Dear Folks:

So here you are working on that famous form from the African MA called "Slow Natives" (AKA: "Dance of the Black-footed Elephants"). And as you come upon a particular movement you are intrigued as to possible applications. You make the choice to communicate by phone with your friend who lives a couple of States over, and of course, he asks the obvious question: "what does the move look like?" What is your response? Do you

a.) Describe the technique in as much detail as you possibly can?

b.) Describe the technique by identifying a move as close to the one you have in mind from a commonly known form?

c.) Use some general kind of movement from, say, gymnastics or dance?

d.) Draw a parallel from a religious, spiritual or esoteric practice?

I am considering how the manner in which we communicate about forms predisposes us toward one interpretation rather than another. Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

A
B
and
C

I'm not exactly sure how you would go about using D unless you participate in some freaky religion that has some weird rituals.

Using B could help you in finding the applications for yourself, but in using this descriptor you also leave much room for misinterpretation of the technique you are trying to describe as opposed to the technique you are comparing it to.

Using C can be very helpful as well, but you have to find a general movement from dance/gymnastics with which the person you are conversing with will be familiar with, which may prove difficult if you do not have activities and interests in common.

Using D...I'm still reeling a bit from that one, sorry.

Using A is the easiest option, but personally I wouldn't be able to do it without using B and C with it.

Other options:
E. Use video or picture via internet or mail to more effectively convey the tecnique better.

F. Meet in person to try applications in person.

G. Go to Africa and learn from the masters what the applications are.

H. Give up.

B,c and d are the same option: describing the movement by comparing it to something you are already familiar with.

Speaking from an anthropological background (puts anthro hat on): I am speaking with a peer who shares the same frame of reference...so would give a summary, a description of the event/particulars, point out what interested me, and provide a comparative analysis bringing everything into play (religion, cognitive mapping, shamanism, etc.).

Heck, sounds like a doctoral thesis.

Dear Harlan:

Exactly my point, thanks.

Now, if I can take this step farther....

If I use a religious or quasi-religious practice to characterize a movement, don't I risk having the person I am communicating with assuming a quasi-religious interpretation? For example, if I am studying an Okinawan Kata and I use a Southern Chinese Boxing posture to describe the method under study don't I pre-dispose the conversation towards Southern Chinese applications? Or how about if I mention that a movement looks like a Japanese mudra, might not a person risk communicating ONLY about spiritual practices? I am wondering if there might be someway to economically describe a motion or posture using some kind of more culturally neutral method and so allow people not to be skewed towards one particualr category of interpretations over another. My sense is that this would open the range of interpretations to a wider range of possibilities, yes? Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

Depends entirely on who you are talking to. It predisposes that the person has been trained to think critically.

All that work and not even an acknowledgement, thanks a lot, Bruce.

Quote:

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Or how about if I mention that a movement looks like a Japanese mudra, might not a person risk communicating ONLY about spiritual practices?

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No, because you are talking about a technique from an African martial art form. Only a complete close-minded moron would think that way.

I'm done with your crap, Bruce, you take the answers you want to validate your own pre-determined opinion and push your propoganda bullshit on everybody else, making them think they came up with and want whatever it is you're selling.

No snake oil for me, thank you sir.

PS-I do have a saw if you're interested.

Video tape and Fed-Ex.

No misunderstandings. Simple and to the point. Everyone on the same page.

Page

You know, I realize that there have been tensions on this board for awhile...but hanging out 'go away' signs is different from 'no soliciting'.

It is an interesting question...and rather too cerebral for this board.

Thanks but no thanks, Harlan. This troll has been banned from almost every other MA forum on the web and this is about his last hope. A legend in his own mind and king of his delusions.

This isn't a "Go Away" sign, it's a "Get Out" sign. Like I said, I'm done with him.

And thank you for trying to make the rest of us feel dumb as well. It was a simple question and I put a lot of thought into it, but I guess I need to go back to school now, thanks.

oh, and by the way,

Quote:

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I am wondering if there might be someway to economically describe a motion or posture using some kind of more culturally neutral method and so allow people not to be skewed towards one particualr category of interpretations over another. My sense is that this would open the range of interpretations to a wider range of possibilities, yes? Thoughts?

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Yes, it's called video tape and FedEx. Modern technology is not just here to make your ice cream colder and your butt more cushioned while you peddle your crap on the web. It's for the easier share of information. Simple and done, like I said previously.