Kung Fu Test

[sallytuppence]

A couple of years ago, when I was starting to get serious about writing, I realized that a lot of writers have other creative outlets in their lives. They do felting, or archery, or embroidery, or cartooning, or folk dancing, or making movies, or beading, or playing the recorder. Several very good writer friends are very serious about martial

Comments

[jennreese]

Beautiful entry, Sarah. I could go on for so long about all the things I've learned -- and am still learning -- from martial arts, that I couldn't begin to touch on them here. I've learned a lot from songwriting and drawing and bookmaking, too, but I didn't pursue them with the same perseverence and so their lessons are more fleeting.

As Greg mentions, "kung fu" often means "excellence." You can be a kung fu chef, a kung fu mother, a kung fu anything. You are most definitely a kung fu friend. :)

Some of the things you mentioned align well with my thoughts about martial arts. Specifically #1: "Play each note with purpose, intention, with absolute concentration."

A lot of people can learn forms or moves, but it's the people who understand and remain focused on the intent behind those moves that become the best martial artists. (Brue Lee called this focus "emotional content.") It's never losing sight of what you're trying to do, of being in the moment and focusing, even during practice. A friend once said to me: "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect," and that saying really transformed the way I workout.

One of the most important lessons I've learned, besides focus, is that it's okay to suck. I never gave myself that leeway as a writer, but I did as a martial artist. As a result, I feel that my martial arts path has been more pure and personal, more devoid of confusion and comparison and negativity. It has bled over into my writing and I've been feeling more and more zen about that side of myself, as well.

So much more to say. Love this entry.

[jennreese]

And hey! Good luck on your belt test this Saturday!!! Any chance you'll get a recording?

[sallytuppence]

Thanks for the luck! I'll try not to be too nervous, but to be in the moment.

Dunno about a recording. I'd like to have one, because the piano over there is an 8-foot grand, way, way nicer than my crummy piano at home. Can I record onto my iBook, do you know?

[gregvaneekhout]

Sure! The built-in mic isn't so great, but you can download a free program called Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/), open it up, hit the red recording button, and capture your performance.

[jennreese]

I doubt you'll get even partially decent results from the iBook. Greg probably knows better on this count, but I think the iBook's range is pretty limited and the quality seems to deteriorate rapidly. You might have better luck if you can find an external mic to use instead of the iBook's internal one. Surely you can do some tests with your piano before Saturday, though!

[gregvaneekhout]

Yeah, it might work if you can get the computer really, really close to the, er, part where the hammers hit the strings, but Jenn's probably right about the external mic.

[sallytuppence]

Well, I just tried it, and the audacity site worked surprisingly well--thanks!

The iBook's internal mic even recorded Theo in the background, playing with his Playmobil pirate ship while singing a theme from the Lord of the Rings movie. I do have an external mic around here somewhere. I'll have to try that out, too.

But damn, does my piano ever sound out of key. Ick.

[gregvaneekhout]

Maybe it's not out of key. Maybe you were just playing Drunken Piano style.

(That's a Kung Fu joke.)

[sallytuppence]

*laughs at kung fu joke*

[michaeljasper]

"The iBook's internal mic even recorded Theo in the background, playing with his Playmobil pirate ship while singing a theme from the Lord of the Rings movie."

Theo is so cool!

[sallytuppence]

Well, you're the original inspiration for all of this, Lady!

One of the most important lessons I've learned, besides focus, is that it's okay to suck.

Yes! I'm not a musician. Compared to Alfred Brendel, I suck; gawd, compared to most 13 year olds at the music school where I take lessons, I suck. But I improve every time I sit down to practice, and I take my practice seriously, every day.

Maybe what's really important is the doing, not the outcome--what you said in your comment, pretty much!