--- title: Trust your instructors, not the internet description: learning karate from the internet is not advised, learn from instructors instead image: https://northamptonkarate.com/hubfs/IMG_3642.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/trust-your-instructors-over-the-internet#main-content) [![Matsubayashi Ryu Shorin Ryu kanji](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg?width=50&height=101&name=NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg)](https://northamptonkarate.com/) - [Home](https://northamptonkarate.com/) - [Classes](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes) Show submenu for Classes - [Adults](https://northamptonkarate.com/adult-classes) - [Teens](https://northamptonkarate.com/teen-class) - [Children](https://northamptonkarate.com/kids-class) - [Instructors](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes-0) - [Understanding Karate](https://northamptonkarate.com/guidelines-for-practice) - [Blog](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog) - [Plan Your Visit](https://northamptonkarate.com/visit-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://northamptonkarate.com/) - [Classes](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes) Show submenu for Classes - [Adults](https://northamptonkarate.com/adult-classes) - [Teens](https://northamptonkarate.com/teen-class) - [Children](https://northamptonkarate.com/kids-class) - [Instructors](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes-0) - [Understanding Karate](https://northamptonkarate.com/guidelines-for-practice) - [Blog](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog) - [Plan Your Visit](https://northamptonkarate.com/visit-us) Aug 4, 2025 10:28:27 AM # Trust your instructors, not the internet [Anna-Maria Goossens](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/anna-maria-goossens) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/trust-your-instructors-over-the-internet) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/trust-your-instructors-over-the-internet) [Share this page on Facebook](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/trust-your-instructors-over-the-internet) Can I learn karate from videos/photos/some other online source? It’s a question that comes up from time to time, especially as folks get excited about their next kata. The question is meant well, but the short answer is no. The longer answer can be broken down into three main reasons. 1. Courtesy. You’re meant to learn from your instructors. They’ve put in the work to learn the material and how to teach it, and bypassing them is discourteous of their efforts. You’re also conveying that you think you know better, or that you don’t trust them — neither of which fosters a positive dojo atmosphere. But what if you think you might be ready to move on? Don’t demand to start the next kata — see above about trusting your instructors. You are, however, welcome to check in with an instructor about your progress. (Remember, too, that learning a kata isn’t just about memorizing the moves; your instructors will work with you on polishing techniques before moving on to the next kata.) 2. Source. Where is that video/manual/photo from? Is it a reputable source that is within our style? Dojos vary in techniques, even within Shorin-ryu Karate, and you may not be able to tell if you’ve got the right variant of a kata. For example, there are a lot of videos out there called passai (one of our black belt kata), but many of them are quite different than ours. If you learn the wrong version? Awkward. 3. Interpretation. There are a lot of videos with different perspectives on how and why certain things are done. They aren’t necessarily wrong, but you may not yet be equipped to assess and analyze which ones are a good fit for our dojo. In short, there’s a chance you will learn something you’ll only have to unlearn.  Does that mean there are no good materials online? Of course not! We simply require that you do not learn ahead. And, if you find something interesting related to what you’re working on, check in with an instructor. They can tell you whether it is a resource that makes sense for you to use, or point you toward better information. ## Related posts [![](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3665-1.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_3665-1.jpeg)](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/learning-to-learn) ## [Learning to Learn](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/learning-to-learn) [Anna-Maria Goossens](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/anna-maria-goossens) Sep 26, 2025 5:59:49 PM As he was about to test for a new rank, one of the students in kids class expressed his frustration... 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[Read more](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/a-lesson-about-teaching) [![Two cartoon creatures in a fight, with a big red cross through the image to indicate this is not OK](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nofirststrike.png?height=200&name=nofirststrike.png)](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/karate-ni-sente-nashi-in-the-dojo) ## [Karate Ni Sente Nashi in the dojo](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/karate-ni-sente-nashi-in-the-dojo) [Anna-Maria Goossens](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/anna-maria-goossens) Apr 4, 2026 4:09:58 PM The calligraphy for “Karate Ni Sente Nashi” hangs at the back of our dojo. It translates, roughly,... 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