All about online training

In 2020 upon the world shutting down, I was forced like so many others to move my martial arts service offerings online.

What was originally constructed as an “alternative” based on the premise that students could not attend the dojo in person, has now flourished into a flexible alternative that motivates students to continue their training even when logistics and obstacles of life sometimes prevent them from coming to the dojo to train in person.

Why Online Training?

As a function of our ever technologically expanding world, not only is online training in the martial arts practical and effective, but it is becoming more practical and more effective with each passing year. Online tools, tech, and training are not out of the realm, even in Japan, where the professional martial artists i’m working with are adopting the latest technology with online consultations, replay cameras, and high speed motion capture as part and parcel to their training.

While I had originally intended online classes to be a temporary measure where all students attended classes online, the online class offering has come to a point of maturity and growth such that it now facilitates students who are away on vacation, business trips, not feeling well, and even as far as the other side of the country looking to continue their martial arts training to do so without excuses. It has also allowed students living across the country to train with me specifically if that is what they are looking for.

Technology has made it such that martial arts which previously was relegated to in-person practice now has the capacity to be practiced by students near and far, irrespective of the tyranny of their geography.

This page details how online training works, how it can help supplement your Martial Arts training, and how it is a useful adjunct for students looking to learn and continue their training wherever the world finds them. 

When to use Online Training

Each student uses online training in different ways, either as their primary, or supplementary for their martial arts training. Some of the most common times students leverage online training are:

  • Student feeling not well enough to come to the dojo

  • Long commute to in person classes

  • Unexpected late arrivals home from parents would make you or your child late

  • Traveling: family vacations, work, otherwise

  • When Sensei is traveling for business and families feel more comfortable also being online instead of in person and connecting via live stream

How it Works

Enrolled students have the option every week to attend classes either in person or online. Classes are streamed live via zoom from the dojo every week and in real time, meaning that so long as you have an internet connection, students can train from their home dojo, hotel room, backyard, etc.

Each class has a dedicated link which is permanent and always accessible. You can find class links under the student resource section of the dojo web page.

To start your online class:

  • click the link and follow the prompts on screen.

  • The process might differ depending on the device you use but I have students who can access directly via their internet browser, or via a dedicated app on their device of choice per their family's preference.

  • Enrolled students receive a password for the class link specific to their age group. Once entered one time, zoom seems to remember the password so you should not need to re-enter it.

Classes operate like normal from your home Dojo space. That means warm up, meditation, basics, and kata training components are all seamless and nearly unchanged. If you're looking for set up tips for your home dojo, read the article I've created on this topic specifically.

Online Class Etiquette

While you might be in a different location geographically, you are still training in the martial arts wherever the world finds you. I hold my students to the same standards of courtesy, respect, manners, and decorum. irrespective of whether they are in person or online for class. Including:

  • Bowing into your online class and home dojo space

  • Camera ON for all attendees

  • Uniform (if possible - see FAQ’s below for more)

  • Train seriously - you made the time to be here, make it count!

  • Manners, courtesy and respect for yourself, your surroundings, and other students.

  • Hands up for questions, etc.

Beginner’s Guide to Online Training

The Pros & Cons of Online Training

In my experience with virtual classes the last 6 years, I've had several positive and enlightening insights that have shed light on some advantages and disadvantages making online classes particularly useful in some cases, and challenging in others. I’m outlining these below for students and families interested.

Pro: Technique Adjustments and Relaying Information

When reviewing technical specific questions, my ability to come directly to the camera and demonstrate detailed feedback facilitates the students to pick up technique changes more precisely and more quickly than they would in person. This is likely because they have a direct line of sight to me up close and via multiple angles/points of view quickly, through the live stream, as opposed to having to look halfway across the class to look at my hand position as an example.

The ability for the inverse is also true where a student can quickly turn themselves or their camera sideways so I can review technique or kata seamlessly through the stream instead of me noticing across the dojo, then needing to review again up close, etc. The online stream allows me to quickly, seamlessly, and effectively disseminate this information to all students online at once.

Con: Limits to Contact Training

On the other hand, obviously there are some challenges to online training that are not present in the dojo, namely Focus and the lack of contact training. Learn tips for helping you or your child focus in their home Dojo space by reading this article.

As for contact training, indeed this is where online and virtual classes are a fantastic supplement, or rotational component to your martial arts training and participation. There are some in-person classes where we do not do contact training, and there are other classes that are contact training heavy. For students that are online during contact heavy classes, I will usually accommodate and work with them on non-contact training components individually. However for classes in person without contact training, in my experience online classes are nearly equivalent in terms of efficacy.

Online Training is here to Stay

With students making use of online training on a rotational basis, it gives their family the flexibility to be in person when able, online when necessary, and still benefit from the advantages of both in person and online mediums. Students traveling for athletic competitions, family gatherings, or simply students who are driving nearly an hour to train each week to train with me in person benefit by having the option not the obligation to train online when they need to.

Adding the online medium as a permanent and integral component of the martial arts mentorship program, parents have benefited from the flexibility of having their child train from home online if they are not feeling well, adult students from the flexibility of keeping a continuous training routine whether traveling for work or vacation, and me the flexibility as the instructor to continue a teaching schedule even when I am traveling internationally for business.

Over the past 6 years, this process has become not only more effective, as compared to only offering in person sessions, but has been an indispensable tool in allowing myself and my students to continue their training in our ever faster-paced world.

The Future of Online Training

As the dojo continues to grow and evolve, I’m always looking for ways to leverage next generation technology to enhance the student learning experience for those times when students choose to or need to make sure of the online training component of the program.

I am constantly working with dojo stakeholders and learning from my experiences working with professional martial artists in Japan to explore these options and integrate them into the way I teach.

It’s not because this is the trendy way to do things, it’s because it’s the way the world is going whether we like it or not. As the world continues to uptake tools, tech, and novel ways to make our world both larger and smaller all at the same time, we all have the choice - “ride the wave of change, or get buried beneath it”. I know which path I am and will continue to take in pursuit of giving back to my students as much as possible into the future.

Apply for the program

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can always find it here in the student resources section of the dojo webpage

  • Read this article for tips on setting up your home Dojo space.

  • It's always recommended that students wear their gi and belt when training as these are training tools designed to help improve your fluency and understanding of karate.

    However, of course I understand that when traveling for vacation or work most people would not pack their uniform and that's completely ok. In addition, if you are in a real self-defense situation you will not be wearing your gi, so I would always prefer you to train even if that is in your civilian clothes as compared to not train at all.

  • This is rare but it can happen. In my past 6 years of running the stream live from the dojo, there might be the odd 10-second window where the internet drops but, be patient and stream will come back. Usually this is a internet stability issue on either my side or yours or both.

    If you lose connection for more than a few minutes, try clicking the link again. If the student loses me for a moment, continue training on their own with whatever drill we were working on and we will be back online shortly.

  • Read our home Dojo tips article for more information

  • No. Our pricing is for 10 classes (or 13 weeks, whichever is sooner) via either medium - students can attend 100% in person, 100% online, or mix and match as needed for your/your family’s schedule.

  • While it is not necessary and 100% your choice as to whether you attend in person, online, or a mix of both, as the world continues to grow ever faster, and more connected, we recommend all enrolled students to try online training so they can become accustomed to the process, should they wish to engage in online classes in the future.

    Online training isn’t going anywhere, so ride the wave of change!

    Learn more about the pros and cons of training online here