The Forms

**The Forms** are a series of movement exercises that form the basis for all martial arts in the Azure Sea Empire.

## Overview

There are eight forms in total, all named after animals: Tiger, Deer, Wolf, Mantis, Snake, Oriole, Bull, and Bear. Each form is a series of 30 – 75 movement exercises, from punches and kicks to stretches and balance, for a total of 531 different movements. When done correctly, they forge the body into a weapon, and will help a warrior form their own martial arts.

The different forms and movements can be performed with countless variations and a literal infinite number of configurations, creating varied moves and sequences to be used in combat.

## Demonstrating the Forms

Demonstrating the Forms is the act of going through all of the Forms and Movements one after another. Doing this helps Martial Warriors build up their physical bodies to withstand the infusion of Heavenly Energy which comes from meditation. As such, Demonstrating the Forms is an exhausting act for any Martial Warrior.

## List of Forms and Known Movements

### Tiger Form

* Cracks the Turtle
* Disemboweling Kick
* Fanged Clutch
* Gripping the Turtle
* Killing Lunge
* Pounce Upon the Lamb
* Reverse Kick
* Reversing the Flow
* Sharpening the Claws
* Sharpening the Fang
* Springing Step
* Stalking the Dragon
* Swiping the Rushes
* Twitching Tail

### Deer Form

* Angling
* Crook/Clasp
* Parting the Underbrush
* Pierce the Horizon
* Prancing Stride
* Rush the Clearing
* Welcome the Morning Sun

### Wolf Form

* Circling the Grass
* Greet the Moon
* Leading the Pack
* Rending Fang
* Reverse Bite
* Twisting Snap

### Mantis Form

* Balance on the Windy Leaf
* Crooked Claw
* Hanging Branch Grasp
* Hidden Ambush
* Skewer the Blossom
* Spear Hand
* Stalk the Cicada
* Steals the Peach
* Twin Blades

### Snake Form

* Coiling the Nest
* Darting Fang
* Devouring the Horse
* Shake the Branch
* Slithering Pursuit
* Twisting Thrust

### Oriole Form

* Gliding Wing
* Fluttering Raindrops
* Raising the Winds
* Rising Steps
* Swoops In
* Takes Flight

### Bull Form

* Dances in the Grass
* Lumbering Turn
* Pulling the Cart
* Scraping the Ground
* Stomps the Wolf
* Traverses the Mountain
* Twin Horns
* Uplift the Sequoia

### Bear Form

* Descend the Mountain
* Embracing the Enemy
* Lumbering Gait
* Pluck the Honeycomb
* Standing Fury
* Stepping Grasp

## Trivia

* Since a few hundred years ago, the majority of the Empire concentrate on only learning a few moves of 1 form, with only some taking it further by studying multiple forms. The Bekhai, in contrast, train their young to practice the moves from all the forms, as well as practice it daily. Dastan has wondered if that is the secret to the Bekhai's strength.
* Some Forms are more suited for making Martial Warriors more familiar with some Chi skills, i.e. Tiger for Honing, Bull for Reinforcement, Oriole for Lightening, etc.
* Each Form has a different specialty: the Tiger Form was powerful and domineering, the Oriole offered speed and precision, the Mantis emphasized surprise and misdirection, the Snake focused on inhibition and flexibility, the Deer grace and alacrity, etc.
* The average amount of time that most Martial Warriors need to Demonstrate the Forms is between twelve to fifteen minutes.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 255
2. ↑ Incomplete list found here
3. ↑ Chapter 564
4. ↑ Chapter 611
5. ↑ Chapter 654