Forms
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Posts: 10
I am new to martial arts and my school does not emphasize forms (also, I am doing American karate, so it uses many different styles). Any suggestions about learning forms at home, just for practice and discipline? Any books, etc. you would recommend?
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What are forms! Kata?0
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That sounded like jibberish sorry. I mean is it the thing where you act out a sequence?0
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Don't worry, I knew what you meant! Yep, I mean katas or forms - the sequences of stances and transitions, etc.0
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I think practice your moves you are taught in class without a partner. That is what a kata is really, I don't use them and I am not taught them but I was taught them at an old club.
I don't understand them if I am honest but I'm interested to hear what people say.
Personally I run through what I am taught in my head and anywhere with an open space! I also work on core exercises which benefit you no matter what you do. It's all about repetition for you body to familiarise itself with the basics, how to stand and strike. so squatting and lunge exercises as well as yoga which uses a warrior stance are a good excuse to practice what you do in class. This sounds obvious but a boxer, a karate fighter and Thai fighter all stand differently and they won't change that because that's their core it's comfortable to them. Maybe you can reinforce what you do in class in you other fitness activities?
For punching you can stand in front of a wall and aim at that without power or do it in front of a mirror. If you are brave go to a park where you have space to kick and aim at some sort of object?!
I'm not sure about the discipline aspect being reinforced but I found practicing on my own makes me stronger on the mat.0 -
My style is very traditional, and we emphasize forms. We try to make our moves reflexive, building muscle memory by practicing forms over and over. My style only has 8 forms, but they encompass every block, kick, and strike that is formally in the style, and they incorporate combinations. What I mean by this is a sequential combination of moves that you will be able to use practically. As an example, the move might be to block a club attack, then counter with a elbow to the ribs, strike to the neck, then a kick. The good thing about a formal form, or kata, is the fact that a teacher can correct you if you're not getting it right.
Muscle memory is very important in the martial arts. Not having to think about your next move is an incredible advantage. The tough part is knowing how to adapt it to the situation, and that's why we practice. Think of how a concert pianist can play a complicated and fast piece of music. They're not thinking about where they're putting each finger. You can't think that fast. By practicing it over and over, your body learns what to do without conscious thought.
Sorry about the long winded comment!0 -
What are your classes like?
My Jeet Kune Do classes does not have forms or Katas either. So, aside from working on my blocks with the wooden dummy in the gym. My independent workouts are based upon improving my strength and cardio.
When practicing at home. Be careful about punching and kicking into the air. Start slow. Fast uncontrolled punches into the air can lead to hyper-extension issues with your elbows and shoulders. Same for the hips with kicking.
A good workout for kick control at home is yoga. There are many one foot on the floor yoga stances that help improve balance. These static poses work your legs and abs. And help unlock the hips for higher and more fluid kicks.
Best of luck and have fun!0 -
Thanks everyone! I have enjoyed yoga in the past but haven't done it consistently in the last year or so. I have been thinking about it, and it sounds like I really need to get back on it!0
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Hi. I practice Kung Fu. We have lots and lots of forms. Which I love. It is like dancing but with martial arts. And you are learning to strike and defend at the same time.
Maybe you might consider trying a martial art that includes forms if that is what you enjoy.0 -
If your school does not teach forms/kata then to try to learn one from a book could be pretty difficult. My style is traditional and uses forms and my teacher has his own dvd set sold by Century. As we would learn a new for I would practice with the dvd but even then there are additional things that he did not put on the dvd. A book or a dvd is a good supplement to what your instructor will teach but cannot replace him/her. My first school used kata but the instructor did not have a set of dvd/video tapes to accompany the training and if I purchased one I found that what was on the dvd would be different.
Since your school doesn't use forms, I would practice what they teach. By that I mean mirror your practice to what your class does. If your class warms up by performing punches then do that at home using a mirror to make sure your technique is correct.0 -
Hi. I practice Kung Fu. We have lots and lots of forms. Which I love. It is like dancing but with martial arts. And you are learning to strike and defend at the same time.
Maybe you might consider trying a martial art that includes forms if that is what you enjoy.
YUP!0
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