$8.25 in Siu Nim Tao

Playing forms is good for the soul and great for one’s kung fu.  Many times practitioners set out with a certain number of forms that they wish to play over the course of a workout or a day.  If you let your mind and body relax deeper into the kung fu it can become easy to lose count of how many forms you’ve played.  For this, it’s very easy to use some form of counter to help keep track.

Coins make a great counter.  They’re unobtrusive and aside from the initial cash investment on an item that did not round to a dollar amount, they’re available for free under your sofa cushions.  They slide along a flat surface easily making them simple to move on a desk, counter top, or floor.  The floor is an excellent spot to use them as you can slide them from one group to another with your foot with minimal interruption to your forms.  When times are tight, gravel will do also.

Of course, training does not always require counting how many forms you play.

Train hard.  Relax hard.