Hey.
Ando here from SenseiAndo.com.
If you watch a lot of martial arts videos, then you’re probably a lot like me—lonely.
You’re also probably a student.
A student trying to learn and improve yourself any way you can.
I get that.
The question is can you really learn martial arts from a video?
Well, yes.
I think you can.
But there’s a wrong way to do it, and a right way.
So, today, let me give you a tip to make sure you’re doing it the right way.
First off, let's be honest-- you will never, ever become a great martial artist just from
watching videos.
Even if they're really good videos like the ones with my friend Shane over at FightTIPS.
I wonder what his hair looks like this week.
To become a great martial artist, you're going to need a real-life teacher and some real-life
training partners. Especially training partners.
Yes, getting in shape and practicing on your own is important, but there is a lot more
to martial arts than just jogging, lifting weights, or hitting a bag.
Martial arts is about controlling yourself while someone else is trying to control you.
So, get out of the basement, get out of the bedroom, and go make some friends.
Okay.
Back to the videos.
Videos are a gold mine of information and inspiration.
It’s a tool that no other generation of martial artists has ever had access too.
But here’s the wrong way to access it.
Let's say you want to learn how to escape a rear naked choke.
Okay.
So, you do a search.
You find a video.
You watch it.
You learn something.
Now you watch another video.
And another.
Suddenly, it’s four in the morning, you're halfway through a bag of chips, and somehow
you’re listening to the isolated vocal track from Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman.
Man… girl can sing.
Been there, done that.
Look—watching videos is more addictive than heroin.
The problem is after a six hour video bender, that tip you found in the first five minutes
has been wiped from your brain.
You end up crashing into bed no smarter and no better than you were when you started your search.
So, here's my tip.
The first video you find that makes you say, “Ah, that's cool,” stop.
Put down the chips, get up, and go try it.
Yes, even if you're watching one of my videos.
As soon as you see something that makes you say, “Ah,” get up and do whatever it is
you’re supposed to do.
If you have a training partner, great.
If you have a training dummy like Julio over here, great.
If you don’t, do it on a pillow.
Or in the air.
Do what you have to do.
But here’s the important thing.
The secret to learning martial arts from a video is to turn viewing into doing.
The goal is to have a new experience.
But that doesn't happen in a chair.
It happens on your feet.
Look, the only reason a teacher makes a video is to help you get better.
And I presume the only reason you watch a martial arts video is to get better.
But if you don't get up and practice what you see in the video right after you learn it,
then I fail as a teacher and you fail as a student.
So, ask a question, find an answer, turn viewing into doing, and have an experience.
And then you'll have a chance at making yourself better as a martial artist.
And don’t worry— you’ll still have plenty of time to watch Ariana Grande.
If you liked this tip, don’t forget to hit subscribe.
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free email update list.
Until next time, go throw 10 punches.
Right now, 10 punches.
Then keep fighting for a happy life.