Important

My first karate instructor (Steve Arneil) told me :-

“The basics in karate are like the foundations of a house.

    It does not matter how strong you build the house,

    If the foundations are weak - the house will fall”.

I have also learnt that the elements of any strike, block or kick are : Speed, Power, Accuracy.

    Accuracy perhaps should be called “Form”.

    Form in principle is “Attention to Detail”.

It is normal to want to progress up the grading scale.

It is also normal to want to increase speed and power.

But with correct practice, paying attention to “Form”, your speed and power will naturally increase.

So your focus should be on “Form” not speed or power.

Also, the early grading contents are the “Basics” - they are critical to achieving a strong and fast perfection.

A great Master once said :-

“Practice the art, until the art becomes an artless art,

growing out of the sub-consciousness”.

I could interpret that as - Practice the “Form” with focus

and it becomes an instinctive reflex.

I’ve, many times, heard that referred to as “muscle memory”.