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There are several benefits to forms if practiced correctly and consistently.
First off forms are great from a health and fitness aspect. For the beginner, forms are an excellent way to begin developing coordination – which most of us can use quite a bit of work on (natural athletes and dancers aside). Forms are also a great way of getting in shape and developing stamina. If done properly forms work and tone practically all major muscle groups (especially the legs) and provide a great cardiovascular workout. Finally, forms can be a great stress reliever – which, again, I believe most of us could use a good deal of.
As far as practical application there are several aspects of forms that must be considered.
Most importantly, the consistent practice of forms trains the body and mind to work together. When you are confronted in a street situation, you don’t have time to think you must be able to instantly. This does not mean that I would start walking through a form (i.e., Karate Kid II); however the techniques that have been practiced in a form can be applied to many different situations and should be able to be applied instinctively. Remember – mind and body working together.
The learning of the form in and of itself does not provide this level of response – it is the study and practice of the Bunkai – or application – of the form that allows this instinctive response. When you are practicing your form individually you must be able to visualize your opponent in each step of the form and actual “feel” the technique as you practice it. Also – it is important to practice the bunkai with a partner, or even several partners to get a more realistic feel for the application of the techniques.
It is very easy to “learn” the movements of a form in a couple of months (or even weeks) – there is a reason, however, that the application of a form was studied and practiced for long periods of time, sometimes years, before a “student” could be considered proficient enough to move on to another form.
Thoughts ?????
First off forms are great from a health and fitness aspect. For the beginner, forms are an excellent way to begin developing coordination – which most of us can use quite a bit of work on (natural athletes and dancers aside). Forms are also a great way of getting in shape and developing stamina. If done properly forms work and tone practically all major muscle groups (especially the legs) and provide a great cardiovascular workout. Finally, forms can be a great stress reliever – which, again, I believe most of us could use a good deal of.
As far as practical application there are several aspects of forms that must be considered.
Most importantly, the consistent practice of forms trains the body and mind to work together. When you are confronted in a street situation, you don’t have time to think you must be able to instantly. This does not mean that I would start walking through a form (i.e., Karate Kid II); however the techniques that have been practiced in a form can be applied to many different situations and should be able to be applied instinctively. Remember – mind and body working together.
The learning of the form in and of itself does not provide this level of response – it is the study and practice of the Bunkai – or application – of the form that allows this instinctive response. When you are practicing your form individually you must be able to visualize your opponent in each step of the form and actual “feel” the technique as you practice it. Also – it is important to practice the bunkai with a partner, or even several partners to get a more realistic feel for the application of the techniques.
It is very easy to “learn” the movements of a form in a couple of months (or even weeks) – there is a reason, however, that the application of a form was studied and practiced for long periods of time, sometimes years, before a “student” could be considered proficient enough to move on to another form.
Thoughts ?????
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