Forms were created as a way to preserve the arts. They are a means to record the system, they are the original syllabus. The forms record all the key combative principles, techniques and drills of the system. Forms that are practiced without the practical applications are useless and thus training them loses all meaning. Remember, I’m talking here about the combative aspect of the martial art, it’s sole purpose. If you choose to practice forms or katas for competition reasons then that’s different and entirely up to you. Without the practical, realistic, applications of the forms all you have is a partial art instead of a martial art.
Don’t misread what I’m saying either. Forms do not give you the ability to fight. There are plenty of great fighters that don’t do forms. We fight with the info from the forms, not with the forms. The forms give you some suggested applications. Form applications should be drilled in a realistic manner, bearing in mind that the drills should be realistic, but they are not real. They then need to be tested. Form based sparring drills are an excellent and realistic way of drilling your techniques, they are also a great way to test your skills and your ability to adapt to whatever crops up within the ’mess’ that is realism. Drills shouldn’t always feel clean, clear and precise, applied fighting is rough and ready.
Ideally we all should strive to train with a partner, but, if no partner is available we should practice our solo forms. Shadow sparring and bag work is a boxer’s forms, so to speak. Should a boxer miss out working on a heavy bag and just go straight into sparring? Has bag work no value? Bag work can improve your coordination, combinations, footwork, speed, power etc. Forms give all of this except for the development of power. This is another area where we need to supplement our training. To not develop our tools is crazy. The only way to learn to hit hard is to hit things hard. A good punch is a good punch irrespective of style or system. The form based sparring using the info and applications from the forms can help us improve our chances of landing our good punch.
All applications of the forms are designed to either leave your opponent in a vulnerable position or end the fight there and then. All the movements in the forms are significant. If the hand is pulled back to the side it has a purpose, not just a posture. Every move in the form is designed for real combat and not, as some Masters and Grandmasters are saying, just for training turning, two way energy, or callisthenics to cool you down after finishing the forms. One even said that there are no set applications in the forms. Ridiculous!!!!!. The key is also to understand why the techniques work. There are many effective applications for each movement. The techniques of the forms deal with likely scenarios found in civilian altercations, not the battlefield! Wing Chun was never taught to armies. It was handed down in secret until Ip Man. Wing Chun is all about self preservation. Forms are about combat and it’s important to keep that in mind during your practice.
To me, Wing Chun students (or any art) that don’t study ALL of the practical applications of the forms will only ever learn a hollow shell of the art. It is within the true applications of our forms that we find all the depth and subtleties that make Wing Chun so amazingly rewarding.
I hope this article has, at least, made you aware of anything you could use to further your skill and, stay on form. ;-D
Paul.
