Why do you do forms?

[Menjo]

Kata is a form of practice and excersize. Like every part of our training, it is useless without the other components. No one should do JUST kata and nothing else, just like you should not do sit-ups only or heavy bag work only.

Well when put into such empathis, if one person only practices kata, and you judge them as doing the "wrong" thing, you must look at thier motives and why they do their style.

There are MA that only have kata, I believe their ideals should be heard and should have just as much say in a situation, usually.

[shotokanwarrior]

kata without bunki is just a dance

[Brandon Fisher]

kata without bunki is just a dance

Excellent comment!!

[elbows_and_knees]

Kata is a form of practice and excersize. Like every part of our training, it is useless without the other components. No one should do JUST kata and nothing else, just like you should not do sit-ups only or heavy bag work only.

Well when put into such empathis, if one person only practices kata, and you judge them as doing the "wrong" thing, you must look at thier motives and why they do their style.

There are MA that only have kata, I believe their ideals should be heard and should have just as much say in a situation, usually.

That's true. Actually, MOST MA originally only did kata - most asian MA, anyway. It's no secret that it was rare for the old jujutsu schools to spar, as they didn't think they could safely train their lethal techniques. It's also no secret that karate exponents like funakoshi were blatantly aganst adding sparring to the style, as they felt it would water down the art. Coincidentally, it DID water it down, but that's because of the point format, not because of sparring itself.

[UseoForce]

It's interesting that western martial arts are completely devoid of forms.

[Menjo]

That's true. Actually, MOST MA originally only did kata - most asian MA, anyway. It's no secret that it was rare for the old jujutsu schools to spar, as they didn't think they could safely train their lethal techniques. It's also no secret that karate exponents like funakoshi were blatantly aganst adding sparring to the style, as they felt it would water down the art. Coincidentally, it DID water it down, but that's because of the point format, not because of sparring itself.

Yea I agree, I beleive Funakoshi did beleive in sparring, its just he didn't beleive in tournaments and the fact that practictioners would soon base thier success in MA by tournaments. Its said that Nakayama in Shotokan had managed to convince him to allow tournaments.

I think that point sparring did water it down, although in thoery...I also think point sparring could work very well, as it holds in my opinion a well thought out construction. I'm starting to like the point sparring system in my club, as I find it not as "light" as other clubs... However, point sparring in my idea was once again "Poisoned" in general by arbitray point systems that have been added over the years.

[Menjo]

It's interesting that western martial arts are completely devoid of forms.

Indeed it is. I made a long post talking about it, but in the end I couldn't get my ideas in a logical order...otherwise I wouldn't have ended up with this.

[elbows_and_knees]

confidence in what? I'd say you get more confidence from sparring...

[elbows_and_knees]

It's interesting that western martial arts are completely devoid of forms.

I've thought about that too. And for wrestling, both eastern and western are void of them.

[UseoForce]

It's interesting that western martial arts are completely devoid of forms.

I've thought about that too. And for wrestling, both eastern and western are void of them.

Judo and jiu-jistu do forms right (albeit with a partner?)

But I guess partner forms are a different matter entirely...