Even in some of the martial arts that have a fairly continuous tradition, such as karate or wing chun, there are often debates about what the different moves in

Even in some of the martial arts that have a fairly continuous tradition, such as karate or wing chun, there are often debates about what the different moves in kata/forms/patterns actually mean. I've seen people come up with all sort of crazy and completely impractical 'applications' of karata kata moves. I also remember being told a move in the first wing chun form is a jab to the collar bones with the finger tips (completely impractical). Then one day a master come from Hong Kong and told it was an eye gouge with the thumbs (very practical!).