what easier to learn from books- striking or grappling?

[SevenStar]

I don't really remember him, but the library has some of his old books.

 

I'd say striking would be easier. You can convey the intricacies of a strike easier than techniques like a simple bjj sweep. there are a lot of details involved with grappling that are hard to catch on camera.

[Sasori_Te]

I'm curious as to how anyone could ever understand the proper power transfer of a punch from a photograph. Much like grappling, and I speak as a student of Danzan Ryu Jiu Jitsu, proper striking techniques no matter the weapon used, requires proper balance and power transfer. I don't see how either one can be properly translated from a book without prior knowledge.

[delta1]

I'm curious as to how anyone could ever understand the proper power transfer of a punch from a photograph. Much like grappling, proper striking techniques no matter the weapon used, requires proper balance and power transfer. I don't see how either one can be properly translated from a book without prior knowledge.

 

Agreed!

They are also a great intro for some dumb kid that wants to whup up on the local bully; though the kid will soon figure out he'd best take a board to the bully and enroll in a class.

 

You can get a lot out of books, if they are clearly written, well illustrated, and not too complicated. But you'll never get the same understanding of basics as from an actual class experience.

[jeffrogers]

need a partner though for critique and feed back. You can learn any thing you want. If you have a good base already its alot easiser if your new at the partciular game and don't have a good martial art base. Its not as good. You will miss alot of key points. But good luck to you. -Jeff

[Rich_2k3]

It would be hard to learn grappling on ur own cuz u'll need someone 2 practice with or ur'll never get anywhere, so I say striking.

[GrrrArg]

Striking badly.

[jeffrogers]

You can do both. Need a bag or something you can hit to test the theory thats in the book but eventually need a partner to apply them more effectively. same with grappling You can do all the solo drills and flexiblity trianing you want but you will only get so far but you need a partner. But if you already train at a gym or school books are excellent for reminders or giving off ideas or reieforcement training maybe the wording of that author helps make a move click in for you that your instructer previously showed you but for some reason you didn't quite comprehend or grasp what he was saying.

 

but how the author worded it in the book. It clicked for you.

 

-Jeff

[cymry]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but grappling is more difficult positions-wise, whereas striking involves more complex physics to be effective, so neither one is easier.

 

That said, there is only so much you can learn from books. Probably more with videos, but you still need a good instructor.

[Hoju]

On a sorta seperate side note about learning from books. Two hyungs (katas) ago, I wanted to try to learn some of it prior to learning it in class, which I knew I was going to the next day. So I found a book with it & started pratcticing & learning some of the new techniques.

 

Well, as is probably apparent, when I started learning it in class, I had 90% of it wrong. When I went home and rereviewed the book, I saw that I had the final aspect of the motion correct, but I there was no way to really understand the execution & connection of the move without seeing done live.

 

Now I only use books for review or combination techniques, rather than the initial learning.

[Rich67]

If I had to choose one, I'd say striking. Here's why: grappling techniques most certainly require repetition and a partner to practice. You cannot go through the moves with the air, since a partner reacts to the changes of hand position and movement. Kicking and punching, on the other hand, can be practiced without a partner using a heavy or speed bag (as in boxing), but there is also no substitute for sparring. Summary: you can learn some good TECHNIQUES and TACTICS from books, but they won't work or work well unless you practice them against a LIVE target; one that hits and grapples back. So use the books to add depth to your skills, but never use them as a substitute for REAL instruction and training.