Taekwondo Question?

Question

What is the benefit of learning forms? I recently started TKD and I received my strip for knowing my form, but I would like to know what it is used for.

it's not that i didn't ask my instructor, i merely forgot what he told me. i had someone at work ask me and i didn't want to tell them the wrong answer. i did research the different styles of martial arts and i chose TKD not only b/c of the discipline, physical fitness of it but also b/c i like to compete and would like to compete in tournaments and use it as a sport also. if some of you don't like me b/c of why i'm taking it, i don't need to hear your answer if it doesn't partain to the question

Answer 1

Forms are the basic fundamentals of learning to put combination techniques together for a real life fight. just as you must learn to crawl before walking and runnng, you must learn the basics to learn to fight. Very few learn it naturaly and forms help you learn practical applications, but do not use the form in a strick sence in fighting it is only meant to teach you how to form your own combination techniques.

Answer 2

Too much effort is made by people to try and turn systems into separate styles, like the user 's' is arguing. Many people don't even realize Taekwondo is a blanket term, and think Tang Soo Do is a form of Karate. To understand, ignore every and all organization and 'political' group involved, then completely forget the term Taekwondo entirely and look at each individual style on their own. They all evolved from Taekkyeon and Subak. Now enter all these organizations who want to turn it all into some governmentized ordeal, which is a complete load of crap. Most styles came after all this, under the umbrella term Taekwondo. However, by turning this into a specific umbrella term, Tang Soo Do, by rights, follows along with it. The argument regarding the term "Taekwondo" refers to the kwans, but that's the political BS part of it all. The history of the styles, pre-Taekwondo, puts them all under the same blanket. Subcategories of these styles is a political move. Nothing more. I believe that there are some sub-branches of Tang Soo Do, but as it's not quite the umbrella term Taekwondo is they wouldn't be refered to as styles.

Answer 3

The reason you do everything you do from the day you start until you earn your black belt is 'learning how to learn'. The first form in TKD is very basic, simple kicks, punches and blocks. It's purpose is to condition your body to be able to transition from one technique to another without thinking about it. By the time you test for your black belt you will have done that form well over 100 times. You will be able to do it without thought. That's the only reason for it. You won't use it outside the dojang. But you will have memorized the transitions to the point that you can begin learning combinations that will be effective in a fight.

Hopefully, your dojang is reputable and you aren't just going through the motions.

Answer 4

Forms serve several purposes. They are, frist of all a way to make remembering the individual techniques easirer by organizing them. Second, they help to develop balance and a sense of body position and movement. Third they develop stamina from the consistant repetition. Fourth, they helop to develop an understanding of how to move easily from one technique to another, from one stance to another without being awkward. Forms are also a way to practice at full speed and full strength without injuring whoever you may be training with. THAT is what forms are for. Every techniques you will learn is in some form within the system and the training in individual techniques is simply to learn the breakdown and application of the movenments in the forms, to gain an understanding of them.

Answer 5

Form practice has several functions.
First, it is a medium between sparring and pure basics; when you spar, especially at lower levels, you tend to have less-than-perfect body mechanics, and you won't want to use full force every day. By visualizing an opponent when you practice your forms, you are able to deliver sequences of full-force blows aimed for specific targets.
Second, forms generally include attacks and defenses thrown from awkward positions; this is to help you develop balance in your technique.
Third, forms provide an excellent form of conditioning specific to the types of strength (starting strength and anaerobic endurance) used in martial arts.

Train hard!

Answer 6

Certainly I could tell you as I have studied an art for many years.
But I suggest you ask the person training you, this should have been explained on the front end.
I am curious as to why you bothered studying something that you did not explore or understand. I could never do something without first knowing why I am doing it. I also find it very strange that your instructors have not told you why you are doing form.
And you got rank in something you don't even understand!!!!

You may want to start looking at other schools, your instructor is suspect at this point.

Answer 7

depending on what style TKD you take ITF of WTF,In ITF there are 24 forms for the number of hours in the day and they are to simulate a attack of a group of people at once,but as stated earlier all forms help develop basic stances punches and kicks.

Answer 8

The forms are movements which will improve your reflex and flexibility. Form is not just a movement it can be seperated into individual parts which you can use to defend yourself. Some of the skill that you don't learn in your practice are included in the forms.

Answer 9

It helps you learn the techniques.

Answer 10

it doesnt teach you how to fight, just what moves form part of the syllabus. you will find that you dont use them to fight with soon enough.