Applying slow motion

[Spartacus Maximus]

Has anyone else experimented with slow motion? Most martial arts that have forms do them with at least some speed.

Tai Chi is probably the only exception, or at least the most iconic slow-motion(compared to almost every other) martial art. 

Does anyone else often practise their martial art’s forms in slow-motion like Tai Chi? What have you learned or discovered by doing that? 

[sensei8]

9 hours ago, Spartacus Maximus said:

Does anyone else often practise their martial art’s forms in slow-motion like Tai Chi?

All of the time; since day one; it’s always been a part of our training, and of course, that training continued with my own students.

9 hours ago, Spartacus Maximus said:

What have you learned or discovered by doing that? 

You want to greatly refine your development and skills?!? You want to strength and flexibility?!? You want to increase your understanding of your techniques?!? You want to improve your focus?!? You want to enhance your “mind like the water…mind like the moon”?!?

Then incorporate training your forms in slow motion. Things can be missed that needs to be corrected when moving said form at the prescribed speed that was set by whomever.

Forms must be torn apart and put pack together over and over, and not training like an autonomous whatever.

I’m always speaking towards the importance of maturing in one’s techniques for the betterment of one’s martial art. Adding slow-motion to one’s forms training will benefit a great many things that need to be addressed appropriately.

[bushido_man96]

I've done slow-motion forms two different ways in the past (not lately, though).

1.  Just doing the form slowly.  Like 3-5 seconds per move.

2.  Doing the moves slowly, 3-5 seconds, but with tension.  This one can really wear you out.

[aurik]

I tend to do my kata in one of 4 different ways:

- Slow motion, focusing on making sure each move is *just right*.  Trying to program new movement patterns into your brain.

- Normal/full speed, no power - Again, going through the motions, getting the flow down

- Slow speed, full power - Feeling how full power feels with each movement.  Hit every movement with full power, then move on to the next one.

- Balanced power & speed - the way you would perform the kata on a test or in a tournament.  Find the balance of speed/power/expression that works for you.

I find the slow motion kata to be an invaluable tool for letting your brain work through all the nuances of how a kata is supposed to look and give you a chance to get the muscle memory programmed just right.

[sensei8]

I’d say that training forms in slow motion is akin to shadow boxing and what they both give the practitioners…focus and attention to detail.