Fighting vs Forms

[Trailer_Ape]

It’s like science class: forms are the textbook and sparring is the lab. Nothing in the lab ever goes exactly as it does in the textbooks. Too many variables.

Nailed it! Awesome analogy!

This was my thought, also, but I couldn't have conveyed it as well.

[bushido_man96]

Conversely, lots of kicks, at least in Korean styles, never show up in forms.

This depends on the style or organization. There are few organizations out there that have developed different forms that include more of the kicks. The ATA has a set of forms that gradually increase the difficulty level of the kicks included. I know these aren't viewed as "traditional" forms, but what they have done is created a progressive training tool for advancing kicking.