I saw a lot of books on Amazon which explain the martial arts theory and movements…
Is it possible and realistic to learn martial arts alone by myself? (only by reading books and practice the movements at home?)
And is there any benefits from doing martial arts combined with bodybuilding? (Or it can results to overtraining?)
Thanks,
I’d have to say, from my experience in MA, that a book is only a supplement and what you need is a steady diet of competent instruction. You can glean information, technique, or sometimes inspiration but without quality third party evaluation you’re probably just picking up bad habits and wasting your time. Remember, even Michael Jordan had a coach.
One thing that I think books do offer in abundance is a look into the history of your chosen endeavor. I think knowledge of the history of your sports always makes the experience much more interesting and enjoyable.
Bottom line, find an art that appeals to you and find a good school in your area. If you have any other questions, LMK.
Thanks,
[/quote]
Oh, to answer this one: absolutely!
I used to go to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai class on my off days. Of course, I lowered the volume on lifting days to compensate for this. It worked very well for me and others as I was able to gain strength and stay lean year round. Flexibility also comes to the forefront. You may be able to get away with being a little tight in bodybuilding but not MA.
I would think it unrealistic to try and learn martial arts by oneself. There are far too bad habits one can learn without constant correction, especially in the early stages of learning.
As far as bodybuilding and the martial arts are concerned, if you look up some info on Terry O’Neil (he was the fight coordinator on Predator and currently a 6th dan in Shotokan) who managed to combine bodybuilding with an outstanding level of martial arts skill.
Well I do not exactly agree with you Joe. I think that if you are serious about taking up MA - quit body building for a year and concentrate on the art. When you have developed a good and steady routine go back and add body building.
don’t try and do too many things at once until you are good at one.
…just my opinion.
[quote]grimskunk wrote:
I saw a lot of books on Amazon which explain the martial arts theory and movements…
Is it possible and realistic to learn martial arts alone by myself? (only by reading books and practice the movements at home?)
And is there any benefits from doing martial arts combined with bodybuilding? (Or it can results to overtraining?)
Thanks,
[/quote]
It depends why you want to learn martial arts. What do you want to get out of it? If you’re doing it as a supplemental form of exercise, you could get a book I suppose. However, if you want to have superior technique, you will need someone with a trained eye to correct your mistakes.
Compare it to weight training. Which is better for a begginer to learn how to squat? Should you buy a book or should you get an experienced squatter to teach you and then give feedback as you work on perfecting it?
Also, if you are interested in the combat/self-defence aspects of martial arts then you MUST train with other people. The only way to get better at fighting, is to fight.
You should definitely start with in person instruction. However, you can supplement your learning by playing around at home. Shit, most of bruce lee’s advancements wernt taught to him. He experimented. Don’t feel bad about playing around with techniques and concepts on your own, it may not be ideal but you could learn something.
Most of what people see as bad habbits are minor technique issues rather then bad tactic’s or application of concept. This shouldnt be too much of a concern if you keep an open mind.
I agree with the statements so far. Expecially for a beginner, learning from a book is definately not recommended…way to easy to pick up bad habits. One of the keys to most MAs is to have an uke or a partner you can drill with.
Books and videos have their place but later in your journey.
I wouldn’t put off lifting weights, just concentrate on strength and athletic training. Charles Staley has some good stuff out there for Martial artists.
[quote]gonta wrote:
I think that if you are serious about taking up MA - quit body building for a year and concentrate on the art.[/quote]
I think grimskunk was interested in whether his body would be overtrained by partaking in two activities. I don’t think he will.
About learning from books, I fully agree with Robert Monti (and everyone else for that matter). Books are a wonderful resource for history and philosophy for your chosen art, but they should be used for that purpose only (especially for a beginner). Later (as one approaches competency) they become a resource for learning…but remember, you need others to improve (ALWAYS!!). A competent teacher/master/Sifu/Sensei (sorry, cannot remember other names for instructors for other arts…my bad everyone).
About Weight Training…I think it can do NOTHING but help…but only after a few months of Martial Art training.
The body will naturally get stronger when challenged by new endeavors (especially the Martial Arts). For the first month or so of consistent (if not constant) training you will naturally get stronger and more flexible. Then we tend to plateau…just as when we lift weights. I believe that is the perfect time to get into weight lifting. Every successful weightlifter/bodybuilder changes their routine every 4-6 weeks (or so…depending on which training methods they are currently engaging in.).
Martial Arts (although always improving on the basics) still requires repetition…thus never changing. Sure, we learn more techniques and cool things, but there are only so many ways to kick or punch…we’re always using the same muscles. So I think weight lifting can do only good things for our progression in martial arts.
Celibrate2047 mentioned Charles Staley…and I must admit that his book “The Secrets of Combat Fitness” said something that changed my opinion on weight training for the Arts and (I hope he does not mind, but I think it is an EXCELLENT point) I’d like to share it:
“…getting stronger is subconsciously thought of as ‘cheating’. This perspective is patently ridiculous. Is eating properly also a form of ‘cheating?’ What about finding a great instructor? Is that also ‘cheating?’…serious combat athletes will use every ethical means at their disposal to become the greatest athlete they can be…Improving physical preparedness doesn’t mean ignoring the technical and tactical apects of training…it means amplifying them.” (pg. 11-12).
I have been doing the Arts for about 17 years (just so you know that I have a little experience) and I wish you the best. Feel free to PM me if you wish.
Health and good training to all.
Jason
[quote]grimskunk wrote:
I saw a lot of books on Amazon which explain the martial arts theory and movements…
Is it possible and realistic to learn martial arts alone by myself? (only by reading books and practice the movements at home?)
And is there any benefits from doing martial arts combined with bodybuilding? (Or it can results to overtraining?)
Thanks,
[/quote]
If you want to spend your time wisely relative to learning martial arts, I think it would be best to join a class. There are just far to many things you could be doing wrong without proper hands on instruction. Better to spend one hour in a good martial arts class than two or three hours reading a book about it. That is not to say you cannot supplement your class time with a book instructional book.
I would suggest that you train with weights twice per week while attending martial arts classes three times per week. Focus on lifts that will give you more size, strength and explosion. Some good ideas: Squat, Deadlift, Clean and Press, Pull-ups, Rows.
Good Luck,
Zeb
GRim
i’ve read that Stan McQuay (top level Nationals bodybuilder) does Brazialan JJ for his cardio…so obviously he’s able to do it.
as far as developing skill-i dunno. you can do basic techniques on your own, but to learn how to apply them you need to spar.
i guess it depends on what you want out of it…
kungfudude is right on the money.
actually if you get something out of reading, read all of Charles Staley’s stuff, I have a couple of decades MA training and Staley’s ideas have completely changed and improved my training and ability to fight (MMA).
the ma training will be a conditioning stimuli for some time, add weight training when you feel that the MA training isn’t getting easier on the body. notice i didn’t say easy? In the beginning stages of MA you will feel like you recovered more and more each week, eventually you will find a flow, that is when you add weight training.
good goals, and good luck!
Rolo
I agree. After many years of the arts I can say that strength training can only help your martial arts. But time wise you may have to eventually prioritize one of them. Especially if you aren’t a big guy(like me) then strength training is mandatory, to be able to train with any size person. Personally, I think an empahsis on the legs, back, abs and grip are the most useful- not unlike many real life activities. Good luck. Feel free to PM me as well regarding styles, etc. there is a lot of crap out there and it can be hard to find something good without some knowledge.
VERY interresting stuff guys!! Thanks you for sharing experiences…
But, I want to add some infos about me in order to help you to understand more what i’m looking for…
First i’m 21 years old and I’ve been doing weight training on a regular basis for about 4 years now. So, my principal interrest is the bodybuilding…and I’ve always been fascinated by martial arts (specially for the self-defense techniques and the spiritual aspects)
So, that’s why I always had this project in mind (learning martial arts)
But I don’t want to lose all the benefits from bodybuilding which I’ve put so much efforts to accomplished…(by quitting bodybuilding for 1 year for example)
hey grim-contact me directly and I will give you a great deal on The Secrets of Martial Arts" pack-email me at julianne@edtsecrets.com and leave me a phone number.I will hook you up -Julianne
Spirituality is developed over time. My spirituality skyrocketed when I devoted a few years to Chinese Kung Fu (Northern Style Shaolin Longfist). My opinion is to check out the Eastern Styles…China (in particular…my bias, of course), Japan, and Korea.
I am sure that there are other styles that have a basis in Spirituality too, but I am only familiar with these countries (China in particular), so if anyone has any others, please feel free to PM me about them…it is wise to learn all that we can and all, you know?
But as stated earlier, spirituality takes time…so (IMHO) any place that shows off trophies or promises rapid growth/rank should be carefully considered. In my opinion, a show of trophies/medals is a physical representation of something that we should know within ourselves…follow what I mean? Spirituality starts without physically displaying our knowledge, so any place that prominently displays signs like “Do you want to be the best, then come here” or the like should be shunned.
Now, saying that, Spirituality can definateley be gained by reading GOOD books. Every spiritual person reads spiritual books…sorry, that’s the way it is.
It’s kind of cool…every spiritual person I know or have met seem to have read a few of the same books…maybe that is how we connect.
You will pe pleasantly surprised on how, once you begin your spiritual quest, many spiritual people you will meet and share time with. Some of these people come and go quickly (but still leave a message for you), while others tend to stay in our lives for some time. Spiritual people tend to attract each other…it is a wonderful phenomenon.
Looking forward to everyones thoughts
Jason
About Weight Training…I think it can do NOTHING but help…but only after a few months of Martial Art training.
The body will naturally get stronger when challenged by new endeavors (especially the Martial Arts). For the first month or so of consistent (if not constant) training you will naturally get stronger and more flexible. Then we tend to plateau…just as when we lift weights. I believe that is the perfect time to get into weight lifting. Every successful weightlifter/bodybuilder changes their routine every 4-6 weeks (or so…depending on which training methods they are currently engaging in.).
I have been doing the Arts for about 17 years (just so you know that I have a little experience) and I wish you the best. Feel free to PM me if you wish.
Health and good training to all.
Jason[/quote]
Thanks for the info, Jason.
I just found a realtively cheap copy of Staley’s Muscle Logic.
Would you say the same now?
Thanks!
Jon
I have to say two things about martial arts:
1-) They cannot be learned by yourself, if you are actually planning on hitting someone and winning the fight.
2-) They are a little bit restrictive in form and a little blindsided in their view of combat.
I would suggest you to train with people, and instructors…I mixed Wing-Chung kung-fu with Filkipino eskrima, Aikido and savate (french kickboxing) with some Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu…it works wonders…for me
find what body type are you, in terms of movement…just like the snake can’t teach the bear how to fight, you have to find a style which suits the biomechanical patterns of your body.
I trained in Kung fu for three years and from my personal experiences I do not think it is possible to learn martial arts from a book. The moves are too complex to master without an expert guiding you in person. I also feel that sparring is extremely important to learning and understanding any martial art, and you can’t get that from a book but only in the ring with a trainer.
Bodybuilding and Martial arts compliment each other well and when balanced correctly will not lead to overtraining. A lot of the overtraining thing is simply people who are out of shape pushing themselves too hard too quickly. The body can be built up to handle a tremendous amount of daily punishment, but it takes time to build it up to that level.