fewest forms

[lonecoyote]

Someone said in another thread that there are styles of CMA with just one form. What are these systems with just one form? Failing that, what systems have the fewest forms? I believe I've read that wing chun has only 3 empty hand forms, a butterfly sword form and a spear form. any answers are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[7starmantis]

Interesting, I've never heard of a system of CMA that contains only one form, but I wouldn't say it doesnt exist. I find it hard to believe that one form could really teach you much, so the system would probably be pretty basic. I dont know much about WC, I've heard it said they have only 9 forms, but I'm sure different families have different cirriculums. I'll let some of the WC guys answer that one. As far as CMA with the fewest forms, WC would probably win my vote, off the top of my head.

7sm

 

[Spook]

We teach 3 empty hand forms, 1 wooden dummy form, 6 and a half move pole form, and a butterfly knives form for WC. So, we teach a total of 7 forms, i don't know if thats the fewest forms in a system out there, but its definetly shorter than most.

 

[clfsean]

Buk Sing Choy Lee Fut... 3 hands(+/-), handful of weapons, couple of dummy sets...

Hop Gar... 3 hands (+/-), couple of weapons...

Shuai Jiao... any forms at all??

Chen Taiji... Lao Jia... 2 forms
Xin Jia... 2 forms
Xiao Jia... 2 forms
couple of weapon sets...

Hua Quan... 4 Roads, 2 Paired Sets

Tan Tui... 1 (or 10/12/14 .... depending on how you count)

 

[7starmantis]

I wouldn't consider the Tan Tui excercise an exclusive style in and of itself.

7sm

 

[dmax999]

Actually Tan Tui is truly a style on its own, its just been incorporated into many other styles as a part of the other style.

WC has a staff form, featured in a recent Kung-Fu/Tai Chi magazine with pictures of a video of Yip Man doing it so I would consider it legit.

Yang Tai Chi is very close to a single form, if you ignore weapons and changes mandated by the governement (Like the Yang short form) I'm sure there are tons of forms added onto it, but Yang Long form has it all.

Liu He Ba Fa has only one form with nothing else at all.

JKD I believe has no forms, but may not qualify as CMA depending on its definition.

There have probably been more CMAs without forms then with. But with popularity of forms in America I'm sure most don't end up making any noticable impact here.

 

[7starmantis]

Actually Tan Tui is truly a style on its own, its just been incorporated into many other styles as a part of the other style.

Yes, however it was listed as a one form system, using the tan tui routine as the one form. That would be incorrect.

7sm

 

[D Dempsey]

Sun Style Taijiquan only has one form.

 

[arnisador]

I thought there was a Tai Chi style with a ssingle form...thanks!

 

[wuchi]

Cheng Man-Ching's Style Tai Chi has only one empty hand 37 postures form and one straight sword form.

 

[7starmantis]

Wuchi, welcome to MartialTalk! Please feel free to post and start new topics. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I look forward to reading more posts from you.

MT Senior Mod
7starmantis
Adam C

 

[clfsean]

Yes, however it was listed as a one form system, using the tan tui routine as the one form. That would be incorrect.

7sm

Why? It's one set with "X" pieces to complete it.

 

[7starmantis]

Why? It's one set with "X" pieces to complete it.

So is the Sup Sae Lo (14 Roads) of the 7* mantis system, but its not a style in and of itself, its part of the mantis system, it just happens to be a form that has 14 pieces to it.

7sm

 

[PantherFist]

The Lee Ying Sing Pai/Ho Sing Pai of Jook Lum Tong Long(Southern Mantis) has only one hand form known as the thirteen roads form.

 

[clfsean]

So is the Sup Sae Lo (14 Roads) of the 7* mantis system, but its not a style in and of itself, its part of the mantis system, it just happens to be a form that has 14 pieces to it.

7sm

Cool... but Tan Tui (10 Road Muslim) has been recognized as a stand alone system by itself. It was Gu Ru Zhong's first system & all his father used until he met up with a guy later in life. Gu's father ran a cargo escort company for a living. Tan Tui met all his needs until he learned something else (Zha I think) from a guy who either he saved or was saved by during a cargo haul once.

Most systems use it as a training set because it teaches all of the Longfist basics in a quick, efficient manner, but was a stand alone system before being relegated (kinda) to a warm up line drill & elementary set only.

 

[7starmantis]

Hmm, interesting, I've never heard that the "old" tan tui system which was recognized as a stand alone system contained only the 10 road muslim. I had been under the impression that it had several other "forms" as well.

Learn something new every day I guess.
7sm

 

[47MartialMan]

Interesting. One such style I have come across has one form that was broken down to many. The many being sublevels and areas to be perfected upon. Until the advanced level, the whole is collected and performed. Seen it performed once by a advanced fellow student and watched how exhaustive it was.I guess many sets of routines, to some this will be a "form".

 

[clfsean]

And the name was?