Universal Pattern
- The Vertical Line
The initial foot maneuver of the first four forms (Short #1, Long #1, Short #2, Long #2) moves us either forward or backward along this line.
- The Horizontal Line
The third foot maneuver of the first four forms moves us either forward or backward along this line.
- The Plus "+"
The plus design may be thought of as the reference foot pattern for Short and Long Form #1. In these 2 forms only the four walls are referenced, consistent with the plus pattern.
- The "X"
The "x" design may be thought of as a partial reference foot pattern for Short and Long Form #2. In the "2s" the "x" pattern can represent the four corners of the room that are referenced by the position of your centerline. The full pattern reference design for the footwork of the "2s" may thought of as an "x" superimposed over a "+". This eight pointed design would represent the four walls and four corners referenced in the "2"s.
- The Diamond
- In the center of the Universal Pattern is a diamond shaped square. This diamond could represent the inward diagonal path created by an inward block. Certain techniques, such as Sleeper, may also lead to further insights into the diamond.
- The Triangle
The diamond can be divided into several triangles, a pattern that can be used to reference both handwork and footwork. Sword Of Destruction and Leaping Crane might provide insights into the triangle.
- The Circle
In Kenpo the circle is used in many different ways. From the large circle found in the double outward downward heel-palm claws of Finger Set to the double figure-8s used in the first move of the isolation technique in Short Form #3 (which many Kenpoists call Fatal Cross), versions of circular motion can be found throughout the Kenpo forms. Look for ovals, intersecting circles, and non-intersecting circles. In advanced Kenpo techniques the figure-8 is a frequently occurring pattern.
While the Universal Pattern offers some insights into the understanding of American Kenpo Karate, the only design a Kenpo student needs to understand the Kenpo system is the design found in the center of the Kenpo Karate crest.