Self Taught

[JoeW]

I am new to this forum and Kyokushin but not to MA. Where I live currently there is no Kyokushin dojo. My question to you is if I have a sparring partner do you think it is possible to self teach this art? If so is there any resource for the material in Kyokushin?

Any info you could give me would be great. Oh and if you were wondering I live on Cape Cod, Mass.

[medguy]

No, you cannot be self taught in karate. Sorry. There is no way for you to know what you are doing is right or wrong, and no way to push or be pushed the way your sensei/dojo would push you. YOu could get a good workout with a partner, but it's like the blind leading the blind.

My two cents.

[Shokei Marcsui]

Speaking from experience I was without a dojo for 6 months as the dojo I was currently at was in the process of moving.

During this time I did not do any kihon I just tried to condition my body with weight lifting and running so that when I went back to my dojo.

Conditioning your body can be done on your own. Self motivation is something that everyone can work on. Kyokushin on the other hand cannot be self taught.

[JoeW]

oh well i guess i am stuck.

[Dent]

Osu!

I admire your passion, but am in agreement with those that say that real Karate cannot be self-taught.

Just like anything that combines art and science, you could make a fair attempt, but it may not be your best option. I think that cooking is a good example, and not just because I'm hungry.

Anyone can follow a recipe, but the is a big difference between being taught by an accomplished Chef, and learning from a book.

I hope that you find someone though. I too am without a Dojo, and looking to start small group training.

Osu!

[tmd]

Hi Joe - yes you're stuck for learning Kyokushin, it's a complete style a martial system including kata, kihon, kumite and self defense, but you can spar, do some bag and pad work, do circuit work and some stretching to get yourselves fighting fit and establish what works for you. That way if you move or a dojo opens up you're have a head start.

There plenty of advise around the forum and the net on all of the above, best of luck with your training.

[Dent]

Osu!

Try not to be discouraged either. By laying the groundwork for your future training, you're setting yourself up for success.

Osu!

[kakatootoshi]

Dear JoeW,
Hope other members can help you locate a Kyokushin (or one of the derivatives) dojo. Self-teach Kyokushin for a total beginner will only mean bad movements and wrong basics. And do not be too fixated with the idea of learning Kyokushin, if you really cannot find a qualified instructor, then try to join a Muay Thai Gym, do boxing or some other things you like. There are many strong fighters out there who have not even heard of the name Kyokushin and they are still strong nevertheless.

All the best with your training. You will never get stuck, as long as you are willing to try.

OSU!

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by kakatootoshi

There are many strong fighters out there who have not even heard of the name Kyokushin and they are still strong nevertheless.


OSU!

Osu Kakatootoshi...it is that kind of statement that really drives home what a great place this forum is! In those words, you have encapsulated the spirit of K4L. Have some rep!!!!

[olyckan]

You can learn this art without a teacher. Most oldschool senseis and kohais still tell stories of how they started bye using books and papers, they started training karate and Kyokushin way back in the days. However consider that your progress will be very slow compared to those that have guiding hands and eyes to correct and perfect them..

[JoeW]

Lets say I was to attempt this. Where would I get the information I need?

[SHIDOKANATLANTA]

try looking up stuff on youtube

[jcc]

Osu! JoeW,

I think a few 'oldschool' sensei may have started kyokushin from a book, but I think you will find that they all already had some MA experience, eg judo or kempo.

Anyway, try this site, there is a pretty good beginners guide there:

http://www.kyokushinbudokai.org/

Otherwise Amazon or ebay for kyokushin books/dvd´s, but there is no substitute for a dojo and (proper) teacher.

Osu!

[kaloyan]

in my opinion there's no problem in learning kyokushin alone, but you will miss maybe the most important par-the philosophical and moral it teaches in you thus changing yoou to a a better person.If you want to learn only to fight i think it will be a mistake( i dont want to be rude i dont know you as a perrson and your reasons to start training if im wrong i appologize)

[ksan]

Its more trouble/work to try and get error`s out that you picked up by yourself later on by an instructor than if he had to start training you from scratch.... my belief is that, especially in the beginning, you need to be trained.. then practise what you were taught on your own... even if you can only travel to a dojo 1x a month that would be a start... explain your situation to the sensei and work from there....

I strongly advise against starting from scratch on your own out of books and from video`s...

osu

[kakatootoshi]

Dear ksan,
I seriously agree. If one already has a strong foundation in Kyokushin, then learning things from videos is alright. But if one learns from scratch, I guess either that person is a genius, or he or she is for sure going to pick up wrong habits which are hard to correct even by an experienced instructor. In my opinion learning Kyokushin alone from scratch is not to "better prepare" yourself, but to make further learning difficult. Perhaps you cannot tell the difference of a self-taught orange/blue belt with one that is properly taught, but I do not think that the self-taught guy can go any further (or the way is a lot more difficult).

OSU!

[hasbeen]

Originally Posted by olyckan

You can learn this art without a teacher. Most oldschool senseis and kohais still tell stories of how they started bye using books and papers, they started training karate and Kyokushin way back in the days. However consider that your progress will be very slow compared to those that have guiding hands and eyes to correct and perfect them..

osu olyckan! sorry i have to disagree, my advise would be to stretch and get supple, improve your stamina in readiness for your journey into karate.

learning karate from a book is like trying to learn to swim from a book!

[ksan]

Osu kakatootoshi,
Its good to see we are on the same page. In all honesty i have never heard of anyone becomming a good karateka just from reading a book or seeing a video... I have however experienced the problems of getting students to "unlearn" wrong/incorrect techniques and more. Even students who are actually training regularly are in danger of picking up incorrect things and if that isnt corrected immediately by an instructor, sempai or a fellow dojo student that faulty way gets internalised. Bad habbits learned early on in the training and "ironed out" too late tend to pop back up in difficult times, for instance at gradings when a student is pushed to the max and fatigue has long been setting in (see then how many revert back to their incorrect "ways")

I think we had a thread before and as far as i remember the general consensus was that one can beter hold and wait for the oppertunity of a good instructor then to start on their own.


Osu

[orisha66]

Originally Posted by olyckan

You can learn this art without a teacher. Most oldschool senseis and kohais still tell stories of how they started bye using books and papers, they started training karate and Kyokushin way back in the days.

But as you said "how they started"
They soon realized that they needed a sensei to teach them the Ultimate Truth.

[chen3141]

I would recommend getting your body strong first. Lifting weights, cardio, etc., that way when you start, you'll be strong enough physically and the rest will come.