Do you understand formless style and the impact it has on combat?
I've seen this several times. Members who are unaware and confused by formless styles. It may not be necessary but I want to be the hand holder here. As once it's understood it becomes rather simple.

Formless Style=Your Adaptability and by some regards weapon Proficiency
Bukijutsu/Taijutsu Style Skills= These are skills, maneuvers, techniques. In others words you know to do this one specific thing with your weapon.

For Example Because You Know A B-Ranked Shagane Technique You do not know how to use your sword efficiently without investing in Formless Style Sword. The Skills Strength is Rank B, but if you were to swing your sword normally it would be treated as Rank E-Univested

The following is the conversation I had with one of the creators of the system which clarified things for me.
[3/25/2016 9:11:20 PM] Necroplant: What I'm asking is I know taking Formless swords gives a Bonus to learning the techniques in the style. But by knowing Up to B-rank Shagane means you can use that sword formlessly as if it were a B rank. Yes?
[3/25/2016 9:11:40 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: No.
[3/25/2016 9:12:06 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: Because you're only trained to use the sword as THAT style dictates.
[3/25/2016 9:12:17 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: Freeform is your adaptability essentially.
[3/25/2016 9:13:27 PM] Lord High Ruler of Rumps: Alrighty
[3/25/2016 9:13:40 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: Yep.
[3/25/2016 9:13:55 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: I took a minute to understand it too.
[3/25/2016 9:14:19 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: But since styles are taught as kata, your training in a style is essentially just that kata or that skill.
[3/25/2016 9:14:24 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: Formless lets you be flashier.
[3/25/2016 9:14:37 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: [In many regards formless is better, but it doesn't get the nifty abilities.]
[3/25/2016 9:16:01 PM]Necroplant: So. I'm trained in Say C-Rank Sword Formless I go up against a D-Rank Formless Sword or a D Rank Style Skill who wins?
[3/25/2016 9:16:19 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: Formless because your rank is still higher.
[3/25/2016 9:16:26 PM] Necroplant: Alrighty then
[3/25/2016 9:16:36 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: But formless doesn't have Complex techniques.
[3/25/2016 9:17:07 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: So if you get hit with a C-rank ninjutsu, you can't cancel it out with just a formless technique, unless you're a mystic hero.
[3/25/2016 9:17:30 PM] Necroplant : Now it's all coming together
[3/25/2016 9:17:51 PM] Wolfe Alexander Whitehorn: Also can't cancel nin with a simple style technique unless mystic hero.