Many students have asked themselves at least once - "Why am I doing this?". For youngsters, Taekwono forms can be boring and repitious. However, that's exactly why they're done.
Are they meant to be realistic? NO.
Are they meant to be strenuous? NO (although, you can make them).
Are they meant to transfer over directly to fighting? NO.
So why are you doing them? Seems like they're worthless, right?
Wrong.
Although forms teach many things, the most important thing they teach is DISCIPLINE. Learning and repeating forms forces you to have the mental strength and stamina to learn new and unfamiliar techniques in a variety of different situations and patterns.
Forms also improve individual techniques, stability, and self-control. By self-control we mean control over the body and its motions, as well as breathing. A Taekwondo practitioner should be able to stop his body at any time when doing a technique (an obvious exception would be an aerial technique).
Many make the mistake that forms transfer over directly to fighting. Big mistake. They try to make drills simulating "real fighting situations" and incorporate this into their forms. Yes, the ancient Korean forms were meant for practicing fighting, but they have also changed slowly and surely over a period spanning more than one thousand years. Forms have become more and more artistic and a method for practicing self-control and technique than for preparing for actual combat.
Are they meant to be realistic? NO.
Are they meant to be strenuous? NO (although, you can make them).
Are they meant to transfer over directly to fighting? NO.
So why are you doing them? Seems like they're worthless, right?
Wrong.
Although forms teach many things, the most important thing they teach is DISCIPLINE. Learning and repeating forms forces you to have the mental strength and stamina to learn new and unfamiliar techniques in a variety of different situations and patterns.
Forms also improve individual techniques, stability, and self-control. By self-control we mean control over the body and its motions, as well as breathing. A Taekwondo practitioner should be able to stop his body at any time when doing a technique (an obvious exception would be an aerial technique).
Many make the mistake that forms transfer over directly to fighting. Big mistake. They try to make drills simulating "real fighting situations" and incorporate this into their forms. Yes, the ancient Korean forms were meant for practicing fighting, but they have also changed slowly and surely over a period spanning more than one thousand years. Forms have become more and more artistic and a method for practicing self-control and technique than for preparing for actual combat.
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