Can Martial Arts be Learned Solely Through Self-Study and Practice?
No. Just no. Sorry. Any other suggestion is a mistake or a lie.
Let me explain: Can you build strength training alone? Can you develop stamina training alone? Can you increase punching power training alone without partners? Yes, for all the questions. Of course you can. But you asked about a martial art. A martial art, which is meant to be useful in a fight against a determined and resisting opponent, requires a lot more than just solo practice.
Practical Martial Arts Demanded Realistic Opposition
I assume you're seeking an art that can help you win against an opponent who is actively resisting you. This means you need to practice with a resistant partner! Regularly! This is the bare minimum. However, practically, you need a coach, a master sensei, or an experienced instructor who can guide you. You need a place where you can train, a gym or dojo. Practicing moves or tricks from movies and books in front of a mirror is just as lame as trying to learn swimming without ever jumping into the water. Swimming is much easier compared to becoming even a mediocre practitioner of any martial art, let alone a complete one.
Essential Components for Effective Training
Yes, and no. You cannot do a combat sport or a fighting martial art by yourself. You need a training partner. Even better, have multiple training partners. Skills are best developed in a competitive, unscripted environment where live sparring and live sparring drills are essential. While doing this, you can teach yourself skills if you pay attention. Please, put the time and effort into finding the right training partners and setting up regular sessions.
Benefits of External Guidance
With any physical pursuit, having an experienced instructor or coach is vitally important and absolutely necessary to achieve a high level of performance. It is great to know what you’re supposed to do, but it is sometimes more important to know what NOT to do, and that knowledge comes from an external source, such as an instructor or coach.
Many studios and schools have mirrors to allow you to see yourself as you train. This can be useful, but it is severely limited as it’s meant for self-correction or self-instruction, which isn’t always the best option. There is so much benefit that comes from having a set of knowledgeable eyes that observe from a third-person perspective that I can’t even begin to give it the credit it deserves.
Volume of knowledge and source material will be drastically different. I don’t know of a single instructor who has put the entirety of their knowledge into a consumable format. Martial arts, more so, are an oral tradition or mentor/apprentice system. You will never have the opportunity to ask questions or clarify concepts. Self-teaching is a lot like driving to the movie theatre parking, standing in line, buying a ticket, but never going inside to see the movie.
So, the answer is a simple “no.” While you can certainly take the initiative to learn and practice martial arts on your own, achieving a high level of skill and practicality requires more than just solo drills and self-study. The support and guidance of a knowledgeable instructor, regular live sparring, and the right training environment are essential components of effective martial arts training.