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.

Tiger Form

 * Cracks the Turtle
 * Disemboweling Kick
 * Gripping the Turtle
 * Killing Lunge
 * Fanged Clutch
 * Pounce Upon the Lamb
 * Reverse Kick
 * Reversing the Flow
 * Sharpening the Claws
 * Sharpening the Fang
 * 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
 * Uplift the Sequoia

Bear Form

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

Insights
Knowledge hidden within the Forms which teach how to fight.

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.