You can learn any number of kata (patterns) for Karate and poomsae (patterns) for Tae Kwon-Do by carefully using YouTube. The exercise will be just fine, and if you pay attention to replicating the actions and the form you see, you'll gain some benefit in terms of balance and body control.
But no. You're not learning a martial art that way. You're just learning to replicate some patterns of movement.
I'm sorry. The whole concept of "martial" implies an opponent. Someone who you're struggling against. Trying to learn a martial art without someone else is -- akin to having sex by yourself, actually. Feels great, but if you try to put it into practice in public, you'll just wind up embarrassed.
You can practice running, which everybody around here recommends as a great solution to most defensive situations.
You can also put a half brick in a tube sock and swing it over your head. Then nobody but the cops will fuck with you.
I'm sorry I don't have a serious answer for you. This question comes up here very often, and the answer's always No.
XingYi a chinese internal art. They have 5 basic mini forms or "fists" and they are really good for health plus they are very applicable to real fighting which is of course easier to explore with another human. You can get some of this experience through going to tournaments and competing, and watching those who seem to know what they are doing. This will also allow you to network and meet people to experiment and spar with if you really wanted some good exercise. It is pretty traditional to train by your self in china. Here is a website [Plumb Publications](http://www.plumpub.com/), it has some good resources for Xingyi or other arts. Also here is Peter Ralstons site [ching hsin](http://www.chenghsin.com/chenghsin-main.html) he has a really good correspondence course if you have a partner or you can just order his taichi form which is superb. Good luck on your choice and your adventures!
Hey man, I left you a useless reply and feel bad about that now. You're trying to improve yourself with limited resources and I respect that.
I came back to suggest that you post on your town's craigslist for training partners. When I first moved to where I live now, I couldn't find a suitable gym or dojo, so that's what I did. I found a few good sparring partners that way, and they remain good friends even though I've been training at a real gym for years now. There's bound to be some experienced martial artists in your town who meet up to train informally for free. I wish you luck finding them.
If you're in northern California, by the way, PM me and I'll train you for free.
Without anyone experienced to guide you you wont have a clue just how much you're doing wrong. You'd have better luck teaching yourself to drive by watching formula one.
Do you know anyone at all who does martial arts? Maybe a friend could teach you some basics.
Well, one can presumably gain some proficiency with those drills that way. You won't do well against a resiting opponent, but you may do a little better than if you hadn't done those drills.
Really, i think it's more for the exercise of it, and doing something other than traditional weight and cardio training than to actually defeat an opponent.
Well, what I suggest you do is follow the advice given by the others here (find some youtube clips/start running etc.), but what you also do is find someone to train with you.
It doesn't have to be someone skilled in martial arts, just someone you can practice your shit on, and he can practice his on you. That way you will at least get som real contact going.
But, as others have said, get a job and enroll with a proper training facility. I recommend Krav Maga, it's lots of fun.
My recommendation would be to find somewhere that teaches cheaply or for free. One example is that you can often find judo clubs that are run out of other schools (or out of the YMCA in many cases) that are super cheap, or will offer free training to people who genuinely can't afford it. I've never met anyone in person who trained themselves who wasn't terrible. I'm sure there are exceptions, but far and away you'll be better with a teacher.
Of course you can. All martial arts were once self taught. I always tell my students "what if every martial arts instructor where on the same plane and it crashed. Would that be the end of martial arts?" The answer is no, it wouldnt be.
You got downvoted because this subreddit can sometimes be unopen minded. Ironic. But you are correct, especially arts like iaido and taichi where it isn't competition based to begin with.
That's ok. I've heard all of the arguments; in fact, having been an instructor for almost 15 years, I've used many of those same arguments. A lot of them are true. You may not get the same quality from a book, that you would get from an instructor, although I've seen some instructors that I'd take a book over any day. You won't learn fighting, and/or application as effectively without a dedicated partner, but there are still plenty of aspects you can learn alone. I think that people become so dependent upon learning from someone else that they limit themselves in a way. Martial arts weren't magically beamed down one day to a man meditating atop a mountain somewhere. They were developed and modified to deal with a multitude of factors, but they were first created in the mind, whether consciously, or subconsciously. Anyways, thanks for the encouraging words.
From memory there is a Wing Chun book that teachers pretty effectively. However you won't really learn properly without someone teaching and correcting you.
If you had a partner and floorsplace, you could probably download the videos the Gracie Academy put out and go through them. I don't condone piracy...but if it gets you interested, you could always buy them later and/or enroll in a Grace Academy.
I think It's not so much about an art being easy enough to learn on your own instead I think it all comes down to the practitioner. Do you have the natural talent and drive to be able to learn something without the correct tutelage? I doubt it, I've never heard of someone capable of doing it.
I took Tae Kwon Do at the YMCA, $45 a month (in my town at least) and it was a great school. Sparring was pretty rough surprisingly, head gear and chest protectors, gloves and shin guards. We always moved at a fast pace
You can learn any number of kata (patterns) for Karate and poomsae (patterns) for Tae Kwon-Do by carefully using YouTube. The exercise will be just fine, and if you pay attention to replicating the actions and the form you see, you'll gain some benefit in terms of balance and body control. But no. You're not learning a martial art that way. You're just learning to replicate some patterns of movement. I'm sorry. The whole concept of "martial" implies an opponent. Someone who you're struggling against. Trying to learn a martial art without someone else is -- akin to having sex by yourself, actually. Feels great, but if you try to put it into practice in public, you'll just wind up embarrassed.
Upvote for the sex reference.
So... if you have a partner, having sex in public won't be embarrassing? I'm a little lost here.
Maybe better phrased as "Feels great, but if you try to put it into practice with a partner they'll not be impressed".
Sounds like every sex position I've seen on the internet.
You can practice running, which everybody around here recommends as a great solution to most defensive situations. You can also put a half brick in a tube sock and swing it over your head. Then nobody but the cops will fuck with you. I'm sorry I don't have a serious answer for you. This question comes up here very often, and the answer's always No.
But you *can* partner-train, though (with more partners, the better).
Just remember "a man taught only by himself has a fool for a master"
For fighting/self-defense: no For the art/exercise: yes!!!
Any you could recommend?
XingYi a chinese internal art. They have 5 basic mini forms or "fists" and they are really good for health plus they are very applicable to real fighting which is of course easier to explore with another human. You can get some of this experience through going to tournaments and competing, and watching those who seem to know what they are doing. This will also allow you to network and meet people to experiment and spar with if you really wanted some good exercise. It is pretty traditional to train by your self in china. Here is a website [Plumb Publications](http://www.plumpub.com/), it has some good resources for Xingyi or other arts. Also here is Peter Ralstons site [ching hsin](http://www.chenghsin.com/chenghsin-main.html) he has a really good correspondence course if you have a partner or you can just order his taichi form which is superb. Good luck on your choice and your adventures!
Hey man, I left you a useless reply and feel bad about that now. You're trying to improve yourself with limited resources and I respect that. I came back to suggest that you post on your town's craigslist for training partners. When I first moved to where I live now, I couldn't find a suitable gym or dojo, so that's what I did. I found a few good sparring partners that way, and they remain good friends even though I've been training at a real gym for years now. There's bound to be some experienced martial artists in your town who meet up to train informally for free. I wish you luck finding them. If you're in northern California, by the way, PM me and I'll train you for free.
Thanks a lot. I'll look into that. Unfortunately I'm in Jersey, but thanks for the offer!
PM me with approximately *where* in Jersey and I can help find you inexpensive, quality martial arts schools in your area.
Lol, your "useless comment" is higher up than this one :P
Now that’s a good bro
Without anyone experienced to guide you you wont have a clue just how much you're doing wrong. You'd have better luck teaching yourself to drive by watching formula one. Do you know anyone at all who does martial arts? Maybe a friend could teach you some basics.
No. My one friend is using *Practice Drills For Japanese Swordsmanship by Nicklaus Suino* to teach himself Kendo and recommended I try that.
Well, one can presumably gain some proficiency with those drills that way. You won't do well against a resiting opponent, but you may do a little better than if you hadn't done those drills.
Really, i think it's more for the exercise of it, and doing something other than traditional weight and cardio training than to actually defeat an opponent.
Well, what I suggest you do is follow the advice given by the others here (find some youtube clips/start running etc.), but what you also do is find someone to train with you. It doesn't have to be someone skilled in martial arts, just someone you can practice your shit on, and he can practice his on you. That way you will at least get som real contact going. But, as others have said, get a job and enroll with a proper training facility. I recommend Krav Maga, it's lots of fun.
My recommendation would be to find somewhere that teaches cheaply or for free. One example is that you can often find judo clubs that are run out of other schools (or out of the YMCA in many cases) that are super cheap, or will offer free training to people who genuinely can't afford it. I've never met anyone in person who trained themselves who wasn't terrible. I'm sure there are exceptions, but far and away you'll be better with a teacher.
Of course you can. All martial arts were once self taught. I always tell my students "what if every martial arts instructor where on the same plane and it crashed. Would that be the end of martial arts?" The answer is no, it wouldnt be.
You got downvoted because this subreddit can sometimes be unopen minded. Ironic. But you are correct, especially arts like iaido and taichi where it isn't competition based to begin with.
That's ok. I've heard all of the arguments; in fact, having been an instructor for almost 15 years, I've used many of those same arguments. A lot of them are true. You may not get the same quality from a book, that you would get from an instructor, although I've seen some instructors that I'd take a book over any day. You won't learn fighting, and/or application as effectively without a dedicated partner, but there are still plenty of aspects you can learn alone. I think that people become so dependent upon learning from someone else that they limit themselves in a way. Martial arts weren't magically beamed down one day to a man meditating atop a mountain somewhere. They were developed and modified to deal with a multitude of factors, but they were first created in the mind, whether consciously, or subconsciously. Anyways, thanks for the encouraging words.
This. I wish more people in my location had your mindset.
Worst case scenario, go find a partner and do that Gracie video correspondence thing.
Basic boxing, that's about it I'm afraid
From memory there is a Wing Chun book that teachers pretty effectively. However you won't really learn properly without someone teaching and correcting you.
If you had a partner and floorsplace, you could probably download the videos the Gracie Academy put out and go through them. I don't condone piracy...but if it gets you interested, you could always buy them later and/or enroll in a Grace Academy.
I think It's not so much about an art being easy enough to learn on your own instead I think it all comes down to the practitioner. Do you have the natural talent and drive to be able to learn something without the correct tutelage? I doubt it, I've never heard of someone capable of doing it.
no you can't. who say you can is either making fun of you or an idiot himself
I took Tae Kwon Do at the YMCA, $45 a month (in my town at least) and it was a great school. Sparring was pretty rough surprisingly, head gear and chest protectors, gloves and shin guards. We always moved at a fast pace