How Do You Remember Martial Arts Forms?
Many martial arts styles use forms (kata, hyung) as a principal method of passing on the art. Form training allows you to discover your optimal body mechanics for each technique. Other physical attributes developed through form practice include strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. The first step necessary for gaining all these wonderful benefits and skills is memorization – remembering the movements from beginning to end. For some students, this process is easy. If not, the following suggestions are for you. The most basic method of setting the movements in your mind and body is practicing the form over and over. But how many times is enough? Martial arts masters recommend a minimum of 300 repetitions for basic memorization to as many as 10,000 repetitions for mastery. While repetition is the key to skill, thoughtless repetition is not, which leads to my next suggestions. Disrupt your muscle memory. Muscle memory is important for developing swift and smooth transitions between
