Online Martial Arts Training

Thoughts on online martial arts training with no sparring or in-person sessions? Global Martial Arts University appears to accredit itself, which is always a red flag.

https://globalmartialarts.university/

https://karateacademyonline.com/

https://cybertaekwondo.com/

 

As someone who danced professionally and taught dance classes, I have some insight into this. For any physical and repetitive activity where one needs to be able to flow intuitively, it's more about practicing for good muscle memory regardless of where you practice. From that perspective, I can see the advantage of this. I have a few concerns though. First, some students do not take oral instructions well and cannot even physically mimic well. For physical based instruction it's sometimes a matter of literally putting the student into position so they know what the movement or position should feel like, and even the pace at which a movement should happen. Often though, professional dancers have to learn choreography from video. Personally, I have had to provide written choreography for other instructors teaching the same class at different times, which is even more challenging than learning from video. I think for students who have good movement intuition, or advanced students, that online learning can work well. Another challenge is safety. Some of the styles of dance I taught had a high risk of injury, so the classes really should be in person or at the very least have a second student to help. Finally, anything involving multiple people becomes vastly more complicated. A person taking classes through an online martial arts training might successfully get a few moves in during a real engagement, but I suspect while the movements might be well executed the person would be ill-prepared to predict movements of their opponent(s) and change their own moves in accordance.

 

To each their own. My Martial Way is also an Olympic Sport. International competition requires affiliation with a national governing body that is affiliated with a continental governing body that is affiliated with the international Judo Federation. I am a member of two of the three American governing bodies for Judo. To be a certified coach under any of the American governing bodies two sets of additional training, in addition to background checks must remain current. The training requirements are a CDC Concussion Course, and Safe Sport, which educates leaders in preventing any sort of athlete abuse. These training requirements are completed online. However, I do not believe it possible to effectively study Judo or SAMBO by distance education only.

 

For the final exam, you mail them the brick you broke.

 

LOL. I think some of these companies do testing by real-time video calls.

 

There was also the now-defunct Porter International University. You could study at the Associate through PhD level in Martial Arts by distance.

Personally, it warmed my heart to know that I could finally earn a degree in whup'in somebody's ass entirely online.

 

Earning the degree online - a good thing. Actually being able to whup' ass - severely - totally online - even better.

 

Ihe International Judo Federation Academy has programs including an undergraduate Certificate, an undergraduate Diploma, a bachelor degree, and master and doctoral research degrees . Each requires some practical iin-person education and examination. My founder did not create Judo to beat people up.

 

True. We realize this, Charles - that's why it's called SELF-defense - but it's hard to resist a joke, sometimes. No offense intended.

 

Thank you. None taken. : )

 

Mark Roscoe may be the perfect instructor for Ed Gruberman.

 

Interesting that the song suggests those who vote Republican deserve a boot to the head.

 

I gave that some thought. However, the performance is by a troup of Canadians and its hi hilarious. Some years ago I posted perhaps a different version in response to something Abner had posted. Honestly, My personal music collection would be severely diminished if I ever decided to exorcise those artists who expressed political thought that's not in congruence with my own.

 

My preference is for the original old school distance education dojo. The crazy Indian in full head gear, with the tacti’cool tobacco pipe, who’d channel the warrior spirit of the natives to you with his written ancestral combat techniques! All for only $20 with the coupon in the back of Scout Life and Mad magazine in the 80s! Think you had to have your grandma record some of your moves on a VHS tape that you submit for warrior review to earn your black belt though. Rumor has it that the Qanon Shaman was legendary with how many belts he earned!

 

In all seriousness, what is your goal? If it’s health… any movement, calisthenics, etc. is good… just be wary of injury risk. If it’s to learn a sport… nothing beats real practice with others… If it’s to learn self-defense, outside of a few basic moves/escapes… I’d be very leery of online learning becoming detrimental versus beneficial.

 

A few acquaintances have spoke well of Gracie University's online offerings.

Like others here in the thread though, I'd agree that in-person training for this type of things is probably best. Yet, some videos or even Zoom lessons would already be a huge improvement from what we used to do decades ago: flipping through wing chun books at Barnes & Noble or Borders and then trying to imitate the pictures.

 

This isn't a personal question. I've already taken Krav Maga and defensive tactics training in person.

 

The Gracies revitalized interest in the martial arts, particularly BJJ. They (Horizon, I believe, invented the Ultimate Fighting Champion tournaments) If someone is legitimately using the Gracie name, I expect the product to be very good. I do agree with every word in this video

 

As a background to the Gracie/BJJ online martial arts training… it’s an off shoot of a garage/home gym movement they built, that was primarily geared towards converting practitioners of other martial/combat sport disciplines to their Brazilian version of ju jitsu. There was a big emphasis on people already well trained, modifying techniques, and relentlessly practicing with others. Another big aspect though was their heavy emphasis on not just practicing but challenging one’s self with regularly traveling and competing in tournaments.