Why do you do forms?

[ShoreiSmurf]

Why do we do any of the training excersises we do? Practice and repetition make us better. Kicking a heavy bag a hundred times may seem silly to some people, but we know that by practicing we become better. Kata is a great way to practice our techniques in combination with each other. In each kata, we practice our blocks, stances, strikes and kicks. If you do it with enough intensity, you also get a great workout.

I agree to the fullest. Where else to you get to put 100% of your full self and power in to actual work.

Not during sparring, you may kill your doshi.

[UseoForce]

That's true for stand-up sparring, not really true for grappling. Read "Mastering Jujitsu"

[UseoForce]

In fact, everyone: READ MASTERING JUJITSU RIGHT NOW!

(no, I don't work for Renzo Gracie, but this book has some of the best martial arts philosophy discussion, better perhaps than the Tao of Jeet Kune do...)

[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.

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

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

When I said wrestling, I actually wasn't referring to them. By asian wrestling, I am thinking more along the lines of sumo and shuai chiao.

[elbows_and_knees]

I agree to the fullest. Where else to you get to put 100% of your full self and power in to actual work.

Not during sparring, you may kill your doshi.

there's not much benefit to hitting the air at full power. if you want to hit full power, get a heavy bag. that will benefit you more and injure you less. if you are grappling, yes, you can go at 100%. sparring, you can get close, but you shouldn't do it any more than a few times per month. If you go more often, only go about 60-70% - still enough to KO someone,making it realistic. I'd rather spar 60% daily than go 100% on air.

[UseoForce]

I agree to the fullest. Where else to you get to put 100% of your full self and power in to actual work.

Not during sparring, you may kill your doshi.

there's not much benefit to hitting the air at full power. if you want to hit full power, get a heavy bag. that will benefit you more and injure you less. if you are grappling, yes, you can go at 100%. sparring, you can get close, but you shouldn't do it any more than a few times per month. If you go more often, only go about 60-70% - still enough to KO someone,making it realistic. I'd rather spar 60% daily than go 100% on air.

Totally agree

[Menjo]

Hitting air full power has helped me, you have to do it right.

I dont understand the thinking that it wouldn't help. Plus it wont hurt joints...Many MA do this...

Edited March 29, 2006 by Menjo

[UseoForce]

To me, hitting the air full-power sounds like a great way to hyperextend a joint.

[ShoreiSmurf]

elbows_and_knees: Okay, First of all, lets not assume because there is a white belt under my name, that I am a white belt in real life. Not only that I have sports med. training. It just means I am new to the forum.

I have been studing martial arts for 15 years and own my own dojo, as I am sure there are many here that do too. However, that is why we join these forums is to share, to learn, and to expand our training. I know there is a use for heavy bags and speed bags. However, you can only go 100% on them for so long before you actually do impact injury to your joints, even using the most perfect technique in the world. Second, you can go 100% with grappling for the most part, but you never put on an arm bar, shoulder lock, knee bar, or ankle lock on to the point it actually snaps out of joint. How would your doshi be able to continue training without suffering permanent injuries Getting knocked out and hurt is one thing, I believe this is great pain and body conditioning, even though it has its effects on the body too.

I hope none of this is making you mad, and as I stated above: I know many of us are experinced artist, so I am only talking with respect to you about your opinions. But in the end UseoForce supports my philosophy about kata training being the only place you can do truely 100% power

Here is how:

"there's not much benefit to hitting the air at full power. if you want to hit full power, get a heavy bag. that will benefit you more and injure you less. if you are grappling, yes, you can go at 100%. sparring, you can get close, but you shouldn't do it any more than a few times per month. If you go more often, only go about 60-70% - still enough to KO someone,making it realistic."

[UseoForce]

elbows_and_knees: Okay, First of all, lets not assume because there is a white belt under my name, that I am a white belt in real life. Not only that I have sports med. training. It just means I am new to the forum.

I have been studing martial arts for 15 years and own my own dojo, as I am sure there are many here that do too. However, that is why we join these forums is to share, to learn, and to expand our training. I know there is a use for heavy bags and speed bags. However, you can only go 100% on them for so long before you actually do impact injury to your joints, even using the most perfect technique in the world. Second, you can go 100% with grappling for the most part, but you never put on an arm bar, shoulder lock, knee bar, or ankle lock on to the point it actually snaps out of joint. How would your doshi be able to continue training without suffering permanent injuries Getting knocked out and hurt is one thing, I believe this is great pain and body conditioning, even though it has its effects on the body too.

I hope none of this is making you mad, and as I stated above: I know many of us are experinced artist, so I am only talking with respect to you about your opinions. But in the end UseoForce supports my philosophy about kata training being the only place you can do truely 100% power

Here is how:

"there's not much benefit to hitting the air at full power. if you want to hit full power, get a heavy bag. that will benefit you more and injure you less. if you are grappling, yes, you can go at 100%. sparring, you can get close, but you shouldn't do it any more than a few times per month. If you go more often, only go about 60-70% - still enough to KO someone,making it realistic."

So what'd I do...?