Is it possible to be able to teach myself a type of martial arts?

Answer 1

I'm gonna go against the grain and say no to this. While books and videos offer a certain degree of instruction, the types people who seem most likely to reap the benefits already have a good base going for them. Keep in mind that the martial artist who authored the book or is starring in the video already has a solid base and in many cases is unconsciously assuming that you do too. So the little things that beginners encounter are oftentimes overlooked.

There's also the question of how fast you want to learn and how well you want to learn what your learning. Working with an instructor definitely has it's advantages in that he/she can clear a question up immediately and also prevent you from creating bad habits. Having others around to train with can add to this and give you a partner to work with. Let's face it, it's hard to get someone to be your "dummy" so you can try a new move.

I won't say it's impossible, but I don't think its the most efficient route you can take...

Answer 2

It is possible in theory, but there are many downsides.
For instance, if you learn a kick from a book, how will you know if it's any good? You might think it's the best kick ever, yet come the day when you have to use it on someone and you fall flat on your ****. Why? Because you haven't had anyone helping you out, showing you the correct technique, showing you exactly what you are doing wrong etc.
Books aren't going to teach you the correct distance to be from someone when fighting. Sure they can tell you, but that is something you have to learn through practice, with another person.
In theory, yes you can do it, but at best you'll only be general sportsman with knowledge of the tools of martial arts, but no idea how to apply them correctly. Your best bet is to find a mate who wants to learn, find a club and go together. Lessons are fun, honest!
Just so you know, I started learning from a book, and when I finally went to a martial arts class i found that I knew nothing that was relevant, so had to forget everything and start from a clean sheet. You might as well start from a clean sheet in the first place.

Answer 3

The answer is YES. You can indeed teach yourself a TYPE of martial arts. What you CANNOT do is teach yourself an existing type of martial arts.

Take boxing or MMA, for example. The practitioners of these fighting systems are taught about 2 dozen basic movements or so. Using JUST those 20-30 very basic techniques, every boxer breaks into his or her very own style.

If you truly intend to teach youself to fight, you need other people to make it a reality. Preferably, you should have a boxer, a karateka, a wrestler, and any other CONTACT sparring partners you can find. Learning the basic from these people will allow you to fine tune your own style. (they WILL learn more advanced things as time moves forward, but a persons base style is determined by their fundamentals)

What you should NOT do is attempt to craft some new style of kung fu in your mom's basement. That only leads to tragedy, and an almost certain guaruntee that you'll die a virgin, and you don't want that :-)

Answer 4

Possible, but not recommended.
1) Even with books, tapes etc, there is no substitute for a live instructor to correct your mistakes.
2) You are unlikely to gain the wisdom that you can get from a true martial arts instructor.
3) You would be depriving yourself of the friendships that form in a martial arts school.
4) Unless you are exceptionally self motivated, you will lose interest quickly.

Find a good school.

Answer 5

No not really, because Martial Arts has evolved from the times when it was first created and so many more people study it now then centuries ago, it'd be more difficult to be as proficient in it as say someone who was formally taught.

a person who was formally taught would be shown the proper way to perform the techniques. Books and videos are only good for reference, and if you have questions about any techniques, you can't ask the book or video, you'd have to talk to the person who wrote the book, or who the person was in the video.

being formally taught by an instructor gives you many chances to be shown the right way to perform the techniques, and having a class to go to gives you more incentive to train more then opening a book and reading the technique, trying it and getting frustrated that it doesn't look like the photo in the book, and then deciding that you don't wanna train anymore and feel like you've wasted your money.

Answer 6

Highly improbable.First of all you need a real body to practice on.You'll need someone to see what kinds of thing you're doing wrong.There are books and videos available,but I never learned that much that way.You can have your friends help you with sparring but there won't be anyone there qualified to tell you what's wrong or right.You can start learning a little before hand from books and videos.Even if you learn Kata and do it all day long that will not teach you.Fighting is based too heavily on reacting to a stimulus.ALL of the worlds great martial artists have had instructors.Even Bruce Lee studied Tai Chi,Wing Chun,Boxing and a multitude of other arts before he came up with Jun Fan Kung Fu(his real name is Lee Jun Fan) and Jeet Ku Do.

Answer 7

it is statistically possible. About as likely as you sponaneously combusting in the next 30 seconds but it is possible.

He who teaches themselves martial arts has a crap teacher.

How much time would you devote to it? are you going to spar/experiment with a live opponent all day long and have nothing else to do?

People who have modified existing martial arts into a new system have studied a variety of other arts and improved on them based on what they know and were taught.
Why waste your time attempting to come up w/something new when you are going to spend 99% of your time just "re-inventing" or "discovering" what works in the first place to improve upon?

Answer 8

No, you must study a crane fighting with a snake or have the knowledge given to you in a dream by a deity or benevelont ancestor.

Yes, you may teach yourself on your own, however, it would go much more efficiently, effectively and safely to have someone already skilled share their knowledge with you and help you not form any bad habits.

Answer 9

in a word no. you will need expert instruction 15years kickboxing instructor. find a club that suites the kind of style that you want to learn. then start the right way. then once you have the basic fundermental techniques. then you can start looking at books and watching videos of you chosen style. good luck.

Answer 10

Yes, you can learn the basics from books, but as for your level of proficiency, it will be very minimal at best. To learn the martial arts, you have to have one on one instruction with a skilled instructor.