Teaching Yourself
Posted by: Anonymous
Teaching Yourself - 01/07/05 08:52 AM
Seeing the large number of "Teach Myself" threads that have been popping up, how about we set up a thread to give some pointers on what can be "self taught" prior to training with a teacher.
Being a relatively new student to sword arts, there are a few things that I believe would have helped me out prior to starting. Of course I'm not talking about actually doing anything with a blade - I'm referring to stretching, physical conditioning and discipline.
Being someone who is nearing 30 and had never really done any organized exercise program, going straight into an intense practice regimen ended up giving me a painful case of Tennis Elbow and some lingering Tendonitis. This caused me to have to basically stop practicing altogether for several weeks.
If I had known what I know now, I would have started with some repetitive arm workouts before taking my first class. If I had gotten my arms and shoulders used to the load and limbered up my wrists and elbows I probably could have avoided any problems.
Another good thing I wish I knew then was the importance of flexibility. It has taken a while for me to be able to do several of our Suburi correctly because my body wasn't relaxed and flexible enough. Excercises that increase the flexibility of my shoulders, torso, arms and legs have definately helped me remove this obstacle.
Finally, I haven't touched any sword weapon except my Bokuto's since beginning class, and I feel that it gives me more drive to learn and progress. The quicker I learn, the quicker I will move up to an Iaito and finally a Shinken.
As I said, I am pretty new to the Sword (5 months now) so I'm sure there's a lot more wisdom that the more experienced folks on this forum can provide.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/08/05 06:23 PM
I've been getting used to the basics for three years now.Things like blocking, methods
of attack,things like that. Up to now, I've been getting pretty good at avoiding the inital attacks, then countering them. To make sure I don't screw up the distances, I practice with a friend. I like to call him a student or underling because he's not as good. The things you can definitely practice without a teacher would have to be the mechanics of sword arts in general. If you can practice with a friend, I definitely recommend it.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/08/05 06:46 PM
I to am new to the sword. I have been doing as much research as possible and I am also studying the book "IAI The Art of Drawing the Sword" by Darrell Max Craig and foind it very informative. I purchased a Hakama and Kimono and am now learning the basics of the uniform and proper sword procedure. Thanks for listening. I will give up all I learn as I go on if this helps!
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/10/05 08:06 AM
Hmm, you may be missing the point.
The point was - the things you can definitely practice without a teacher would have nothing to do with a sword at all.
If you're learning without a teacher, you're not learning swordplay, you're playing with sticks.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/10/05 08:20 AM
Just a warning. Mr. Craig is controversial within sword arts community. I'd take what you read with a grain of salt. More importantly the "proper" ways to wear a hakama and the "proper" ettiquette regarding swords and dojos varies a bit from one style to the next.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/12/05 04:33 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by yen:
Hmm, you may be missing the point.
The point was - the things you can definitely practice without a teacher would have nothing to do with a sword at all.
If you're learning without a teacher, you're not learning swordplay, you're playing with sticks.[/QUOTE]
actualy I am not playing with anything. And you can lean a bunch of things like parts of the sword, how to wear your hakama, how to prepare for practice ect ect. I don't know but Ithink this all has to do with the sword and you do not need a teacher to learn this.
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/12/05 05:47 PM
Alev
What folks are reffering to is that things like how to tie the hakama, wear the sword, "proper" drawing method, how to get ready for practice etc.
Can differ considerably from ryu to ryu.
What you are teaching yourself, may be fine as far as the booksor tapes your learning from.
But its probably not going to very applicable acroos the board with other ryu.
Plus there are all kinds of small details that you can only get from proper instruction.
Heck, I remember one of my own teachers telling us that he always "changed" things a "bit" when he was being taped--that way "he would always know if someone had been trained in his system or they just bought bootleg tapes."
Chances are he was just kidding--but it makes sense to me.
You are far better off tracking down a legit teacher, your goign to do the work in either case.
If I were you I'd make it count.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 01:27 AM
Doing research by learning books before finding a teacher is one thing, but you can't learn everything about Japanese sword arts via books.
If you try to learn a martial art with just books and without the guidance of a proper instructor, you are just gleaning techniques from a book without truly understanding their purpose origin or history.
Learning how to dress one's self correctly in JSA via books is OK, as it is research and some instructors will teach you different ways, so you do build up some knowledge. But that is completely different from learning technique.
If you learn by yourself, there's noone to give you feedback if you do techniques incorrectly or not.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 08:45 AM
alevshogun, that was actually in response to the comment by ModernWanderer15. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 10:00 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by yen:
Hmm, you may be missing the point.
The point was - the things you can definitely practice without a teacher would have nothing to do with a sword at all.
If you're learning without a teacher, you're not learning swordplay, you're playing with sticks.[/QUOTE]
Hmmm...
The great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (by his own account) learned how to fight with a sword without a teacher - are you saying that all he did was play with sticks?
Perhaps you should learn a little history before opening your mouth.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 10:28 AM
That arguement doesn't hold water. He lived in a time and place where swords were in use. It wasn't that hard to gain real experience by going out and testing and subsequently refining one's skills. That environment no longer exists and so your arguement does not hold.
Posted by: Zeal
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 10:42 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jay Harms:
Hmmm...
The great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (by his own account) learned how to fight with a sword without a teacher - are you saying that all he did was play with sticks?
Perhaps you should learn a little history before opening your mouth.[/QUOTE]
I take it you have read Go Rin No Sho and got this idea from there.
As Charles says, Musashi actually killed people with his weapons to gain experience.
Also his father was an experienced bugeisha, so he probably grew up around weapons.
If Musashi saw no value in structured teaching, why would he create his own ryuha? Also towards the end of his life, he shunned most weapons in favour of his bokuto, so I suppose he did prefer sticks in the end.
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 01:28 PM
Charles
Zeal
Well put!
Lets me just add to that pretty much EVERY classical ryu used/uses a structred teaching method.
Even if JAy was right--which he clearly is not--that would be only a single example amoung many counter examples.
Not really all that strong an arguement.
Plus, I have to ask--why the heck does everyone seem to focus on that particular part of the Musashi??
And they all seem to want to try and use it as justification for their own lack of formal training.
Tell you what--you wander all over the place taking part in lethal sword duels--and can prove it.
You kill 20 or so guys in duels and you can quote Musashi all you want.
Heck, I'll even buy YOUR book.
Until then, kindly get some real training prior to lecturing others about the history of the arts they practice.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 03:17 PM
20 trained swordsmen, that is.
[This message has been edited by yen (edited 01-13-2005).]
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 04:11 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by cxt:
Alev
What folks are reffering to is that things like how to tie the hakama, wear the sword, "proper" drawing method, how to get ready for practice etc.
Can differ considerably from ryu to ryu.
What you are teaching yourself, may be fine as far as the booksor tapes your learning from.
But its probably not going to very applicable acroos the board with other ryu.
Plus there are all kinds of small details that you can only get from proper instruction.
Heck, I remember one of my own teachers telling us that he always "changed" things a "bit" when he was being taped--that way "he would always know if someone had been trained in his system or they just bought bootleg tapes."
Chances are he was just kidding--but it makes sense to me.
You are far better off tracking down a legit teacher, your goign to do the work in either case.
If I were you I'd make it count.[/QUOTE]
I see were you are coming from it just seems that everyone on this forum has something bad to say about reading books or watching videos. Were did they start. Im sure not eveyone that studies the sword just started out going to a teacher. They are not that easy to find. I am going to sit in on my first class tonight. I found a dojo nearme but it took a couple of weeks . Thanks for the input
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 04:24 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jay Harms:
Hmmm...
The great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (by his own account) learned how to fight with a sword without a teacher - are you saying that all he did was play with sticks?
Perhaps you should learn a little history before opening your mouth.[/QUOTE]
Musashi did study kenjutsu from an early age. He studied from several ryu early on. After his "enlightenment" he separated from himself from traditional guidance and embarked on his Musha-Shugyo at 16. His first duel at thirteen wasn’t even with a sword.
[QUOTE] When he was 13, Musashi participated in his first single combat, challenging the swordsman Arima Kigei, who had invited challenges as a means of proving the superiority of his school, Shinto-Ryu. Although Musashi was very young, Kigei accepted his challenge. Musashi defeated the samurai, striking him repeatedly with a stick, so violently that he died. As well as his skill, this duel displayed the savagery which marked Musashi as a young man.[/QUOTE]
He did continue to learn from others in more of a mentor/training partner capacity. With his father being a warrior and jutte "master" in his own right it's believed Musashi's style was strongly influenced by his father and the fact he learned from an early age to hold a sword with one hand.
Musashi DID have teachers. The section you are refering to...
[QUOTE]Excerpt from Musashi's "Book of Five Rings": Thus with the virtue of strategy I practise many arts and abilities - all things with no teacher.[/QUOTE]
Is explained in this way..
[QUOTE]There had been traditions instituted for the arts in the Muromachi period, system of grades and licences and seniority, and these were perpetuated perhaps more rigidly under the Tokugawa bureaucracy. Musashi studied various arts in separate schools, but when after his enlightenment he persued his studies he had become separate from traditional guidance. He writes his final words in the book of the Void: "Then you will come to think of things in a wide sense, and taking the Void as the Way, you will then see the Way as Void."[/QUOTE]
Traditional guidance in the sense of a teacher within the strict sense of the word for his time.
I suggest YOU learn some history before chastising others and opening YOUR mouth. Reading one book doesn't make you a historian.
[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 01-13-2005).]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 04:29 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by alevshogun:
I see were you are coming from it just seems that everyone on this forum has something bad to say about reading books or watching videos. Were did they start. Im sure not eveyone that studies the sword just started out going to a teacher. They are not that easy to find. I am going to sit in on my first class tonight. I found a dojo nearme but it took a couple of weeks . Thanks for the input[/QUOTE]
The reason everyone is saying you can't learn from books and videos is because it's true. I don't care how much you want to believe you can, it's not possible. They are ONLY there for reference for those who are in study, looking to gain an understanding of an art prior to studying it or to gain a general understanding of the history and differences in their art to others.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/13/05 09:08 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by laf7773:
The reason everyone is saying you can't learn from books and videos is because it's true. I don't care how much you want to believe you can, it's not possible. They are ONLY there for reference for those who are in study, looking to gain an understanding of an art prior to studying it or to gain a general understanding of the history and differences in their art to others.
[/QUOTE]
This still does not answer the question on were they strarted. They did not just start learning from a teacher. They did some research and learned from books in the begining. There is no way you can get into anything for that matter without studying or some type of research. I think that people are giving bad advice when they say you can not learn from books. You might not be able to loearn technique from books but there is still alot to learn from a book. Just because they say not to read books here read them anyway. So many people qoute all the masters of the sword and these quotes had to come from a book! Period. Books pass on knowledge from some time ago. You can not deny this!
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 12:24 AM
Take a deep breath and read through some of the posts again. Not just in this thread but any of the numerous other "self teaching" threads. No one has said books and videos aren't good for anything. If there is one thing i think we all agree on it's that the ONLY thing you should be learning from books is history, etiquette and so forth. When we say you can't learn from books and videos we are talking about things like technique, stance, distancing, rhythm, triangulation, angle and direction and a variety of other aspects of the arts that can ONLY be taught by a qualified instructor.
The point some are trying to make to you specifically is about things like how to tie a hakama and such. There isn't one way to do it. The way you may be learning from the book your reading may be different than what is taught in every dojo in your area.
As for how everyone started. Why is it so hard to believe that some just found their way into a dojo? When i started i knew nothing about iaido or kenjutsu. I was young and thought it was all something you learned in Japanese karate. I didn't have the marvelous internet and had no idea what to look for in the library. My first experience was through an introduction made by a friend. I was primarily in tae kwon do and Chinese systems up to that point an knew nothing about Japanese sword arts. I watched on class by what i know now as a low ranking, unqualified instructor in batto-do and was hooked. My research started AFTER my training.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 03:16 AM
Were did they start. Im sure not eveyone that studies the sword just started out going to a teacher. They are not that easy to find. I am going to sit in on my first class tonight. I found a dojo nearme but it took a couple of weeks
Wow, Alve your search took 2 whole weeks! Some people spend their entire lives looking for instruction. When the student is ready the teacher will appear. Perhaps you are just not ready yet.
Posted by: MAGon
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 06:06 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by laf7773:
The reason everyone is saying you can't learn from books and videos is because it's true. I don't care how much you want to believe you can, it's not possible. They are ONLY there for reference for those who are in study, looking to gain an understanding of an art prior to studying it or to gain a general understanding of the history and differences in their art to others.
[/QUOTE]
WHAT!!!!! You mean all those movies and mangas in which an enlightened hero goes off on his own and comes up with this fantastic new system after a few months effort are wrong???!!!! [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif[/IMG]
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 06:52 AM
Actually, Miyamoto Musashi Fujiwara No Genshin learned various bugei, including kenjutsu and juttejutsu from his father, Fujiwara Shinmen Munisai Taketo, who was one of the martial arts instructor for the Shimazu clan until he migrated to the Bungo Takeda province (present day Oita & Fukuoka prefectures).
He wasn't self taught. He did have instruction from a very good source.
[This message has been edited by Gunyo Kogusoku (edited 01-14-2005).]
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 07:38 AM
[QUOTE]There is no way you can get into anything for that matter without studying or some type of research.
[/QUOTE]
That's just dead wrong. I got started by walking into the dojo one day, not knowing anything more about it than what I had garnered from a brief article in the UNT paper. I'd hardly call that studying or research.
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 07:53 AM
Alev
It seems to me that there is some confusion here.
Most of us are NOT saying that you can't learn INFORMATION ABOUT a style from books.
What we are saying is you can't learn THE STYLE from books.
For example you can read about the Niten Ryu, its history, weapons and look at some pictures of its a few of its techniques--but that is a world away from any real training.
Books can't take the place of real training.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/14/05 08:50 AM
There's nothing nicer than the feeling of training with a group under the watchful eye of a sensei.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/15/05 11:50 PM
Damnit! Stop talking about whether you can learn the technique from books or movies.
Argument 1: I can learn the technique from books!
Argument 2: No you can't!
Hey #1! Go to someone who is a 30 year master of one of ken no jutsu and tell him that you can kill him with the 3 week training course given to you by the great librarian of whatever hick town you're from. Here is what would happen:
Dumbass Bookworm: I will kill you! Haaaa!!!!
(DB charges at master)
Master:...
(DB gets killed in the swipe of master's sword as master takes advantage of DB's flaw.)
End of argument!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!
[This message has been edited by iainobenkyou (edited 01-16-2005).]
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/16/05 08:28 PM
Iaino, I appreciate your sentiment, but there is no need to be rude. Please, control your temper and exclamation points (using many in a row reduces the effect).
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/17/05 05:52 PM
i think your wrong im now 17 and taught my self my own tequnique and the age of 11 you dont need to go see a teacher just to learn you CAN teach yourself
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 01/17/05 05:59 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jed_209:
i think your wrong im now 17 and taught my self my own tequnique and the age of 11 you dont need to go see a teacher just to learn you CAN teach yourself[/QUOTE]
and yes you can learn form movies so im with benjamin
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/02/05 03:49 PM
It isn't killing people, but I set up a system that is helpful as I train with friends(some have training in forms of ninjtsu and other types of JSA).Maybe you could help if you see any major flaws in it.
I measure hits by how well contact was made, type of attack,the way I was moving at the time of contact.Other factors also come into play. I'll probably be going to a dojo in a year for training. I'm trying to get as much done in how to move the sword in ways that are harder to predict.
[This message has been edited by ModernWanderer15 (edited 02-02-2005).]
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/02/05 04:01 PM
Modern
ANY contact with a blade can be lethal. Sometimes its very quick--sometime it takes you awhile to bleed to death.
How "well" contact is made would be tough under those circumstances.
Might be a case of he dies now, you die 5 minutes later.
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/02/05 04:06 PM
Jed
Sure you teach yourself and learn from movies. Just no way for you to tell if what you made up in your garage is any good or not.
No decent frame of reference so to speak. How do you "know" what your doing is going to work?
Pretty sure your just jacking with us here.
But its a slow day so why not--helps pass the time.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/02/05 04:31 PM
I'm already to the point where I can make contact with my opponent without too much fuss.I'm working toward learning to read my opponents attack and stop it. I don't charge at them like a berserker,of course I may have learned that from just sparring. I may just be lucky to have a friend that practices during summer when he goes to Florida(Lucky guy, I'm stuck in Pennsylvania, in a hick town next to Oil City) [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif[/IMG]
Noted though, thanks... [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]
[This message has been edited by ModernWanderer15 (edited 02-02-2005).]
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/02/05 07:57 PM
I'm gonna run under the assumption that you are genuine in your request for tips, and not like so many other backyard samurai who are just looking for someone to validate their own brand of whacky-smack training.
Honestly if you are likely to find genuine instruction in a year, then the single best thing you can do to prep you for that traing is to stop what you're doing now.
Learning a sword art is all about training very specific patterns and methodologies of movement into muscle memory. You are without a doubt training your body to do things which you will have to unlearn later. In all liklihood, a new student starting at about the same time as you will progress faster because that new student will not have to unlearn all the habits that you built swinging sticks at your friends in your backyard.
[This message has been edited by Charles Mahan (edited 02-02-2005).]
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/04/05 04:39 PM
I really do want to learn. If that's your advice, I will take it. Thank you for your time.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/08/05 09:59 AM
I never bought a video or book to learn the art. When I became seriously interested I began searching and was eventually able to find a dojo recently moved to my area.
Anyway, maybe we can get this back on topic now. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]
Something else I would suggest to the aspiring swordsman would be to keep an eye out for a demonstration in your area. I know in Shinkendo these are often done at "Japan Day" type celebrations and other public events in our area.
This provides a great opportunity to see the curriculum and speak to someone knowledgable in person. I also think that watching an experienced practitioner in person can help you grasp the amount of learning and experience required to do this art.
Only thing to keep in mind - make sure what you're going to see is a serious sword art and not a show - I'm sure there are folks here that could help you determine this if you ask.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/14/05 10:00 PM
you can learn from books movies and videos i did. i wonce beat the **** outta tis one kid who that his **** dont stink cause he had a sword and he "trained" with it. so i bring an 8 foot hardened bamboo staff. in five moves he was on the ground crying.
my point is you CAN learn from BOOKS/MOVIES and such.it is not strenghth or style that matters it is PRACTICE. even if you fight with "crappy form" you can still win by practicing
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/15/05 12:43 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by katanas rock:
you can learn from books movies and videos i did. i wonce beat the **** outta tis one kid who that his **** dont stink cause he had a sword and he "trained" with it. so i bring an 8 foot hardened bamboo staff. in five moves he was on the ground crying.
my point is you CAN learn from BOOKS/MOVIES and such.it is not strenghth or style that matters it is PRACTICE. even if you fight with "crappy form" you can still win by practicing[/QUOTE]
Complete nonsense.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/15/05 06:55 AM
Cut him some slack Laf. The kids 10 years old. He is wrong of course. Practice is only meaningful if you are practicing something. You have to have a style to practice or your practice is meaningless. Most importantly a book cannot show you what to practice and therein lies the problem.
[This message has been edited by Charles Mahan (edited 02-15-2005).]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/15/05 01:38 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Charles Mahan:
Cut him some slack Laf. The kids 10 years old. He is wrong of course. Practice is only meaningful if you are practicing something. You have to have a style to practice or your practice is meaningless. Most importantly a book cannot show you what to practice and therein lies the problem.
[This message has been edited by Charles Mahan (edited 02-15-2005).][/QUOTE]
Nothing in his post here gave his age. I didn't find out how old he was until after i responded and moved on to other threads.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/16/05 10:09 PM
It is true that you cannot learn a formal style from books videos or improvisation. But to say that if you don't have a formal style or ryu you will be
cr@p, is, well,
cr@p! i personally train with a number of different weapons (note; i said weapons, not weapon styles.) with my friends and we have noticed improvement.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 07:23 AM
I don't practice sword arts at all, although I am looking for a suitable dojo now. I have been practicing Japanese martial arts for about 12 years now and I think this holds true for armed or unarmed arts: You can gain some benefit from videos and books. They can help you to refine your (existing) technique as well as teach you the history behind it and possible give insight about why it is the way it is as opposed to some variation. But videos and books alone, regardless of how many hours you devote to practice will not result in anything usefull. I've met many "self taught" "martial artists" (a few of which actually have the nerve to take on students) The one in particular that I'm talking about has been self training for as long as I have trained (with an instructor). He wears a black belt just like me, but personally I would say his level of skill is 3rd Kyu-ish, if that. Many of the techniques are ineffective, most of them look pretty at the expense of usefullness. This stems (I assume) from the fact that he NEVER had anyone w/ a higher skill level than himself to correct his mistakes. My opinion is this: books/videos/internet are GREAT to help you determine which art you want to study and once you have studied, they can help you refine it, but you can not learn a martial art that way. I had the benefit of an istructor with 40 years of experience and generations of cumulative experience/learning/refining.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 09:31 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SwordCritter:
It is true that you cannot learn a formal style from books videos or improvisation. But to say that if you don't have a formal style or ryu you will be cr@p, is, well, cr@p! i personally train with a number of different weapons (note; i said weapons, not weapon styles.) with my friends and we have noticed improvement.[/QUOTE]
Your argument has a some flaws. First and foremost self training is not necessarily going to lead to poor skill with a sword, but it is not necessarily going to lead
to good skill either.
For instance, let's say you got a textbook on brain surgery. And you practiced in your backyard on pig brains you bought from a local butcher shop. You use an exacto knife instead of a scalpel. Close enough right. So you do this several times. Then a friend of yours comes down with a malignant brain tumor. Now would you rather take him to a board certified neuro-surgeon who has specialized training, or are you gonna take his life into your own hands and try out your skills?
See the difference I'm getting at? Swinging sticks around in the backyard is entirely different from the real thing. Even with a book to help show you the general idea, it's only gonna give you a general idea.
So it is possible that you will get to be a reasonably proficient swordsman. Anything is theoretically possible, but it is extremely unlikely. The swordstyles that have survived to the present are grounded in the knowledge and experience of many generations of skilled swordsmen, manu of whom had the oppurtunity to test their skills in actual combat where real lives were on the line.
See the difference?
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 10:32 AM
yes "swing sticks" in the backyard will most likely not amount to anything resmbling a formal sword art. but to say that it is unlikely to develope skill is, i feel, bullsh!t. it may not be able to compare to a proper ryu or style but to assume that i and my partners are just swing boken around like monkeys is also wrong. what we would come up with would be a more natural set of movements, caused by trial and error (the oldest form of learning) we will through time come to the most efficient way of doing attacks. isay attacks because we make no claims at knowing techniques.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 10:42 AM
[QUOTE] what we would come up with would be a more natural set of movements, caused by trial and error (the oldest form of learning) we will through time come to the most efficient way of doing attacks.[/QUOTE]
absolutely, you will develope your skills via trial and error. in the end, you would have all of the knowledge of (part) of your own life. w/ more formal training, you would, in less time, incorporate the knoledge of many generations or trial and error.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 10:48 AM
self teaching certainly is not the best way to go about it. and in some cases, accomplishes absolutely nothing. But in the end, we're all doing this for the journey, not the destination. If we just wanted to be the best killers, we are certainly all going about it the wrong way.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 10:53 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by SwordCritter:
yes "swing sticks" in the backyard will most likely not amount to anything resmbling a formal sword art. but to say that it is unlikely to develope skill is, i feel, bullsh!t. it may not be able to compare to a proper ryu or style but to assume that i and my partners are just swing boken around like monkeys is also wrong. what we would come up with would be a more natural set of movements, caused by trial and error (the oldest form of learning) we will through time come to the most efficient way of doing attacks. isay attacks because we make no claims at knowing techniques.[/QUOTE]
If that is what makes you happy, continue your whacky smacks. Just don't expect anyone who is training for real to take you seriously. If you've come here to find validation, I'm sorry to say you are unlikely to find it.
What makes you think you can learn enough in a few months of trial and error that you can compare what you've learned to what has been learned by twenty odd generations of swordsmen. Swordsmen who lived and died by what they learned and were able to pass on. Trial and error is good yes. Hundreds of years worth, backed up by testing your skill against other well trained individuals intent on your death. Now that's trial and error.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 11:13 AM
I never said I could compare my three years of trial and error against generations of expeirence. I am just say that this form of learning does have results. And assuming that we do any of this with no discipline is also a false. we do any sword training and duels with the utmost respect for eachother and the art.
As for being happy with "playing whacky smacks", we are quite pleased with it.
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 12:21 PM
Sword critter
See, thats the thing. Since you don't train with folks who really know what they are doing--you really don't "know" that its having any positive result.
It has a positve result vs guys that do what you do. Thats the most that can be said here.
When you learned how to drive, did you "teach yourself?" or did you "train" with folks that had been driving for years?
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 12:31 PM
yes, yes i did teach my self to drive. but this isn't a fair comparison driving a car is alot easier to do then properly weild a sword.
That car remark is meant as a humourus remark and not to be taken as a chalenge
i do agree that i will most likely get schooled by any one who has any formal trainig but if i do i will walk away from that fight with more expirience.
[This message has been edited by SwordCritter (edited 02-17-2005).]
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/17/05 01:03 PM
No, if you got into the theoretical fight with a trained swordsman you will not walk away. You will be carried away in a body bag.
Of course, it's all theoretical since nobody fights for real anymore. But why do it if you aren't gonna do it for real? Why play around? Real training is available for most who are dedicated enough to find instruction. If you really don't care about doing it for real, what do you care what anyone thinks?
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/18/05 10:12 PM
a practiced swordsman can easily win, but also in the same fact a kid with a sword could kill that same swordsman with a lucky hit or natural talent. it just happens. ha ha. but im sure that the person that started this topic didnt intend for it to become a free for all argument, but a serious discussion on what CAN be learned without a teacher. the disrespect show by people turning it into another crap fight is an indication of how bad their own control is. and remember, in swordsmanship control is EVERYTHING. so try to stick to the topic, lmao
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 02/27/05 12:53 AM
i agree you can learn some things from books
and using bokkens isn't whacking sticks.it it painfull and requires consentration and skill
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:02 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by alevshogun:
actualy I am not playing with anything. And you can lean a bunch of things like parts of the sword, how to wear your hakama, how to prepare for practice ect ect. I don't know but Ithink this all has to do with the sword and you do not need a teacher to learn this.[/QUOTE]
Truth be told, despite what you may have been told, you don't need a Hakama, or any other garb to make" you more valid as a swordsman. This may sound heritical, but if I were you, I would forget the fancy grb and focus solely on perfecting your timing and rythm and cutting technique. If your enemy is really focusing so much on your feet, he'll be easy to kill, and if not, then whats the point realy. If your opponent has any skill at all, he is going to be able to sense what you will do, if his Zanshin is at all decent. And, if you are just teaching yourself and working with someone else who is teaching you, nd you are looking at things like each others feet to tell you something, then you realy are the blind leading the blind, thats why there are teachers, to light the way so you can actually see where you are going. Put your pride aside, and find yourself a teacher, or serious injuryville is just around the corner.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:08 AM
And what precisely do you teach again?
Don't be too quick to dismiss that "fancy garb". A katana will not sit properly in the obi if you are a) not wearing one, and b) not wearing a hakama. The hakama, obi and keiko gi are very much a part of proper practice for the JSAs. If you aren't doing iai you might be able to get by without an obi.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:08 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by alevshogun:
I see were you are coming from it just seems that everyone on this forum has something bad to say about reading books or watching videos. Were did they start. Im sure not eveyone that studies the sword just started out going to a teacher. They are not that easy to find. I am going to sit in on my first class tonight. I found a dojo nearme but it took a couple of weeks . Thanks for the input[/QUOTE]
Since the Ichi Ryu actually was my first school of swordsmanship, I think I can speak a little more definitively about the hitory. First off, Musashi did indeed teach himself, this is true, but alos yes, he did grow up around sword play, and through osmosis picked up quite a bit just from that. That he was superbly talented is also quite evident. However, I would have to say that, simply because he lived in a different time, I do not know that it is fair to say that teaching oneself is impossible. I would certainly not recommend it, but truth be told, what one man can do, another can do, or is this not so. I suppose it al has to do with how badly you want it.
I see the Book of five rings being quoted far to often for my opinion, since much of what is in it is only discernable to someone who has been a student in that school and been initiated into it. There are many other school, why not look into the Kage school for short, it was the school of the Tokugawa Shogunate for many many years, and was considered the best school in Japan for quite a while. Do not limit yourself to few styles, Musashis manual is good reading, but there were other swordsman, othe r texts, and if you really want to learn his Ryu, even if your an advanced student in another, it is hubris to think you can learn it from a bok, you need to find nother teacher, even if your ego scoffs at it, and learn it from him, not a bok. Just because you have studied one style of Japanese swordwork extensively, is it not simply arrogance to think that you can yourself learn his style by simply reading his book. In a way, arent those who do this also teaching themselves? Think on this.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:14 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jcrumpton:
self teaching certainly is not the best way to go about it. and in some cases, accomplishes absolutely nothing. But in the end, we're all doing this for the journey, not the destination. If we just wanted to be the best killers, we are certainly all going about it the wrong way.[/QUOTE]
I would have to agree, I think we are al mising the point here. It is about creating life now, not taking it. And, while we learn to do that by learning to take life efficiently, life is really all about paradoxes and opposites working in harmony. The truth is, you were considered a master in Japan by many ryus if you had overcome your fear of death. Even if you had never picked up a sword, if you had overcome that fear, well, what more could learning the arts of the Bugeishi do for you, since that is their Ultimate goal to begin with. He is indeed right, it is not the destination but the journey. If we ever actually got there, what more would there be to do, after all
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:20 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Charles Mahan:
And what precisely do you teach again?
Don't be too quick to dismiss that "fancy garb". A katana will not sit properly in the obi if you are a) not wearing one, and b) not wearing a hakama. The hakama, obi and keiko gi are very much a part of proper practice for the JSAs. If you aren't doing iai you might be able to get by without an obi.[/QUOTE]
I'm not quick to dismiss it, but I dismiss it anyway, but that is just my opinion, o which mine is no more valid then your's, unless you wish it to be [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif[/IMG]
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:26 AM
Sword 99
Which "Ichi ryu?" do you mean?????
You know, I am starting to get a strong wiff of "weseal" here.
Seems you have plenty of time to post--but NO time to answer direct questions.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:31 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by cxt:
Sword 99
Which "Ichi ryu?" do you mean?????
You know, I am starting to get a strong wiff of "weseal" here.
Seems you have plenty of time to post--but NO time to answer direct questions.
[/QUOTE]
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:36 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by cxt:
Sword 99
Which "Ichi ryu?" do you mean?????
You know, I am starting to get a strong wiff of "weseal" here.
Seems you have plenty of time to post--but NO time to answer direct questions.
[/QUOTE]
That is offensive, and does not speak highly of you, calling names and such, this is not going to make me want to answer your questions, but only put one on the defensive. May I ask you what schools you have studied, and please, go into as much detail as you like.
I can only type so fast, so do not take the fact that I am not Johnny lighting in checking to see if I have anything to respond to to mean that I am some kind of "wesel" or some such, as you put it, that is just faulty logic.
If you are not familiar with the Ichi chool, or more commonly known as the two heaven school, then realy, my answer would not mean much to you, now would it.
Also if you are more concerned about my pedigree then you are about the common sense of my words, then something is wrong.
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:38 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by swordteacher99: First off, Musashi did indeed teach himself, this is true, but alos yes, he did grow up around sword play, and through osmosis picked up quite a bit just from that.[/QUOTE]
You lost any credability you thought you had with this statement.
What do you teach?
How old are you?
Answer these two questions before you do anything else here.
[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 03-07-2005).]
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:39 AM
Sword 99
Sorry bro, I actually know a couple of guys that practice the style you claim --couple of them are frequent posters on another forum.
One of which actually trains at the head dojo in Japan.
They DON'T call their style "Ichi"
(I'd tell you what they DO call it, but that would be giving you useful info for your little "play act.")
Tell you what, post the name of your teacher and when you trained and where.
I'll run it by the guys in Japan--if I owe you a "sorry" later I will be happy to provide it.
Waiting............
[This message has been edited by cxt (edited 03-07-2005).]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:49 AM
I think his time on the library computer is up.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:52 AM
LOL, I have to admit I find this amusing. Ichi Ryu is what people who have studied Niten Ichi Ryu cal it for short, the two sword school, or two heaven school, there are rally many different nmes. however there are many who have sought to rename the school, like the Hyoho branch, which has tried to put their singular stamp on it by claiming "secret techniques" and such.
Why don't you tell me about your school now, and I will run it by "my guys' that is funny, and I'll let you know if your "legitimate" or not. If only you realized how ludicrous this line of questioning was, LOL.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by cxt:
Sword 99
Sorry bro, I actually know a couple of guys that practice the style you claim --couple of them are frequent posters on another forum.
One of which actually trains at the head dojo in Japan.
They DON'T call their style "Ichi"
(I'd tell you what they DO call it, but that would be giving you useful info for your little "play act.")
Tell you what, post the name of your teacher and when you trained and where.
I'll run it by the guys in Japan--if I owe you a "sorry" later I will be happy to provide it.
Waiting............
[This message has been edited by cxt (edited 03-07-2005).][/QUOTE]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:56 AM
Any time we get a new individual here they will be questioned about their background. Especially if they are making claims that go against common knowledge. If you refuse to answer the questions directed to you then you will not be taken seriously. If you keep spreading ignorance and dangerous information you will not be allowed to post here.
You still have not answered two questions. Not that the one question you did answere was that impressive.
How old are you and who is your teacher?
[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 03-07-2005).]
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 10:58 AM
Sword 99
See, this is what I mean, the guys I know are PROUD of whom they studied with and where and for how long.
(esp the guy training under the headmaster of the ryu---he has been very helpful in the past with uncovering folks who are using the name of the school without proper authorization)
They don't dodge the question, they answer stight up--and often they provide the means needed to check their story.
Waiting..........
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:10 AM
First off, whatever I have said that goes against common knowledge, name it, and we can debate it.
I answered straight up, at least I think I did, but honestly no, I will not get into detail about my personal life. If you feel this mkes me some kind of phoney, so be it, you can ban me. However really, I find it more likely you just do not like someon disagreeing with yourself. Agre or not, but really, this childish nonsense is foolish. You can not take criticism, I sure you. I am proud of where I came from, no question, but you are merely looking for dirt, and no matter what I give you, your likely to mke mud pie out of it, so whats the point. You can't please all of the people all of the time, so I guess this will have to be one of those instances. Sorry I am not one of the newbies who will bow to your ever present knowledge and understanding, but will actually disagree with you. I choose not to talk to you anymore, and you can infer what you like from that. Smart people do not waste their time on someone like yourself, and I choose not to anymore, good day.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by laf7773:
Any time we get a new individual here they will be questioned about their background. Especially if they are making claims that go against common knowledge. If you refuse to answer the questions directed to you then you will not be taken seriously. If you keep spreading ignorance and dangerous information you will not be allowed to post here.
You still have not answered two questions. Not that the one question you did answere was that impressive.
How old are you and who is your teacher?
[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 03-07-2005).][/QUOTE]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:20 AM
In other words your training is a fabrication so you can't answer three simple questions.
What style do you teach?
How old are you?
Who is/was your instructor?
How is that looking for dirt? I ask everyone’s for background. I know Mr. Mahan and CXT know what they are talking about and guess what, we disagree sometimes. Several people here disagree with me and if they present their side with some kind of verifiable proof all is good. If someone says they are right just because they say so then i have to raise a flag.
If you have nothing to hide you will answer the questions.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:27 AM
Uh huh, then by that logic if I do not want to talk about melons then I must be a melon. Your logic is, well flawed, Drawing conclusions based upon a relative viewpoint is gonna get you into trouble.
No, I didn't answer, you can draw what inferences you like. HOwever keep in mind that youe conclusion, drawn upon your relative viewpoint, speaks more to your biases then to mine, which are to assume everyone else who doesn't want to talk to you because they don't like the way you ask a question, or your motives, is a fraud, except you of course. Take care.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by laf7773:
In other words your training is a fabrication so you can't answer three simple questions.
What style do you teach?
How old are you?
Who is/was your instructor?
How is that looking for dirt? I ask everyone’s for background. I know Mr. Mahan and CXT know what they are talking about and guess what, we disagree sometimes. Several people here disagree with me and if they present their side with some kind of verifiable proof all is good. If someone says they are right just because they say so then i have to raise a flag.
If you have nothing to hide you will answer the questions. [/QUOTE]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:29 AM
Like i said, we will not continue to feed the troll on this. You will answer the questions or you will not post here.
Any post by you that is not answering the questions posed to you will be deleted until i decide to remove you.
[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 03-07-2005).]
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:41 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by laf7773:
I know Mr. Mahan and CXT know what they are talking about and guess what, we disagree sometimes. [/QUOTE]
Only when you are wrong [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:42 AM
I'm never wrong, i'm just mislead.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:42 AM
Answer the questions.
[This message has been edited by laf7773 (edited 03-07-2005).]
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:46 AM
Sword 99
You wish to quiz us as to the meaning of "no mind" and other japanese words?
Actually kinda do "mind."
Esp in light of the fact that if you would just post the name of your teacher, when you trained with him and where.
And the names of the OTHER 6 RYU YOU CLAIM TO HAVE TRAINED IN.
This would all be over.
Why should I answer your questions when you won't answer mine??
[This message has been edited by cxt (edited 03-07-2005).]
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:47 AM
You see we are not the ones making claims here. We have already put our history out for everyone to see. Your refusal to answer some VERY simple and basic questions tells a lot.
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:54 AM
You claim to have studied Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu and hinted that this is one of the styles within the "style" you created. As Mr. Mahan has stated there are no "authorized" teachers of this system outside of Japan.
Maybe since your teacher doesn't want their name out there for others to see they are a fraud. Or maybe you are not telling the truth.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:54 AM
Hey Laf? Can we do anything about creating a forum rule to use real names? You might have noticed that this kinda stuff doesn't happen nearly as often on forums like E-budo and Swordforum where real names are required. Seems people are more careful when their real names are on the line.
Posted by: laf7773
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 11:58 AM
I'll talk to admin and see. What i would really like to see is a screaning of applicants prior to allowing membership. Not to deny new people access but to get an idea of the persons background before they come in and make a joke of themselves.
Posted by: cxt
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/07/05 01:15 PM
What gets me is that no-one would have said a peep about the guy, where he trained or with whom.
HAD HE NOT TRIED TO PULL A "FAST ONE."
Don't care where a person trained or with whom--unless of course they try to claim authority they have not earned.
I think folks here are pretty accepting overall of folks ideas and opinions.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/14/05 11:38 PM
HELLO!
C'EST MOI! whacky smacks! and I'm no longer going to debate the possibilty of self teaching as it will go no where. But I do have a legitimate question.
Here it is;
What is a parey?
(sorry if the spelling is incorrect)
Definition, examples, etc.
PS. I would like to note that this relates to the original subject of this thread.
Posted by: Charles Mahan
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/15/05 06:55 AM
It's "parry" if I'm not mistaken. It's a deflection. You take your opponents sword as he attempts to cut you, and rather than try to stop it, you deflect it to one side or the other so that it misses you.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/15/05 07:34 AM
I don't think forcing a real name policy would do much good; the idiots will just make up a name and keep posting.
Posted by: Anonymous
Re: Teaching Yourself - 03/15/05 12:41 PM
thank you Mr. Mahan. That has been bugging me for quite a while now