can you teach yourself martial arts?

Question

when you practice do you remberize what you were taught from last lesson

Answer 1

Yes, there are a few champs that started out by teaching themselves. Once you reach a certain point, you'll want to start training with others so you learn new techniques though.

Answer 2

Martial Arts is something in which you discover the limits of your body and mind.

That is surprising in itself.

When you learn martial arts from a GOOD instructor, you will learn the art, its concepts, weaknesses, its mechanics and most importantly the method of generating the required energy as originally intended by the founder of the art.

Now, if you have no knowledge or foundation of martial arts and start "teaching yourself", it is no different from dancing....and you waste your time.

If you have some foundation, then you will tend to teach yourself based on what you already know. With all the guess work, progress can be real slow and you may twist a tendon or two.

More importantly, why go through all that hassle when you can,

a) find the right information,
b) that has been processed and refined,
c) to be practised in a monitored environment
d) with others thereby compounding the learning,

just by enrolling in a class??

Answer 3

I firmly believe that MOST people can. I say most because I've come across some who are just not committed and don't pay attention to what they are seeing on videos, reading in books or hearing from people they ask.

I've studied a few different styles. I can tell you that a lot of times it always startes the same. The teacher shows you what to do they you practice, practice, practice. Every once in a while the teacher sees you doing something wrong then corrects you.

Videos/DVDs are some of the best places to get information. BUT not all of them are created equal. Some just have bad information and bad teachers that maybe teaching you something that isn't inline w/ what you want to learn.

If you want to learn at home be educated on the product first. Check out this great site w/ infor on a lot of Instruction Martial Arts Videos. http://home.att.net/~erik.mann/mavr.htm

I wish I came across this site years back. Would have saved me a lot of time and money.

Take care,
~Robert. E.C. Valdimar

Answer 4

No, you can't. It's impossible. You need a teacher to correct your form and any other mistakes. Seeing someone performing martials on a video or looking at pictures in a book does not show you all the details you need to begin to master any art.

Martial arts is something you need to learn with other people, otherwise you won't know if you are striking at the right target and from the right distance. Also you need other people to learn how to defend yourself against the attacks you are practising.

One thing you may learn if you take up an art is that you can learn a lot about how to perform parts of an art by having an expert perform it on you.

Answer 5

I'm sorry to say but no you won't be able to teach yourself Martial Arts, what you learn in a class setting you have to practice at home, if you don't learn the basics of keeping your hands up, the proper placement of your hands when blocking, or the proper placement of your feet in your stances, you'll wind up being injured when and if someone attacks you.

on top of that, you'll only be able remember the last techniques you learned from the class and won't be able to progress further with other kicking techniques like roundhouse, axekick, hook kick, inside to outside crescent kick, outside to inside crescent kick, backspin kick, flying sidekick, leg sweeps, back pivot kick, jumping kicks (each kicking technique as before only you jump in the air to perform the technique), plus sparring, one-step sparring and your forms or katas, how're you going to teach yourself the more advanced techniques that're beyond your current rank?

all I can say my friend is that if you're serious about training, and you're only training 1 time a week, and your instructor only holds class once a week, you prob'ly need to find another class to try and attend that instead. because you can't teach yourself all the more advanced techniques that are above your rank, and never progress the proper way

Answer 6

I do not think that we can teach martial art by our self. We need to attend a martial art "dojo", and learn under instruction of a good "sensei". We also need partner, either as "nage" or "uke", to practice and perfect the movement.

Answer 7

You can teach yourself the limits of your own body, however you will at least need to learn the basics from someone else. also you will want to get at least a couple of sparing partners so that your body can learn to react to different movements and techniques. I have been studying martial arts myself for the past seven years...but prior to that I took military tae kwan do, kick boxing, and (everyone laughs at this one but it is quite effective) tai chi. I learned the basics of these styles. then i encorparated them into my own style. also the The Tao of Jeet Kune Do is a great reference book.

Answer 8

Yes, from books, DVDs and even some video games. (but never movies ot TV).

Try to get someone you can train with on a regular basis, which will make it much more helpful.

My recommendation is sign-up for a martial arts class, use those books and DVDs to enhance your learning experiance.

Answer 9

Good question, but sorry to say that, NO not at all, Myself way to Black Belt .. very soon. From last 9Years under training. The MARTIAL ARTS is Actually based on the MIND POWER not the Muscle Power. With perfect Guru (Guide) it's possible. Please join good Training Center near you. WISH YOU BEST OF LUCK.

Answer 10

Yes and be sure to video tape yourself for America's Funniest Home Videos. I especially like the ones where a guy kicks the camera, breaks his hand trying to split a board, or when the occasional house pet or family member gets in the way. Remember to bow to the camera and good luck!