On-Line and Video Training

What many of these online video programs over look is the importance of training partners and equipment in addition to competent instruction.  If you want to truly understand a martial art, you can't simply drill forms that your instructor is doing.  You need to practice techniques with other people.  You need to engage in sparring like activities.  These activities, however, open a whole new can of worms.  Now we need to think about safety and other issues that partner training may entail.  Without an experienced instructor present, there is very little to keep people from behaving in ways that jeaporidize themselves and their training partners.  This is the most severe weakness of such online courses, I believe.  If used properly, by a group of people who are able to train together, maybe a video course could produce able martial artists, but the situation is confounded by the need for guidance and safety.

In regards to the efficacy of a course itself, I've heard many a story of a martial arts teacher guiding his pupil by demonstrating a technique once and then allowing the pupil to spend several weeks or months after that trying to recreate the technique.  He would work on said technique without any feedback from his instructor until next they met, during which time his instructor would provide a new technique, and the cycle would begin again.  What is the difference between training in that way and training from videos?

Maybe I'm being a little too generous, and I'm underestimating the value of in person instruction or feed back.  I think when you get right down to it, I want to think its possible to be like Karr from "Bullet Proof Monk," who taught himself Kung Fu by watching old Hong Kong Martial Arts flicks. 

I think you are about right - it's useful, but not so much if you have no previous in person training.

On that subject though, I think sometimes grizzled vets can underestimate the value of video as medium for martial arts training. Can you imagine how the guys who penned old martial manuals would feel about technology that allowed someone to give detailed instruction in every way but direct physical contact? I think they would  find us insane if we didn't take advantage of it.

The possibilities of it are fantastic. I personally have gotten some real gems from DvD's over the years, stuff that permanently changed the way I do things as much as some stuff from in person training has. Naturally it will never equal direct instruction..but I think it's pretty much the second best thing.

Interestingly, it seemed like when I was doing Judo there was no anti-video bias at all, they were all interested in any tricks they could pick up. I remember after getting trounced particularly bad by a blackbelt and asking about how he honed his skills to such a degree..he petty much said something like "twenty years experience plus youtube".

The only real question to me about video is of quality, personally I have no doubt on the value of videos and even books for learning. While they cannot replace direct instruction obviously, they can enrich martial arts practice immensely, especially if you are trained  and willing to experiment enough to internalize and "own" the material.

Tony Smith wrote:

I’ve seen many an add stating, “Learn Martial Arts in the privacy of your own home.” Most of these ads are through internet and or DVD’s. I do believe one can enhance their martial skills through this type of venue; however, I do believe if someone who has had no prior martial arts experience must first have face to face experience with a qualified instructor before any type of video training will become useful… your thoughts…

Respectfully,

Tony Smith

I agree....In addition, If you have a Sensei with you observing your next move, It also helps for him to see and critique your perfomance.