Can you teach yourself a martial art?

Ok, so ive been thinking, for self defence purposes that id like to know a style of martial arts. I'm wanting to know if its possible to teach yourself and how I would go about it, or is it mandatory to get a teacher for something like this? Also if anyone has any reccomendations on what style, that would be great, thanks.

 

no, it has to be taught to by a sifu

 

i'm sure some people could teach themselves a few useful fighting techniques which may help them out if they NEED to defend themselves someday, but as for learning an actual martial art and everything that goes with it i would think you ought to get a teacher of sorts. of course some masterful martial artists develop unique styles of their own, or even teach themselves a lot, but i would be willing to wager every penny i'll ever make that none of them are entirely self taught and had never had any formal training.

if you want to learn to get out of a fight in one peice assuming you'll be fighting another undisciplined and unschooled fighter, you may be able to teach yourself a thing or two with the help of training materials. if you want to master a martial ART, then you ought to seek training.

simply opinion, i haven't studied anything like this. but am somewhat interested in learning.

 

You can buy one of them Tai-Bo with Billy Banks videos

 

Sweep the leg Johnny!

 

For self defense purposes then I would say Jiu Jitsu and/or Kick Boxing/Muay Thai. You could teach yourself, but you need really good instructional videos. Here's some suggestions, Marcello Garcia Instructional Series, Bas Rutten's Lethal Street Fighting(you can youtube most of this), The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Series, Rob Kaman Kick Boxing. There are alot of training exercise drills online also, here's some pretty good ones:
Stand up technique http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=425033
Grappling techniques http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=434428

 

Ok so ive decided on Muay Thai, it seems really good and hell thats the style in bloodsport hehe. Do you reckon this site is good enough : http://www.muaythaikickboxingtraining.com/ , or do you still recommened trying to find a teacher?

 

seems like a good site, but you're gonna need equipment or else you'll be straight shadow boxing. you need hand wraps, boxing gloves(10 to 18 oz.), shin gaurds, a double end bag, speed bag and muay thai heavy bag

 

jujitsu n bricks. i got restrained alot n took ymca jujitsu. so smashing folks with bricks n bottles is fun and easy to learn. pre emptive strikes being the best self defense ,when sum walleyed **** gets pissy i just grab anything near to hand n smashem. after a bit folks stop talking to you n call the police when you show up at partys. but a few years after that. theyl be amazed at how well behaved you are.then you only have to smash the relatives of those u smashed before.

 

I never heard of teaching yourself a martial art. I haven't seen any videos. Billy Banks, my ass! LOL

I suggest going to a class. Tae Kwon Do is good. There are many more depending on what you want and your fitness level.

Good luck!

 

do not attempt to teach yourself a martial art, proper instruction is the only way to fully understand the complexities of technique, and an experienced instructor brings something to your training that no book or dvd can, experience. as for the style you should study, there are hundreds of martial arts to choose from. decide your ultimate goals for studying, and research styles that will help you achieve those goals and compliment your physical and mental abilities

 

how about kick some ass style....well only if ya need to!

 

put him in a body bag

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

hahaha <3 Karate Kid

 

i would think, how in the hell would you ever know if you had learned until it was tested the hard way? not so much a question of manditory, unless you want calling yourself something to mean something to anyone else, but of, well, rather i should think, more or less common sense.

you can always find a ton of matial arts instructors in the yellow pages of course. how you can tell if any of them are any good or which ones are is beyond me. although there are societies and journals of many that might help give you some idea. probably word of mouth from friends in them is as good as any way i can immagine.

all that i'm saying here i'm speculating though. i have no first hand experience of any of it. i did know a little guy who grew up in viet nam though, who'se only belt was the one he held his pants up with, who had survived by his own nameless and ecclectic 'style' of using balance and distribution of bodily energies and all that sort of martial arts type stuff.

=^^=
.../\...

 

It's completely possible for you to teach yourself a martial arts with video and books. There are many professional Mixed Martial Artists thayt did this(Jeremy Horn, Evan Tanner Former UFC MW Champion) and since you are only doing it for self defence purposes then you're golden. But you do need equipment and sparring partners, because until you try your techniques on real people, everything remains theory.

 

the best thing is to get a plane ticket to china and learn kung fu from the shaolin temple

 

damn i was all excited to see chief cowpie post. i still remember that one picture. you want confidence? try martial sex. sado stuff. you wanna beat sum ass ? get in a fight once a week for a year. takes a week to heal ussually till you get good. me i love hurting men , its the only pysikal intimacy i can enjoy with men.plus its a great way to make friends. if you can fight sumone n still drink a beer n chill later then you know there reliable.men who cant fight are ignoring a vital portion of our culture history n worldview.im a machoist. + is to minus as machoist is to feminist.

 

you can probably teach yourself to stand on one hand and play piano with your toes at the same time.

what hyphi said he said better then i did though.

=^^=
.../\...