Posted by: Ed_Morris
Links/advice for future Martial Artists - 01/08/07 11:37 PM
Sources of learning
You may have one or more of the following ways to begin learning Martial Arts (abbreviated on forums as "MA").
The list is in order of what most would generally consider best to least favored case:
1. Scheduled Personal instruction.
2. Scheduled Group instruction.
3. Intermittant Seminar instruction.
4. DVD/media 'passive' course.
5. Attempt to learn on your own with self-disciplined schedule.
6. undisciplined and occational self-learning.
or a combination thereof.
Each method has a best,good,fair and poor version. there are good/bad personal instructors...and there are good/bad instructional DVD's.
The order I listed them, have another measure: a fair group instruction FAR outweighs a fair DVD. for instance.
also keep in mind, each one has it's pro's and con's.
keeping all of that in mind, make a list of what categories you have available in your area, age group, cost and schedule.
out of those that you are able to do....now you can investigate specifics. The forum can help you do that. Always try to make general questions into as specific as possible when asking questions here...you'll get an answer much quicker (or no answer if nobody knows...and no answer is better than sending you in the wrong direction).
google.com is your friend...use it.
This forum has a search function...get familiar with it. In a gym/dojo/dojang there is no such thing as a stupid question...but in a forum, there are plenty.
also, seek out helpful articles on this site and others to help you along your decisions.
after you start training somewhere (if not training alone), then forget about the forum for a year. It may just serve to confuse your training getting input from all type of Arts and experiences - just concentrate on what you are being taught and learning. If you like it, keep training there...if you don't, then restart the search process.
worth a read from two experienced Martial Artists:
For the Beginner:
Some Advice On Choosing A Martial Arts School
By Victor Smith and Christopher Caile
http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=4
Good luck, choose wisely, and always remember to have a bit of fun.
You may have one or more of the following ways to begin learning Martial Arts (abbreviated on forums as "MA").
The list is in order of what most would generally consider best to least favored case:
1. Scheduled Personal instruction.
2. Scheduled Group instruction.
3. Intermittant Seminar instruction.
4. DVD/media 'passive' course.
5. Attempt to learn on your own with self-disciplined schedule.
6. undisciplined and occational self-learning.
or a combination thereof.
Each method has a best,good,fair and poor version. there are good/bad personal instructors...and there are good/bad instructional DVD's.
The order I listed them, have another measure: a fair group instruction FAR outweighs a fair DVD. for instance.
also keep in mind, each one has it's pro's and con's.
keeping all of that in mind, make a list of what categories you have available in your area, age group, cost and schedule.
out of those that you are able to do....now you can investigate specifics. The forum can help you do that. Always try to make general questions into as specific as possible when asking questions here...you'll get an answer much quicker (or no answer if nobody knows...and no answer is better than sending you in the wrong direction).
google.com is your friend...use it.
This forum has a search function...get familiar with it. In a gym/dojo/dojang there is no such thing as a stupid question...but in a forum, there are plenty.
also, seek out helpful articles on this site and others to help you along your decisions.
after you start training somewhere (if not training alone), then forget about the forum for a year. It may just serve to confuse your training getting input from all type of Arts and experiences - just concentrate on what you are being taught and learning. If you like it, keep training there...if you don't, then restart the search process.
worth a read from two experienced Martial Artists:
For the Beginner:
Some Advice On Choosing A Martial Arts School
By Victor Smith and Christopher Caile
http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=4
Good luck, choose wisely, and always remember to have a bit of fun.
