Is self study of stick fighting possible?

**dartleader** · Posted On: 9/04/2012 10:52pm

Due to school I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere for the next 11 months. I have the space to work out with rattan sticks, and I'm thinking of doing some home study stick work before I move back to civilization and join a Modern Arnis dojo.

Do I have any chance of learning meaningful technique through training manuals/videos, or should I just work on maintaining my fitness while I'm up here without trying to learn weapons?

I'm just looking to familiarize myself with basic Arnis technique, I have no illusions of developing real combative skill without a partner to train with.

Thoughts?

**NeilG** · Posted On: 9/04/2012 11:04pm

Where's nowhere, Winnipeg?

ducking...

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 9/04/2012 11:30pm

Well it'd be a lot better than not working out. I've done two person drills mostly (FMA [some Ke?po has FMA stuff, thank goodness] and Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo), but in karate, FMA, and Hawaiian kempo there are some stick drills/kata that certainly help your movements and strength (some people use iron pipes, sledge hammers or whatever instrument of torture they desire).

Looking at the youtube there's some decent looking drills that I'm sure would help. I mean I'm all for live training and in Honolulu the Kyokushin dojo sparred students the first day, but as one well known grappler put it, "I wouldn't dream of trying out a technique until I'd done it a thousand times in practice."

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 9/04/2012 11:44pm

hmm, I just noticed this: http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=117828

**dartleader** · Posted On: 9/04/2012 11:53pm

Originally Posted by NeilG

Where's nowhere, Winnipeg?

ducking...

Hahahaha, that's actually where the club I was looking to join is based.

Nope, think north, way north. Like The Pas north.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 9/05/2012 2:07am

What are your stickfighting goals?

**Robdogg** · Posted On: 9/05/2012 4:08am

This is mostly conjecture, since I'm not as experienced with the stick as some of the other people on this board. With that said, self-study with a stick won't really give you skill with stickfighting (probably), but you might be able to work on your form a little bit when it comes to strikes, and you might be able to get the hang of a little bit of sinawali so that your learning curve isn't quite as high when you join a group. However, there's still the risk that you'll develop bad habits since you don't have anyone to critique you.

It sounds like you already have a gym/group/whatever scoped out, so my advice to you would be to call them and ask if there's anything to gain from solo stick work, and ask them to point you toward some drills and videos of drills that you could look at and emulate. Also, do you have previous FMA experience?

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 9/05/2012 7:17am

"Is self-study of stick fighting possible?"

This is not the question you need to be asking.

"Will I become a good stickfighter without training with people better than me?"

This is the question you need to be asking.

**jspeedy** · Posted On: 9/05/2012 7:19am

Self study with the stick is like any other art nothing is different about a weapon. If you've got no better options you can try it. if you can find an instructor that is able to watch videos of you and offer up critique you might be okay. or perhaps you could make the trip to a local school once a month and have them check you. studying completely on your own might help but you might develop bad habits in that case I'd just recommend working out.

**JohnKenner** · Posted On: 9/05/2012 9:41am

Lack of surprise here that a instructor managed to hit the nail on the head so succinctly. A few changes and this fits every video/self study question:

Originally Posted by Bodhi108

"Is self-study of <<xyz martial art>> possible?"

This is not the question you need to be asking.

"Will I become a good <<xyz martial artist>> without training with people better than me?"

This is the question you need to be asking.