Quote History Originally Posted By BrowardMason:
Any of the martial arts that rely heavily on forms are worthless. Go MMA/BJJ if there is a studio in ur AO.
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Forms are just a tool that can be over or mis-used.
They're there to train your body repetitively until you reflexively link certain movements.
If you are a musician, the equivalent is doing your scales.
They are not supposed to be straight up used for combat.
You need sparring for getting used to working with someone who is not cooperating, and you need work on the heavy bag and people holding pads to develop the techniques at full power.
If you have to use the training, the forms shouldn't "be there" in your conscious mind, they should be pulled by your mind reflexively to link actions so you can flow in combat. You should NOT be hitting like you do in sparring, even heavy contact sparring, you SHOULD be hitting like you do on the bag or pads at full power, and you *should* be used to the lack of cooperation due to your sparring.
It's not any one part. It's the whole group of things and how they interact.
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On karate: worry less about that at the start. Rubber hits the road, you need to find a good teacher and a good class (the two do not always come together). Good teachers are NOT the ones that are most capable at *executing* their style/art/system. Good teachers are those who are competent at executing the art who can *also* help people learn it.
Avoid any classes where they will pass you up to the next level of whatever without you showing mastery / proficiency at the requirements for your level. Generically, this means avoid places tthat say "if you stay here x amount of time, you will be x belt/level." When you visit and watch classes, ask them "who's been stuck at their belt/level for a while?"
Make sure to let teachers know what you are looking for in the classes ... self defense purely, or sport, or a mix of both.
ETA: lol, should have looked at the thread date! Serious thread necro.