In Kenpo though many of these things are taught to students earlier at the beginning and intermediate levels preparing them to being better able to defend themselves. Also there is the added benefit that because they learn these things sooner in their training they then are practicing them more and developing their skill better with them.
I adopted a similar approach with my students and would teach and have them practicing some things at the intermediate levels rather that waiting till they reached brown or black-belt. I found that giving them a strong foundation in basics first leading up to that intermediate level and then doing the above really paid off in producing a better, more skilled and knowledgeable student by the time they reached advanced or the black-belt ranks.
From what this one has witnessed, it appears a lot of excessive movements are used so as to develop "flow".
Like almost all other martial arts, training is seldom realistic ( a form of step kata is used where in the person portraying the attacker half heartedly throws a punch and the defender does a lot of flailing arms).
The basic theory of the art is fundamentally structured like a stiff form of kuntao or Chinese boxing with the same basic strikes as all other arts, the same blocks, some of the same joint manipulations, throws, etc.
Like any art, you will get from it that which you put into it.
This one has known some strong fighters who came from that system.
Same take on any other martial art. If it works for you, great. I prefer shorei-ryu, but I don't know what clicks for you. I only know what clicks for me. No art is inherently better or worse than any other...except Tai Chi. Puh-LEEEASE, don't call yourself a martial art.
