Tuesday, June 9, 2009

A Guide to Learning Martial Arts by DVD!

By Al Case

It is possible to learn the martial arts by DVD. There are, however, several things you should be aware of when shopping for a DVD. These items can make the difference between a learned art, and something laying on the sidewalk that you shouldn't touch.

First you have to decide which martial art you wold like to study. This is easy if you have a little experience, pursuing something you already have experience in is always going to be easier. You need to consider several things, however, if you don't have experience.

One, is the art one that you can study alone? Or, do you have a work out partner you can study with if it can't be studied alone. Martial Arts showing forms are easily studied alone, and can be perfected in your living room, with the occasional help of a friend, but Aikido, on the other hand, demands a partner for nearly every single move.

Pay attention to the instructor when you are looking for a martial arts DVD. I know he's famous...but can Mr. Action Star get his idea across on video? Does he present the ideas in concise method and show you what they really mean?

When inspecting the DVD, whether on line or in a store, take a look and see what, exactly, is being offered. There are many different formats for teaching, and when dealing with a whole art, you must be careful. Obviously, look for beginner, intermediate, or advanced, depending on what you are.

Now, are you being offered a strict diet of forms? Applications are nice to have, and even a few minutes of actual fighting will help you see the progression from forms to application to applications in the real world. Forms can be great, but if you can't see what they really mean, they can be next to worthless.

Take a close look at how Mr. Action Star is going to teach the material. If he is showing one form, and making the proud claim that you will be able to see his every move from eight angles at slow mo...pass on it. If he is going to teach several forms, and he shows two angles before going through the form while going over every point, this is good.

In closing, let me say that you might waste a buck or two, but that is only to be expected as you sample through various styles and interests. Still, the price of instructional DVDs today is one of the greatest deals in town. When you find what you want, the doors of perception are going to open, you will become more fit and better able to defend yourself, and the answer is yes, you will be able to learn quality martial arts.

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