In the age of the internet there is almost limitless information available to anyone who has a home computer or cell phone. For martial artists this can be helpful for learning and understanding their chosen art. We can bring up videos of almost any technique, strategy, and insight into our chosen art.
Prior to the mid-2000s, when the internet kind of ’blew up’, martial arts students were limited in what reference materials were available. Instructional DVDs were the cutting edge for that. Before that, we had videotapes which came on the scene in the early 80s. Prior to that...books and magazines and, even farther back the only source of learning was in person with a qualified instructor.
Whatever reference material you may find, it’s important to remember that they should be viewed with a ‘grain of salt.’ We need to be careful to remember that some of this information may not be consistent with what your instructors or parent group teach. Worse yet, some of it may be completely off base and could corrupt your training in different ways. Most likely, the most reliable sources of material online to help you learn are directly from your instructors and parent organizations.
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Let’s first explore some of the advantages of watching online videos to aid in your martial arts journey:
Convenience  One of the biggest benefits of online videos is convenience. You can watch and practice anytime and anywhere. Whether you are at home, on vacation, or just too busy to attend a regular class, online videos allow you to learn at your own pace. This flexibility makes it easier to fit martial arts training into a busy schedule.
A Variety of Strategies  Online platforms offer access to a wide range of martial arts techniques and styles from around the world. You can explore and learn from different instructors, each with their unique techniques and philosophies. Although this can provide insight into different strategies that suit your abilities, it can also lead to confusion and inconsistency with your own dojo.
Rewatchable Lessons  Online videos are almost always available for replay and reference. If you miss something or need to practice a particular technique, you can rewind the video and watch it again until you ‘get it’.

Now, let’s take a look at the disadvantages of relying on online videos in learning a martial art:
Lack of Personal Guidance  One of the biggest drawbacks of learning martial arts through videos is the lack of personalized instruction. Martial arts techniques often require specific movements, positioning, angles, and force which are difficult to perfect without an instructor’s feedback. If you practice incorrectly, you could develop bad habits that are hard to fix later or even injure yourself.
Limited Interaction  In a dojo, students can ask their instructor questions, receive corrections, and train with partners. Online learning lacks this interactive aspect. Without a partner to practice with, it’s hard to apply certain techniques that involve another person, like blocks, throws or locks. The social and community aspect of martial arts training is usually completely lost when learning alone. Lastly, working with other people over time lessons the tendency to be stressed or intimidated in potential confrontations.
Difficulty With Complex Techniques  Some martial arts moves can be difficult to grasp just by watching a video. Techniques that involve precise body mechanics, timing, and distancing may not translate well with an online format. Instructors in live classes can adjust your body position, demonstrate multiple times, and explain movements in detail—something videos can’t replicate fully. Also, many people don’t have the discipline to develop muscle memory from the repetition that they will experience in in-person classes.
Risk of Injury  Without proper guidance, there's a higher risk of injury when learning martial arts moves on your own. Techniques such as footwork, strikes, blocks, falls, or escapes done incorrectly can lead to sprains, strains, or more serious injuries. In a class, an experienced instructor will ensure you are performing these moves safely and minimize your risks.

At ZenQuest we pride ourselves on providing the best instruction possible based on decades of experience. We follow proven standards and practices established by our parent groups: the Okinawa Karate Association, the Demian Maia Jiu-jitsu Association, and Sityodtong Muay Thai. So, be careful about outside influences and remember, if it looks like it wouldn’t work or is a waste of time---it probably is.

One of the most important benefits that a student can gain from the martial arts is mindfulness. Learning to be mindful and aware of what we’re doing in our daily lives is invaluable and can last throughout our lives. An important area that this can apply to is scheduling and timeliness or ‘time-management’.
Learning timeliness in a martial art begins with knowing the dojo schedule and being on time for classes. Students at ZenQuest should arrive at least 5 to 10 minutes before their class begins. This allows them to change into their training clothing, place their other gear where it needs to go, and begin to prepare themselves mentally for the class.
Being on time also gives the student an opportunity to say hello to their instructors and the other students that they’ll be working with in the class. One of the great things about training at ZenQuest is the ‘social’ part of it. Students are able to interact with others in an environment where everyone is encouraged to be positive and supportive of others. Students often make lasting friendships in the dojo. They share a bond that the Okinawans call ’Buji’ or ’war-blood.’
Arriving late makes any preparation for the class rushed. It can make the student start the class feeling unsettled and embarrassed when they enter the class. They often miss the ‘warm-up’ portion of the class which is designed to prepare the body AND the mind for the more challenging exercises that follow. This can increase the chances of injury, and delay our immersion into the training. Arriving late also causes us to miss some of the opportunities we would have to engage with the other students and make new friends.
 So, be mindful and practice timeliness. Experts say that mindfulness or ‘conscientiousness’ is the number one quality that interviewers consider when hiring. Mindfulness also keeps our stress levels low and improves the overall quality of our lives!