Can you self-teach yourself a style of karate to a begineer level granted that you have some sort of experience in karate in general?

[u/MrGrimm6969]

I have always been fascinated by kyokushin karate, especially their low kicks and consequentive punches. However, there isn't a kyokushin dojo where I'm from. It's mostly Shotokan dojos and no disrespect to my sensei or anything, he really trains us hard and generally focuses more on the kihon to make sure that we build a solid foundation for our kimute and kata.

However, I just found kyokushin's techniques to be more interesting. Is it possible to self-teach myself some of these techniques? Obviously, I won't use them in point-sparring cause that will get me disqualified and I might hurt somebody but they're more or less for personal knowledge and curiousity.

[u/AutoModerator]

We encourage everyone to check out and post on r/kata. You’re also welcome to crosspost your Kata related content from r/kata to r/karate

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/cranial_io]

Kyokushin is a blend of Shotokan and Goju-Ryu. What you are missing most is the training methodology, not the techniques.

[u/gedanmawashigeri → u/cranial_io]

It is more than that. Honestly this is a very silly comment to make about Kyokushin. Kyokushin evolved into its own. You would only see the Shotokan and Goju in kata really, not in much else. Unlike some other Karate Ryu-ha, the kata of Kyokushin does not make you a good student. Meaning there are other Ryu-ha where you can be a horrible fighter but have pretty kata to become a shodan+.

[u/Civil-Resolution3662]

As a Kyokushin Sandan I would say no. You can learn some basics from videos but the intensity of training and kumite are what sets Kyokushin apart from other karate styles that are not offshoots. You need a senpai or sensei to push you. I would suggest a Muay Thai gym instead of trying to self teach.

[u/TheManWith2Poobrains]

I mean, you could brush up on pad work with a partner, or use a heavy bag alone to work on power and fitness, but it's not going to be like training in person and you could pick up bad habits.

You could certainly practice the Kyokushin katas as they differ from Shotokan, which would help if/when you join a Kyokushin dojo. Every organization / sensei will have slightly different nuances to their katas, but it helps knowing the basic structure. Also, you could practice some basic techniques. Filming yourself and comparing to demonstration videos feels a long-winded way to do it though!

If there is no Kyokushin dojo close, why not look for an MMA gym?

30 years ago we had a young chap come having learned techniques and katas from a very detailed Goju-Ryu book. He had to bring the book in to prove he had not trained anywhere else. Bonkers.

[u/ExcruciorCadaveris → u/TheManWith2Poobrains]

Do you remember what book was it?

[u/TheManWith2Poobrains → u/ExcruciorCadaveris]

Ooof. 30 years ago. No, sorry.

Black and white pics. Hundreds for some katas.

All instructions from beginning to end. No fluff.

Was probably just over an inch thick and 10" x 10".

[u/ExcruciorCadaveris → u/TheManWith2Poobrains]

Well, thanks anyway! 😁

Maybe it was Morio Higaonna's four volume series. I have them and they're super good, but I still feel someone needs to tell me exactly how to do some of the movements because it's hard to figure them out. So I'd find even more impressive if it was these ones!

[u/No_Entertainment1931]

Web search pdf “This is Karate” by Oyama.

There’s a scan of his book on the web. If you can’t find it, comment and I’ll try to dig it up for you.

Low kicks are in your Shotokan. Let your instructor know you have an interest in kyokushin and which techniques in particular and see if they will help you to learn more.

[u/gedanmawashigeri]

You can train harder, do hard contact kumite, etc. But you won’t really learn techniques correctly. Videos can be a good reference tool but they’re not good for laying the foundation which you need by actual instruction.

[u/nicekid81]

Look for a Muay Thai or MMA gym. Self teaching is not recommended.

[u/Impleiadic]

Without being Kyokushin practictitioner myself, i think if there's one style of karate that self-teaching will work especially poorly with, it's gotta be the full-contact one.

[u/dkwpqi → u/Impleiadic]

Yeah, that's literally the problem

[u/Wdpky]

As a beginner, no, you are more likely to pick up bad habits early on that an instructor could catch and correct.

Now if you are trained in another style (upper mid to advanced rank) then you might be able to pick up a few things, but again not like receiving real instruction

[u/EverydayIsAGift-423]

In Okinawa, boys used to play wrestling (tegumi) before taking up karate. There are many gaps in knowledge in karate because it was presumably common knowledge.

Spend a year doing wrestling and boxing, learn basic things like breakfalls, how to clinch, how to box, have some basic ground game. I assure you would have a leg up when you start your Kyokushin journey over someone who hasn’t.

[u/Eegore1]

How could you not self-teach yourself something that you never intend to use in practical application?