| In the martial arts, a pattern of preset techniques | | | | rich with applications for fighting; forms hold all of the |
| executed in a specific order of movement is known | | | | techniques and core movements of one's art. They |
| as a form. In Japanese it is referred to as Kata. In | | | | also serve important training purposes, because they |
| Chinese it is often called Taolu; and in Korean it is a | | | | help develop rootedness, strength, discipline, flow, |
| Poomse. Forms are often considered the backbone | | | | speed and focus. And when one does not have a |
| of traditional martial arts, and are designed to be | | | | partner at a time, he or she can always train by |
| practiced over and over throughout one's life span or | | | | practicing and working hard to perfect one's form. |
| time studying a system. Perfection of a form takes | | | | These are but a few of the ways a form helps with |
| many, many years of practice, hard work and | | | | training-though it is also vital to understand that |
| dedication. But with their supposed inflexibility, many | | | | forms are only but a category in a wide range of |
| teachers believe they are quaint and unneeded. | | | | components required to train correctly and efficiently. |
| Many instructors feel they should teach techniques to | | | | So therefore, forms should be thought of as a way |
| their students and then have them spar instead of | | | | to perfect techniques and movements in and of |
| learning forms along with training. Both forms and | | | | themselves, but not as a way to learn to fight. This |
| sparring are equally important, but it is vital that a | | | | is where sparring comes in. With sparring, you take |
| student understands that they are separate areas of | | | | these techniques and you learn to use them and |
| training. The biggest problem is students thinking that | | | | adapt them to the situations that they will be needed |
| they are one in the same. If forms were intended to | | | | in. If you need a technique, you can always fall back |
| solely teach us how to fight, then yes, they would | | | | to a form, which is much easier to remember than |
| be useless. But they are not. And they should not be | | | | memorizing every technique in your system |
| thought of as a way to learn how to fight. | | | | individually and then trying recalling them. It also |
| Instead, we should treat forms as a medium to | | | | preserves the art in the martial arts, which is what |
| develop and learn techniques and movements, and to | | | | sets us apart from brawlers and fighters who wish |
| maintain them. And even though they are not | | | | to only fight and to hurt people. |
| intended to teach you to fight, they are incredibly | | | | |