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Control comes from the body not from the arm or leg. To stop a punch at a precise point, you do not try to stop the arm’s movement or “pull” the punch; you stop the shoulder’s movement. The punch is always at full power and full extension. The shoulder then controls the point at which the arm reaches full extension. Likewise, the hip controls the leg. Practice striking target three ways: stopping just short of the target, just tapping the target, and full penetration of the target. These three methods will cover every circumstance where a punch of kick is needed; ranging from friendly sparring to lethal self-defense.
Forms train your muscles to perform the motions of a perfect technique. The repetition creates muscle memory so you perform the techniques instinctively. When you first learned to drive, you had to think about what to do to stop the car and you usually over braked. Now your body instantly and instinctively applies the amount of brake required according to the situation. Tiger Woods plays golf daily (when not with mistresses), but during a game there is little driving. Therefore, he spends hours a day just driving, until the motion becomes instinctive. Forms are more a mental exercise than a physical one. They teach you to be able to perform precisely while under stress.
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