The Magic Power of Forms

 "“To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.”
― Bruce Lee

In the martial arts there are patterns of movements and techniques performed in a sequence, simulating fighing called forms. In Japanese arts like karate it is called katas, which is pretty popular to hear. In Chinese arts you'll hear kuen, meaning fist or set. In Korean arts the term is poomse, or traditionally hyungs. The traditional Taekwondo forms were known as tuls. Regardless of the terms, they are all known as forms.

The benefits of forms vary greatly, and in ways that the common person, or even the beginner student couldn't fathom. But training in forms develops coordination, memory retention, breath control, focus, structured thinking, detail attention, develops muscle memory, synchronized breathing, and  endurance. Although some of the techniques in which they are performed are not the way you would actually apply perhaps in a fighting situation, you are still developing the muscle memory and body functions to do so.

Some people do not understand, nor appreciate the work the forms can do for the student. But there are a great deal of benefits. Some of my best training comes from the work I do in my forms. From drills challenges, applications, and just the repetitions themselves bring so much to my training. Some of my favorite mentoring times is when I work with my mentor Master Balon. The plethora of knowledge he has in forms I emulate so much and love working with him. He challenges me and pushes the envelope every time we do forms.

I have been training for sixteen years, and some of these forms I have done for just that much time in itself. So the forms mean a great deal more to me in fact. Believe it or not, my forms are a time machine for me. Doing my forms can bring me back into time. I have performed some of these forms for so many years, I can remember key moments in my last sixteen years doing some of these forms, competing with some of these forms, teaching all of these forms for so many years. Sometimes doing the forms can bring me back to that very moment when I first learned it. I can remember the feel of the time, what was going on in my life at the time, who was in my life at the time, the periods of time I taught a particular student and what successes they have had with a form.

You can imagine how many times and to the thousands of students I have taught the white belt form, Chon-Ji. This is an easy way I have passed on my teaching and lessons to my students. The underlying lessons within each form, the story and history behind each form, the work my students continually will put into their forms, the legacy goes on.

I remember learning Yul Gok, I was ten years old, I remember the feel of that time, who my instructors were, what my school was like, who I was training with. I also remember the feelings of times I taught certain students this form. I remember being a Black Belt and learning Po Ehn, the first form I received a gold medal with. I remember learning Koryo and competing against Dr. Reznik's top student's Keumkang at his tournament when I was 15 years old. I remember KoDang, the last form my first master taught me. I remember learning Juche, the first form I ever taught to myself. I remember the days with no job, in my first apartment learning the 8 Taeguek forms in my dining room. I remember Master Balon teaching me Moon Moo, the first form taught to me for five years and first gold medal I received at a national level.

I remember teaching Gaebeck to Samantha Volk, I remember teaching Taeguek 3 to William Stiehl, I remember teaching Choong Jang to Andrew Kranich, I remember teaching Hwa Rang to Andrea Malik, I remember teaching Kwan Gae to Frankie Peracchio, I remember teaching Amanda Vignali Choong Moo, I remember teaching Jackie DeRocher Taeguek 6, I remember teaching Owen Hagmaier Po Ehn, I remember teaching Jason Labarbera Joon Gun, I remember teaching Suh Chong El Hyung to Ethan Levy, I remember teaching Dan Gun to Rebecca Wright, I can go on and on.

But the forms themselves are like people. All people are different. Each form is different. Each has certain qualities that makes it unique, yet have similar principles that it stands on. Just like people! When you can really hone in on what makes each form THAT form, a greater and deeper understanding of the form is ingrained within you. What that form is teaching becomes clearer. Just like in people. Each person comes into your life with a lesson and you grow.

The other beautiful thing is that you can always improve. I am a 4th Degree Black Belt and I am STILL making my Chon-Ji better! Isn't that amazing? The sky is the limit! As such is with our own personal growth. Do you believe I get this from forms? It is possible! And it is something I absolutely love teaching and passing on. I personally know over 70 martial arts forms from four styles of Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Karate, and Tang Soo Do. My thirst for learning forms, discovering style and technique as well as new grace is a wonderful quest. It is also a great tradition to be passing on.

To me, learning forms is a magic in itself. It i a great gift as a master to be able to pass on these forms and use them as a tool to teaching greater and deeper lessons. As the students enhance their training, and they move on in years they can learn more and more, benefit beyond measure, and really appreciate them on a different sense. And I am so grateful to have that opportunity to learning and teaching forms.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO



(forms are like people)

(forms going through time)

(purpose of forms, benefits of forms)