I myself failed to really understand the importance of forms. When I started to be serious about MMA, for a while I felt like I should joke about kung fu too, to fit in. I remember being at one of my Thailand training camps, sitting on the mats after a BJJ training and talking to one of the black belts. I said I train kung fu and made some funny joke to lighten it up. But my conversation partner was way ahead of me, and he said: “Yeah I train Northern Shaolin. I still train the forms though, they are great for coordination, balance, or stamina.” I was taken back by the respect I heard from his voice, which I was otherwise not used to hearing from other “modern fighters”.
Forms are indeed a great way to train memory, coordination, space awareness or balance.
But that’s still not all.
What Are Forms (Taolu, Kuen)
Forms, or routines, are sets of movements. Like a book of techniques, that are connected into combinations and larger blocks. Often, a form is not only a list of techniques, but it also shows how to use such techniques, how to pair them together, or strategies.
In kung fu, or traditional wushu, we call them taolu or kuen. You probably have heard of kata in karate, which is the same thing.
Forms are a typical teaching method for traditional martial arts, and students must learn them to be promoted to another belt/level.
We, in kung fu, not only have barehand forms but also forms with weapons and even forms in pairs. Those look like a coordinated fight, however, what they do is they teach how to apply the techniques.
Forms are also a big reason for modern combat fighters, such as boxers, kickboxers etc., to laugh at traditional styles. In their mind, there is no use to just repeat a dance-like routine.
Are Forms Outdated?
As I am standing with one foot in the traditional martial arts field, training since my childhood in karate and kung fu, and with the other foot in the modern martial arts, I can understand.
We often fear or joke about things we don’t understand. And since this is a clash of two worlds, I believe it is one of those cases.
As I proceeded with my striking training in MMA, boxing, and Muay Thai, I also started to uncover new layers in shadowboxing.
Shadowboxing is a practice where you, standing and moving in a fight stance, throw techniques as if there is an imaginary opponent in front of you.
In the beginning, you are just throwing some punches, and kicks, to warm yourself up and get loose.
But as you start to use shadowboxing as a tool to improve, you visualize your opponent and slip, move away, and move forward with intention. There are combinations you put together because those are what you are working on or using often in sparring. You imagine your opponent attacking you in the way that you often fail to defend and here, in your shadowboxing practice, you train that defense.
You move with intention.
The Connections Between Forms and Shadowboxing
You probably know where I am going with this. We are now just a step away from forms.
Mindful shadowboxing and forms teach
balance,
reaction,
space awareness,
attack combinations,
answers to situations,
and the correct standard of techniques, and more.
We just somehow come to the same spot from different directions, which I feel is a common experience I have with kung fu and modern combat.
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed, here is an access to all of my free teaching and training videos, audios and articles: www.kungfuacademic.com/freelibrary
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