What exactly are forms?

[Apprentice]

This probably sounds like the stupidist(nice word eh?) question...but someone said something on the northern praying mantis forum, are they ALL fighting techniques? or is there something else about them?

[Budokan]

They involve fighting techniques, trapping techniques, grappling techniques, sweeping techniques, mental techniques, blocking techniques, striking techniques, etc.

[SevenStar]

forms are a way of practicing the prinicples of your style. take the single whip in taiji, for example. there are numerous applications of it. Forms give you a framework to work with.

[Kristoffer]

Forms are not only fighting techniques. Forms are made to be used as a training device. To train different aspects and muscle groups. For example, our Tiger form build alot of streanght in the legs. with powerful, low stances done in a kinda slow, tiring way. Crane builds speed and accuracy, it is the perfection of body movement and body control. Panther is similar to Tiger but fast, dynamic more agressive I think...

etc etc..

Weapon forms usually tend to be ONLY fighting techniques, but this is what I have experienced in my weapon training so far.

There are forms that is designed for health. Look at Taiji and the main benefit is health, and that is what u learn first. The martial side of it takes a LONG time to learn.

[Kristoffer]

Forms are great, but u cant learn how to fight ONLY doing forms. On the flip side, I hink that u can be a lot BETTER at fighting if your style include forms training.

That, and they impress chicks!

[Black Jack]

Yeah, a lot of the top MMA fighters do forms.



P.S. Oh, and weapon work also improves the attributes of the student to a good degree, body awareness, speed, flow, focus, attack-based mindset.......