Can one learn self defence from a dvd?

alyssum

I would like to know what people think of this

http://www.americancombato.com/dvds_201485.cfm

And if you want some light reading check out these self defence ads from 1960's /70's http://cartoonician.com/the-deadliest-ads-alive/

This one mentions Toyotaro Miyazaki who seems to have been a serious instructor

Charlie3dan

To answer the question: No.
Anyone that says you can learn self defence from a dvd, is just trying to sell you a dvd.

Gumbi

Not without prior knowledge of said skills, definitely not. You don't learn how to play soccer without actually playing soccer. Same goes for any other sports. Once your competent, you can feasibly learn something from video, but not before that.

niallam

Not a hope, practice and training is what you need.
Without proper training of being in a stressful situation you won't react properly when something does happen you. With training your training your brain to react to the situation.
If someone puts a knife to your back you instinctually know what to do. If you have to try remember what the DVD said to do your hurt, mugged or even worse off.

Dyr

Defending yourself is not only a physical activity, so you could theoretically learn (note the word "learn") certain elements of self defence from a DVD/ book etc in the same way as learning elements of fire safety etc could be done.


Depends on the source really

niallam

Bambi wrote: »

Defending yourself is not only a physical activity, so you could theoretically learn (note the word "learn") certain elements of self defence from a DVD/ book etc in the same way as learning elements of fire safety etc could be done.


Depends on the source really

Self defence is all about how you react in a situation.
Best self defence is to run away, that's no secret. But after that you can "learn" all the techniques you want from a DVD but unless you are physically strong enough and know how from constant training to put somebody down you won't have much chance against an attacker.

I remember 1 chap in a class I was in who was "trained" and 1 night our instructor put a front choke on him unexpectedly and he panicked and couldn't release he attack, he forgot everything he'd ever been thought, probably simulated the technique 1000 times in training but when it wasn't expected he panicked.

Zen65

alyssum wrote: »

Can one learn self defence from a dvd?

Not in any meaningful way, no.

One may learn all of the lines from "Father Ted" via watching DVD's, but if your life is threatened will you be able to quote a full episode? Of course not.

One cannot learn how to defend yourself solely by watching a DVD, even if it's a brilliant DVD. The problem is that unless you have practised the techniques and strategies the DVD teaches, you will not be able to use them when you need them.

Now, if you watch a good self-defence DVD and then practise the techniques contained in it, you may certainly improve on your ability to defend yourself, but without partner training and an instructor's guidance you'll not become proficient!

Z

Dyr

niallam wrote: »

Self defence is all about how you react in a situation.

As opposed to avoiding situations?

niallam

Bambi wrote: »

As opposed to avoiding situations?

Avoidance is a reaction....
If I saw a dodgey character at night on the same side of the road up ahead I'd change sides... I saw a possible situation and I reacted.

As I said its about training your brain, knowing without thinking what to do. In that case I was 50m away and already in self defence mode in my brain.
Maybe it was a nice man in a dark doorway or maybe not but why get near a situation that could put you nearer danger?

Dyr

niallam wrote: »

Avoidance is a reaction....

Playing semantics? looks like fun

You can't truly react to something that you have avoided.

Avoidance is proactive.

Evasion is reactive.

As I said its about training your brain,

You did

niallam

Bambi wrote: »

Playing semantics? looks like fun

You can't truly react to something that you have avoided.

Avoidance is proactive.

Evasion is reactive.



You did

I did indeed, you seem to want to read very deeply into everything I post, this isn't the English language forum, but maybe read the bit again where I said "With training your training your brain to react to the situation."

And another point is unless your physically strong enough to put somebody down with either a punch or a kick or be able to effectively restrain someone you can know all the self defence but it'll do you no good.
Even restraining someone, how long can you restrain them for? Is the attacker just going to walk away when you let go?

This is real world situations and possibly life or death in some cases, not a Disney film with a happy ending

Mellor

niallam wrote: »

Not a hope, practice and training is what you need.

And why can't you practise what you see on a DVD?

niallam wrote: »

I remember 1 chap in a class I was in who was "trained" and 1 night our instructor put a front choke on him unexpectedly and he panicked and couldn't release he attack, he forgot everything he'd ever been thought, probably simulated the technique 1000 times in training but when it wasn't expected he panicked.

What does one guy who didn't know what to do prove?
Didn't he become "trained" through the same means as others in your class?



I'm not saying DVDs are optimal. But videos instructional can be a learning aid.. To suggest they don't is ridiculous.
Using a hypothetical example.
Two guys, equal in all aspects, take up a martial art.
The do a few classes a week in the martial art, their formal training is identical. One of the guys spends an hour or two a week looking up techniques on YouTube. Whos skill set develops quicker?

niallam

Mellor wrote: »

And why can't you practise what you see on a DVD?


What does one guy who didn't know what to do prove?
Didn't he become "trained" through the same means as others in your class?



I'm not saying DVDs are optimal. But videos instructional can be a learning aid.. To suggest they don't is ridiculous.
Using a hypothetical example.
Two guys, equal in all aspects, take up a martial art.
The do a few classes a week in the martial art, their formal training is identical. One of the guys spends an hour or two a week looking up techniques on YouTube. Whos skill set develops quicker?

Their knowledge will grow but their skill set won't. I could spend 10 years watching dvd's on how to perform heart surgery, how would I get on trying it after that? If I got to practice 5 times for real with proper instruction from a surgeon I'd probably make a far better attempt at it if I had to do it on my own.

A DVD would help with something like if you had to learn a pattern or to learn how to perform an educational block maybe.

Without an instructor to instruct, training and someone to practice on/with you won't learn much.
Even in training things are at a fraction of the speed they'd happen at in a real world situation, if someone tried to stab you outside a niteclub is not going to be the same speed that someone in training has done it at.

niallam

Mellor wrote: »

I'm not saying DVDs are optimal. But videos instructional can be a learning aid.. To suggest they don't is ridiculous.

As a learning aid for someone who is already training then definately they are a great help, BUT, unless you practice what you saw on YouTube with someone then they won't do much.

Not many self thought from YouTube martial artists about these days I'd guess with no help from anyone else.

MrStuffins

Zen65 wrote: »

One may learn all of the lines from "Father Ted" via watching DVD's, but if your life is threatened will you be able to quote a full episode? Of course not.

"Quote that Father Mustard episode or I'll f*cking stab ya!"

650gs

A lot of poor instructors out there too that wont help much either lets remember when your instructor grabs you by the neck he is teaching you what to do when a mugger grabs you by the neck you feel pain like nails going into your skin or a controlled punch in the dojo or a broken nose there is a big difference.
Some of the best trained soldiers in the world have a c**p when they meet live fire so dvd or coach you still are never prepared, so take up running its a better defense altogether.

Dyr

niallam wrote: »

And another point is unless your physically strong enough to put somebody down with either a punch or a kick or be able to effectively restrain someone you can know all the self defence but it'll do you no good.

Because self defence is all about physical skills yeah?

Francesco

Unless its a very limited number of very basic moves, and unless you have some previous martial arts experience, I would say no, don't waste your money. Join a local club.

niallam

Bambi wrote: »

Because self defence is all about physical skills yeah?

Where did i say self defense is all about physical skills?
I do think, as would any martial artist that if you don't have the physical strength to kick hard enough, punch hard enough, restrain an attacker (which needs some strength) then sadly technique won't do too much for you, definitely not a technique you learned from a dvd as you seem to think you can???

You seem to think people attack with soft pillows and will run away if you throw a few fancy moves at them? Block a knife attack once and the attacker is going to congratulate you on a block well executed...

Dyr

niallam wrote: »

Where did i say self defense is all about physical skills?
I do think, as would any martial artist that if you don't have the physical strength to kick hard enough, punch hard enough, restrain an attacker (which needs some strength) then sadly technique won't do too much for you, definitely not a technique you learned from a dvd as you seem to think you can???

You seem to think people attack with soft pillows and will run away if you throw a few fancy moves at them? Block a knife attack once and the attacker is going to congratulate you on a block well executed...

Do me a favour, don't worry about what I seem to think horse, worry about what I'm posting.

So you now agree that self defence is not all about physical skills?

niallam

Bambi wrote: »

Do me a favour, don't worry about what I seem to think horse, worry about what I'm posting.

So you now agree that self defence is not all about physical skills?

So you don't post what you think? You copying and pasting someone else's opinion?

I'm not actually agreeing with anything you think or post, i'm giving my opinion.
If someone thinks they can learn self defense from a dvd with out any physical training or someone to teach them the technique properly and on an attacker in training they're dreaming, or have a very good dvd salesman...

And trust me Bambi, i actually don't care what you think deer.....

Dyr

niallam wrote: »

So you don't post what you think? You copying and pasting someone else's opinion?

You should look up the term straw man argument, because you keep making them

definitely not a technique you learned from a dvd as you seem to think you can???

You seem to think people attack with soft pillows and will run away if you throw a few fancy moves at them? Block a knife attack once and the attacker is going to congratulate you on a block well executed...

Anyway fairly straight forward question, is self defence all about physical skills?

niallam

Bambi wrote: »

Defending yourself is not only a physical activity, so you could theoretically learn (note the word "learn") certain elements of self defence from a DVD/ book etc in the same way as learning elements of fire safety etc could be done.


Depends on the source really

You can learn the elements of fire safety in an hour, and i actually don't agree that it depends on the source, you can't learn any self defense from a dvd that will be of any real help in a real situation.

niallam wrote: »

Not a hope, practice and training is what you need.

See what i said there? Practice and training, strength training is part of every martial art, would you not agree?

Bambi wrote: »

Anyway fairly straight forward question, is self defence all about physical skills?

See where i said practice and training is what you need ^^^^^

If you can have a read back through the whole thread and show me where you think i said "self defence all about physical skills?", then i'll have a blue peter badge waiting in my next post for you.

Someone who's 5'3" and 7 stone watches a self defense dvd and gets attacked a week later by someone who's 6'4" and 13 stone, do you think physical strength wouldn't come into play there? Would you class that person as being trained in self defense?
Here's what i'd suggest as a "self defense" dvd, watch this and do what he does best if you think your going to be attacked Run

If your not physically strong enough to put someone down, however it is, then your technique will more than likely fail.
That's why martial artist, of all disciplines, train. Not just technique but strength as well.

If you think strength training is not important, as you seem to, that's great.

Done, ova n out.....

Dyr

Straightforward question asked, straight forward answer not given. No suprise there.

Truth is that so many aspects of self defence are not physical that you could actually learn them outside of your kung fuey class, because lets face it, you wont learn them inside it.

I read about the the fence concept from a geoff thompson book years ago and used it with zero training in it. It's a simple enough concept, although it was too obvious for generations of martial arts experts to figure it out for themselves

Same with the interview concept, not a physical skill, all thats required is reading comprehension and awareness

You tell someone not to be walking around staring at their feet looking like a victim, they dont need any kung fuey time to put it into practice

You tell someone not to lean into towards a car window when someone pulls up and asks a question. They don't need to spar it

You tell someone to not to walk through places where you will be alone and out of sight. No martial arts skillz required for that.

You tell someone that if anyone ever tries to force them away to another place then doing what they're told isn't going to save them it's probably going to get them killed.

You tell someone that criminals tend to pick times and places where running away won't be an option, they don't need to hit the gym to figure out that "just run away" might not be the easy solution that they thought it was

So many examples of skills that you don't need official martial arts or track and field training to use that its kinda funny that people would think otherwise

Zen65

Bambi wrote: »

So many examples of skills that you don't need official martial arts or track and field training to use that its kinda funny that people would think otherwise

You're correct there Bambi, but OP was asking about a specific set of eleven DVD's, not DVD's in general. I have most of Geoff Thompson's stuff and it's excellent.

Z

Dyr

Zen65 wrote: »

You're correct there Bambi, but OP was asking about a specific set of eleven DVD's, not DVD's in general. I have most of Geoff Thompson's stuff and it's excellent.

Z

I'm on about DVD/books in general.

Its sort of funny that people pooh pooh those resources when martial arts utterly lacked what guys like geoff thompson/southnarc etc brought to the table through their books and videos

Zen65

MrStuffins wrote: »

"Quote that Father Mustard episode or I'll f*cking stab ya!"

Wasn't that Pat Mustard, the milkman?

alyssum

Zen65 wrote: »

You're correct there Bambi, but OP was asking about a specific set of eleven DVD's, not DVD's in general. I have most of Geoff Thompson's stuff and it's excellent.

Z

actually while i did link a specific dvd set i meant it more as a general question.

Dyr

Zen65 wrote: »

Wasn't that Pat Mustard, the milkman?

Maybe he's mixing it up with cluedo