Self-Trained vs Gym, dojo, etc...

[pstevens]

Anyone self-trained for the most part like I am? I recieved my blue belt from working hard on my own. In fact, most of my techniques were from books, videos and other training partners, not my instructor. I only rolled with my instructor maybe a total of 10 times in 4 years! I won't mention who my instructor was, but he didn't really teach me much.

Anyway, since 2002 I've been training with friends and we don't have a black belt master. Our training consists of BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling and anything we can get our hands into. None of us are high ranking belts, but that's not important to us. We just train and compete. Heck, I only wear my white belt and it's getting dark, just like in the old days.

But, I know the advantage of having a true master instructor. It's a metric system for which you can guage your proficiency level. It's just not realistic for me or my buddies. We don't have that kind of money, and MOST BJJ masters are here for the money. We take pride in the fact that we train for the love, nothing more. Just 10 guys who love to roll and train.

[Memnoch1207]

I'm self-trained to some extent in boxing and BJJ, my brother is a former GG boxer so he has showed me alot and I roll about 1 or 2 times a week with a friend who is a purple belt in BJJ.

I wouldn't be at my skill level though, if I didn't have people with superior abilities assisting me.

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by pstevens

Anyone self-trained for the most part like I am? I recieved my blue belt from working hard on my own. In fact, most of my techniques were from books, videos and other training partners, not my instructor. I only rolled with my instructor maybe a total of 10 times in 4 years! I won't mention who my instructor was, but he didn't really teach me much.

Anyway, since 2002 I've been training with friends and we don't have a black belt master. Our training consists of BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling and anything we can get our hands into. None of us are high ranking belts, but that's not important to us. We just train and compete. Heck, I only wear my white belt and it's getting dark, just like in the old days.

But, I know the advantage of having a true master instructor. It's a metric system for which you can guage your proficiency level. It's just not realistic for me or my buddies. We don't have that kind of money, and MOST BJJ masters are here for the money. We take pride in the fact that we train for the love, nothing more. Just 10 guys who love to roll and train.

-Who would give you a blue-belt if you dont come to class and train with other students? Even so, I'm not sure how you could advance any further without training with more advanced guys, you need better guys to show you what you do wrong when you roll, escpecially if they are way better. You dont always need a "master instructor " there all the time, usually good purples or browns can cover the class from time to time. The only other way is to take private lessons day after day which is not what you can afford apparently. Why not just join a school and go all the time, its not that much, what a 150 a month?

[pstevens]

Originally Posted by OmaPlata

-Who would give you a blue-belt if you dont come to class and train with other students? Even so, I'm not sure how you could advance any further without training with more advanced guys, you need better guys to show you what you do wrong when you roll, escpecially if they are way better. You dont always need a "master instructor " there all the time, usually good purples or browns can cover the class from time to time. The only other way is to take private lessons day after day which is not what you can afford apparently. Why not just join a school and go all the time, its not that much, what a 150 a month?

You're missing the entire point. WE don't care about the belt system. We just roll and continually strive to improve ourselves. That's not impossible nor unrealistic, considering many MMA gyms are moving in the same direction. No that we compare to them, but our main purpose is just to get good at what we do. Ofcourse you need better guys, but you can also grow with guys.

On another note, you totally missed my initial point. I received a blue belt from working hard in and out of the gym. That's what I meant by self-trained. I was training myself most of the time, whether at the BJJ gym or at home. The instruction I received was minimal compared to what I discovered and learned on my own.

[OmaPlata]

-amazing, anytime I took privates, I applied the techniques I learned that day to class that night, and they always worked. Nothing beats one on one for technique. The thing I noticed that seperates the good black belts from the greater ones is the attention to detail in every aspect of a move, not sure how you could learn those things from a book or from guys not advanced to yourself. But any training is better than none

[pstevens]

Originally Posted by OmaPlata

Nothing beats one on one for technique. The thing I noticed that seperates the good black belts from the greater ones is the attention to detail in every aspect of a move, not sure how you could learn those things from a book or from guys not advanced to yourself. But any training is better than none

Well, I've trained with some pretty good black belts before... And one point they've all stressed was that people can teach you the techniques, but it's up to you to make them work. Also, what works for one person isn't necessarily going to work for another. Jiu-jitsu is a road of self-discovery. I believe it was Rigan Machado who was once quoted as saying, "Make jiu-jitsu work for you, not the other way around."

[OmaPlata]

Originally Posted by pstevens

Well, I've trained with some pretty good black belts before... And one point they've all stressed was that people can teach you the techniques, but it's up to you to make them work. Also, what works for one person isn't necessarily going to work for another. Jiu-jitsu is a road of self-discovery. I believe it was Rigan Machado who was once quoted as saying, "Make jiu-jitsu work for you, not the other way around."

< Also, what works for one person isn't necessarily going to work for another. >


-yea but I think that is taking about body types, tall guys and short guys, fat, etc. I knew a pete stevens once in cali

[Hardball]

I commend you for your ambition and drive to learn martial arts skills. The point I'm getting is that you DONT have the money right now to join a formal school. Keep training on your own then when your finances get better join up with a school. You'll benefits from a good instructior and good training partners.

[moogong]

It's good you love the martial arts enough to practice alone on a consistant basis. The problem with making that your primary source of training is your progress will begin (if it has already not begun) to stagnate. This is where the watchful eye of an instructor or coach comes in. Even if he is not a "master", you still need somebody to make the changes in your routine and introduce small details in your techniques as you progress. Hell, even world champion boxers rely on their coaches to help them maintaine and improve their skill level.

[Daddy_Cool]

"It is like a finger pointing away to the moon, don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of that heavenly glory." What Bruce Lee meant when he said that is, a teacher acts as a catalyst... it is up to the student to learn for themselves. To a certain degree, you can train on your own, but one must be skilled to do so effectively. I would advise you to seek formal training, until you are proficient enough to train on your own. I had already been training formally for 11 years before I could really train myself effectively. Let someone help you out until you've absorbed all they have to offer, than you can continue on. You have to have a good base to begin with.