The first form in your system

[skribs]

Tell me about the first form in your system (if your system has forms). In addition to the form itself, I'd like to know about how it's used.

1. How difficult is the form? Is it a small series of a few basic techniques repeated several times, or is it a long form where every technique or combination is unique? (An image or video would help).
2. How early do students start on it? Is it something students start Day 1, or are their basic movements they learn first before combining it into the form?
3. How long is it before students graduate on to Form 2?
4. In how much detail do beginner students learn the form before moving on to Form 2?
5. What are the benefits of Form 1 for beginner students, and how is it used in their training?
6. Any other comments regarding Form 1 in your system?

In every Taekwondo class I've been a part of, the basic form has been virtually the same. Either called "Kibon 1" or "Tiger 1", it usually follows this basic I-shape pattern for 16 or 20 steps:

The first TKD school I was part of had Exercises (mini forms) in addition to Forms. The first 3 exercises were learned before Kibon 1. Exercise 1 had eight techniques: four down blocks and four punches, one of each in each cardinal direction.

In answering my own questions from above:

1. These forms are incredibly easy compared to the others. Although some new folks struggle to remember how many punches in each direction, when to kiyhap, which foot or hand to move when. This is especially true of younger kids (age 4-6) or adults that haven't done any sort of physical education in a long time.
2. Depending on the age group, this may start right away, or it might start midway through the "beginner" program. In the first school I attended, you learned 3 exercises before Kibon 1. In the second school, adults learned Kibon 1 right away, but kids learned Kibon 1 after testing into yellow belt. In the third school, most students learned Tiger 1 at white belt, but in the "Little Tigers" class it was started a few stripes in, and progress through the form broken up over a few more stripes.
3. In every school, it was 2-3 months before you were eligible to test into the next belt. If you knew the steps of the form and could perform them at a basic level without error, you would test for the next belt and then start on the next form.
4. Students needed to understand the basic concept of a front stance (long step, front knee bent, back knee straight), and the basic motion of a down block and punch.
5. I believe the purpose of this form is "how to do forms" more than anything else. It's like the sample questions at the beginning of an online quiz that teach you how to use the features of the testing engine. (Note, we do practice the application of step, block, and punch. We just don't necessarily connect it to Form 1. In the examples where kids do not learn Form 1 until they are a few tests in, they still practice blocks and punches before learning the form.)
6. I think these forms serve the purpose in #5 well. I'm curious how common it is for Form 1 in a system to be this basic, or if it's common outside of TKD (or even outside of the style of TKD I'm familiar with) for Form 1 to be more complex or used in more depth.

 

[SirKicksAlot]

In my Taekwon Do school, the first form is Palgwe 1 learned simultaneously with Taegeuk 1. I think the kids learn some basic form before these, but the adults go straight to them. Then in my Tang Soo Do school, we learned Kicho Hyung Il Bo, which is a very basic capital I shaped pattern consisting of low blocks/ punches, actually it is the form in the picture you posted.

 

[isshinryuronin]

Isshinryu's first kata is seisan. It contains our 3 basic stances, two methods of stepping, low blocks, outward mid blocks (closed and open handed), a double high block, a takedown, a couple of elbow breaks, an ankle break, a few front kicks, lead and reverse punches, vertical backfists and grabbing and pulling - about 24 steps and 44 hand techniques total (depending on how you break it up). All strikes and blocks are done stepping into the opponent.

This kata is one of the oldest, from the 1700's, probably brought to Okinawa from China by Matsumura, and has been passed down in various versions to several Okinawan styles. We do not use kata that have been specifically designed for beginner, intermediate or advanced students, being originally designed prior to the art opening up to the general public, although our version is less complex than others.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

The 1st long fist form is 10 road Tan Tui. It's 10 left and right combo drills that balance both left side and right side.

Basic long fist training:

 

[skribs]

We do not use kata that have been specifically designed for beginner, intermediate or advanced students, being originally designed prior to the art opening up to the general public, although our version is less complex than others.

How do you decide who learns what in your school? Or what is the order that a new student would be introduced?

 

[Haruhiko]

指先 - "Pointing Finger"

How difficult is the form? Is it a small series of a few basic techniques repeated several times, or is it a long form where every technique or combination is unique? (An image or video would help).

It's incredibly simple at face value but forms the foundation of the school of Niten Ichi-Ryū kenjutsu:

Without going into details, it's essentially "step, step, and immediately step to void and then step to strike and correct one's body for advantage". There's more to it and at the same time less to it.

How early do students start on it? Is it something students start Day 1, or are their basic movements they learn first before combining it into the form?

Immediately. Corrections will occur throughout the student's lifetime however.

How long is it before students graduate on to Form 2?

This depends on the dojo and sensei. I learnt the second form on my second week. Some Japanese students in Japanese dojos are expected to practise the first form for months before learning the next.

In how much detail do beginner students learn the form before moving on to Form 2?

Like I said, it depends. Some senseis insist on students learning the first form for months as it is the core of the school's philosophy and anatomical approach. I now know over 12 forms of HNIR but in our school it's not unusual to revise and learn, constantly, from corrections made by the sensei or soke (jp. "Head of the Family"; used as most senior title in most koryūha [classical schools]) throughout their entire life.

What are the benefits of Form 1 for beginner students, and how is it used in their training?

Benefits are numerous but mainly: it's quite simple to learn, and strongly reinforces proper distancing, body positioning, attitude, and timing. When my sensei deemed I was ready, I was then paired with another senior student to perform the kata (all kata in HNIR are performed, ideally, with a partner called "uchidachi", and you're "shidachi").

Any other comments regarding Form 1 in your system?

My sensei was once asked by the soke which form he would like to practise with him. He chose the first form. That's telling.

 

[_Simon_]

Isshinryu's first kata is seisan. It contains our 3 basic stances, two methods of stepping, low blocks, outward mid blocks (closed and open handed), a double high block, a takedown, a couple of elbow breaks, an ankle break, a few front kicks, lead and reverse punches, vertical backfists and grabbing and pulling - about 24 steps and 44 hand techniques total (depending on how you break it up). All strikes and blocks are done stepping into the opponent.

This kata is one of the oldest, from the 1700's, probably brought to Okinawa from China by Matsumura, and has been passed down in various versions to several Okinawan styles. We do not use kata that have been specifically designed for beginner, intermediate or advanced students, being originally designed prior to the art opening up to the general public, although our version is less complex than others.

Oh wow, Seisan as first kata! I would have thought that would come much later as there's quite alot to that one. Had to look it up and it is quite different to our Goju Seisan, but very related to Hangetsu kata. But yes I found that interesting as a first kata in a system

 

[isshinryuronin]

How do you decide who learns what in your school? Or what is the order that a new student would be introduced?

Although our kata were not designed to be taught in any order (coming from different historical sources) Master Shimabuku decided the order he would teach them. They generally go from easier to harder to execute. The progression of our kata is: seisan, seiunchin, nahanchi, wansu, chinto, kusanku, sanchin, sunsu. Most are from Kyan's Shuri-te lineage, a couple from Miyagi's Naha-te and there is some influence from Motobu's Tomari-te, reflecting founder Tatsuo Shimabuku's study with these masters. Sunsu is Master Shimabuku's own kata, its moves taken from all the others, as well as some kata he did not include in his system.

 

[skribs]

Although our kata were not designed to be taught in any order (coming from different historical sources) Master Shimabuku decided the order he would teach them. They generally go from easier to harder to execute. The progression of our kata is: seisan, seiunchin, nahanchi, wansu, chinto, kusanku, sanchin, sunsu. Most are from Kyan's Shuri-te lineage, a couple from Miyagi's Naha-te and there is some influence from Motobu's Tomari-te, reflecting founder Tatsuo Shimabuku's study with these masters. Sunsu is Master Shimabuku's own kata, its moves taken from all the others, as well as some kata he did not include in his system.

How long does someone focus on Seisan before moving on to Seiunchin?

Is it related to belt progression (i.e. you need to learn Seisan before testing for the belt you learn Seiunchin)? If so, how long does it take? I know a lot of martial arts place emphasis on early rewards to keep people motivated, I'm curious if having more difficult forms has an effect on that.

 

[isshinryuronin]

it is quite different to our Goju Seisan,

Yes, there are just a few signature moves in common. Compared to the Uechi-ryu version, even fewer. It is thought that Matsumura (born 1798/1809?) brought seisan back to Okinawa. Higashionna was born about 50 years later, so his version (passed on to Miyagi?) was presumably brought back Okinawa about 50 years later as well.

Of course, we don't know how old each was when they learned it, but it was in Matsumura's lineage at least one or two generations earlier than Miyagi. This means Matsumura's version had much more time to be Okinawa-ized than Higashionna's version. Miyagi's version retains more Chinese influence, and Uechi's, even more.

In addition to this, Higashionna's teacher (Aragake) and Matsumura had no teachers in common going as far back as any records show that I know of (maybe Iwah?) So, the divergence of seisan kata must have begun a long time ago and so evolved into two different looking kata even before Miyagi learned it and put his own touches on it.

A good deal of conjecture in karate history but we do know seisan is one of the oldest kata and has a good amount of divergent evolution amongst the various lineages.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Tell me about the first form in your system (if your system has forms). In addition to the form itself, I'd like to know about how it's used.

What you've posted is Kicho 1, the first basic form.

1. How difficult is the form? Is it a small series of a few basic techniques repeated several times, or is it a long form where every technique or combination is unique? (An image or video would help).

It's not very difficult, except for beginners. Or for people who have advanced enough to start thinking about the more subtle lessons to be learned. As people can see from the picture you included, it teaches a ready stance, turning/pivoting, front stance, low block, and middle punch.

1. How early do students start on it? Is it something students start Day 1, or are their basic movements they learn first before combining it into the form?

Yes.

1. How long is it before students graduate on to Form 2?

Generally about a month, at which point they get their white belt.

1. In how much detail do beginner students learn the form before moving on to Form 2?

They just need to be able to get through it without prompting. Fine details about weight distribution and what have you will be tweaked as they go along.

1. What are the benefits of Form 1 for beginner students, and how is it used in their training?

It starts teaching them the most basic concepts. Balance. Movement. Turning. Blocking. Punching.

 

[Fungus]

In every Taekwondo class I've been a part of, the basic form has been virtually the same.

In kyokushin the first KATA is called Taikyoku Sono Ichi

But it looks almost identical to your tiger 1!!

Emphasis here is
posture of Zenkutchi dachi
moving correctly Zenkutchi dachi
basic puches with good hikite, and keep your fist closed at all times
basic low block (gedan barai)
turning with correct footwork
timing (striking at the right moment when you move, not too early or too late)
Have good with kime.

Its not difficult and you start traing as as whitebelt but id I remember correctly is not part of first grading, but only for second grading. First grading is only kihon, and some kyokushi history and dojo manners etc

 

[HighKick]

Tell me about the first form in your system (if your system has forms). In addition to the form itself, I'd like to know about how it's used.

1. How difficult is the form? Is it a small series of a few basic techniques repeated several times, or is it a long form where every technique or combination is unique? (An image or video would help).
2. How early do students start on it? Is it something students start Day 1, or are their basic movements they learn first before combining it into the form?
3. How long is it before students graduate on to Form 2?
4. In how much detail do beginner students learn the form before moving on to Form 2?
5. What are the benefits of Form 1 for beginner students, and how is it used in their training?
6. Any other comments regarding Form 1 in your system?

In every Taekwondo class I've been a part of, the basic form has been virtually the same. Either called "Kibon 1" or "Tiger 1", it usually follows this basic I-shape pattern for 16 or 20 steps:
View attachment 32503
The first TKD school I was part of had Exercises (mini forms) in addition to Forms. The first 3 exercises were learned before Kibon 1. Exercise 1 had eight techniques: four down blocks and four punches, one of each in each cardinal direction.

In answering my own questions from above:

1. These forms are incredibly easy compared to the others. Although some new folks struggle to remember how many punches in each direction, when to kiyhap, which foot or hand to move when. This is especially true of younger kids (age 4-6) or adults that haven't done any sort of physical education in a long time.
2. Depending on the age group, this may start right away, or it might start midway through the "beginner" program. In the first school I attended, you learned 3 exercises before Kibon 1. In the second school, adults learned Kibon 1 right away, but kids learned Kibon 1 after testing into yellow belt. In the third school, most students learned Tiger 1 at white belt, but in the "Little Tigers" class it was started a few stripes in, and progress through the form broken up over a few more stripes.
3. In every school, it was 2-3 months before you were eligible to test into the next belt. If you knew the steps of the form and could perform them at a basic level without error, you would test for the next belt and then start on the next form.
4. Students needed to understand the basic concept of a front stance (long step, front knee bent, back knee straight), and the basic motion of a down block and punch.
5. I believe the purpose of this form is "how to do forms" more than anything else. It's like the sample questions at the beginning of an online quiz that teach you how to use the features of the testing engine. (Note, we do practice the application of step, block, and punch. We just don't necessarily connect it to Form 1. In the examples where kids do not learn Form 1 until they are a few tests in, they still practice blocks and punches before learning the form.)
6. I think these forms serve the purpose in #5 well. I'm curious how common it is for Form 1 in a system to be this basic, or if it's common outside of TKD (or even outside of the style of TKD I'm familiar with) for Form 1 to be more complex or used in more depth.

Kicho Hyung Il-bu.
There is more learned from that form than any other form we learn. It is the basis of the foundation.

 

[Prince_Alarming]

We start with pinan nidan.

1. It's easy, but I'm still learning stuff from it now I'm on to Passai.
2. As soon as they've learned the basic punches and blocks, which is, what, a few weeks?
3. Not long- our instructor's philosophy seems to be to train people to way past the level they need to be for their grading, so maybe a month after the start of training?
4. They basically get shown the movements. There's quite a bit of bunkai- I don't understand people who do kata but not bunkai- but there's not a whole lot of detail to pinan nidan.
5. It's a good drill for getting your basic front stance, cat stance and horse riding stance covered. There are a few bunkai that are worthwhile though- like learning to drop your weight down in the first move, which in the right hands can end up being a knockout blow later on. I've also seen the final combination of strikes from the side in horse stance being used to evade and counter kicks.
6. Strictly speaking, Itosu's original order was to start with pinan shodan, but the movements in pinan nidan are considered more fundamental, so it's almost always taught first. They were designed as simple kata for schoolchildren to learn, and that's more or less what they are. I've been told that kushanku, which you learn right after the pinans, is a summation of the pinan but I'm not sure I agree. There's an alternative view that they were constructed from a kata called chanan which is now lost. I tend to agree- passai also contains certain movements first learned in the pinan, but nobody is claiming it's a summation of anything. 'pinan' is often translated as 'peaceful mind', but I've read that 'basic' is a more accurate translation. I know very little Japanese, so I don't know if that's true. Of course, I keep these views to myself in class.