# a common misconception **URL:** \ **Category:** Kung Fu Forum\ **Created:** [March 22, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688 "2005-03-22T23:05:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![red5angel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/red5angel/32/219_2.png) [@red5angel](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/red5angel)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/1 "2005-03-22T23:05:51Z")
Is there anyone here who believs that forms alone will get them ready for fighting in any form? I’ve read not one but two comments in the last two days about guys who think forms training is all there is. This has also circulatd through the forum a few times in the years I’ve been here. I can’t recall meeting anyone who believes forms alone will will carry you througha real fight or a competition. Anyone else? I know some of the really traditional guys, or more likely the guys who are new to the martial arts thing can sometimes put more stock into the concept fo forms training but I’m curious if anyone really believes that there are people out there who believe forms are enough? ---
**Author:** ![Reggie1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@Reggie1](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/Reggie1)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/2 "2005-03-22T23:07:40Z")
> [@red5angel](#): > > I’m curious if anyone really believes that there are people out there who believe forms are enough? I think that there are people out there who still believe that. I’m just not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![PangQuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@PangQuan](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/PangQuan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/3 "2005-03-22T23:08:14Z")
Those guys are idiots. Forms alone for many years will get you ready to fight a sissy b!tch, thats about it. If you never hit a bag, or a moving person, you will bounce off the first thing you try to hit. ---
**Author:** ![SevenStar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/sevenstar/32/114_2.png) [@SevenStar](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/SevenStar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/4 "2005-03-22T23:12:01Z")
I recently had a big debate with plenty of them on another forum. ---
**Author:** ![red5angel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/red5angel/32/219_2.png) [@red5angel](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/red5angel)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/5 "2005-03-22T23:12:12Z")
I’m just saying, as far as I can remember, even on this forum, I’ve never met anyone who claimed forms alone was enough. Have you guys? ---
**Author:** ![PangQuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@PangQuan](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/PangQuan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/6 "2005-03-22T23:18:50Z")
> [@SevenStar](#): > > I recently had a big debate with plenty of them on another forum. Send em to this forum, we will tell them how it is. ---
**Author:** ![red5angel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/red5angel/32/219_2.png) [@red5angel](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/red5angel)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/7 "2005-03-22T23:20:51Z")
what forum was that, out of curiosity? ---
**Author:** ![jmd161](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/jmd161/32/341_2.png) [@jmd161](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/jmd161)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/8 "2005-03-22T23:22:40Z")
Well, You do actually have ppl out there that believe that. Most adhere to the more forms the better concept. In reality they’re nothing more than forms collectors. jeff:) ---
**Author:** ![MasterKiller](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/masterkiller/32/407_2.png) [@MasterKiller](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/MasterKiller)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:25pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/9 "2005-03-22T23:25:10Z")
> [@red5angel](#): > > what forum was that, out of curiosity? The UnderGround. Those guys are big on forms. ---
**Author:** ![joedoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dc4da7/32.png) [@joedoe](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/joedoe)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/10 "2005-03-22T23:57:57Z")
I believe in it. But then I believe in Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WinterPalm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a3d4f5/32.png) [@WinterPalm](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/WinterPalm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/11 "2005-03-23T00:21:10Z")
I don’t believe at all that Traditional means only forms. That would be ridiculous. I think that the form of art you are practicing is very important and I think that practicing the forms a lot is very important. There are many different types of forms and some are not meant for fighting but for personal cultivation, conditioning, and honing a martial art skill. I don’t think it is appropriate to say that traditional means ‘only’ forms. The traditional people that I have met are all very interested in forms but also very serious about fighting and actual combat application. Otherwise you’ve got yourself a dance school! ---
**Author:** ![PangQuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9f8e36/32.png) [@PangQuan](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/PangQuan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/12 "2005-03-23T01:11:14Z")
Forms are very important, but not the entire world. They give you the oportunity to practice a multitude of techniques from many different postures, and help develop your stabilizer muscles, which will highly improve your balance. You also get better at ambidextrious movement. There is a very long list as to what forms do for you physically and mentally. But nothing in any form can do what kicking a heavy bag 100 times will do for you. It is simple logic. ---
**Author:** ![yenhoi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/yenhoi/32/185_2.png) [@yenhoi](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/yenhoi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/13 "2005-03-23T01:30:53Z")
What do you mean by ready for fighting? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![yenhoi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/yenhoi/32/185_2.png) [@yenhoi](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/yenhoi)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/14 "2005-03-23T01:31:49Z")
… and what do you mean by forms alone? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Liokault](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/liokault/32/289_2.png) [@Liokault](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/Liokault)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/15 "2005-03-23T01:50:43Z")
Indeed, Another common missconception is that techniques that are hidden in the form, once discovered suddenly become viable, with no further training. Like you dont need to drill or pressure test a move before you own in. ---
**Author:** ![Starchaser107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@Starchaser107](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/Starchaser107)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/16 "2005-03-23T03:16:44Z")
hmnn. first of all. I don’t believe forms alone can get people ready for fighting anything more than thier shadows, and frightening non martial people who don’t know any better. that being said. what do you think about two person sets? if one practices multiple two partner or 3 partner sets , do you think that will assist one in getting ready for actual random combat? just throwing that out there. ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinlueb](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/shaolinlueb/32/425_2.png) [@Shaolinlueb](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/Shaolinlueb)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/17 "2005-03-23T03:46:06Z")
forms have a purpose and they have a purpose when it comes to fighting. teaching you to be a fighter is not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![SevenStar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/sevenstar/32/114_2.png) [@SevenStar](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/SevenStar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/18 "2005-03-23T04:47:39Z")
> [@red5angel](#): > > what forum was that, out of curiosity? karateforums ---
**Author:** ![web777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/53a042/32.png) [@web777](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/web777)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/19 "2005-03-23T07:39:28Z")
> [@Starchaser107](#): > > what do you think about two person sets? > if one practices multiple two partner or 3 partner sets , do you think that will assist one in getting ready for actual random combat? > > just throwing that out there. Good question! I think 2 man forms help considerably. You learn timing and space against different size opponents. But it’s still no supstitute for sparring. ---
**Author:** ![Becca](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.kungfumagazine.com/becca/32/410_2.png) [@Becca](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/u/Becca)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688/20 "2005-03-23T08:43:04Z")
> [@red5angel](#): > > I’m just saying, as far as I can remember, even on this forum, I’ve never met anyone who claimed forms alone was enough. Have you guys? Yes. My cousin’s wife. :rolleyes: She studies karate. She does do some point sparring, too, but her “skills” look like they would be more at home in a gymnastics compatition. [Next page](https://forum.kungfumagazine.com/t/a-common-misconception/31688.md?page=2)