Do YouTubers Help Teach Self-Defense?

YouTube offers a lot of great how-tos on pretty much every topic, but you need to wade through a lot of garbage to get there. This definitely applies to learning self-defense; there are too many would-be gurus promising too much. Obviously, if you can afford lessons in a dojo or an afternoon class, go for it: It’s always better to learn with other people than it is alone, especially as you get more in-depth education, and having a resisting opponent is always better than just punching at shadows. However, some people don’t have access to a decent dojo or can’t afford one, so YouTube is their only option. Do whatever you feel necessary for your own defense, no matter what it takes.

The Obligatory Bullshido Warning

Some would-be senseis should not be teaching others and you should not be one of their students. They usually come in one of three stripes: the mystic, the charlatan, and the plain bad. The mystic is attempting to teach others moves that are almost supernatural, such as punches that work from a distance or using chakra to stun opponents. The charlatan has no actual experience in martial arts but has decided that teaching martial arts is a great way to make money: It’s great exercise, it gives them credibility in a respect-worthy field, and makes them look more powerful than they actually are. The plain bad teachers simply shouldn’t be teaching because they are teaching all of the wrong lessons or skills at the wrong skill levels or just can’t teach.

Suffice to say that the mystic's special powers are being staged or are likely to get you into more trouble when used than if you did nothing at all. The charlatan wants to build a following for ego, money, or both; you’re going to learn more by accident than anything else. The plain bad teacher is going to be more of a source of frustration than actual learning. Suffice it to say that none of these guys should be teaching self-defense.

Therefore, all three of these should be avoided at all costs if you’re actually interested in learning any kind of actual skills. You should always do a quick background check on anyone you plan on learning from, even if it’s just the comments section of the respective videos of a potential teacher before watching their videos. After all, you’re trying to learn something that may save your life; do you really want to learn from someone who won’t really be teaching you anything?

Know What You’re Looking For

A big part of using YouTube for self-defense instruction is looking for the right kind of instruction. The problem is that there are a lot of videos on trading tips for experts as well as videos for specific situations. There are also a lot of videos for specialized niches, like HEMA, specific martial arts, or even specific weapons; while this is great for those interested in those niches, they don’t do you any good. The bottom line is that you should be looking for basic self-defense skills or beginning level martial arts; you can worry about more advanced skills once you have the basics down.

Know Your Limitations

Another consideration is that you should know your own limitations, physical and mental. You should be very aware of your physical limitations, such as endurance, flexibility, and even strength. There are ways to increase these, and even some great videos on how to do so, but just like any other physical endeavor, you should know your limits before you start. You should also do some basic stretching before watching the videos, as well as make sure that you have enough room to follow the video. You should also know your limits as far as patience and ability to take instruction; these will come into play.

Pro Tip: You can always pause a video. This helps if you’re not quite getting something and want to keep trying, or if you need to take a break.

Don’t Expect to Become Bruce Lee

It’s important to keep in mind that you’re not likely to become a martial arts master if most of your education comes from videos. This is not saying that learning from videos is bad; it’s just that the best way to learn is by sparring with live opponents, and you’re likely not doing that if you’re just learning through repeating moves in the videos. You’re also not going to get belts or even paper credit, but you aren’t doing it for the fashion accessories. Realize that there are some limitations to learning from videos and you’ll do okay, and that’s all you need.

Learning from YouTube videos is not a bad idea. Be aware that there are some potential issues, make sure you do a basic background check on the person, and know what you are looking for; do that and you’ll be able to learn everything you need to know. Oh, and have some fun with it and remember that you can hit pause. This is a great way to learn some basics from the comfort of your home and at your own pace. It can be relaxing to get home, rest, and then work out to self-defense videos. Try it; you may learn to like it!