Question 002: Pattern usefulness

 

“First, there is no TIMING, without a resisting opponent in front of you. Since there is no timing to be had, your reflexes, or response time against a resisting opponent, will not change, increase, or be helped in the least.” Maybe, but forms were never meant to train your timing (other than hand-foot timing). Does mixed martial art grappling train your timing for punches and kicks?

“Second, there is no impact, as there is against a heavy bag. So there will be no benefit to your strength, body mechanics, or conditioning. In fact, your body mechanics may become altered in correctly due to the fact that you are not making impact against anything, but merely striking 'air'.” It is true there is no impact in forms. But does every punch or kick make contact during a fight? You must learn to control your techniques and focus your power in case you miss your target or the target moves. Forms train control; the heavy bag trains impact resistance.

“Thirdly, even when shadowboxing (another comparison morticians like to make when making zombies) [What does this mean?], you never want to repeat the same series of movements to many times in a row!” Again the author mixes apples and oranges. The statements made about shadow boxing are true, but what does showdown boxing have to do with forms practice? They are two separate training methods. Boxers only use a jab, cross, hook, and upper cut. How do they train using with only four techniques without some repetition? There have been thousands of outstanding martial arts fighters who were also outstanding forms competitors. The two skills are not exclusive.