Let me be more specific and less ranting from my last post.
I do believe forms have there place in combat as well, but it should only be the beginning, an introduction of the technique that can be utilized for one to memorize - I just think that the vast majority of kung fu practitioners have too much faith in forms and that these forms are simply outdated. On top of that, they believe that any other training is secondary. Its good that Mike brought up forms in contextual setting with the military. This leads me to 2 very important points - which if I could address it to all the "Masters" and "Sifus" out there.
Let me identify what I considers forms: traditional forms, shadow boxing, and set of movements that have a predetermined order of concepts, or simply doing stuff in the air by yourself.
Point 1: Forms have there place in combat. When shit hits the fan - you instinctively go back to you feel comfortable with. How many times have you gone over your favorite move in your head and do it in the air? Running through different scenarios in your head before drilling them with a partner to see if it can "theoratically" work.
Point 2: Content of forms have to be on target with your goals. Doing "traditional" forms in a time that no longer uses swords and spears is slightly rediculous - especially if your goal is for self defense or sports combat. As Mike has mentioned with the military - they go through "forms" that are very job specific. Again - I believe that traditional forms HAD a place in combat training - they simply do not today.
Again - its great the Mike took my military paragraph and expanded upon it with more specific forms - something that I knew that they did but obviously not having the knowledge of it. Let me be critical of the last post as well as mine. I was specific in the use of firing. What Mike has stated is spot that soldiers prepare via dry fire. Just like how most CTMA do as well on there own with forms. The big distinction after that is soldiers have adequate training drills and actually do fire into a range and measure there accuracy. CTMA as a whole grossly lacks an adequate "after form" training to prepare a practioner who is interested in combat sports or self defense and adequate feedback on performance.
My questions to the Masters is this: Why haven't we updated our forms to conform with todays needs and society. The military has. Self defense has evolved as well as combat sports. Why keep something the same when it is no longer usefull - on top of that why praise those systems as if they were the answer to todays needs.
As I semi-seriously joke with my other friends who practice martial arts. Why isn't there a Chinese rifle form or a pistol form? Why shouldn't there be one? With today's technology you don't need to have a live rifle or pistol to see if someone has hit something on target when go through a form?
Sorry for the ranting.
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