Instruction

Instruction is available in multiple formats: live instruction, books and videos. Each has their own pros and cons. In this section I'll list the main ones.

Live instruction has the potential to be the most beneficial if you can use it to its potential, and have a good instructor.

The following is a list of advantages to live instruction over books and videos:

• Being able to see a technique in person
• Being able to feel a technique done to you. Especially at advanced levels, your sense of touch will give you detail that your eyes will not perceive.
• The ability to ask questions
• The ability of the instructor to correct mistakes that you may have never noticed on your own and to give individualized advice.
• Most books and videos focus on impressive techniques rather than fundamentals which is actually what is most important

Additionally, books and videos have their own advantages over live instruction:

• Access 24/7: Whenever you have time or desire you can learn
• You don't have to rely on your memory. Anytime you forget something you can review it
• You can proceed at your own pace
• The ability to study from styles or instructors that aren't available in your area or from instructors that are possibly at a higher level than your local instructors
• An advantage of video is the ability to watch a move frame by frame (if you have a player that can do this)
• An advantage of books is the ability to learn something in great detail

Overall I would say live instruction is essential. If you look at most top professional athletes, they still have coaches and trainers. While live instruction is best for building your fundamentals and continuing to advance, it loses much of its advantage with the manner in which many instructors teach. For example many instructors teach large classes by showing a technique a couple times and then leaving students on there own. In this manner you might not be seeing the technique as well as a good video, you're not feeling the instructor doing the technique, and you're not getting the personal corrections and advice. Some instructors also discourage questions. In these cases, a video can be as good or better than live instruction. From written word and still pictures it's difficult (not impossible) to see the transitions and flow of a moving technique. The strength of books is in teaching history and theory due to the great detail that can be gone into. A live instructor could lecture the same material but personally I would rather read a book then listen to hours of lecture.