Shidoshi0153
Yellow Belt
I already know I am going to catch some flack for this post, but new ideas usually do. I have read several posts and one thing becomes very clear, the idea of online training is generally mocked and berated. The same was true of online college courses when they were first offered. I would like to make a case some positives and advantages that may come from using technology to our benefit.
Training with an instructor in a physical dojo has obvious benefits and by no means am I trying to say online sources are a better means of training. But there are several advantages. First and foremost is the accessibility of these sources. Many people do not have access to a dojo in their area. Many professionals, such as police officers, don't have schedules that allow them to conform to specific class times. Online sources allow these individuals to train on some level, which is better than no training at all.
Online sources also give the practioner a unique view of each of the classes as only video can provide. You can pause, zoom, rewind, play in slo-mo, or simply view the class as many times as you like. This comes in very handy on complicated techniques where you may concentrate on the instructors legs and then again on his upper body and so forth. The video also gives a "record" of the lesson which can be filed away in a library for future reference. This has obvious benefits.
Online sources are also permanent. This is particularly useful to those who change locations often, such as our servicemen and women. It becomes hard to constantly re-learn material or start over when one moves from one dojo to the next.
Student/teacher interaction is also obtainable through the use of forums or message boards. Questions can be asked and answered thoroughly and in a timely manner. If the student is training properly, it will be evident what questions need asked, or what techniques just don't seem to be working correctly. Sending videos to the instructor also allows the instructor to critique and provide needed feedback to the student.
The purpose of this thread is not to deny the benefits of traditional training methods, but instead, to show that technology can be used for benefit and should be taken advantage of. I often think we do not give ourselves enough credit. The common belief is that we must be led down the martial path or spoon fed by the one master that has all the answers. If we consider when the ryu-ha were being formed, however, we discover it was simply a few men experimenting with different ideas, principles, and techniques to see what worked and what did not. We still have this same capacity. With a little guidance and proper training habits, I believe a lot of good and tangible results can be obtained through various online mediums.
Training with an instructor in a physical dojo has obvious benefits and by no means am I trying to say online sources are a better means of training. But there are several advantages. First and foremost is the accessibility of these sources. Many people do not have access to a dojo in their area. Many professionals, such as police officers, don't have schedules that allow them to conform to specific class times. Online sources allow these individuals to train on some level, which is better than no training at all.
Online sources also give the practioner a unique view of each of the classes as only video can provide. You can pause, zoom, rewind, play in slo-mo, or simply view the class as many times as you like. This comes in very handy on complicated techniques where you may concentrate on the instructors legs and then again on his upper body and so forth. The video also gives a "record" of the lesson which can be filed away in a library for future reference. This has obvious benefits.
Online sources are also permanent. This is particularly useful to those who change locations often, such as our servicemen and women. It becomes hard to constantly re-learn material or start over when one moves from one dojo to the next.
Student/teacher interaction is also obtainable through the use of forums or message boards. Questions can be asked and answered thoroughly and in a timely manner. If the student is training properly, it will be evident what questions need asked, or what techniques just don't seem to be working correctly. Sending videos to the instructor also allows the instructor to critique and provide needed feedback to the student.
The purpose of this thread is not to deny the benefits of traditional training methods, but instead, to show that technology can be used for benefit and should be taken advantage of. I often think we do not give ourselves enough credit. The common belief is that we must be led down the martial path or spoon fed by the one master that has all the answers. If we consider when the ryu-ha were being formed, however, we discover it was simply a few men experimenting with different ideas, principles, and techniques to see what worked and what did not. We still have this same capacity. With a little guidance and proper training habits, I believe a lot of good and tangible results can be obtained through various online mediums.