another question (not a stupid one)

[Cougar_v203]

one day i was chatting with a group of people and someone im'd me and asked if i take ninjutsu. I was like yea and he asked me what dojo I go to and I told him that I'm self teaching myself. Later on he said that it was a really bad idea to practice from books, other people, and so on.

(i can't finish this because period 2 is about to end really soon.)

[pgm316]

Well how else can you learn other than books and other people!?

You can't beat learning from other people(assuming they know their stuff!), books are like a good addition to that, but you'll only get so far in my opinion.

ps hope your periods end soon!

[TkdWarrior]

hmm learning from books...
it is possible... but do u think u hav it in u?
-TkdWarrior-

[Cougar_v203]

maybe I did taKe karate lessons for a while but then I stopped (back Problems). So yea Maybe I do Maybe I don't.

[darlph]

Books are wonderful for referance or ideas. But I do believe a hands on approach from an instructor is more advantageous. Books don't tell you if you're holding your hands right or if you're in deep enough balance. I have a small library of martial arts books and they often help on new katas, remembering the next move, or what a Korean term means, and when I have to come up with a new one step I hit the books and movies if I am stumped. But you should have some one to critique you in the flesh.

[Cain]

Yeah and books don't give you the discipline to go beyond your limits :D

|Cain|

[darlph]

I would just like to add, that an instructor also adds the attitude side of martial arts. Most of the students and instructors I have met over the many years I have been involved, have been pretty courteous and open minded when at seminars or when I visit their schools.
Yes there are books on the "stealth arts" but I do believe there is only one or two true instructors available to teach others. And it is pretty obvious that their students do not advertise what martial art they train in. Remember it is an art of stealth and deception.~

[hybrid_TKD]

One of the worst things about self training alone is that in most cases you cannot compete in tournaments. Most competitions require your instructor to be a certin degree of black belt. Most of the ones we have been to require the instructor to be 6th Dan or higher. That being said I think competition is a very large part of training.

[Brad Ellin]

As far as tournaments for those self-training in Ninjutsu, most (not all, but most) practitioners of ninjutsu don't compete in tournaments, as a matter of fact for the most part it's discoraged. Competition in ninjutsu is a very small part, practically non-existant part of training. What is important, is to find a good, qualified instructor. Someone who spends time each year training with the Grandmaster (in the case of the Bujinkan, that would be Hatsumi Soke). Books can give you background reference material, but they can also teach you bad habits and misconceptions. Besides Cougar, there are several qualified instructors here in Maryland, surely you can go to one of them? If mot, how do you know for sure that what you are doing is Ninjutsu?