Form 5

Form Five is unique in many respects. Its themes include being “out of position”, take-downs, and “hanging hands”, and it highlights some specialized foot maneuvers. It is also the first form after Form Four, which was originally intended to be the last form of the system. Because its motions and angles are so unusual, Form Five is easy to misinterpret. This guide explains why every maneuver is there.

What’s inside

• The history of Form Five, during and after SGM Parker’s life
• The salutation, signifying, and a written and illustrated walk-through of the whole form
• Improving your execution: pace, coordination, common errors
• Variations and focal points, from the common to the obscure
• An analysis of every sequence, and a comparison with each of the earlier forms
• 25 frequently asked questions, such as “Why does Form Five start from a horse stance?” and “Why are there no isolation sequences?”
• A quiz with answers, and appendices including a guide to creating a Short Form Five

Who it’s for

Designed for everyone, from the beginner learning the form to the advanced practitioner and instructor. Use it to learn the form, to polish it, or to answer the questions your students ask.