Guest Opinion
Confusing Form with Function in Martial Arts
By Joel Kupfersmid, PhD
Many years ago a nurse told me her husband,
having a knee injury, flunked the third-
degree black belt test because his form for
the roundhouse kick was unacceptable when
breaking boards. Both were upset because:
(1) his roundhouse kick broke the boards, (2)
this injury was long standing, and (3) this
same “unacceptable” form existed when tested
for his first- and second-degree black belts.
This conversation reignited my memories of
players and coaches often confusing form
with function in baseball. To use hitting as
an example, the goal (function) is to achieve
a base hit. The way one swings the bat is the
form used. The swing for most major league
players is similar: the batter’s stance as the
plate resembles a sparing stance with the
majority of weight on the back leg, hands are
close together when gripping the bat, and the
lead foot is raised slightly as the hitter steps
towards the pitcher and swings the bat.
Many fail to understand this batting form
is effective for the majority of players. Other
player’s form deviate from this norm, yet
they consistently get base hits. When the
function (getting base hits) is achieved, it
is ill-advised to alter the person’s form.
Baseball is replete with successful hitters whose
batting form was atypical. For example, Lance
Berkman hit 366 career home runs. Yet, for his
stance, he spreads his feet wide apart, distributing
weight evenly on both legs. He never stepped
towards the pitcher on a swing. The highest
career batting average (.366) is held by Ty Cobb.
When gripping the bat, Cobb’s hands were two
to three inches apart. With 511 career home
runs, when stepping into the pitch, Mel Ott
raised the knee of his lead leg up to his belt.
Fortunately, hitting coaches did not insist these
players copy the form of their baseball peers.Many instructors of martial arts exemplified
this same form-to-function confusion. The
purpose of breaking boards is to demonstrate
a strike has sufficient force (i.e., its function
or goal). The way one strikes is the form. Like
batting, certain forms are taught that, for the
majority, produce the most force. But, this is
not the only way to achieve sufficient power.
One demonstrates their idiosyncratic form is
functional by breaking boards. This is exactly
what the nurse’s husband did. If there is only
one acceptable form, why break boards? Just
demonstrate this form by striking air.
The current practice of forms/kata also illustrates
the forms-function confusion. Martial arts were
invented to provide self defense for weaponless
solders in battle. Forms/kata provided ways
to practice these skills. Later, forms/kata were
modified by teachers not wanting to divulge their
secret system of techniques. Likewise in China,
where teaching of martial arts was prohibited to
civilians, many stances, blocks, and strikes were
disguised to allow practice without detection.
Thus, forms/kata altered sparring stances to front
stances or facing one’s potential attacker face-to-
face. Non-striking hand/arm were chambered
by one’s side rather than used to block, and
striking hand/arms remained extended rather
than quickly retracted. All these are antithetical
to good self-defense. Yet, these forms/kata are
taught in martial arts schools across the world
when, for over 100 years, there has been no need
for disguise. The function of forms/kata as a
way to practice self-defense has been lost. Now
the use of forms/kata for forms/kata sake takes
precedence, requiring students to repeatedly
practice techniques that subvert good self-defense.
Dr. Kupfersmid is a psychologist with black belts
in Kwanmukan Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and weapons.
He teaches self-defense at Kent State University
and has authored Self-Defense for Women
& Men of Small Stature: 5 Second Fight.14 January 2018 / taekwondotimes.com