Exploring Theatricality in Chinese Martial Arts

Here is the pod cast of my talk at Soja martial arts.  It's 2.5 hours long.  I used a format where I had everyone get up and try the stuff I was talking about every 20 minutes or so.  It was lots of fun.  Thank you Soja for hosting it!

We need to learn how to edit these pod casts very soon, but until then, if you are listening to it on your computer the dial that spins around the cinch button allows you to move around in the talk, fastforword and rewind we use to call it.

Two Talks at Soja Martial Arts

Two talks at Soja Martial Arts in Oakland this month.  Join the fun.

Exploring Theatricality in Chinese Martial Arts with Scott Phillips 

Saturday, Date: 6/23/2012From: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

For Soja's 2nd Summer Lecture series: Scott Phillips will be presenting a workshop/lecture on: Exploring Theatricality in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Saturday, June 23, 7 – 9 pm Soja Member pre-registration price $20, or $25 @ door. Non-soja members pre-registration price $25 or $30 @ door. The mix of Martial Arts and Theater Arts has captured the popular imagination through super stars like Jackie Chan. But few people realize that before the 20th Century most martial arts were connected to some form of theatrical performance. These ranged from the numerous distinct styles of both folk and classical physical theater, known as ‘Chinese Opera,’ to festival skits, public exorcisms, martial processions, street performances, and improvisational games--all intimately built around actual fighting skills. This workshop will present the seamless confluence of martial arts basic training as a way to explore physical character development, mimic gesture, and as a tool for improvisation and crafting stage presence. This workshop will consist of a mixture of lecture and movement formats. All experience levels are welcome!

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The Shared history of Yoga, Dance & Martial Arts with Eric Shaw 

Saturday, Date: 6/16/2012From: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Eric Shaw will be lecturing for Soja's Summer lecture series: The Shared history of Yoga, Dance and Martial Arts Soja Member pre-registration price $20, or $25 @ door. Non-soja members pre-registration price $25 or $30 @ door. The Great Sage Bodhidharma is said to have traveled to from South India to China in the sixth century, where he taught Ch’an Buddhism and fighting arts to the monks at Shaolin. In the Kerala region he came from, they practice Kalaripayattu, a martial art that is also used by dancers to prepare for the stage. This is only one of many connections in the historical lineage, structure and purposes of these three practices. Come learn the complex story of their rich interweaving in Asian history from ancient days to our living moment, in this presentation rich with images.

Update on 2012-07-09 02:55 by Scott Park Phillips

Here is the Talk I gave!

Two Events

I'm starting my very own:

Lecture Series

- Daoism and The Martial Arts:  Is there a missing link?

Sunday, April 22nd, at 10:30 AM.   At East Bay Hatha Yoga Shala 2050 4th Street, Berkeley, CA.

Here is the flier (pdf) if you can think of a place good to posted it (your refrigerator is ok.)

How could notions of softness,

gentleness, ?uidity and even

weakness have gotten tangled up

with martial arts?

What exactly is the link between

ritual trance, meditation and tai

chi super hero skills?

Were ancient Daoists some kind

of elite ?ghting group?

Or did they just play that role on

the stage?

Could these ideas and practices

have just melted into each other

over centuries?

Does qigong or yogic daoyin

have anything to do with all this

stuff or is that a different road all

together?

This talk will cover the latest

research into these questions

and more.

How could notions of softness, gentleness, fluidity and even weakness have gotten tangled up with martial arts?

What exactly is the link between ritual trance, meditation and tai chi super hero skills?

Were ancient Daoists some kind of elite fighting group?

Or did they just play that role on the stage?

Could these ideas and practices have just melted into each other over centuries?

Does qigong or yogic daoyin have anything to do with all this stuff or is that a different road all together?

This talk will cover the latest research into these questions and more.

_______________________

Also I'm participating in a "Pop-Up" for a new organization called We Are = Movement.  On April 21st @ 1 PM I'm going to be doing solo practice in a storefront with windows at 3344 24th Street in San Francisco.  There are lots of other solo practices to watch over the week and some cool looking evening talks.  Check it out!