Self-Defense Training and Empty Hand Forms/Kata

Someone once asked me “Why do we train forms if we’re about fighting and self defense?”

Excellent question!!!

To borrow a quote from a fellow practitioner: “Forms and sets, set your form.”

Ask any real shooter or tactical marksman: there is a LOT of attention to detail in even the smallest muscle groups and the placement of every piece! And this must be honed by perfect repetition (and lots of it!), under various types of stress and pressure; multiple sessions of properly drawing the weapon, bringing the muzzle up smoothly while securing the grip on the weapon, lining the front and rear sights up on the target, breathing in time with the motion and properly placing the finger on the trigger to isolate only those muscles needed to squeeze it without moving the sight off of the target. Over and over and over again, often without any live rounds being fired.

Why would developing true skill for empty hand combat be any different?

Solo forms are a practical tool for training/ingraining specific motion without external stimuli or distraction; we’re literally isolating the motion in order to perfect it. Of course, we still train said motion against a live partner, on a bag, etc.. but the solo nature of the form allows us to rifle in on *just* the motion itself, working the proper muscle groups in proper order to make them smooth and efficient – similar to how shooters use ‘dry fire’ drills to improve their technique and accuracy. 

In an ideal self-defense training mindset, forms aren’t meant to be developed as a performance or competitive piece – just one of several tools to improve combative motion, to ‘dry fire’ our motion and hone the technical quality.