Books

[Nikeolls]

I'd like to know some opinions on martial-arts books, if you ask me you cant just study a diagram and just be able to do the technique, you have to practise on some-one. I think books about how and where different styles originated r ok, but people trying to learn moves from books r wasting thier time.

[MATT_LIQUID]

I'd disagree!

as long as someone is actualy got experience in a ma, we'll say tkdo and boxing, this person goes to regular tkdo lessons and he bought a book on thai boxing, he could easily get good at thai boxing.

krav maga on the other hand is simple to learn from a book, it is so easy to pick up (well most of it) that joe average could become a force to be recconed with!!

i remember watching UFC (when they showed it on uk tv), there was one guy who won a fight using ju jitsu which he learnt off gracie videos!

i understand what you mean though. Joe average just cant buy a book on tkdo and master it.

good thread!

[JediMasterChris]

As long as you are able to practice the move on another person I think you can learn it, you are being told how to do the move and you are applying it but you are still missing having somebody showing you correctly. Video's are even more effective than books, but if you want to get it 100% correct it is better to have an instructor show you.

[Nikeolls]

Hmm, I suppose you could learn a little, if you had someone to practice on, but really if you really want to become good at something u should take some lessons, they are more realistic.

[Joe karate]

You definitely can learn from books! I wreslted for a while before starting MA, and now that i am in MA (but out of wrestling) i discovered other grappling styles.(never knew such a thing existed, or that wreslting was an MA)

So i wanted to add to my grappling but not join another school. I bought a book and learned some submissions and throws.

Guess what, i use them all of the time (and they work)

So yes you can learn from a book, but it is no replacement for a teacher

[Knight_Errant]

You have to have a deal of experience under your belt before a book is any use to you, I'd say. But yes, you do have to put it into practice in sparring.