form and appearance

“Martial Artists who focus attention to form and appearance rather than effective application miss proper combat mind-set/mind-state (they have failed to perceive what is important.). When karate-ka are observed moving across the floor with an exaggerated attention to form and precise position of their hands, feet, shoulders and body they have failed to perceive what is important. To think of foot positions as correct or incorrect is a central error in consciousness in your training. It is in real combat these things are of no real importance.”  - Peyton Quinn, Musashi Book of Five Rings: Explained in Plain English (slightly modified for application of karate)

Comment: Form and appearances have taken a front seat to functionality. This is a mistake! Form has its purposes but to focus heavily on that aspect is detrimental to good applications. Appearances are always about ego, pride and status for those drive the monkey and the monkey lives long in social violence and conflicts. Isn’t one of the maxim’s of martial discipline about letting to the ego, letting to pride and letting go of status?