Fighting invisible opponents

I'm revisiting a topic I touched on a month or so ago because it has generated some questions from readers who have never attended a martial-arts school.  The subject is "forms."  A form -- often referred to by other names depending upon the martial art in question -- is a pattern of blocks, kicks, and hand strikes that follow a rigid sequence of movements.  A friend of mine has referred to it as a "self-defense dance."  Well, there's some truth to that.  Each form is carefully constructed by the top masters of the particular martial-arts style, and every student worldwide must learn how to execute each form in precisely the same way in order to move up the ranks.
     So if you attend, let's say, a taekwondo school, you may have to learn one or two forms in order to advance from white belt to yellow belt.  Each of the forms is a highly choreographed pattern that leads you to "fight" several imaginary opponents who are attacking you from all sides.  The first forms that you learn are relatively simple and have few movements.  Naturally, the forms become more complex as you move from white belt toward black belt, and they incorporate a more complete arsenal of blocks, kicks, and hand strikes.  Each time you test for a higher belt, your exam will include a new form that you must execute crisply, forcefully, and, of course, with all individual techniques accomplished in the proper order. 
     On the one hand, the form is an artificial fight that you can't lose.  You're fighting imaginary opponents, after all.  On the other hand, each time you practice the form, you're reinforcing the "muscle memory" of how particular techniques flow together naturally.  A low block, for instance, can flow naturally into a punch, or a high block can flow easily into a front snap kick.  Since you will no doubt practice each form hundreds of times in the course of your training, you will possess a vast repertoire of multiple techniques that make sense together -- just as the master instructors intended.  And someday if you're forced to fight real rather than imaginary opponents, there's a good chance that all of the solitary practice will allow you to respond sensibly and without having to think too much.  Listen, even if you're facing only one attacker, you'll get the most favorable results by acting more than thinking. 
     In the following video I demonstrate a form called Taebaek, which is required for promotion to third-degree black belt in the style of taekwondo that I study.   If you're interested, you can also find my video demonstration of Hansu, required for promotion to eighth-degree black belt, by searching YouTube for Russ Johnson Hansu.
     Video: Taebaek form