However, repetition is not enough. When you practice your forms, each movement has to have intent. Without intent, your forms and movements have no meaning, and without meaning your forms are useless. Look at your targets. Make your intent obvious for all to see. It's not enough to merely walk through the movements; you must practice as if you are actually applying the movements against real opponents. You must have a deep understanding of each technique that you execute. Do each technique with speed, power, balance, flow and focus. If you are missing one of these motions, your technique will be weak.

You must evaluate each technique and its application and ask yourself these following questions: Against what type of attack would this movement be used? Is the movement adaptable to my body type? What muscles are being used? Is my body aligned correctly? Is my timing correct? And the list goes on.

Do your technique correctly before you practice it. If you practice a poor technique 1000 times, you will just get better at performing poorly. Do not be satisfied with simply memorizing the movements; rather penetrate the true intention beneath the technique. One must strive to perform each movement in as exact a manner as possible, mimicking what has been shown to the smallest details. One must also strive to capture the spirit of the movements. Look closely at your timing, subtle gestures, and facial expressions. For example, if you are doing a tiger technique, your stance must be well grounded, your technique done with great power, speed and determination and your facial expression should be tense and aggressive. If you are executing a monkey technique your stance should be low and relaxed, your technique done with great speed and agility and your facial expression should be relaxed and playful. If you fail to do this, your forms will be empty and lifeless.

Although forms seem to have a deeper meaning behind the movements, there's no real secret to Kung Fu, just common sense. Kung Fu movements are always in accordance to the human body's physical structure. Each movement is also subject to the laws of physics. If you understand your body and your body's physics, then your forms will be better.

Kung Fu forms have been passed down for generations. They have stood the test of time, and preserved for their value for hundreds of years. Those sets that were ineffective and without value become extinct. You must take each form, each movement, that you've learned and cherish it. Don't be a prisoner of your form; make each form your form. Do each technique like your life depended on it; do it with heart; do it with spirit; dot it for yourself. It is not the quantity of training that is important, but in the quality. So train wisely.

Written By Sifu Rino Côté