers & Shield & Sword
Both are essentially the same technique with the same basic strikes; a left outward block, right strike to the head/neck, left inward elbow and a right hammerfist to the kidney.
Captured Leaves & Entangled Wing
Right from the beginning these are similar. We raise the attackers arm high, grab the left arm and break the elbow over our shoulder and end with left/right elbow strikes.
Gift Of Destruction & Thrusting Prongs
Thrusting Prongs is the inside version of Gift of Destruction. In both cases e lock and break the elbow and finish with an inward elbow to attackers face. In Gift of Destruction we check attackers arm in towards their body and stay on their outside while in Thrusting Prongs we lock and check their arm outside (away from) their body and stay on the inside.
Broken Gift & Capturing The Storm
Same premise througout the technique. In both cases we grab attackers arm, break the elbow, rotate their arm clockwise and finish with a midsection strike (back knuckle in Broken Gift and kidney strike in Capturing the Storm).

Information on Forms/Sets/Isolations

Forms 1 and 2:
These are Kenpo's dictionary forms. They show the basics of motion as used in Parker Kenpo.
Forms 3 through 6:
These are Kenpo's encyclopedia forms. Contrasting the definition of a dictionary with an encyclopedia, you'll notice these forms show information in more detail than the dictionary forms.
Sets:
These are Kenpo's appendicies. Again, contrasting the definition of a dictionary or encyclopedia with an appendix, you'll notice the sets providing us with additional information above and beyond what the dictionary and encyclopedia forms are showing.
Isolations:
1. Preview things to come
2. Complete categories
3. Fill in missing information
Run the forms with attackers to get a new perspective:
• Run Short 1 with with a rear attacker instead of (or in addition to) a front attacker to see how the hidden rear elbow along with the Step Thru reverse handles a rear attacker. Very similar to the opening moves of The Ram & The Eagle.
• You'll see techniques in Short and Long 2. The first 2 sets of Short 2 are the beginning of Five Swords (or Delayed Sword without the kick) left and right side. The 7th and 8th sets are Thrusting Salute without the kick. In long 2, again the first 2 sets are the beginning of Five Swords. The 5th and 6th sets (containing the claw and tripple back knuckles) are a lot like Raining Claw. The final sequence of Long 2 (overhead downward and remaining elbows) looks a whole lot like Intercepting The Ram.
• Short 3 suddenly looked much more like a multiple attacker form. It showes that you can't always finish your technique before the next attack begins and that a techqique doesn't always finish the attacker (refer to Circling Wing into Crossing Talons).
• There's more, I'm sure of it...

Short 1 - lead hand defense
Long 1 - lead hand defense and rear hand offense
Short 2 - lead hand defense and lead hand offense
Long 2 - lead hand defense, lead hand offense and rear hand offense
Short/Long 3 - two handed offense
Form 4 - two handed defense
Form 5 - defense and offense simultaneously

In the last 2 pieces of Short 2, we also see rear hand defense with lead hand defense and rear hand offense.

Short/Long 1 - attacker advancing and us retreating from the attack
Short/Long 2 - attacker advancing and us advancing to meet the attack
Short/Long 3 - attacker retreating and us advancing
Form 4 - attacker advancing and us advancing at an angle
Form 5 - attacker advancing from an angle and us advancing at an angle

The Universal Pattern
Notice that each of the major elements in the Universal Pattern can be seen from different angles.

The eight angles (multiplication sign and an addition sign) show the eight major directions from which you can attack or defend.

The triangle can be found in the path of motion in a parry, (horizontal with your shoulders acting as the base). For coverouts, again laid horizontal with your rear foot at the peak your front foot would follow the base line.

The diamond shows a path of action. An example would be an inward block on a downward, diagonal path or an upward block.

The circle (or circular motion) could be found by following the line the foot travels on in a roundhouse kick, or the footwork in Brushing the Storm.

The oval (an elongnated circle) could be found in Snapping Twig or Locked Wing.

The Figure Eight can be seen in the single hand moves at the end of Dance of Death (back knuckle strike to the left knee followed by the handsword to the groin) as well as in the opening moves of Snaking Talons and Entwined Maces.

The Overlapping Circles can be found in the first moves of Circling Fans and in the feet on Securing The Storm. The overlapped circles can be side by side or at an angle to one another.

The Heart can be found in the opening moves of Blinding Sacrifice (vertical, with the point at bottom), Thrusting Wedge (again vertical) and Fatal Cross (horizontal with the point towards attacker).

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