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| Form Creation Based upon my experiences within demo performance I've have complied a quick step-by-step guide with creating a weapon-based/empty handed form. In not saying my way is the best way or the only way but this is suitable for newcomers to the scene and people who are tired of the standard weapons/ empty handed forms and want to exploit their imagination. Basically I work on 3 Tiers of thinking to creating a form 1)Base 2)Infrastructure 3)Aesthetics. Whether that is Empty hand forms, weapons forms or just basic performance. The look and feel of the Performer You need to think to your self how you want to come across as in performance In my case I want to look like I have a traditional background but still have a flare for showmanship. So I base my ideas on Traditional forms but take what looks good and add a few new parts in. But at the same time, you need to base the form on your training and personality. Basically you need to perform what you feel and more importantly what you know. Performance and overdoing it Performance is a tricky and fickle market at the best of times, you have to produce the goods at the right time and Make the crowd roar by showing them something they have never seen or something that really makes them go "WOW THAT WAS THE BOMB". BUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTT.. You can't just place lots of different tricks in the form and hope for the best. Because the crowd can only go wow a few times before that wow turns in a groan. Placing only a small amount of explosive actions and tricks in a form works but you cant have too little either. Also the length of the form is a major factor, you cant place a ten minute solo form in a performance because the crowd gets bored and the performer get exhausted. But you also need to find the balance so that the form isn't too short either. But you want to leave the crowd gagging and wanting more from you. I try to aim for about 1 minute for a traditional form and about 2 non traditional. Again its all depending on what you as a performer wants Choice of weapons The Basis of a forms look is the style which it comes from Basically the style you base the form on determines the forms action and look. I.E - Sword forms look a lot slower, explosive than a Sai form, which is fast, paced at the beginning to the end. So take the training you've had and base you decision on that Remember you have to perform it, so the form you have to be comfortable with so make the decision on what you can do and like to do. Format of the form Forms as a whole are very Symmetric in nature For example: Kata Taikyoku-Shodan
That is the First 8 moves of first Kata in my freestyle karate, which shows 3 punches, Lots of symmetrical activities block and punch both sides. The crowd is 3d remember so you must show all sides. ....Left and right and front. Action so symmetrical activity is the best way for that, not saying though every single move should be repeated on the different side for the crowd, but at least show them something. The number 3 is based on human psychology; humans as a whole learn and receive data better in the form of 3. Like this guide is in 3 steps (Ahh!!!). Keep the Pattern of the Form simple but effective , Unless you're ready to perform a complex form in front of lots of people. Taking it up, Timing it right I cannot emphasise this enough because often ive seen people perform so called forms which is just a barrage of tricks, you cant over load the viewer with this because you've got to treat them like a child like a teacher would, showing them small snippets of information, making them hungry for more. So don't over do the trick stuff place them at key times like at an end of a fast combo or a slow but powerful move. Timing and timing and timing remember timing is the key to the performance. End and Start and middles and everything else You got to be explosive if your going to wow the viewer, place explosive or dramatic actions in those key places, START, MIDDLE, END Distancing Beware of distance and area of movement, make the form so you can make the crowd involved by moving close but not to close your going to kick that guy in the front row square in the head, again the Crowd is 3d, you got to move back and forwards to get that 3d idea going. Attitude You got to show attitude towards the crowd, be loud, be bold and show you skill, you have to make the crowd follow you and not the other way round. Music Music can make or break a performance choose something you can work too but can also get the crowd clapping Crowd Control Stop and Make the crowd clap, shout, sing whatever, get them going off their seats and moving get the energy high and the forms energy will double. Self Control Make sure your controlled in your form, make the moves crisp and sharp and don't let speed take over and ruin your beloved performance Tips
Hope this has been helpful Any questions : Bodyhammer_blackrage@hotmail.com Happy Forms and Trick peeps - Steve Andrews |
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