S&H

I have a question about a move in the sword and hammer. It is about the 13th move. Assuming that the form starts out facing North- you do your blocks and strikes to the North, then left leg moves into the West, attack to the west, then (here's my question) what are you doing as you pivot to the East? Paticularly, what are your hands doing? I have practiced this a couple of different ways, and was hoping to get your views. 

If you look at the 3 first forms, S&H, Falling Leaf, Bear, you'll see a lot 'double tapping'.  There is no wasted moves in any form. Everything serves a purpose, and more if you really look into it.

That turn to 'the East' can be just a turn to 'clear the area' with two open hand blocks. But as Master Doversola's creation of the forms you'll see turns that include 'double taps' (almost every turn!).

Most prevalent obviously in the Outward Sword short form: Double Tap to right, left, right, left then front.

In the S&H, that move turning to the east, after a back of the wrist strike with your right hand, your left hand has cleared the area and some have it protecting their right ear.  TUrn to the East by of course looking that way as that is your next opponent, use the left as the first tap/strike/parry/block and immediately follow with the right. Bang-Bang in rhythm versus a single turn and snap of the two hands.

Many practitioners I've witnessed in the past, as I have been one of them, just turn without motivation or purpose, with their only purpose is to turn with their hands open and fingers pointing up.

Make the turn distinct, with a purpose, and a relaxed easy flow making sure your feet adjust to the slight 45 degrees that Okinawa-Te's stance's power is all based upon. It is a focused double tap/strike, that flows immediately to a reverse stance double open hand parry, cut/block and cross step short heel/back kick.

Back in the late 80s, we were doing the cut/block after the double open hand parry as a 'trap' on the right shoulder: The right hand open, the back of it almost resting on the right shoulder to trap a kick (as explained to me be Carl (brown belt in Atwater). So that's how I performed it.

More recently I was speaking to Sensei Jorge Godinez (Shihan's son-in-law) a couple of weeks ago and he asked me about that move and I told him I use it as an outward open hand cut/block/strike outside the shoulder. He informed me that Shihan recently changed his technique as stated previously, just above the shoulder, but palm down.

These are 3 variations to that one specific technique.

My interpretation is that there shouldn't be a reason to block so close as you already used a double parry to block a kick and the most aggressive move is to block a punch while delivering an extended open hand (palm up) outward block/strike and a short upper punch type kick. Your opponent is right there, literally falling inside your range after they kick and you double block. A kick strike is an aggressive move that is accompanied with a kick!

Try it - you might like it!