I was watching one of Steven Segal`s films the other day (lack of alternatives, mostly). I heard he plays guitar but I hadn`t heard any of his music until I saw in the film credits that I had been listening to him and didn`t know it. The point of this anecdote is, that whatever his level of ability, I too am one of many people who have been walking the fine line between the martial and musical arts for some years. My pursuit of the two paths has occasionally conflicted, but mostly they have enhanced each other, in many ways. Any other of you folks doing a similar balancing act?

I've always had an interest from afar, but never legitimately pursued it. Bruce Lee as a phenomenon was interesting, as was his writings. One can take musical inspiration from that - and jeet kun do as a concept incorporating, effectively, what works best for the individual is something I feel much alignment with philosophically.



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New and Improved Music Soon: http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald

I studied Kenpo for awhile (need to get back into it)...but, the parallels between the two are amazing. Particularly from the standpoint of how people learn.

Very simply put...the two are learned in the same way...with rudimentary moves being acted out in more or less rote fashion. Basic defense against a given attack...basic chord structure.

The goal in both is to be able to improvise in a given situation...being able to solo over a certain chord structure perhaps...being able to improvise counters against a given attack or multiple attackers.

To be able to "jam" with one's particular martial art of choice when the situation calls for it.

Of course, there's far more to both...that analogy only scratches the surface.

I took Tae Kwon Do as a kid, and ended up teaching classes in my teens. Stopped classes after high school, because I didn't have time between work and college. I kept working out and practicing on my own, but a motorcycle accident at 22 put an end to all that. I try to keep in decent shape, but the damage to my back, knee, and ankle make it difficult to do any serious workout.

I studied Tae Kwon Do in the late 80's. I used to think football was the world's greatest sport; but TKD was far superior. Had to stop because it was aggavating the heck out of my torn-up knee. Playing guitar isn't as hard on the knee.

i prefer TDK...

>>>i prefer TDK...

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I usually go with Maxell, but TDK is cool too...

Personally, I have more interest in learning the forms of kung-fu than fighting; if there was a school that taught the forms without the risk of messing up my wrists or fingers, I would probably end up doing that - although it probably seems like a dichotomy.

No, I don't want to learn tai-chi at the moment. Don't say tai-bo, either...

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New and Improved Music Soon: http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald

Yeah-I mentioned that the two paths occasionally conflict? on a psychic/spiritual level, they are incredibly synergistic. On a practical/self-defense level, well...there`s no way you can spend a lot of time punching heavy bags, doing knuckle pushups, etc., and expect to play like a running river. I studied kung fu for several years-still visit my shifu in Taipei once a year or so-but I`ve had to pass on some of the hand conditioning. Once or twice I`ve done gigs after training, and suddenly I`ve got five tree branches on each hand. I`ve also avoided the tournament circuit, which I still feel a little guilty about. But for that heckler who just doesn`t know when to quit...

i tried to do both karate and guitar but it got too expensive. i kept chopping my guitars in half....

-d. gauss

d guass....you're killing me!!!!!!!!

But seriously, I learned some rudiments of judo in the military but never even thought about applying it to a musical mindset. I find solace surfing.....it's a zen thing out there, searching for the next set at 6 a.m. Biking does much the same, it's you against the elements. I gather that Lee does the hiking thing and I imagine that is awesome in itself.....I've had to hike after a big jump killed my rear rim! Ha Ha!!!!
Solitude for me is very important......absolute quiet except for nature's ambience, is so cleansing. That's what I constantly seek and apply to music.

Now that's an interesting perspective.... I don't know about you guys but after a day in the studio I find I've gotta have peace and quiet to restore the batteries. I cannot take any noise, outside nature at all. It's kinda weird insn't it how healing natures ambience can really be. I'm very fortunate that I live in the countryside and can always find somewhere to just sit, be quiet and let some inner peace return.

Simon

I've been told my playing is at it's best in those rare moments I've achieved absolute quiet

Anyway, the parallels of training more-or-less apply ao any discipline. Do the form long enough, and eventually the form begins to do you....

Ear fatigue.....yes I know it well. Quiet time is a personal thing.....I realize for some, impossible. I live in the burbs so I have to "find" my quiet time. Usually the beach or at home early in the morning before the house wakes. Or when everyone is gone, and I'm alone with the dogs......they appreciate quiet too. I've used white light therapy as well during those quiet times.....almost go into lucid dreaming...but not quite. Sitting on a longboard early in the morning is cleansing as well......nothing but surf crashing and seagulls. Also helps to keep this 43 year old body in shape.

"Practice a thousand times, and it becomes difficult; a thousand thousand and it becomes easy; a thousand thousand times a thousand thousand, and it is no longer Thou that doeth it, but It that doeth itself through thee." - Frater Perdurabo

d gauss said...

>>i tried to do both karate and guitar but it got too expensive. i kept chopping my guitars in half....

Pete Townshend meets Bruce Lee...

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me too!

-d. gauss

Is that the same as saying "Your playing is best when I can't hear you!"??

I've been told that many times...

REVELATION!!!

I always wondered why I played like this! I wrestled rather than learning martial arts.

On the quiet front, Simon, as always, you see with something more acute than the eye.
Regardless of methodology, to hear with something more acute than the ear... for me the trick has always been in learning to shut "me" off.

Yet, I'm pretty sure I could hear more if I resorted to that trunk thang we discussed on Lisa's thread!

Rick

Cool perspective,
yeah nothing sees as well as the ears and hears more than the eyes.. there is a blessing in that you know and that is even if you can't be somewhere you want to be you can always recall it with crystal clarity when you need too and it has been my salvation and my curse many a time. Tell me though how in the world do you ever manage to shut 'me' off?

Simon

Well,

I've managed to get myself in to many a pickle. I know what havoc I'm capable of wreaking, so I learned to give myself away. When I need to hear, I usually head to the river. It's 10-15 meters wide, and boiling over a bed of rocks. I sit and listen.I'll usually ponder something way too deep for my simple nature.... like how many times has one of these drops of water passed by this very spot since the Good Lord carved these banks. My mind will wander off and start thinking about what's eating me, I'll remember that someone once paid a price, so ripe with pain and humiliation, for me, that how dare I consider myself anything but blessed? I'll notice the bed of ferns and moss, hear the birds and water,and there under a canopy of ancient cedars, close my eyes and open my heart.Always aware,always listening.Never reacting,never giving thought...maybe most importantly: forever forgiving,never condemning...

I don't know bro, it just works.

Peace is not found in flesh.....

Rick

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i've been learning the Marshall arts for sometime now. Fender too.

-d. gauss

What Rosepappy said about shutting `me` off-
That is a direct parallel to training-the give/take with an opponent is similar to the dance of life-free of anticipation or reflection, living in and for the moment. All reaction is instant, natural, with no effort.
Apply this to a group setting. To anticipate what another musician will do without thinking of keys, turnarounds, melodic logic. In a zone where everything falls into place without effort. That is why I would give up neither of the two paths.

And really, how many paths do we see as seperate, that are in fact portions of a mosaic single path? And, good friend, why would you ever consider leaving the path to which all of life has led?

ooooweeeeoooooo.....

rick

Geez Rick,
thats pretty deep for a Sunday huh? or maybe its cos its Sunday? It's very true however. We can never leave the path to which all life has led, every bitter harrowing detail, every moment of beauty and bliss, every second of life is precious and is yet inescapable our future is our past and our past is our future, all inexpressibly linked now and for always...

peace
Simon

Yes indeed
And besides, next time someone says you`ve got great chops-it`s a double compliment...

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triple if ya got big ole elvis sideburns....

-d. gauss

Hehehehe.....

Right-o Simon. Not sure how that happens, but it does from time to time.
I'll think light, think light....
Rick

Okey dokey Rick
You an me both dude

Simon

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...remember there is absolutely no point in talking about someone behind their back unless they get to hear about it...

>>>Yes indeed
And besides, next time someone says you`ve got great chops-it`s a double compliment...

And, if you are a guitar playing karate expert with Elvis sideburns and own a restaurant that specializes in home cooked pork dinners, it's a quadruple compliment...