This article was co-authored by Joseph Bautista. Joseph Bautista is a Self Defense Specialist and a Martial Arts Instructor specializing in Filipino martial arts. With over 18 years of instructing and martial arts training experience, Joseph runs Eskabo Daan Filipino Martial Arts, a Filipino martial arts school based in San Francisco, California. He also teaches self-defense with Self Defense For the People, a self-defense program with clients such as Salesforce, Airbnb, Gap, UPS, and UCSF. When not teaching self defense he is teaching CPR and 1st Aid Skills to 911 Dispatchers and Local Police Officers in the SF Bay Area with 1st Five Minutes. This article has been viewed 966,540 times.

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To teach yourself martial arts, start by researching different styles so you can choose one that suits you. For example, if you want to learn a lot of fancy kicks, consider Taekwondo. Or, if you want to subdue an opponent without hurting them, go for Jiu Jitsu. Once you’ve chosen a martial art, learn the basics, like footing and distance management, so you understand the fundamental philosophies first. Then, choose a technique and practice it over and over, such as doing 100 punches in the same spot of your punching bag. After you’ve learned a few techniques, practice shadow boxing so you can visualize fighting an opponent. When you feel confident with the basics of your martial art, try to find a partner to train with so you can put your skills to the test. For more tips, including how to stay in shape while you're learning a martial art, read on!