Music and training

[dwid]

Anybody have any ideas about different types of music and training?

I train primarily in Bagua, so much of what I do is necessarily in silence, but when I practice fighting techniques I've found, strangely, that Trance techno seems to really help me maintain technique while I increase speed. It's simple enough (generally little or no lyrics) that it isn't distracting, while supposedly by design oriented toward increasing one's heart rate, etc... This stuff is basically dance music with the twist that the good Trance is layered in complicated ways that, in my opinion, helps me stay in the moment - something not easy to do, as I'm still in the early stages of my training. Anyway, just want to see if anyone has any experiences to share with different kinds of music supplementing their training..

[Paul DiMarino]

I've done a couple spinning classes to techno-dance type stuff. The classes are intense aerobically and anaerobically, but that music keeps ya going.

[wisdom mind]

I use techno-genre music for maintaining a flow, like with aerobic type workouts and hardcore gangsta sh.t like M.O.P. for more intense workouts

i happen to produce electronic, hip hop and reggae music BTW:)

[dwid]

I can see the gangsta stuff being oriented toward more power demanding stuff because of all the bass, but being less useful when fluidity is required. Thanks for the insight.

[Mantis_Hand]

looks like everyone agrees on the same thing. something i've gravitated towards is New York Style hardcore like Sick of It All and 25 Ta Life. Seek them out, agressive music with a definite rythm behind it to help keep you in rythm during your work out.

Zorak is an evil mantis

[dwid]

That's interesting. I've been listening to punk/hardcore since high school but hadn't considered it for use in training. You guys are giving me some great ideas. Thanks a lot...

[Paul DiMarino]

MOP! Oh man. I forgot I even had some of their CD's. I met them once. It was a good experience for a skinny white kid. /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Mantis_Hand]

Dwid,

I could kinda tell by the name... like integrity much?

Zorak is an evil mantis

[dwid]

Actually I got the nickname a long time ago and it just stuck. Every time I go to Cleveland I meet people who say "I thought you were bigger" or something like that. Actually, the Integrity Dwid is, from what I've heard, not so great a guy. From the violent stories that have come my way, he sounds like he could use some martial arts, not to fight, but to get some kind of balance. Regarding his music, I've never been too keen on Cleveland hardcore, though he did have a pretty funny song called "Misha".

[wisdom mind]

since there seems to be a niche of "hardcore" headz here Ill add this....

you can use the same mindset that one goes into before entering a mosh pit, not the kind at beasite boy show, but at a hardcore show, where fists and steelcapped docs are flying everywhere in pandamonium....the mindest I suppose could be equated to "no-mind" in the martial arts realm.

in this mental state, the mind is able to move the body with relative ease, generally with astounding results!

the music can be used by your mind as a focal reference point- a place to return to if you become aware of your mind straying.....

i was lifting weights last night at the gym and they were playing 60's rock....did not quite "push" me to work any harder, i need more in your face tunes.....but i go to a gym w/older adults, so i suppose 60's rock IS their hardcore;P

peace

[Mantis_Hand]

interesting point, wisdom. I train while listening to the slower bands that are more "groove" oriented. these have a definite rythm in mind as the dancing in New York is a lot more stylized and not so free form as you might find at a punk show where kids are just throwing themselves around. There were a number of bands in the early 90s who were really into kickboxing and they would write songs with beats and rythms specifically for the dancers in the pit who would jump in and do some of their routines. So a lot of the newer bands who took inspiration from those older bands perform the same rythm/dance oriented music. With bands like Sick of it All I'm finding that I keep a flowing movement better when performing some of my stances and forms.

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[FongSaiYuk]

It's nice to see other martial artists who are also punk/hardcore fans. I grew up on the stuff and I can still get into it today. When I'm doing any kind of intense workout nothing gets me pumped up like hardcore does. Old school NY hardcore seems to work the best for me - it really gets my blood flowing. But in terms of any kind training that involves deep concentration and a calm mind I use tradional Chinese music. It's pretty amazing how music can really inspire you to work harder in training. There are many similarities bewteen music and martial arts. As a guitar player I've experienced them firsthand. --FSYF

[dwid]

I agree with the utility of chinese traditional music. For circle walking and even meditation, the pipa is a very beautiful instrument to listen to. Also, some of those traditional pieces on the pipa would be considered structurally very abstract even by modern standards of Western music.. very cool stuff

[Braden]

Dwid - Short story long: I do bagua too, and do
it either in silence or good trance, depending
on what I'm doing.

I actually keep my trance collection down where
I train now; it has been an immense benefit.

[Tru-MA]

I like training with music. For me, it really depends on what type of form I'm practicing, though, for which type of music I would practice to. For example, for a fast paced set like hip-hop, I would usually end up doing it fast. Or for a slow Chinese song I would mix slow and fast movements depending on what technique in the form I'm doing (you can't exactly expect to do a slow tornado kick, can you?) /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
My favorite music to train with is pretty obvious...it's called:
naam yi dong ji keung (Cantonese)
nan er dang zi jiang (Mandarin)

For those of you that need an English translation,
it means "A Man of Determination".

If you still have no idea what the song is, it's the opening theme to ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA
/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Tien Long]

Music is an intergral part of capoeria, usually incorporating drums, tambourines, and the singnature berimbau. My master puts on music from Brazil that incorporate very nice rhytmic beats, as well as recordings of capoerian instruments played in the background. Its a good way to "clear the mind" as he puts it, and gives you something to concentrate on rather then the pain going up your inside when doing a stretch.



"Watch the skies, the DRAGON flies!"

[dena]

My Sifu loves Michael Jackson...

[dwid]

Sorry it took so long to reply, I don't have internet access unless I'm at work.

Anyway, it's interesting to hear you do Bagua to Trance. Any CD's you'd recommend?

[Braden]

Juno Reactor's Bible of Dreams. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[dedalus]

I once (and only once... so far) ran through the Bagua circle form to the BeeGee's Saturday Night Fever. It gave it a very *interesting* vibe (and a couple of extra shakes and wiggles ;-)

Haven't tried trance, but perhaps I will now...

[Iron_Monkey]

Cool topic. Props to dwid, man...

I listen to alot of punk and hardcore. I am of the opinion that the harder stuff is for working out. Gets you pumped and sometimes ****ed. Fear Factory is great for the heavy bag.

On the other hand, trance/techno is good stuff for forms. The beat keeps you in the groove. Sometimes its good for taiji. A friend of mine likes doing his taiji to Moby every once in a while to change things up.

I also like the traditional Chinese stuff, too. And I even have a cd of traditional African rhythms with nothing but drums. That is the ONE. I can turn that on, and totally slip into this weird mode where I don't get tired and am oblivious to everything around me. Could be something to do with the effect of certain rhythms on the human brain.

On a side thingy- Some studies have shown hard music like metal and rock to stunt cell growth and brain activity, while things like classical music, music with a more complex mathematical structure have been shown to stimulate growth and brain activity...I am not aware of any cold hard facts on the matter, but its thought provoking, anyway........

/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[shimera]

i strongly doupt that rock will stunt your brain growth i've listend to it for years. and i'm one of the smartest students in my state. According to the standardized tests and grades etc etc.

however i wouldn't be surprised if people who listen to classical found it more stimulating for their thought process. i don't mind classical i just don't care to spend my money on it.

[Gojira]

Well these pieces I found stirred up the blood while working out or doing forms.
Give me the prize: Queen, It's a kind of magic
Anvil of Crom: Conan The Barbarian soundtrack
Any track from the Robin Hood soundtrack
Eye of the Tiger : Rocky III soundtrack
Decent into mystery: Batman Score
No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn : Beatie Boys, Licence to Ill
Predator Soundtrack
You could be mine: Guns n Roses,Use your Illution II
Welcome to the Jungle: Guns n Roses
Aliens Soundtrack
Matrix Soundtrack
The soundtrack from Phantom Menace where Obi-wan and Qui-gon fight Darth Maul

I have others but the name of the track slip my mind at this moment.
/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

If you have nothing to do, don't do it here!

[FongSaiYuk]

If you really want to bring out the "warrior within" try listening to some John Denver. And for that little extra push you need in your workouts try some Vanilla Ice; it never fails.

Seriously though, one cool thing to try is some very rhythmic Brazilian tribal-type music while sparring or shadowboxing. I think someone in an earlier post mentioned African music. That also sounds like a great idea. --FSY

[Mantis_Hand]

hey dwid,

I've been running through my exercises to a disc called Hard Desert Trance 2. Awesome compilation on Moonshine records.

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