Combining Martial Arts Forms With Shadowboxing

When I learned my Tai Chi and Shaolin, it was very rigorous, form based, and taught general movements of how to fight using Chinese martial arts techniques, but after practicing other martial arts, I've begun shadowboxing a lot in my free time. I figured that my way of maintaining both skillsets is to either
A) Begin shadowboxing and gradually weave in pieces of forms (maybe 2-3 Tai Chi moves in a row), or
Begin doing forms and take random points to begin shadowboxing until I get into the next position from the form, then continue doing the form.

Which method do you guys think is more effective for maintaining skill or even becoming a more fluid martial artist?

Greetings. Bows

Depending on how long you have been training . I would practice what I have learned learn new techniques when you can but continue to practice all the time.

However it is my understanding that this Temple does not promote such things, I would replace fight with inner spirit and developing a better understanding of the Force. ( Chi ,Qui , Ki ) Focus and clarity

The movement in the Forms or kata produce many benefits, Breathing suppleness memory inner cleanliness etc.

Always be the student

i guess my first response is to consider how ok you are with your muscle memory learning to integrate new techniques and movements into your traditional forms

i always felt that one of the ways to look at forms was that they ARE a kind of shadow boxing, just a structured kind rather than free flowing

my suggestion is to use free flowing shadowboxing as your opportunity to integratethe traditional chinese methods into you spontaneous muscle memory and mental go-to inventory

and to do the forms AS FORMS in the "correct" way so that you dont teach yourself to do something that may slow down progress later in the dojo setting

but really and truly, above and beyond everything else i say do everything in every way that you enjoy doing it; trai hard and have fun

also i would just say what i say about all practice; as you do it be sure to keep a mind as to how you would actually usewhat youre doing or what the overall physical or martial benefit of doing it might be
and train to do it so that its controled and balanced and accurate and flows quickly from something and into something

and be sure to spend some time actually HITTING something with those shaolin demon slayer moves

i say this because i did tkd for a couple years as a youngster but it was no contact or really really light contact (because of my age) and one day when i finally kicked something i sprained the hell out of my ankle lol because i wasnt ready for actual impact!
taught me to pressure test everything and to understand the risk of hitting without being attentive to proper structure ofthe striking limb