The Arts in a Martial Artist

[OnlyAnEgg]

I'm a musician and a poet. I've been these things as long as I can remember. I've heard melodies in the winds and found meter and rhyme in kata and kumite. I've heard blood in chord progressions and dissonance in intimacy.

In the small amount of research I've done regarding MA, I've noticed that a number of practitioners also pursue some form of gentler art, not just fighting. I wonder: what do you do to expand your lives through art. Does involvement in the arts enrich your martial field? Does it complicate it? Do your experiences in MA affect your perception of art?

Just curious...

 

[Flying Crane]

I am a metal worker/hobbyist. While most of my work consists of rebuilding Chinese style swords, I also make the occasional jewelry or animal figurine...

 

[Navarre]

I wish I could draw well but am only average. I am not motivatedenough to practice.

However I do like to write very much. It is something I enjoy. It is important to me to create something that has meaning and touches the lives of other people.

It is harder to find time to write than to practice martial arts. It is also difficult to find inspiration since I have rejected the influence of my former muse.

Still, a central theme of my writing is how interconnected we all are in this world as well as how the subtleties of our spirits become reflected in our actions.

I find these themes of interconnection and subtleties to be pervasive in my exploration of martial arts. The ability to understand how the myriad facets of the art come together into a cohesive whole is fascinating.

The other powerful aspect of my martial arts training is my belief that perception is reality (as my tag line states). This certainly influences me as I delve into the art, especially when I struggle with a concept. I frequently write about this belief in my stories as well, although in a more creative fashion.

This was a good question, Egg.

 

[OnlyAnEgg]

Domo, Navarre...

tell me, are your stories online or are they secret?

 

[Navarre]

I don't have anything published or online. I wrote a coupe of short, depressing poems about/for/to my muse so those are easily available if anyone wants to jump into my disturbed psyche.

My main writing however has been for comic books. I have read and collected comic books since I was six so that was my original genre.

I do have one comic script for a 4 issue series I submitted to Dark Horse. Anyone's welcome to read it, if you like comic books. Just let me know.

I have been thinking about it lately though. Although I love comics, such stories would be experienced by a much smaller portion of the population than a conventional novel.

So, I am going to write a book. I am currently working on some creative writing exercises to improve my style. The subject and plot have yet to be determined but it will be something more mainstream than superhero fiction.

To try and stay on your topic though, I am also aware of my own analysis of my work. I wrote in the comic book style for years because it was what I had been introduced to. In the same way I performed my katas for years without questioning the subtleties and practicalities of many moves.

I eventually stepped back and started truly analyzing my katas, finding elements that needed refined, discarded, or exemplified. In the same way, I have stepped back from my craft to realize that my comic book scripts, while enjoyable, may be detrimental to my ultimate goal of affecting a large number of people.

Perhaps the two arts are complimentary. Realizations or changes in perception in one art can easily have corollaries in the other.

 

[OnlyAnEgg]

Perhaps the two arts are complimentary. Realizations or changes in perception in one art can easily have corollaries in the other.

It's my personal belief that all art has corollaries with all other. It's the expression of life through art that's the key, I think. As you say, the interconnectivity of all things predisposes a change in many places if the perception of another thing occurs.

Also, I would like to read what you've written. I was fond of Dark Horse's stuff years ago and, if that's where you submitted your material, I'm bound to appreciate it

 

[Navarre]

I e-mailed links to my script to you, Egg. It's available to anyone else if interested.

Part of the problem as well with trying to do a comic book is that it is by definition a visual medium. I need an artist. Unfortunately I can't seem to find an artist who retains enough motivation to finish an issue.

If there are any good artists out there interested in working on something, let me know!

 

[terryl965]

Only a egg I myself love to draw mountain scenes with the lakes and streams, art as always been a time for sorinity for me. My lovely wife does poetry and yes she has some published. My oldest son is into drawing as well but he does dragonball z stuff, my middle son loves to cook, my baby boy is into designing cars.
Terry Lee Stoker

 

[OnlyAnEgg]

Only a egg I myself love to draw mountain scenes with the lakes and streams, art as always been a time for sorinity for me. My lovely wife does poetry and yes she has some published. My oldest son is into drawing as well but he does dragonball z stuff, my middle son loves to cook, my baby boy is into designing cars.
Terry Lee Stoker

Terry: It looks like you have quite the talented family.
Have these pastimes for you and your group added depth to your martial arts or vice-versa?

 

[Shaolinwind]

I'm a musician and a poet. I've been these things as long as I can remember. I've heard melodies in the winds and found meter and rhyme in kata and kumite. I've heard blood in chord progressions and dissonance in intimacy.

In the small amount of research I've done regarding MA, I've noticed that a number of practitioners also pursue some form of gentler art, not just fighting. I wonder: what do you do to expand your lives through art. Does involvement in the arts enrich your martial field? Does it complicate it? Do your experiences in MA affect your perception of art?

Just curious...

That's a neet question. I paint Chinese calligraphy and the occasional bamboo tree with watercolors. Just like finding meter and rhyme in kata, I apply martial arts principals to my work. I see the need for deep concentration and close attention. Subtlety and accuracy are key, working with a relaxed hand. There are even excersizes, formality and routine before and after the painting process. I am left with great satisfaction and inner peace when I am done.

Another gentler art I persued as a direct result of kung fu is massage therapy.. I've said it before, what better way is there for me to use my kung fu to heal and give pleasure? (Besides a good leglock and a whole lotta stamina :wink2: )

 

[ed-swckf]

I went to art school, i still paint, draw and digital manipilate/mutilate imagary. I do a lot of photography and videography and i also play guitar.

I am most passionate about the photograhy and videography where i feel i have a huge scope of encapsulating my ideas. Especially the videography, such a huge canvas with full motion.

 

[MA-Caver]

I draw, photography, write, poetry, lyrics, and try to help people to "see"... whatever is there to be seen.

Yes, my MA plays a part in all of those. Whether it's the need to focus and concentrate on what I'm doing or the discipline to move as necessary and no further. If I get frustrated at a project I'm working on then I breathe until the frustration goes away and then continue.

 

[OnlyAnEgg]

I like the replies! Although MA has affected my ability to focus/concentrate more effectively in say, for example, sight-reading a new chart, the most profound effect, so far, is a sense of internal peace, for lack of a better phrase.
I suspect that the discipline required for MA and the workout has stilled some of the frenetic thoughts and feelings I've had reside internally over the years. I'm certainly calmer in situations where I may have, earlier, just flipped out and killed everyone!

Well, maybe not that bad...

 

[Shaolinwind]

I'm certainly calmer in situations where I may have, earlier, just flipped out and killed everyone!
.

Same here. I find you get fantastic results when you remain calm in situations where a person might be likely to freak out.

 

[Jade Tigress]

Well, I don't have much spare time these days but I have natural drawing and writing talent. This is an interesting topic that has been touched on before. I was thinking about starting a similar thread on martial artists and medical fields. In addition to the arts I run across alot of martial artists who are either in medical professions or are interested in medicine. Including myself and 3 others who train at my school. Plus the numerous other MA's interested in medicine, or doctors I've talked to who are interested in MA or have previously trained. I would consider Shao's interest in massage therapy as an interest in medicine as well. Therapy's are part of the medical profession too just another facet of the huge range. (Sorry for the gank. Just got me thinking again.)

Arts. Yes, I draw and write when time allows.

 

[OnlyAnEgg]

That's a good corrallation, SLTL. I, too, was a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy and spent about 8 years before and after working the ER at the local hospital. When I was in TKD, I routinely sparred with the Head of Oncology at our local hospital. Quick little guy, he was.

I would view Shao's massage therapy as a logical procession from MA, actually. Since I began training, I've looked a little closer at TCM and herbalism, myself.

 

[arnisador]

I have zero artistic skill. Can't draw, can't sing, can't dance...

 

[OnlyAnEgg]

I have zero artistic skill. Can't draw, can't sing, can't dance...

Has involvement in MA expanded your appreciation or enjoyment of the arts, perhaps?

 

[arnisador]

No so much. We enjoy going to the theatre--we have tickets to the upcoming Broadway tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie, for example--but not because of this.

 

[shesulsa]

I write, knit, crochet, tat, cross stitch, draw when motivated, make stuff. I also study healing arts.