(Approx 1 minute 36 second read)

In modern times, there is an emphasis towards performing kata aesthetically without grasping the underlying principles, and with more kata available to watch on video, or YouTube, many students now learn them this way.
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For me, it’s not the number of kata you know, but the depth of understanding you have acquired.
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Can you truly learn kata by watching videos?
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Let’s be honest. You will never become a great martial artist just by watching videos. To achieve any deeper understanding of your practice, you need a real-life teacher and real-life training partners.
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Videos are a gold mine of information and inspiration, a learning tool that generations ago we just didn’t have.
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Hopefully the primary reason a teacher makes a video is to help you improve. The reason you would watch a video is to improve. But if you don’t practice what you see in the video right after learning it, then both teachers and students fall short.
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Without the vital information provided by a teacher, which you can truly understand and put into practice, it may as well be a dance you are learning.
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Video is an excellent tool for recalling what an instructor has taught in the dojo. Back in the day, I took notes all the time, and my notebook went everywhere with me.
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However, nothing can replace time in the dojo.
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While some aspects of martial arts are practiced individually, most concepts require interactivity for full understanding. Learning to punch, kick, or perform a kata with perfect form is great, but becoming proficient in these techniques requires knowing how an opponent will react.
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Training partners help develop this understanding, as students can relate their learning to their partners’ anatomy and their reactions. Training alone can be beneficial when you can’t get to the dojo, but again, nothing replaces training in the dojo.
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A good instructor and a good training partner are essential for understanding and learning.
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While videos are valuable tools for learning and inspiration, they are no substitute for the interactive, hands-on experience provided by a good teacher in a good dojo.
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In my opinion, the heart of martial arts lies in the dojo, studying under the guidance of a skilled, knowledgable instructor and alongside dedicated training partners.
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Be teachable. The world is full of lessons waiting to be learned.
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Photo Credit: Wú Xiánguì (aka Go Kenki) poses with Mabuni Kenwa as students watch on.