Can someone become a Martial Artist without a School?

[SunDash]

Hi I'm new here and I'm happy to find such a place where everyone here talks about Martial Arts freely! I would someday like to call myself a martial artist but I never went to a martial art school to be taught. I would love to go to a martial school but I never had enough money to join any (at least those I know of). I have been on an off training schedules on my own time because of things like school work and studying in my way.

I try to expand my knowledge of the martial arts whenever I have the chance. I don't only focus on the physical aspect of many different martial arts but I focus on the mental applications as well! This usually calls for me to buy books about martial art philosophy as well along with many technique books as well. Whenever I find someone who has at least had somekind of experience in the arts, I try to get as much information on conditioning, technique, priority and philosophy and I can. (I try my best not to have a ego) For now, I can practice basic techniques of karate/tae-kwon-do with Shuai-Chaio implications (I hope to blend Shuai-Chaio with Chi-na locks soon). Sure trying to blend Shuai-Chaio with a styles like Tae-kwon-do and Karate is difficult (I realize that Kung fu and Karate/Tae-kwon-do are hard to blend due to differences in muscle tension/breathing patterns/ and general fluent movements), but the throws in Shuai Chiao should be able to match those of jujutsu/judo (which I also notice some Karate schools who try to mix in jujutsu/judo techniques). So, I think I have an idea of what kind of fighter I would like to be but would the idea work and is it possible to do so w/o a teacher at the moment?

Can someone who whole-heartedly practices martial art techniques and the philosophy of martial arts without a teacher consider themself a martial artist? Can he/she consider themselves a practictioner? Or is he/she just a brawler?

Your thoughts, opinions, and criticism will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!!!

[BadgerFu57]

A teacher would be nice at least. Maybe you could find a cheap or "old school" place to learn. I take BJJ in a sort of empty warehouse with mats on the ground. The open garage is our Air Conditioner. It's not too expensive, the instruction is great, and the work is hard.

It depends on your definition of MAist I guess. If you want to be into Chi and all that, books might do it. If you want to be able to whoop, you need sparring partners and a good instructor. A conditioning program would also help.

Most people say they are too busy. I really don't think so. It's just a matter of being efficient with time and comitted. I think most people just suck at time management. The idea of a shower over 5 minutes is just preposterous to me. LOL, but that's another topic.

[BadgerFu57]

Another idea would be to get to know some decent martial artist who want sparring partners.

I know I would be glad to teach someone so long as they let me practice too. Depending on your art, be careful sparring. In BJJ it's not as dangerous because it's grappling. If you want to spar in boxing though, you need a coach or else you could get hurt.

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Without a school, yes
Without a teacher of some kind, no, a MA sparringpartner that corrects you, I would considder a teacher
can you become a fighter without any of these, yes

[sun fist]

You could easily train without a school, though a school would be nice, you could use videos,books, and even the internet. There is a site called dojo kai-bo where many different martial arts are listed and have directioons and pictures on how to execute the techniques and forms of each art.

In fact, Myamoto Musashi never had a formal swords instructor and is considered the greatest swordsman who ever lived!

[BadgerFu57]

Before I formally trained in MA I used to wrestle/fight all the time with my buddies. Definitely makes a difference.

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Originally posted by sun fist
You could easily train without a school, though a school would be nice, you could use videos,books, and even the internet. There is a site called dojo kai-bo where many different martial arts are listed and have directioons and pictures on how to execute the techniques and forms of each art.

In fact, Myamoto Musashi never had a formal swords instructor and is considered the greatest swordsman who ever lived!

Maybe not formal but e did receive instruction from his father Munisai

Having the right guidance in the beginning makes it possible to invent things yourself lateron
Most if not all founders of MA's had prior knowledge to some form of fighting

[SunDash]

Thanks for the replies! I'm hoping to find a school with a good price but for now, I'll try to see what I can do with Karate training since the basics deal with raw force and power.
As for techniques, I try to think about the priority it has in battle before I actually practice it. Some techniques wouldn't work at all if the right body parts aren't used.
I wouldn't practice a style like Tai Chi on my own because chances are that I could kill myself and the knowledge of chi is supposed to be passed on through the direct intruction of someone who practices the style (I NEED an instructor for that style in particular).

To those who actually go to a registered MA school, I'm not one of those people who would buy a black belt just to say that I can wear one. I'm aware for the amount of work/effort that people put in just to have the honor of tying that belt around their waists! Gis and black belts have meaning and I hold anyone who has one in high respect (unless the person isn't aware of what a black belt means themselves!).

And I'll check out the site when I have the chance!

[Lizard]

Originally posted by SunDash

I wouldn't practice a style like Tai Chi on my own because chances are that I could kill myself and the knowledge of chi is supposed to be passed on through the direct intruction of someone who practices the style

I don't think you would kill yourself practicing tai chi on your own.

Originally posted by SunDash
the honor of tying that belt around their waists! Gis and black belts have meaning and I hold anyone who has one in high respect (unless the person isn't aware of what a black belt means themselves!).

A black belt means that whoever is in charge of the school has decided you're good enough to be given a black belt.

I'm sorry but all this talk of "the honor of the black belt", "chi knowledge be passed down the generations" and respecting people on the basis of what colour belt they wear just doesn't sound sensible to me.

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Lizard

In some countries the BB certification/exams are centralized or at least done by an org instead of the school
That at least ensures some kind of harmonisation of that art
Doesn't mean shit if you compare arts because we all know that in some arts it's easy to get a BB ( I could have "gotten" a BB in Iaido/swordpulling within a year training every 2nd or 3rd saterday)

Actually in Japan it is not the belt that makes you the senior but the years of training

So a 2nd dergree BB can be the senior of the 7th degree BB

the respect is for the senior
This is why some 7th or 8 th degree BB found it hard to teach their seniors even though they have a higher grade

As for the belt in general, Japan only knew White brown and black belts

upto 4th kyu would be white, 3rd to 1st kyu brown 1st to 10th dan black at least in the karatestyle I did, Wado we do not put stripes on the black belt nor do we change to red and white belt for 6th to 8th or Red for 9th and 10th
All of wich ( stripes, red and white and red belt) are inherited from Judo
Judo is in fact responsible for the kyu/dan system in most other arts

[Lizard]

Respecting an old person is instinctive.

Respecting someone because they have achieved a certain level of fighting ability is also instinctive.

Respecting someone because they have political power is instinctive.

Respecting someone because they own a black belt is foolish.

Many MA "masters" are old, fairly good at fighting (or are considered to be good at fighting) and have a limited amount of political power (in the dojo they are in charge). They also happen to wear a black belt and claim that the black belt is what makes them so respected. The students are fooled and think that if they get a black belt they will be as respected as the sensei. But it doesn't work that way.

[Roland]

Originally posted by SunDash
I wouldn't practice a style like Tai Chi on my own because chances are that I could kill myself and the knowledge of chi is supposed to be passed on through the direct intruction of someone who practices the style (I NEED an instructor for that style in particular).

1) You NEED an instructor for ANY style, not just Taijiquan. Books and videos are useful for reference, not for learning (unless you have an extensive martial arts background).

2) All this talk about "the knowledge of chi" is rubbish.

3) If you do Taijiquan incorrectly, you probably won't kill yourself (unless you fall over and hit your head on a rock) but you may mess up your knees.

[SunDash]

Okay, it seems I have to refine what I have posted.
I don't nessecarily mean that someone who has a blackbelt is automatically a "great fighter". I can easily buy a blackbelt and fool people the same way. I'm aware of that though I haven't really earned it! I just don't mean to disrespect devoted practictioners who actually had to work hard to earn it!

As of taijiquan, I heard it was dangerous because of the breathing patterns. Some monks were on television talking about the relationship with breathing patterns and chi.

You can't learn by reference?

[Tom Yum]

Karate & TKD can be learned by books, but I think you can't learn past yellow belt level. White belt techniques can be learned - lunge punch, reverse punch, knife hand, basic palm strikes and blocks - same with the basic front snap, round house and side kick.

Without any experience it would be difficult to perform more advanced techniques. Get an instructor.

If you're attempting to learn chin na and shuai jiao, you definintely need an instructor as the moves are complicated and difficult to visualize without any previous grappling experience.

Stick with your conditioning and practice your basic karate and tkd techniques. Then find instructors in karate, tang soo do, tkd and Chinese Martial Arts.

[Lizard]

Originally posted by SunDash
Some monks were on television talking about the relationship with breathing patterns and chi.

Well if monks on TV said it, it must be true