THE ROLE OF FORMS

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 THE ROLE OF FORMS 

An excerpt from Way of the Raven Blade Combatives vol. 4 by Fernan Vargas

Forms have become the unwanted uncle of the training world. In these modern times of hard NHB training, Tactical Training and the like there is a tendency to dismiss forms training as useless.

The reality is that forms provide us with an invaluable tool for the perfection of our art. When properly completing a form, the Warrior is given the opportunity to add valuable repetitions of their core skill set. Forms Training will allow you to work on foot work, stances, attacks and defensive movement in a manner that can be very enjoyable. 

Proper form affords you with enhanced balance, power and fluidity. Forms also serve a secondary function with as much, if not more value. 

I remember training with Captain Earl Rogers. While I trained with Captain Rogers for only a short time, I remember him fondly. In fact if it were not for Captain Rogers I doubt you would be reading this book today. I was at a cross roads in my martial arts training when I met him. I was pretty close to regulating the martial arts to the status of part time hobby and his encouragement is honestly the sole reason I launched forward and began teaching. 

Captain Rogers had earned his black belt while serving in the US Air Force. Captain Rogers was fairly close to retirement when I met him. He had been training in the martial arts for many years. One day he asked me if I minded working on forms. At the time I had very little appreciation for forms. I was young and dumb and enjoyed hitting pads and sparring much more. 

Captain Rogers shared with me a very personal insight. He told me that whenever life was not going his way, when he felt stressed or not focused he would turn to his forms. He continued to explain to me that no matter how badly he felt, practicing his forms always helped to center him and his spirit. 

To Captain Rogers the forms were a form of moving meditation, which always helped him to re-focus his energies. I took Captain Rogers at his word and began to follow his lead. I have to say that he was correct. I found the same value in the forms training that he had. 

For this reason I share it here with you, as I feel that it is a valuable tool that we should not ignore. 

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