Comments on: How to learn techniques from video, Part 3 http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/ Wim Demeere's thoughts on Martial Arts and Self Defense Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:03:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Scaling self defense :: Wim Demeeres Blog http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-9507 Scaling self defense :: Wim Demeeres Blog Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:29:51 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-9507 [...] For a visual, take a look at this video I made for my post on “How to learn techniques from video” [...] [...] For a visual, take a look at this video I made for my post on “How to learn techniques from video” [...]

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-619 Wim Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:12:38 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-619 Thanks Shane. The original video was part of a documentary series and never really meant to be instructional. So the angles and editing are meant to be visually pleasing instead of showing the techniques to best effect. And that was really my whole point, how these factors influence what you see and ultimately think about a video. Another thing you can try is filming yourself as you practice along with a video. Even if only on a cellphone camera, you don't need HD quality. Then ,you compare the footage with the original video and look for the differences. Lots of fun. Lots of Homer Simpson "Doh!" moments too. :-) Thanks Shane. The original video was part of a documentary series and never really meant to be instructional. So the angles and editing are meant to be visually pleasing instead of showing the techniques to best effect. And that was really my whole point, how these factors influence what you see and ultimately think about a video.

Another thing you can try is filming yourself as you practice along with a video. Even if only on a cellphone camera, you don’t need HD quality. Then ,you compare the footage with the original video and look for the differences. Lots of fun. Lots of Homer Simpson “Doh!” moments too. :-)

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2620 Wim Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:12:00 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-2620 Thanks Shane. The original video was part of a documentary series and never really meant to be instructional. So the angles and editing are meant to be visually pleasing instead of showing the techniques to best effect. And that was really my whole point, how these factors influence what you see and ultimately think about a video. Another thing you can try is filming yourself as you practice along with a video. Even if only on a cellphone camera, you don't need HD quality. Then ,you compare the footage with the original video and look for the differences. Lots of fun. Lots of Homer Simpson "Doh!" moments too. :-) Thanks Shane. The original video was part of a documentary series and never really meant to be instructional. So the angles and editing are meant to be visually pleasing instead of showing the techniques to best effect. And that was really my whole point, how these factors influence what you see and ultimately think about a video.

Another thing you can try is filming yourself as you practice along with a video. Even if only on a cellphone camera, you don’t need HD quality. Then ,you compare the footage with the original video and look for the differences. Lots of fun. Lots of Homer Simpson “Doh!” moments too. :-)

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-618 Wim Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:08:16 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-618 Chris: It certainly applies to the frustrated student, but I think it isn't limited to that. Practitioners can be critical not out of malice but, as I said before, lack of experience and training. That doesn't disqualify them from learning from a video. It only means they lack some time and work in the arts, which isn't necessarily their fault. I also don't think it's all about self teaching. I see it more as trying to learn something of value, however much or little it may be. It could be a small detail that adds to their existing knowledge. Or it could be a paradigm shift. E.g.: I remember seeing Rob Kaman lift Ernesto Hoost off the ground with his leg kick some 20 years ago. I learned many important lessons from watching that video and it triggered a search for knowledge of that technique, self-taught and under the guidance of instructors. Is that wrong? I don't think so. IMO, solo training is all about self-teaching. If it isn't, you're just going through the motions. Learning and fairly evaluating the instructor's techniques are different, I agree. But if the latter keeps getting in the way, none of the former will happen, which is my whole point. Great feedback, thanks! Chris:
It certainly applies to the frustrated student, but I think it isn’t limited to that. Practitioners can be critical not out of malice but, as I said before, lack of experience and training. That doesn’t disqualify them from learning from a video. It only means they lack some time and work in the arts, which isn’t necessarily their fault.

I also don’t think it’s all about self teaching. I see it more as trying to learn something of value, however much or little it may be. It could be a small detail that adds to their existing knowledge. Or it could be a paradigm shift. E.g.: I remember seeing Rob Kaman lift Ernesto Hoost off the ground with his leg kick some 20 years ago. I learned many important lessons from watching that video and it triggered a search for knowledge of that technique, self-taught and under the guidance of instructors. Is that wrong? I don’t think so. IMO, solo training is all about self-teaching. If it isn’t, you’re just going through the motions.

Learning and fairly evaluating the instructor’s techniques are different, I agree. But if the latter keeps getting in the way, none of the former will happen, which is my whole point.

Great feedback, thanks!

]]> By: Wim http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2619 Wim Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:08:00 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-2619 Chris: It certainly applies to the frustrated student, but I think it isn't limited to that. Practitioners can be critical not out of malice but, as I said before, lack of experience and training. That doesn't disqualify them from learning from a video. It only means they lack some time and work in the arts, which isn't necessarily their fault. I also don't think it's all about self teaching. I see it more as trying to learn something of value, however much or little it may be. It could be a small detail that adds to their existing knowledge. Or it could be a paradigm shift. E.g.: I remember seeing Rob Kaman lift Ernesto Hoost off the ground with his leg kick some 20 years ago. I learned many important lessons from watching that video and it triggered a search for knowledge of that technique, self-taught and under the guidance of instructors. Is that wrong? I don't think so. IMO, solo training is all about self-teaching. If it isn't, you're just going through the motions. Learning and fairly evaluating the instructor's techniques are different, I agree. But if the latter keeps getting in the way, none of the former will happen, which is my whole point. Great feedback, thanks! Chris:
It certainly applies to the frustrated student, but I think it isn’t limited to that. Practitioners can be critical not out of malice but, as I said before, lack of experience and training. That doesn’t disqualify them from learning from a video. It only means they lack some time and work in the arts, which isn’t necessarily their fault.

I also don’t think it’s all about self teaching. I see it more as trying to learn something of value, however much or little it may be. It could be a small detail that adds to their existing knowledge. Or it could be a paradigm shift. E.g.: I remember seeing Rob Kaman lift Ernesto Hoost off the ground with his leg kick some 20 years ago. I learned many important lessons from watching that video and it triggered a search for knowledge of that technique, self-taught and under the guidance of instructors. Is that wrong? I don’t think so. IMO, solo training is all about self-teaching. If it isn’t, you’re just going through the motions.

Learning and fairly evaluating the instructor’s techniques are different, I agree. But if the latter keeps getting in the way, none of the former will happen, which is my whole point.

Great feedback, thanks!

]]> By: Shane MacLaughlin http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Shane MacLaughlin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:40:18 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-616 Nice videos, Wim. The last two are a huge improvement on the first, probably because the higher resolution squarer format allows the feet to be included in the frame without losing much of what is going on in the upper body. The rectangular mats on the floor also provide a perspective grid which helps to a large degree with depth perception issues you raise. Having static reference points in frame at all times makes the video easier to follow, particularly if you are using more than one camera angle. I tried revising a sword form a couple of years back from a picture book where the teacher was set against a white background and the camera angle occasionally changed between poses. Total brain melt material. I've used videos and reference books occasionally but only reinforce techniques or forms I'd already been taught. The problem I've found is you need a spectator telling you what you are doing different to the guys on-screen, so for techniques you actually need three people. You're watching the video in the third person, but doing the technique in the first person, so in the absense of an instructor you need someone else to make the comparison and correction. If you don't have a grounding in a similar technique, it's damn difficult. Good fun though, in a jigsaw puzzle kind of way. Spoken audio cues covering what is difficult to pick up from the visuals simplify the puzzle somewhat. Nice videos, Wim. The last two are a huge improvement on the first, probably because the higher resolution squarer format allows the feet to be included in the frame without losing much of what is going on in the upper body. The rectangular mats on the floor also provide a perspective grid which helps to a large degree with depth perception issues you raise. Having static reference points in frame at all times makes the video easier to follow, particularly if you are using more than one camera angle. I tried revising a sword form a couple of years back from a picture book where the teacher was set against a white background and the camera angle occasionally changed between poses. Total brain melt material.

I’ve used videos and reference books occasionally but only reinforce techniques or forms I’d already been taught. The problem I’ve found is you need a spectator telling you what you are doing different to the guys on-screen, so for techniques you actually need three people. You’re watching the video in the third person, but doing the technique in the first person, so in the absense of an instructor you need someone else to make the comparison and correction. If you don’t have a grounding in a similar technique, it’s damn difficult. Good fun though, in a jigsaw puzzle kind of way. Spoken audio cues covering what is difficult to pick up from the visuals simplify the puzzle somewhat.

]]> By: Shane MacLaughlin http://www.wimsblog.com/2009/12/how-to-learn-techniques-from-video-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-2618 Shane MacLaughlin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:40:00 +0000 http://www.wimsblog.com/?p=1291#comment-2618 Nice videos, Wim. The last two are a huge improvement on the first, probably because the higher resolution squarer format allows the feet to be included in the frame without losing much of what is going on in the upper body. The rectangular mats on the floor also provide a perspective grid which helps to a large degree with depth perception issues you raise. Having static reference points in frame at all times makes the video easier to follow, particularly if you are using more than one camera angle. I tried revising a sword form a couple of years back from a picture book where the teacher was set against a white background and the camera angle occasionally changed between poses. Total brain melt material. I've used videos and reference books occasionally but only reinforce techniques or forms I'd already been taught. The problem I've found is you need a spectator telling you what you are doing different to the guys on-screen, so for techniques you actually need three people. You're watching the video in the third person, but doing the technique in the first person, so in the absense of an instructor you need someone else to make the comparison and correction. If you don't have a grounding in a similar technique, it's damn difficult. Good fun though, in a jigsaw puzzle kind of way. Spoken audio cues covering what is difficult to pick up from the visuals simplify the puzzle somewhat. Nice videos, Wim. The last two are a huge improvement on the first, probably because the higher resolution squarer format allows the feet to be included in the frame without losing much of what is going on in the upper body. The rectangular mats on the floor also provide a perspective grid which helps to a large degree with depth perception issues you raise. Having static reference points in frame at all times makes the video easier to follow, particularly if you are using more than one camera angle. I tried revising a sword form a couple of years back from a picture book where the teacher was set against a white background and the camera angle occasionally changed between poses. Total brain melt material.

I’ve used videos and reference books occasionally but only reinforce techniques or forms I’d already been taught. The problem I’ve found is you need a spectator telling you what you are doing different to the guys on-screen, so for techniques you actually need three people. You’re watching the video in the third person, but doing the technique in the first person, so in the absense of an instructor you need someone else to make the comparison and correction. If you don’t have a grounding in a similar technique, it’s damn difficult. Good fun though, in a jigsaw puzzle kind of way. Spoken audio cues covering what is difficult to pick up from the visuals simplify the puzzle somewhat.

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