how do forms help u in martial arts?

Question

seriously i dont get it. how does it make u a better fighter?

Answer 1

kata, forms, taolu are types of choreographed patterns that simulate fight movements

some say its used to develop muscle memory and perfecting tecnhiques against an imaginary opponent.

while others say practicing set movements is unrealistic to help you learn how to fight against a live person.

shadow boxing in thai boxing and western boxing is similar in the sense that you are fighting an imaginary person but its more free you dont have a set pattern you do what comes into your head

being a thai boxer im used to shadow boxing i personally dont see much use in forms but to someone who practices traditional arts it might be very helpful

Answer 2

It's like asking why to learn to hit a speed bag, as I never seen a head move that way. Fact is it teachs you body dynamics. Like when you ride a bike you learn balance that can help you in other areas. Imagine being able to perfect yourself to perform dangerous and scientific principles with ease.
To teach yourself how to perform from various positions and balanced.
Just because you don't see where it fits directly into fighting, doesn't take from the skills it adds to your tool box in which make you a better fighter. Running is in no way fight related. Most runners are skinny. Yet it is promoted for endurance and is effective as a means of conditioning.
Conditioning the body, mind and spirit can only lead to a healthier faster more balanced person.
That is the purpose of Forms. Anyone can learn to just react, but to react with exact precision, and timing well it takes skill. Thats the skill that we as martial artists need.
Now add weapons, try to take up a sharp sword, and swing it with and accuracy fast and watch you cut off your leg. You have no forms or kata experience. It takes alot to learn timing and all, only skilled folks can make the the grade. It is a personal fight, and well that is hard to explain unless your out to develop the person.
Remember Martial Arts includes weapon skills, and well have some skilled weapons master enter the UFC and watch how many fighters enter to challenge. The fighters there have no idea as to weapon skills. Thats why the streets are different.
Man o man I have seen some folks that will disembow you fast, and with no sense of remorse. That is street fighting that is reality. Never judge anyone, weapon skills are a fact and well not as widly shown or taught. How many Pride or UFC folks have weapon skills to equal fighting a master weapon fighter? Ask the Dogg brothers.

Answer 3

They teach you:
control
patience
correct form
basics
where power should be applied

kata and forms aren't all there is to martial arts but they are necessary even when you become high level because it helps with your basics which are the foundation upon which all techniques are built. THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

For example: if you were a boxer you could spar all day nad night but unless you worked on HOW the punches are thrown all the sparring in the world won't do any good.

Answer 4

Basically, it's an exercise in motion and disciplining yourself to precision movements. It's not the same as pre-made techniques, which are examples of what to do when this or that happens; rather, it's taking you through a series of motion in which you can sense every facet of what your body is doing. I.e., at each step of the kata or form you should be asking, "where is my alignment?" "What's my body weight distribution?" "How is my hand or foot placed?" It's not about teaching you to fight per se, but how to read your body to utilize it correctly in the techniques and fights that you do. It's mostly about personal awareness. At least, that's what I've always been taught and understood it to be during my time in Kenpo, Wing Chun, and Battodo. Other styles may have more or less emphasis on kata and different ideas of what they do. If anyone has more info, I'm very interested to hear it.

Answer 5

I have wonder this myself especially when my natural instincts are what I currently do in a sparring match in the dojo, could it be my lack of skill that means I do not use the lessons of the kata I practise? or is it just physical fitness? train for hours just to see any increase in recover time/ speed/ not more power yet anyway. Is it filling time or is it creating better body consciousness? Um ... think you had a better way of asking that question than I did, look forward to hearing better answers on here

Answer 6

There are several reasons; first off, to teach precision, timing, balance, as well as basic principals.
For example, short form 1 in american kenpo has you throw every block while taking step back; this is to get people use to the idea of stepping back, getting a stance and blocking so it can become second nature to beginners, in case there really attack have to use it.
I should point out there's a rumor about japanese katas have secret pressure point techniques in them. I don't think this is true, but it might be.

Answer 7

The forms of a martial art contain all the grappling techniques, Ki development and discharge, pressure point striking placement and throws that you need to defend yourself.

Those people who don't do forms, still do forms. Those who say forms are useless still do techniques that come from forms. Only, they don't have as many techniques and their variations, as they would if they knew kata.

Look at this practitioner: http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=taika+oyata&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv

All the techniques he does, the kyusho and tuidi, is from KATA!!!

Does it look useless to you? This is what proper training in kata does for you. Seek it out. Leave this forum and don't listen to anyone blow something off until you have proved the proper pratice of kata to be useless.

Answer 8

in tkd forms they teach advance moves and help build up reaction and memory of the attack you learn if u area at a good school they will tell what the movement in the forms do

Answer 9

Do you mean katas? Katas help you understand WHY you make the moves that you make and how they give you an advantage over your opponent.

Answer 10

It doesn't it fills up the time sensei/sifu is charging you for and lets you think you're practicing a fight without him having to pay insurance for you to do real sparring