Forms (Japanese kata, Chinese taolu) are considered to be a foundational teaching tool in martial arts. Nearly any traditional school that you go to is going to put you through these at some point or other. Forms are useful for teaching the student's body how to move. They teach body mechanics, the generation of power, and are good for coordination and posture. In addition, they can offer a decent workout - moving through them slowly to develop lower body static strength; going quickly for cardio benefits. They're a good tool for students of the martial arts.
Despite how complicated some of the moves may look, this is not a difficult process. That said, you will definitely want to go to your class regularly, as your teacher is the one responsible for helping you to learn these forms. In addition, it is important to remember that forms are no substitute for sparring. They may represent a theoretical approach to fighting, but sparring is what allows you to find what actually works for you. Read on to learn how to remember martial arts moves.