Common traits of forms

[oerjan]

Hi everyone. I was thinking about this the other day. Most martial arts from China/Japan/Okinawa and Korea does form in their practise. What struck me the other day was that many things seem to repeat themselves in many forms across the different "styles". For instance

many (not all) forms seems to start toward the left

many forms start with a movement that many interpret as a "block"

many forms end up on the (roughly) same spot as it started

many forms contain techniques repeated 3 times in a row

most of the turns in forms done 360 or 270 degrees follow a clockwise direction.

etc.

The thing I was wondering is why does these things appear in so many different forms in so many different "styles"? And I was also wondering if there are more traits that appear that I have not thought of?

[richardconceicao]

i think i can take a stab at some of these. they are similar because i believe that they all come from a common core.
1. older forms tend to start to the right as combat derived you went out with your best shot.
2. most initial movements while termed block, probably are not.
3. ending up in the same spot was a later consideration to ensure equal length steps--not a combat consideration.
4. usually r-l-r combos, both for attack, also 3 strikes tend to weaken guardian chi
5. most of the turns in many patterns are actually throws driven off opponents right hand attack so many forms are actually counter clockwise (turning to your left)
my opinion all, but it seems to be reasonably consistent and make combative and historical sense.

[ky0sa]

Interesting topic.

I think most forms are related on a giant family tree, the Korean and Japanese ones having come from Okinawa, which may have gotten them from China. Having studied an art, it'd be pretty hard to invent a completely unique form with no old influences whatsoever.

Many movements seem to be repeated because they're important and need to be practised. These will be the older movements I think. For instance, in the ITF forms there are many, many straight arm punches and very few flying kicks. The straight arm punches came from an older art, Karate, while the flying kicks are a newer focus.

The left hand start, initial block, three time repeat, ending on the starting spot are probably all inherited features. Spandrels maybe?

In the ITF forms the 270/360 turns are usually anti-clockwise, and almost all are lefthanded at the start, as you both say.