rayfloro

Greetings All,

I have been considering offering FFS lessons on line.

I don’t know what to think about how that should work, but I believe that it is a thing of the future, and I would like to be able to do it in a way that doesn’t fall into the category of “shonkey or phoney” internet Instructors handing out bogus grades.

I think I would be very interested to ask you guys how you think this could best be done so that for someone that is never going to be able to come to training with me on a regular basis, would be able to get training that is valid and worthwhile.

Do you think that offering training online is valid method of teaching people a Martial Art?

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The Essential Ray Floro DVD - http://www.florofighting.com/essentialdvd.html

Mike Brewer

I think it can be, Ray, but it should never be the only resource someone uses. I also think you should seriously consider the implications of offering some of the material you teach - such as the knife - to unscreened, unvetted people over the internet. You have good material, and the potential for misuse and lawsuits (not to mention good old-fashioned moral dilemmas) goes up in rapid fashion when you allow the whole world to see and practice "What Ray told me to do on the internet."

I mean, just think about how tough it is to keep things safe on your own floor, and imagine what could happen when those two 16-year-olds decide to sign on as adults and take your knife classes.

Something to consider. Like I said, your material is - from all I've seen - good enough for people to travel for. Charge what it's worth and make them come to you.

Michael Wright

Fully support Mike’s views.

I think supporting people in the concepts and strategies of FMA online could be a very good proposition, but as Mike says only if it supplements physical training. I know some instructors who fly students in to offer Intensive Personal Training Programs, and then to continue the guidance and theory they support them with online training, password protected, for a fee. I think the combination of the two is a very good proposition Ray, and a good supplement to your income.

In terms of online training as a standalone? I do believe there are certain martial arts that can be supported, perhaps even taught to a good level, online. I have to be honest, if I made a list then FMA would probably be near the bottom. I am an advocate of the theory in FMA that technique without the reflex to use it is worthless. I guess you would need to consider that barrier in this proposal.

FoolsTP

i agree with both of you but isn't that what disclaimers are for? online definitely shouldn't be the only way you learn something but i think it's a good idea because even if someone doesn't want to travel to train with you and they are training somewhere local to them in fma, if they like what you are doing they might just pay for your online stuff to add to their training. and if people are already your students in person, it might be a way to train when they are out of town or in a hotel room or something. i don't know. good luck if you try to do it

Mike Brewer

It's what disclaimers are for, and disclaimers are what lawyers are for. In any given instance, I put my money on a negligence lawsuit over a disclaimer any day.

It's not like you're talking about porn or offensive video or something. you're talking about the capability and methodology of killing people. Instruction in weapons based war arts. Making that widely available is inviting disaster on a lot of levels. Besides, from what I have seen of Mr. Floro, I believe he's the type of man that has no need of people like me pointing out the purely ethical points of making knife arts available online in your name to every kid, criminal, rapist, etc. with an internet connnection. Disclaimer or none, I'd feel god-awful if I learned that someone used my online instruction to mug, rape, or kill someone.

I personally believe that as an instructor, you have a moral obligation to maintain some measure of control over who you invest your arts in. It may not be the purely capatalist way to go, but it's important nonetheless. And as Michael said, you need to have the personal instruction for the applications to make sense anyway. Good supplement, but only a supplement.