What’s Different About "The Formless Way" ?

Wu Ying Tao – "The Formless Way" – is unique in the Martial Arts world for being a practical, realistic approach to Martial Arts training.

Hi, I’m Marshall Buchholz, the instructor at Northwest Martial Arts of Salem. I want to tell you a little bit about why I think The Formless Way is the best Martial Arts concept out there.

I’ll admit I’m a bit biased because this is the style of Martial Arts I’ve practiced for over 30 years. But over those years, I’ve also picked up a lot of good information from other styles. I’ve learned a little bit of Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Kempo, Traditional Japanese Karate, and an assortment of others. I’m not here to bash any of them—in fact, I have a great appreciation for all styles of Martial Arts. But for all their good points, I keep going back to Wu Ying Tao as the main system I use to excel in any area of the arts. Here’s why…

What Works Best For You?

Many Martial Arts styles build on traditional methods of learning attacks and defenses in patterns (Kick, Punch, Block, Punch, Step). These patterns can become predictable. Also, a combination of techniques that works for a 6 ft. 200 lb. man may not be effective for a 5 ft. 120 lb. woman.

In Martial Arts, it’s always a good idea to ask the question, what works best for you? Whatever that is, USE IT! And if it doesn’t work for you, LET IT GO!

With The Formless Way, you learn to develop skills that work for you, personally—not just those that work for your teacher or others in the class.

Where Did This Idea Come From?

The beginning of our Martial Art Style, Wu Ying Tao, goes back to the 1960’s in the Pacific Northwest. At that time, Bruce Terrill, the style’s founder, was practicing Martial Arts styles that combined elements of Korean and Chinese arts. Read more about Wu Ying Tao history here.

Over time, Bruce began to consider how learning by memorizing katas or imitating one’s teacher could make a person predictable. If your opponent knew what punch was likely to follow what kick, that knowledge could be exploited. Likewise, if your opponent could "read" your habits, he could exploit them, as well.

From this starting point, Bruce began to develop a system of practicing Martial Arts where the student eliminates predictable patterns. Instead of learning set patterns of attacks and blocks—or forms—the student learns to attack and defend against the Five Basic Lines of Force: Straight, Up, Round, Back, and Down. This, together with the concept called Critical Distancing is the foundation for Wu Ying Tao.

Concepts That Really Work

By combining the concepts of the 5 Basic Lines of Force with Critical Distancing, a Martial Artist is able to focus on the skills that work specifically for him or her rather than being locked into technique requirements that may work well for someone else--someone bigger, faster, taller, smaller.

Wu Ying Tao students especially excel in tournament sparring competition because they are not focused on an "arsenal" of techniques. By focusing instead on distancing, timing, and reading their opponent’s patterns, Wu Ying Tao competitors are more relaxed and able to make quick decisions that affect the outcome of the match.

Over the past four decades, many students of Wu Ying Tao have excelled in tournament competition. But that is only part of the value of learning The Formless Way.

A Proven Approach

All this lines of force and distancing stuff sounds good on paper—and maybe it does work well in non-contact tournament sparring, but does it really work for Self-Defense?

YES. In Self-Defense, these same principles allow a person to react quickly and easily to any type of aggressor. When the mind is free from trying to remember specific techniques, and is instead focused on distance, timing, and lines of force, you are more relaxed and confident.

I know from personal experience that The Formless Way works in real Self Defense situations, and I know it can work for you!

Go To Northwest Martial Arts of Salem Home Page

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