Martial Arts, centers of concsiousness and playing fast.

[mound]

Sorry if this is off topic.  The first thing I ever read on this forum, having come from a google search, was something by Bernhard, and it wasn't even based on a search for piano.. It was with regard to martial arts, and, I forget exactly the terminology, but "centers" of consciousness so to speak, motional center, reaction center.. something like that.. I think the discussion was on playing fast, and how if you could shift the center of your conscious to the "motional" center, everything would be in slow motion (ie. the moment you realize you are about to crash in your car and everything is in slow motion)..

This was a few months ago I was reading this with interest..  But I ended up spending my time reading about the learning techniques, and kinda forgot about what brought me to these forums in the first place.

I've just spent some time searching around, but can't seem to find any of these threads. 

Do you know what I'm referring to? Bernhard? I'm really intersted in further combining my martial art and piano study and am looking for additional resources.

Thanks!
-Paul

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3396.msg30084.html#msg30084
(Laziness, the 3 centres and how to use visualisation to deal with it – consciousness and its location – applications to martial arts and piano playing – locating the consciousness at the movement centre).

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2814.msg24872.html#msg24872
(How a student’s physicality affects teaching – discussion on arm x fingers – moving from the centre: tantien and taichi – Seymour Fink gets discussed as well)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2809.msg25013.html#msg25013
(Body movement – comparison of piano playing and the martial arts)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3202.msg28196.html#msg28196
(Bad habits – the three centres are mentioned here – some martial arts analogies – Fanny Bloomfield list of good practising habits – Maurice Hinson list – The score as a map – models and modelling processes – Interpretation as the reverse of modelling – comparison with actors)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2414.msg20768.html#msg20768
(Handshake dilemma – some nice moves)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3366.msg29913.html#msg29913
(Russians x Asians in competition –  “real”martial artists. Different technical and teaching approachs depending on nationality)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2998.msg26268.html#msg26268
(Scales HT, why? – why and when to practise scales HS and HT – Pragmatical  x logical way of teaching – analogy with aikido – list of piano techniques – DVORAK – realistic x sports martial arts – technique and how to acquire it by solving technical problems – Hanon and why it should be avoided - Lemmings)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[mound]

Nice, exactly what I was looking for.  Do you mind if I ask you what martial art it is you study and teach? I study Taekwondo, and as you've said, it has been "westernized", especially, this art especially, having become an olympic sport. We train heavilly toward the sport side of it, contact point sparring with the same rules as the olympics. We do work on alot of self defense and of course all of the traditional Poomse still exists, but there is no philosophical overtone to the way it is presented. Don't get me wrong, I love it, I love my master and my school, but it just doesn't "go there"..  Can you recommend any books that talk about these ideas, how I can learn to "place" my consciousness  in any of these 3 "minds"? You say that it can be done, but you don't talk to how to do this. Perhaps through meditation but I'm wondering if one can learn to do it "on command" - you briefly mentioned it at the end of the first post you linked to, only in trying to perceive where these centers might be. I won't ask you where yours is until I've investigated myself, I'm not sure how to go about that investigation..

etc..

(I know, this has nothing to do with piano.. or, does it have everything to do with piano? 
Thanks Bernhard!

-Paul

[mosis]

I find it interesting how many pianists also partake in martial arts (and listen to Metal music, but that's another story. ) I myself take Kendo as well, but I know a friend who  takes Tae Kwon Do as well.

[mound]

I don't like metal. I love jazz and improvisational rock.. was my first love.. classical is relatively new to me.. I'm in love with the discipline and depth.. but I've been a bass player in rock/fusion/improv bands for a lot longer than I've been studying piano.. I have become obsessed with it, a phenomena that never happend with electric bass.   

-Paul

[lani]

It's great to hear from the martial artists!  My daughter (12 years old) is a second degree black belt in taekwondo and trained in Beijing with the Beijing Wushu team two summers ago.  She teaches at her dojo once a week.  If you are a tkd enthusiast, try wushu or taichi for a more "centered" approach to training (whether it is martial art, studying or piano).  Martial arts is really wonderful for kids.  The  benefits of respect, descipline, confidence and the hard work to achieve each milestone (belt levels) has been a great experience for her, and definitely helps her focus in music.