Can you learn MA from a book?

[Taku-Shimazu]

Can you learn successfullly from a book or is a class / Sensei the only way to learn?

[Nick_UKWC]

I posted my thoughts on this subject in reply to your first question here

[KUNTA KINTE]

maybe if you and a freind do it together like form grappeling

[krzychicano]

That is a definite NO. No matter who you have practicing with you there is just to much information left out in books and the pictures that come associated with it. Nothing beats live training.

[Shorin Ryuu]

No.

 

You can use books to greatly enhance your learning. But I've only seen a few books that would really fundamentally shape anything I would do anyway.

 

However, in addition to the lack of books with real instructional quality in the first place, there's just too much to be learned with your body.

 

I am a strong advocate of academic learning about martial arts. However, without live training, it is pretty much useless.

[tkdBill]

No Matter how good the book is, it can never give you feedback. I'm sure many of us have learned the most when our instructor/master watched us then told us what we are doing wrong, or not good enough. Then they tell us how to correct and can even examine and break down the mechanics of our movements. You cannot get that from any book (or video).

 

Many times I would execute a technique that looked good in my mind, but my instructor saw that it was wrong or poorly executed. He then worked with me to fix the problem. Some of my students have tried to learn a form from the student manual instead of coming to class, and the result was not even close to what it should look like.

 

Of course books can be a wonderful enhancement to MA training!

[SevenStar]

maybe if you and a freind do it together like form grappeling

 

No. not even in that situation, and especially with grappling, as you can't see al of the subtle movements in a mere picture.

 

The ONLY time I'd suggest using a book is if you are currently training, already have a base and are able to understand what is missing. This is only used to supplement your training and should NEVER substitute it.

[iolair]

This question (learning solo) comes up pretty often, and the answer is always the same - that (especially in the early stages) feedback from an instructor is too important to do without.

 

We should make one of these threads a sticky!

[Skeptic 2004]

ABSOULTELY NOT.

 

Quality books (and I cannot emphasize that enough) give you concepts to play with in your head. Without an instructor to show you how those concepts work correctly in action and without a guide to sift through all the garbage that gets published, you're doomed to fail.

[Straight Blast]

Books of teaching martial arts are just useless.

 

A simple book with 10 chapters can never teach you techniques as if you took that art for 10 years.

 

Without an instructor,you may have many errors into your form or the way you strike.Your also not as motivated as you would be when your inside of a dojo.

 

And sparring would most likely be a MUST,to work on your sparring you would need another partner,books provide you with info,but sadly not a sparring partner.