Another thing that I noticed is what I think is some rather odd timing choices in forms performance. I’m not talking about things like broken rhythm… such staccato movements can actually help. Rather, I’m alluding to when an accepted performance of a form would have the martial artist pause after a defensive action, then continue with what would be the counter attack. Maybe I’m over thinking this, but to me that constant practice of a form would drill some bad habits into the student, so that it would be second nature for them to pause when performing that move in real life. In actual combat, any sort of defensive move… parries, blocks, sidesteps… should have a counter follow immediately, usually within the same second. It’s generally that way bare handed, so why should it be any different with weapons? I would think a practical way to practice a form is to link the defense and attack as tightly as possible, similar to how they would do so in an actual combat situation. There are many barehanded forms that do this, and indeed, there are many weapons forms that do also. But I’ve also seen forms where the student would dramatically pause in a parry like motion, and then continue with an attack of some kind. It may look pretty, but it’s definitely not showing any type of real martial timing, at least to my admittedly novice perspective.

To me, it’s things like this (along with the continued prevalence of practicing with ‘weapons’ that are far removed from their real counterparts) that keep weapons practice in martial arts from being seen with the seriousness and reverence it deserves.

I bought the Bandit Knife book. I’m looking forward to getting the DVD.