First test completed .. moving like water towards the Second test

[Matt - a simple hobbit]

It has now been a week and a half since I passed my first level forms test. It was a great workout and confirmation that my practice of the forms has led to greater strength, power, and flow ... though very much at beginner levels still. This past Wednesday I received the the first three basic staff drills and have enjoyed beginning again with new material. I am trying to go through the drills twice a day for 15 minutes to begin getting them solid at a slower speed. I subconsciously speed up during these times and I have earned a fair share of knee knocks due to my haste. Each knock of my knee produces the quiet reminder that comes in the form of the voice of Sifu Bronson - train slow, learn fast. 

It has now been almost four months since I have started more in depth training with the forms. In that time I have noticed that my ability to do other activities has improved as well even though I haven't spent much time training or participating in those activities: football, basketball, ju jitsu, and wrestling my daughter (I respond better to her jumping off the bed on my back when I am not looking). The forms have provided a greater balance, coordination, and awareness that was beginning to grow weak as I approached 36 years of age. I used to take these conditions of the body for granted, but I have noticed after the last five years a slow decline in overall athleticism. Training the forms is bringing back much of what was being lost. Here is to moving well into my 70s!

[Joseph Bronson]

Forms training is required once you become a Black Belt but is available to the lower belt ranks in our special Friday evening forms class. In this post Matt is talking about one of the main reasons that forms training is so incredibly valuable. There are very few activities that will build strength, suppleness and flexibility like forms. And forms are something that a person can do at any age to improve health and overall physical performance. I would challenge all of my students to take on forms training as soon as possible to enhance physical conditioning.