Both art and sports tap into the creative side of every individual, despite the fact that they are often compartmentalised into two different groups. Bruce Lee often combined the two, sports and creative arts, as he studied dozens of fighting techniques while simultaneously studying fencing and ballroom dancing. Seeing as martial arts is a highly intuitive sport, it makes sense to substitute your training with other types of creative arts and endeavours that strengthen your awareness of your mind and body. Studying in the Himalayas or with an ancient Thai Buddhist fighter are great, but pursuing other creative arts will really help you form yourself into a well-rounded martial arts master.
Learning the Importance of Balance and Awareness
Any novice student will have to learn the importance of balance in martial arts. Physical balance is crucial in mastering stances that will help you develop into a master of your art, but the emotional balance will help you really succeed. Engaging in creative arts such as sewing, crafting, painting and even dancing can all help you tap into the meditative qualities of arts that will allow you to thrive in your training. The blood that flows when you engage with a piece of art that moves you and the neurons that fire, when you create art, are all beneficial to your martial arts training as they allow you to build your consciousness in a positive way. Indeed the great Wudang Kung Fu Masters present and past put high stock in creating music, internal alchemy, meditation, art, calligraphy, herbalism, and philosophy. In meditation, for example, you are taught to be attentive to your surroundings as well as your sensations, and creative arts such as dancing and painting can both do this.
Developing Other Related Skills
Engaging in artistic activities that allow you to heighten your sense of awareness, increase your focus and train smaller, individual muscles in your body are all going to benefit your training. Learning how to draw, for example, can not only release creative and meditative sides in yourself that will allow you to grow as a martial artist, but it can also help you improve bilateral coordination, fine motor coordination, self-regulation and even your self-esteem, all of which translate into your martial arts practices. While martial arts is a form of meditation in itself, practicing meditation techniques can also improve your focus, which is essentially what becoming a master martial artists is all about. Meditation through practicing and creating art will allow you to isolate your footwork, balance, and state of mind while also ensuring you can accurately tap into timing, power and flow. Your mind and body will feel so connected that your movements will be insightful and intentional.
Connecting the Mind and Body
Martial arts truly is the perfect combination of mind and body, and anyway that you can allow yourself to further connect the two will benefit your training. Creative arts and similar pursuits such as drawing, painting, dancing, calligraphy, origami and even digital arts are all great ways to tap into the meditative qualities of arts while improving your concentration, focus and creativity. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself moving with intention, grace and power in a way that might be eerily similar to Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, or at least somewhat close.
