Home Study

Xue Sheng

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Videos are at best a supplement to training “REGULARLY” with and actual Sifu.

I do not care who the Sifu is, or how many years of experience he has in ANY martial art he cannot “honestly” teach via distance learning and video.

I recently read a blurb on another site about a Sifu that I know is rather skilled and I have always respected but if what I read is true I am loosing respect for him rather fast because he too is now thinking about a "Distance Learning" program and in his style he knows better than I that you cannot teach it by watching or looking at a video there are WAAAAY to many small circles in it. If he does this it is simply money making scheme that is all.

There is also another rather well respected Sifu that has what he calls a "distance learning" program but he has made it ABSOLUTLY clear that it is (or at least was) a SUPLEMENT to training with him. His definition of distance is you train with him for about 6 weeks or more and then go off and use the videos to help you remember. This I have less of a problem with since he will not give anyone permission to teach unless they do meet with him and preform to his standard.
 

lalom

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Video training is to real training as watching porn is to having sex.

Funny, but true! I think that LDS can definitely gain you some knowledge but it is nowhere near training and learning live from an instructor. A training partner is needed. It will help one gain SOME improvement and advance, but nothing like learning live.
 

JadecloudAlchemist

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I am interested in doing the To-Shin Do Home study program. The nearest dojo to me is 2.5 hours away, and I am unable to make the commute 3 times a week. Does anyone have any experience with the Home study program? And if so do they feel they got the same quality training they would have recieved at a dojo? Thanks!

I think it is better to go once a week than use videos as training.

Supplementing with a videos is ok but as only means of training it may make things worse.

Just because your Kamae may look correct does not mean it feels correct.

A teacher must be present to tweak things which may be an inch or two off but can make the difference between a stable kamae or an unstable kamae.

You will not gain the same benefits of training with a Sensei in person as you would with a person. As said in the movie school for scoundrels"
How many people own a self help book? You can't help yourself if yourself sucks" As you see the point you need a teacher to be present with you. I do apologize in advance if my comments come off harsh or cruel.
 

jks9199

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How many years of training has Anshu has?

After all those many, many years of training more than you have do you think he does not know what he is doing by offering video training? And you do have to meet up with real teachers at seminars. Why are people trying to pass it off as if you do not?
I can't help but notice the glaring omission of an answer.

I don't doubt Hayes's years of experience. I don't know how good a teacher he is -- but he's turned out good students. But video is no substitute for real training. Even with going to seminars occasionally.

Perhaps you'll reread the last paragraph of my post if I repeat it:
Keep training. Keep working... but, even more importantly -- find a live instructor to work with. Even if you can only do so once a week or once a month... In early stages of training, you need more personal, hands on correction. As you advance, the need is reduced, but not eliminated. I rely on my training partners as well as visits with my teacher and other seniors to maintain and develop... even after 20+ years.
 

brycemaster

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Just throwing in my two pence, or two cents as the Americans say;
I'm lucky enough to train under a very skilled teacher of to-shin Do here in the U.K. but I also own the DVDs. Objectively I would say that the DVDs are excellent for teaching the basics of the art, and are even better to help those who already train to improve, but as many have said, it is impossible to learn how to train well without either a partner or sensei. However it is certainly a help to have the DVDs, how could it not help? It's like having someone remind/show you how 'that technique' should be done, or having a reference for knowledge about the art. Bottom line is, whether it teaches the art or not, I'm not going to argue, but it definitely is an aid to training! If DVDs were such a bad idea why would so many other arts and systems use it? Plus, I'm not sure who said it but whoever said something like:

The army doesn't use video games or DVDs to train.

This is obviously wrong, as there are many DVDs by special forces etc. available, and the American army trains soldiers using V.R. one real life example is the Force XXI Trials. I mean, god, the US army used to use DOOM as a training method to desensitize soldiers!!

Anyway there's my humble opinion. *Covers head from impending flames*
 

JadeDragon3

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How many years of training has Anshu has?

After all those many, many years of training more than you have do you think he does not know what he is doing by offering video training? And you do have to meet up with real teachers at seminars. Why are people trying to pass it off as if you do not?

No offense BUT there are some instructors out there that put these home training courses out there for the sole purpose of making money and if you learn whats on them fine, if you don't learn whats on them fine also. Just because Anshu has years and years of training and knowledge doesn't mean that his home study course is great. I'm not just saying him, I'd say this about any style or teacher that has home training course DVD's out on the market.
 

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