Can You Teach Yourself Karate?

Yes.

Let me try explaining. I think you need a firm structured training base before you can ever teach yourself nearly anything: whether a musical instrument, dancing, a sport such as soccer or a martial art such as Shotokan karate. How long and intense should that time be? I think it's up to the individual. Some learn faster and more intuitively than others, so their time will be shorter. For me, I had two and a half years of formal training, including a few months at the Hatboro YMCA at the end of my formal training time. Others will learn the fundamentals sooner, others longer. The important thing is that they are learnt, and learnt well.

The key word above is fundamentals. They must be learned and ingrained since they are the foundation of what will be later self taught and trained. Also, they must not be neglected in self training. All training circuits need to include them every time at some level. My preference is with a heavy bag: standing or hanging. Working fundamental combinations - in and out of stances at speed is an excellent way of honing those skills. Still, it lacks behind having a knowledgeable training partner, but I can't have everything.

Self training is possible due to the immense amount of resources available: free and for purchase. YouTube alone has been my main source for learning thirteen new kata. Downloading and playing so that the movements can be slowed down, rewound and played in loops all make learning a new kata possible - assuming again that the fundamentals are grounded.

Finally a game plan is needed. What is known mixed with what is being self taught must be trained in a cyclical manner, so that no technique is too long abandoned. The similarities in kata must be recognized and new techniques must be fully understood as they are learned. All should combine over the course of one training session to teach an integrated lesson. Eventually all kata have been once again reviewed and improved: both in technique and more importantly - understanding.

Well, that's all for now.

What's Your Kata Footprint?

Huh?

Exactly. I'm not up on my Japanese Shotokan terminology, but what I'm describing is the path you have drawn by performing the kata - imagine near the ocean's edge on a clean sandy slightly damp beach.

There are so many ways to work through kata and one I truly enjoy is reducing my footprint while performing kata in confined spaces such as one-car garages, narrow driveways, gravel bike paths, small patches of woodland... there are so many choices. The necessity of quick shifting while reversing the feet - stepping back while simultaneously stepping forward is a great way of focusing technique. The body must be sufficiently relaxed to quick-shift the feet, yet maintain a firm path of travel through the entire kata. Pivoting is nearly always centered under the body's center of gravity. Attention must be paid to good body position and dynamics to maximize each technique to its full potential.

I firmly believe doing so is actually more realistic compared to potential movement in a real self defense situations. Body shifting is enhanced, maximizing useful space is stressed and realistic imagination is furthered by "seeing and feeling" combinations built into the kata.

Try it and envision striking, grabbing and controlling, throwing and taking down... as well as evasion, multi-angle attacking, quick redirecting within a four by four, or smaler, patch of ground... it's all there so do it.

Well, that's all for now.