Best Way To Train

[Bahala Na]

Everyone has their own ideas of what constitues a good training method and what is just a waste of time. Some people like seminars and private lessons, some like group classes. Some spice up training with books and videos, and others say that those particular methods will never get you anywhere. I'm just curious as to what you guys (and girls) think is the best approach. I personally think that it's best to do a little of all of it. Attend a regular group class all the time, set up special practice sessions to work on your own needs, take occasional private lessons from your instructor to fine tune, and go to Intensive personal programs and seminars to gain exposure to new ideas and tools. Of course, I also like to research thru video, books, and magazines. But I know some folks out there are probably die-hard for one way or another, and I wondered why. Thanks for the input.
Mike

[Evilution]

I'd agree with doing a little of all of it. Books and videos are great for studying outside of class and learning things from people who you might never get to actually meet. Group classes are great for training with a variety of people while privates allow you to focus on your own personal needs. Seminars and such also provide the opportunity for training that you might not be able to get all the time.

[Chad W. Getz]

I think they are all important. There are 24 hours in a day. Reading books, watching videos and just writing your own notes still constitutes a big part of your training.
Seminars give you the chance to work out with different people, etc. Videos are a cheap way to "own" someones instructions of a certain thing. I like and use a mix of it all.

[Harley]

Hello Mike,
i think this a good thread to work on, and i was thinking about the many training methods i've used over the years, tons of private lessons, in fact i'd say that i am almost completely private lesson trained. whether it's Pak Herman or Terry Gibson. then of course, tons of seminars to gain more experience (jkd is about exprerience) and some group classes. As you know i read constantly, study videos to visulalize to gain the perfect mental picture (something i learned from Terry).
But you know what i think has single handedly pushed me past weak points and stale times, a good training partner. someone to be there when i want to train, to push me, to try stuff on, to help me remember things, to motivate me. don't get me wrong, i know that a good training partner is rare, but i think we create training partners like we create good friends. Brad is a prefect example of this, he was an excellent training partner, we both grew tremendously during the time we worked together. So over the years (and during my nomadic times) i created several training partners, all of which demanded alot of energy in the beginning, but in the end paid me back 100 times the effort. just thought this might be an interesting side line to your above mentioned methods in that training partners are not always limited to class time, but can be available anytime.
Harley

[Bahala Na]

Thanks much for the input, everyone. I have to agree with you, Harley, and looking back on my days in Springdale, and my first year in LA, Almost all of my training was done privately. Either I was working one on one with Phil or Brad, or I had people from various sources coming in to train in the off hours. When I first moved in with Paul, it was much the same. Lots of private training. And I think that's probably where the heaviest amount of whatever skill I have came from. Seminars were greqat, and they always gave me ideas for who to chase down as a training partner, but you're right in that having a good training partner is the best way to find and exceed your own limitations. I guess there's something to the whole "find the cause of your own ignorance" thing after all.
Mike

[Harley]

glad i could help.
harley