Im Rhythmus Bleiben

Rhythm plays a vital role in music, dance, and the martial arts. It features in sport as well. Little chance has a rowing team if the stroke is off. Even the sexual act enjoys some rhythmic motions.

So, what is rhythm? Looking at it musically, rhythm is the number of beats to a measure. A waltz is defined by three beats to a measure, the tell tale one-two-three one-two-three we know so well. Behind the complexities of the baroque music of Chopin a trained ear can still distinguish those same three beats. Even :wumpscut: released a waltz as the track Maiden. A waltz suggests a fluidity which is reflected in the spiraling dance sharing the name. A waltz can be smooth, and can be slow, or it can be mad. Yet, a waltz is always a waltz in the end.

Four beats to a measure is also known as 4 on the floor. It is the basic beat for most rock & roll. The one-two-three-four features in pop, rock, metal, punk, you name it. What distinguishes one genre from the next may be the backbeat, or the kind of percussion used. Tempo also plays a part. For instance, metal uses a lot of triple kick drum while goth often employs wooden percussion or a snapping snare. Meanwhile, industrial music has featured metallic percussion while electronica may use a simple digital effect. The 4/4 beat is very structured, yet still provides for a wide variety of musical techniques.

The 5/8 beat is very rare indeed. Since it sounds quite awkward comparatively, only the most experimental of artists try their hand at it. For instance, Einsturzende Neubauten. This is true also for 7/8 time, which has been used by the likes of Sting. Meanwhile 6/8 and 8/8 time, for those who know their fractions, are not a far cry from 3/4 and 4/4 time.

So rhythm is a number of regulated beats within a set measure of time. One can see how this may translate to sport, fighting, or the sexual act.

In sport, rhythm effects rowing, cycling, running, gymnastics, skiing, ice dancing, you name it. Rhythm implies harmony and harmony, balance. The same is true in the martial arts. Whether boxing or kung fu, the rhythm of strikes and/or kicks makes up certain combos. These combos are perfected through repeated exercises that they may be performed swiftly and accurately. In his movies, Jackie Chan strives for a rhythm to the fight sequences. As such, in post production the action on screen will match the soundtrack. Meanwhile, knowing the beat helps the stuntmen in staging the fight. Each beat is an attack or defense.

I needn't suggest how rhythm applies to sexuality as it seems rather obvious. I will only say that the best lovers know how to use rhythm to affect or postpone certain ends.

Muscle vs. Mental Memory

So as you may know, the wife and I are fans of the TV show, CHUCK. We well loves it. However, there is an element to the show that struck me just recently. With version 2.o of the intersect, Chuck Bartowski is able to upload martial art techniques. This is a great boon to any spy, surely. It has saved his life and the life of his friends on more than one occasion. Yet, how does it work?

Anyone who has studied a martial art knows that the physical routines are important. There is a reason martial artists practice kata again and again. A kata is a battle against an imaginary opponent wherein the martial artist performs his or her arsenal of fighting techniques. This develops muscle memory. Muscle memory is the basis behind why you never forget how to ride a bicycle. Your body learns about balance, extension, contraction, fluidity of movement, resistance, and so on. Both athletes and dancers rely greatly on muscle memory. Without it could their bodies do the things they do?

The Chinese say you must taste the bitter to learn kung fu. Americans call it building character. Others say you must suffer for your art. No pain no gain.Physical training is a part of learning a martial art. Whether stretching to improve flexibility or climbing stairs to build endurance, a good deal of time and effort must be invested in order to develop one's body.

So how can one leapfrog this step? Has the mind such dominion over the body that it can dictate muscular strength, control, and speed? The tabletop role-playing game, Cyberpunk, also features a skill chip that, when inserted into the computer brain, grants the user martial art abilities. However, in this case much of the rest of the body is cybernetic as well. If your neural network has been replaced with wires and your muscles replaces with synthetic duplicates it stands to reason that muscle memory no longer applies.

Yet, somehow, Chuck is able to bypass this essential step. Or perhaps I'm judging to harshly. Perhaps the intersect grants Chuck only those abilities his body can handle. He is an IT professional. His typing speed may very well be quite high. Furthermore, a fan of video games, his hand eye coordination may be considerable. Playing the guitar could very much fit in with his natural ability. Why not the martial arts as well? Perhaps if he were in better physical fitness his kung fu would be all the more outstanding.

It is something to ponder, but nothing that keeps me from enjoying the show.

Telephoto vs. Wide Angle

There are two ways to perceive the world we live in. One can take a very narrow, yet focused look - a look of pinpoint precision. On the other hand, one can step back and look to the horizon, taking in a glorious panorama. These methods of observation are closely related to photography, namely the use of the telephoto and wide angle lenses.

THE TELEPHOTO LENS

In the TV show, Bones, Agent Booth refers to them as squints. They are scientists that look closely at an object. Experts are experts for a reason. Simply stated, they know what they are looking at. They notice the finer details. Why is the remains that of a woman? Notice the aspect ratio of the pelvis. Notice the structure of the skull. Where some see only a skeleton, an expert sees the remains of a Chinese woman with an iron deficiency.

By limiting our scope, we can narrow our focus like a laser. This relates to personal tastes as well. Imagine the Trekkie or Trekker. Star Wars may be okay, but it doesn't really interest them. They live for Star Trek. They know each line, each episode title, each gaff, each set piece, each inconsistency. Music fans, too, may hone their senses to a more narrow genre of music. Look at the thrash metal fan, the gothic rocker, the American hardcore punk.

The benefits of a telephoto perception is that one knows an awful lot about a particular subject. The person is a specialist of sorts. The liabilities are that knowledge of other topics must be shoved aside. Time and effort that could be used to appreciate other things is not to be wasted. That time, that effort are devoted to the subject at hand, the main topic if you will.

THE WIDE ANGLE

If you want to capture the whole image that you see before you then use a wide angle lens. The wide angle perspective steps away from the individual subject to see how it relates to the whole. How does Star Trek relate to science-fiction as a whole? How does the death of this person relate to the investigation of this crime? How has thrash metal evolved from its roots in Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin?

This person takes in a wide assortment of information, but a lot of it is quite generic. When stepping away from the subject, some of the finer details are lost. We forget actors' names, we forget episode titles, we forget the sequence of events. We deal in the basics, the fundamentals, the outlines. As such, one becomes, as they say, a Jack of all trades and master of none. There is no expertise, only a broad collection of common knowledge.

The two systems of thought stem from the taxonomy of perception. Just as in the classification of animals, the classification of ideas attributes to the generic and the specific. Generic knowledge is the wide angle. Meanwhile, the telephoto approach is more specific. Neither is more or less valid than the other. Indeed, the two must work in tandem. Otherwise knowledge fails to serve. Specifics have no use unless applied to a general construct. What has the weight of the cadmium atom to me? Now, add the battery cell and its relationship to the world is more clear. Meanwhile, generals mean little without specifics. What is a battery without the specifics of the chemicals involved?

The telephoto/wide angle pairing appears in other forms. For instance, in the martial arts aggressive styles often take a telephoto approach. There exists a tunnel-vision like focus upon one enemy. Attacks are linear and direct. Meanwhile, defensive styles take a wide angle view. The person is aware of attacks from all sides.

Usually we are able to slip from one perspective to another, but in some things we may be locked into a certain perspective. Perhaps we fail to see the finer details of a situation. This could be in relationships, at work, or in art. At other times we may fail to see past the finer details and thus lose out on the overall theme.

Form and Formlessness

Form is important. It provides structure to our lives. What is a card game without rules? What would the traffic be without lanes and signs? Okay, ignore that last bit. What I am saying is that from is necessary. As children we misbehave in order to push and thereby establish our boundaries. On the job we look for organization and routine. When there is no order, work is sloppy. Deadlines are missed. Structure in a sentence gives it meaning. Form to an essay gives it logic. Form plays an important role in art. In short, form is any three dimensional object. Needless to say, form is an essential element in sculpture and architecture. The long of it is that form unifies all aspects of an artistic piece.

Formlessness also has its place. Daoists call it the unhewn log. That which has shape has been clearly defined. It has been given limits. The formless is limitless, shapeless, without boundaries. The imagination should be boundless. It is ephemeral. It is free. It is unformed. The power of formlessness lives in its potential. Unformed clay may be crafted into any shape. Once shaped, the formless loses that power as long as it has form.

Form provides us the basics. We learn our roles. Once we understand the rules, we can attempt to change them. The best writers know the English language, yet violate the rules of grammar, spelling, diction. In this manner, the form becomes formless. Form plays an importance in the martial arts as well. The martial arts of the Orient tend to be very traditional. As such, they rely upon very specific stances, postures, movements, etc. As a martial art evolves, it moves towards formlessness. The Chen family style of taijiquan depends greatly on form. Proper body mechanics are necessary to apply the fighting techniques. The Yang style is less rigid, less expansive. The Wu style is even less rigid as many of the techniques are internalized. One sees this in karate and boxing as well. Overtime the rigid stances have loosened. What was once traditional becomes freestyle. Form leads to formlessness.

Bruce lee understood the power of formlessness. A fighter should be adaptable. As water shapes itself to fit a bottle, a glass, a tea pot, a fighter should adjust for an open field, a narrow corridor, or a phone booth. Furthermore, a fighter should be ready for any situation whether one opponent or twenty, whether armed or unarmed, whether the opponent is a boxer or knows kung fu. These options are available only if one remains formless at heart.

Vectors, Arcs, and Spirals

With such a title you may expect me to discuss subatomic particles. Maybe one day after I replace my brain. No, this post details the concepts of linear, circular, and spiral within the martial arts. One may categorize attacks and defenses within these parameters.

LINEAR

As you would imagine, a linear attack or defense travels in a straight line. As the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, martial arts that prefer offense and speed lean to linear applications. An attack comes on like the firing of a cannon. Apply force directly at the enemy. Attacks include thrusting kicks, front kicks, side kicks, back kicks, diagonal kicks, straight punches, lunge punches, cross punches, and the like. The diagonal kick bring the leg up and then extends the foot from the knee in a straight line. This kick is common to karate. One can kick with the same leg multiple times without bringing down the knee. Tae kwon do students often do this very thing. The cross represents a linear punch, one that extends diagonally from the shoulder. A left hand cross, then, travels to the right in a fairly straight line. A cross is an effective punch to the head.

A linear defense meets an opponent's attack directly. In kung fu, this is known as the broken fangs technique. The concept is to meet incoming force with greater outgoing force, fighting fire with fire. In the purist sense, one can punch an incoming fist, kick and incoming leg, or head butt and incoming forehead. In such a match up, the stronger force wins. Whoever has the hardest fist, leg, or forehead delivers greater damage. The downside is that contact still is made, and the defender suffers damage however minimal. Those versed in broken fangs know how to use the hardest, sharpest points of their anatomy to deflect blows. The knees and elbows are primary defensive weapons in this case.

CIRCULAR

Proponent's of circular techniques do not dispute the case that the shortest distance is a straight line. However, they suggest that linear attacks may not offer the best course of action. In circular attacks, force is delivered in arcs. Instead of a cannonball, the attack is more like a wheel. A wheel rotates from the center. Furthermore, the outside surface of the wheel travels faster than the hub. By rotation at the waist, one can transfer considerable force into the limbs for an attack. Circular offenses include circle kicks, crescent kicks, wheel kicks, lotus kicks, roundhouse kicks, spinning kicks, back hand strikes, elbow strikes, hammer fists, sword hand strikes, and the like. The lotus kick of kung fu may be an outside kick (begins from outside the frame of the body and travels inward) or an inside kick (begins inside the frame of the body and travels outward). A blow from a circle kick may have enough arcing force to knock an opponent down. The roundhouse punch follows an arc from outside the body towards the opponent. The benefit of a roundhouse punch is that it may disappear within the opponent's blind spot and subsequently catch him in the temple or ear.

Circular defenses form the basis of many self defense styles, even those with linear attacks, such as karate. In this instance, an arc of force is used to deflect an attack. The circular parry of karate is designed to block any attack to the head or torso. As one hand moves in an upward blocking arc, the other hand follows a downward arc. The circle serves as a useful defense in that the defender may move in the direction of an attack, thus negating it's force. This is a central concept in Judo and Jujutsu.

Arcs of force influence throws as well.

SPIRAL

Spiral attacks are an extension of the circular. The primary difference resides in body mechanics. Rotation comes not just from the waist, but the entire body. It takes the form of a whip. In the case of the whip, the attack unfurls, coiling out until striking with the furthermost extension, typically some striking point of the hand. The energy stored within the coiled arm releases on impact. The hidden hand punch of taijiquan starts from the foot, spirals up through the ankle and knee, into the hip and waist, up through the shoulder and elbow, and into the wrist and fist. At each point of articulation, the spiral energy increases. Finally, this energy is transfered in a drilling blow to the opponent. The hidden hand punch demonstrates the spiral energy moving outward. Energy can also spiral inward.

In aikido, opponents brought into the circle are neutralized. The aikidoist seizes the punch and pulls the attacker inward in a spiraling arc. This arc first follows, then controls, then leads the attacking force, drawing it down into a throw or an immobilizing hold.

Even the most linear martial arts retain some circular elements. Each has its uses in attacking or defending. As with all martial arts, the success of an application depends more on the Martial Artist's understanding and skill that on the kind of technique used.

Wu Wei: Doing without Doing

Wu wei is often translated as non-violence, which is not all that accurate. Better to say non-interference. It is a principle in Daoism of limited effort. Zen Buddhists call it skillful means. Athletes call it being in the zone. The central concept is to manage things successfully by doing as little as possible. Know when action is required and know when to keep your hands off. The perfect leader can rule a nation without seeming to do anything. The nation manages itself naturally. Of course, the ruler acts, but discretely and in the moment. He doesn't push things. To push is to meet with resistance.

In the martial arts, wu wei is regarded as suppleness, softness, yielding, or passivity. The Japanese word, Ju, embodies this concept. Judo and jujutsu as martial arts both use an attackers force against him. By yielding to an attack, you reduce the power of the attack and can then control and counter. This technique is used in taijiquan to great effect. The common technique is to yield first. Next is to deflect the attack, then control the attack, and finally to redirect the attack. If you look at the yin-yang diagram, you see an s curve in the center. This s curve is often used as a model for self defense. With the waist as axis, the taiji player yields to the attack, seizes the attacking arm, leads the attacker in the direction of the force, and then redirects the attack. This redirection is known as Cai, or pluck. The sudden redirection of force delivers a whiplash force that can break a neck or dislocate a joint. Note that not all steps may be necessary. A deflection, hold, or throw may not require redirection or even control.

Minimum effort is central to Daoism. Maintaining one's mental, physical, and spiritual health relies on not over extending oneself. This makes the typical Daoist appear lazy. Fair enough, but are they stressed? Are they over worked? Are they invasive? Are they a control freak? Daoists act, but only when necessary. When Daoists act, they do so in accordance with the Way. The Way is an unintelligent force that creates and sustains all things (sound familiar Star Wars fans?) It follows patterns of ebb and flow. Daoists, through meditation and other means, tune themselves into this pattern. As a philosophical Daoist, I attempt to attain this relationship with the Way. Sometimes I succeed.

One day some friends and I decided to hike up a trail behind the university. It was late winter and snow still blanketed the bench of the Wasatch Mountains. The trek up was tricky. I took many rests, not as keyed up about the destination as I was appreciative of the journey. This was no race for me. We eventually came to the desired spot. We larked about, then headed back. As you can imagine, the way back was a difficult journey. The ice and snow were a poor combination with the downward slope and gravity. Everything seemed to want you to go forward and down. For most of us, this meant falling on your ass. I, however, went with it. I understood the Way or Dao of the mountain. I slid, yes, but I did not resist. I let myself slide down the mountain on the soles of my shoes, racing down the mountain. I managed to keep my balance simply because I went where the mountain wanted me to go. Soon I was at the base of the foot hills. A large boulder sat gleaming in the sun, its peach colored stone warm and inviting. I climbed atop the boulder and sunned myself, waiting for my friends to return. All the while I maintained a feeling of contentment, relaxed awareness, and general goodwill. My friends were not quite so cheery. Several were downright surly after having taken several nasty spills.

As mentioned in the latest podcast, our friends Neil and Tanja are engaged. Both attribute their meeting and subsequent engagement to the InsideOutcast. I admit now, and will forever defend my position that I am not a match maker. I met Tanja on the Box Room forum. We hit it off as I know a little German and complimented her on her knowledge of English. Meanwhile, Brandi had developed a solid friendship with Neil over twitter. I knew from Tanja that she was into Doctor Who and audio books. I knew through Brandi that Neil produced, edited, wrote, etc. several Doctor Who audio plays. It didn't take a genius to figure out that what Tanja enjoyed, Neil produced, so I pointed her in his direction. This was just a small matter of getting Tanja the Doctor Who audio she wanted and Neil another customer.

Little did I know that they would develop a friendship on the web. That friendship flourished into something greater. At first this was, frankly, a little troubling as neither Brandi or I were certain that feelings were reciprocal. Neil, understandably, was quite laconic about the affair. Finally, on Christmas Eve, he announced his engagement. Truth be told I am not responsible for their love. They did that themselves. it grew from mutual respect and admiration. All I did was act when action was best. Minimum effort. Bring two people together with a single, non-interfering comment. I had no selfish intention, no hidden agenda. There was nothing I expected to gain from their meeting. I was an agent of the Way in a single, humble instant. The rest was their own doing.

I wish Tanja and Neil a life of continued happiness and shared moments of joy. Best wishes and congratulations. By the way, no matter how much you wish to thank me for introducing the two of you, it was only an introduction. The connection you two have made, you have made together. It is purely, essentially your own. I was just a small step in a long and glorious journey. Think of me as no more than a stepping stone on the path of your new life together.

An excerpt from the Dao De Jing, the Classic Book of Integrity

The soft overcomes the hard;
The formless penetrates the impenetrable;
Therefore I value taking no action.
Teaching without words,
Work without action,
Are understood by no one.

Teaching without words - have a while to perfect that one. ;)

On Forgetfulness

After our Thanksgiving hiatus, The InsideOutcast returned with our 17th episode. How much you forget in just two weeks. It doesn't take a careful listen to expose missing cues. The audio stings come out of nowhere. Both the news and feedback suddenly interrupt conversation. This shows just how much you can forget over a short period.

Recently I injured my knee tripping over uneven pavement. As such, I haven't been performing my usual routines of taijiquan. There was a time I performed each routine daily. As of late I've found the time to perform maybe one or two segments of a full routine. It is not surprising that I am forgetting some of the postures, particularly during the single sword routine. Going from Flying Diagonally to Black Dragon Sways Tail has been a source of trouble. Until recently I found myself turned around.

In the same vein, returning to the office after a vacation or special assignment, one may find that he has forgotten many of the standard operating procedures. Passwords and phone numbers are forgotten. Much of the once familiar routine seems foreign and awkward.

The mind is a complex organ. Over the years, people have equated the brain with the greatest device of the time. An abacus, a pump, a steam engine, a calculator, a computer. The computer is quite an apt description. The mind is much like a hard drive. It stores information. Some of this can be accessed readily. At the forefront of the mind stands the desktop. Here, for quick and easy access, are the most commonly used functions of the mind. However, if you don't use the function often, it may drop off the desktop. You lose the shortcut and have to search for the application. Leave it for a long period, the file may corrupt. So, too, with memories and skills. The key is frequent use. Practice, practice, practice.

A hard drive can only hold so much. The brain, though seemingly able to record an infinite amount of data, stores only a fragment. There is long term memory, that which is stored for later use (or saved to the hard drive) and short term memory, that which can be recalled only a short time after the experience (an unsaved document). The more innocuous and unessential experiences should be discarded lest they take up space needed for more important or useful information. This proves difficult as one may not always be the best judge of what should be dedicated to memory and what should not. Nor are we always capable of making that choice. I know I tend to latch onto the particulars, but not the essence of the thing. By my own admission, sometimes there isn't enough disk space for more important data.

So, if you wish not to dull the blade, then keep it honed with practice. If nothing else, visualize the routine. Mentally work through the steps. Recall to mind passwords, phone numbers, the names of customers and coworkers. Create a list to remind yourself of these things. Keep the functions at hand. You may save yourself trouble later.

Of course, should you know anything about computers you will find many problems with my metaphor. Just the same, you can see where I'm coming from.