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YOUR
REAL VOICE - the vocal ezine for real people
September 1, 2005 #10
FEATURE EDITORIAL
My New
Martial Arts Connection
I know.... what in the world could this woman be up to now?!
Since returning from Canada, I am fully in the throes of developing a
new and experimental vocal technique that has led me to, of all things
not remotely vocally related, Martial Arts. That's right!
I've been pseudo-adopted by a few martial arts masters from various
disciplines, including Aikido, Tang Soo Do and Jujitsu. This is
all in addition to the new and customized Yoga routine that has been
starting my day for the past three weeks. Although I am not
taking organized karate classes or pursuing a belt, I have been working
individually with a few instructors to learn the basics of their
technique, and it has been quite amazing. There are many terrific
parallels in the posture, balance and torso techniques of Aikido and
Tang Soo Do that I have been able to apply directly to singing with
great results. I've had about ten hours of instruction so far
between these two techniques, so I understand them the best of all the
various disciplines out there. The voice is actually used
extensively in many disciplines of the Martial Arts, particularly to
focus and concentrate the power within the body. The voice is
also used in combat situations to harass the opponent and provide
psychological intimidation. Although singers use the voice for
very different reasons, the way the voice is used to communicate
physically in the Martial Arts is very similar to what we do as
singers. Imagine what you would sound like if you could totally
"focus and concentrate the power within the body" in your singing!
I am especially excited by a documentary from the Discovery Channel
called "Xtreme Martial Arts" that shows some amazing science and
physiology information about exactly what is happening in the body
while doing Martial Arts. Why this is of use to singers is that
there are really amazing special effects in the documentary that show
computer-generated visuals of the interior of the torso, including all
the breathing and support muscles and the rib cage, during various
sparing exchanges. Because they filmed the fighters moving in
real time, and then added in the special effects, what the film shows
is actual movements, done in real-time by real human beings (rather
than mannequins or CGI effects) of exactly how the body moves to do the
Martial Arts techniques. Since I can't watch the interior of my
body effectively while I'm singing, and the best I've ever had is the
ability to visualize in my head while I'm doing it, the opportunity to
watch an actual body part move in translucent 3-D was terrific and very
educational! You will understand all of this much better by
watching the fight sequences of the documentary. Trust me on
this: it is definitely worth whatever time and money you spend to
see it. I know the DVD of "Xtreme Martial Arts" can be purchased
from the Discovery
Channel stores, and you may be able to rent it from
Blockbuster or Hollywood Video if you can't catch it in repeat on the Discovery
Channel. My whole relationship to breathing and balance
has changed forever since watching XMA!
Now I want to hear from those of you who practice the martial arts,
especially if you have a few belts, regardless of the particular
discipline you study. You are invited to send me your comments,
especially about your practices and techniques. This is a
discussion that will be developing quite extensively over time.
If you do practice the Martial Arts, jump in the discussion and help
pioneer our new vocal technique! I'd love to hear from those of
you that have seen the XMA documentary and have technique comments that
you can share with me. Please email me at info@sing-in-tune.com.
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Contact Athena by e-mail at info@sing-in-
tune.com
or learn how to sing
perfectly in tune at her web site at www.Sing-In-Tune.com
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