Originally posted by disciple
Chiduce, can you really learn from the tapes without any background in the art? How about the details? So far I use tapes only for a reminder in case I forget the forms 
salute
:asian:
I would have to say yes to your 1st question. Now that is not saying that you should not have a backgound in basic martial arts; because i feel that you should. I would not say, try to learn praying mantis ( nothern or southern style) without at least having basic training in kung fu first. This will also answer your second question about the details. Some say, like my sifu that "you cannot learn the internal without first learning the external" and vise-a-via. Others say that you can start with an internal system and then work to the external systems. I personally agree with the others. It does not matter where you start because one compliments the other! Some style's incorporate both the internal and external. The white crane system which i study includes both. So, when there is a need to be soft, then i can be soft; and when it's time to be hard, be hard and forceful. Baguazhang is also a good example of a soft hard style. Yet, i do feel that before learning karate from a tape, you would first have been a student of at least green belt in a karate system. Now i have a personal video training program to black belt for my distance learning students. I give my distance student the exact same training that we do in class; belt per belt. The dojo is just extended to his/her home. The same punches strike's variations, concepts and methods. So, far i have one distance student and it is working well. I do not confer rank until the student passes the video test. Which is the same test that the dojo students pass. In this way the art is constructed around the abilities of the students and not them conforming only to the abilities within the art on a pass or fail basis! I feel that every student upon firmly rooting themselves in the basics of their art has the ability to conceptualize martial methodological analogies, with the the instructor's guidence, within their respective systems. I do not say either do this and pass or do not and fail. Yet, i do firmly stress the basics in striking, kicking, blocking, kneeing, elbowing etc, in beginning, intermediate and advanced motion conceptual analogies! Thus, the students advance within their own respective interpretations of my instruction of the system. Getting back to the intial point, most tapes are done without this principle of structuring the art around the student. So, forms are performed in the likeness of the instructor and if one cannot mock the instructor's movements, then the student's robotic nature is the passing grade. Traditionalism always leads us to do it one way or take the highway alone without guidence from a qualified teacher. I do feel that kung fu is a little more complex to learn by tape due to constant continuous circular motion/s which exist within the basics, (both internal and external breathing methods) through advanced studies! Karate tends to teach more external breathing in performing the form/kata motions. I personally did not seek video training until i was very well rooted in basic kung fu and karate. Video training is the training of our future as long as video testing is included before the conferring of rank. But, as in all styles, their will be those whom will abuse the video training by just getting by! Disciple; does your sifu confer rank certificates or award rank at all? In kung fu i learned from my sifu, his teacher did not confer rank and he does not either? So, i'am just a disciple like yourself. Sincerely, In Humility; Chiduce!
