Students Learning On Their Own?

[Drunken Monkey]

is immitating the same as learning?

 

one thing that a secondary source can never give you is feel.

[GhostlySykanRyu]

I understand why some of you are doubtful, I've come to expect it actually. The reason I am only now training in a dojo:I want my own base to start with. At this point I have learned much and know exactly what works for me in just about every situation. I do speak with quite a few experienced martial artists, and have trained with a handful

 

(I had a SWAT member on his knees within ten seconds, I must be doing something right). So yes, I get other points of view, and on occasion I'll tape my movements and compare them to documentations of proper form.

 

I do not simply imitate, nor do I simply learn. I absorb, and there is a difference. I study and I train. When I practice a new movement I do usually have people compare it to the source.

 

Regardless of what any say, I know what has worked for me and what will continue to do so. I do not doubt the benefits of a dojo, but I have waited until now for valid reasons. Now I cannot pick up the bad habits of others, I already have had a chance to train my body and mind, and most importantly I will be able to tell the difference between a truely martial movement and one that has been imitated for far too long, losing it's effect. So now I continue with my own martial way, though I'm sure many will still disagree with my methods. Fair enough, it is expected.

[Rick]

Nah that's cool, at least ur going to a dojo now so u can compare ur individual style and techniques with everyone else. I'll be honest and admit that i have no idea how u trained to a good amount of skill without outside instruction, but then again i haven't got much of an idea about most things.

 

Rick

[GhostlySykanRyu]

Heh, it's not like I've trained in total isolation...though the sparring I have done might be a bit too intense for what is allowed in the dojo...then again, I've never been in the dojo...I guess it just depends on the sensei/owner?

[Rick]

Yeah well that's right, as well as the type of insurance that the owner has. Here in Oz insurance has gone up 800% from what it was 4 years ago in the martial arts industry. My last dojo had to make us wear full TKD style armour when we sparred, and even then it was semi-contact with hardly any pain.

 

RIck

[GhostlySykanRyu]

The insurance company made them use armor?!? Wow...

[Rick]

Not necessarily - i'm not sure of the politics behind it - but i think that the only way that we would be covered by insurance while sparring was if we used the full olympic style taekwondo armour. It sucked and it was sooooo hard to move in!

 

Rick

[47MartialMan]

Theres plenty of great literature out there on the martial arts, and instructional videos are priceless, as they often show you the heart of a given system.

 

that's actually not true. There are several teachers out there, particularly in the CMA world who change the forms when they put them on video. They do this on purpose so they can distinguish people who actually learned from those who learned by video.

 

I know someone that has done that!!!

[Rick]

Aw man, how embarassing would that have been for the bloke who learned it and thought it was the real deal when he was showing it off to some other guys...

 

Rick

[47MartialMan]

Yeah, saw that too. Guy had to re-learn a lot. Thus he had to break old habits.