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Understanding Your Forms
Each movement in every form, drill, or technique, no matter how simple it may look , has multiple applications. Understanding these applications can and will help you improve your forms greatly. When doing a particular move in a form, some questions need to be addressed, to better understand the applica-tions of that move. Here is a quick check list that you can use when practicing your forms.
Can the move be used as a strike? This could be any kind of blow to a specific target like hitting pressure points etc. Can the move be a block or a redirection of the attack? Am I simply positioning myself, closing or opening the distance between myself and the opponent? Am I trying to unbalance my attacker? This could be any type of throw, sweep, takedown or push. Can the move be used as a chin-na technique, this includes joint locks, grasping nerve points, dividing tendons, muscles or sealing the breath. Is the movement a release or a counter to a chin-na technique.
Even if the move looks like a simple block. It is important to understand that the above elements should be present in each movement or combination of movements in any given form. With this in mind practice your forms not like a simple dance, but understand each movement and it's applications. In turn, your Kung Fu will become richer and stronger.
Written By Sifu Rino Côté
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