My little boy boxing champion
I’ve always been amazed by artists, especially by how easy they make it look. Just love a cool martial arts drawing, like a tiger, dragon, or samurai. I’ve always wanted to do it myself, but never really had the time. Well, if something is important to you, just make the time, as I often tell my students. So I, as the sensei, decided to practice what I preach.
Over the holidays, while working on a kids karate book (please don’t ask me how long I have been working on it) I realised how much easier it would be if I could just draw a few pictures and put them in where needed. Only problem, I don’t know how to draw. Minor details!
I started researching it (I love google!) and found that you can actually teach yourself to draw by tracing. No, it is not cheating, as some might say. It teaches your hands to move like they are supposed to move in creating your illustration. Does this sound familiar, folks? That is exactly how you learn the martial arts. Your body actually “feels” how a movement should be performed, as the sensei guides you. Not only that, you “see” in your mind the proper pencil strokes that create details, such as shading to create depth in a picture, just as you see the sensei’s fist recoil from a proper strike.
I went to Eckersley’s, a great arts store in Sydney, and bought a tracer box. What is that, you say? It’s a box with a light behind a piece of plexiglass, and when you put a photo or drawing on top, the picture, down to the finest detail, is there for you to “copy” (you have to make changes in the final illustration if you are planning to include it in any commercial work, for copyright reasons).
A samurai with castle in background
Well, needless to say, I have become addicted to this, and it is one reason you haven’t seen a post for almost two weeks. I’ve bought heaps of pencils, pens, paper, and a few drawing books. I’m showing you some of my work here, some of which you will see in the book (yes, it is nearly done!). There is more to it than just “having the right tools”, and the vast majority of my work is really laughable, but I am sure having fun. I realise I have a huge amount to learn about art, and will never be Van Gogh, my favourite, but it feels great to be a white belt—again. Just start drawing.
For Kids Karate Sensei Becomes White Belt Again–Part One, please follow this link.
They are awesome drawings Sensei Matt I can’t wait to se the rest of you feature award winning art work,
Not comparing to you Sensei but starting Kenpo at the Mona Vale DOJO on Saturday mornings has given so much pleasure & a renewed feeling of self worth. The saying
“Practice What You Preach!” can apply to MANY things.
I am enjoying learning all the new techniques and incorporating them in to what I have already been taught, And all my new training partners are awesome,
Why should the kids have all the fun!
“Never be afraid to fail as with out failing you can never appreciate all your feature achievements!”
Awesome Work Senesi!
Many are willing to suffer for their art. Few are willing to learn to draw.
Hi Shandor, LOL I don’t think I’ll be winning any art awards, but I’m having good clean fun. I took up Chinese calligraphy a few years back, until my teacher moved away, and really missed it. It is exactly the same feeling. You are so focused on the art at hand, you are basically meditating, clearing your mind of everything else. And yes, the martial arts do the same thing, and that’s why we’re all attracted to it. Like you say, learning new things and incorporating it with what we know is awesome. The calligraphy has definitely helped with the drawing, even though it’s different in a lot of ways. Back in the days of the samurai, a warrior could do battle, serve tea, and draw amazing calligraphy, all in the same day! Thanks for your comments, Shandor.
I think being able to draw is a great skill to have. I always admire people who can create an amazing image from just a few pencil strokes on the page. Drawing used to be my passion as a child (for some reason I used to like drawing birds!). However, once I left school my artistic ambitions went by the by. Last year I bought myself some paper, pencils, paints and an easel with the intention of taking it up again. Lack of time means I haven’t got very far. The last thing I drew was a caricature of my instructor. (yes, I’m still welcome at the club). For halloween (for the kids) I did a caricature of him as a witch and yes, I’m still welcome at the club! He has a great sense of humour. Your impressive efforts are inspiring me to pick up my pencil again!
Hi Sue! Great to see other martial artists see the beauty in art. After all, what are martial arts, but artwork in motion? You must be pretty good if you can do caricatures. To make it look like the person you are trying to portray, now that takes a good eye. Hope you continue and I’d like to see some of your work. Thanks for your visit.
Yes Sensei, live for today and embrace what ever comes tomorrow!
CHI!
“Take in what you can use, let go of what ever you can’t use!”
Keep up the good work!
Hi Matt,
You always seem to be taking on a new challenge! My wife and step-daughter are great artists – really any kind of art and I am always amazed at what they can create.
So the blogging software got to easy? 🙂
Hats off to you Matt.
Thanks John, but no blogging software will never be too easy for me. I am a frustrated techie at heart. Yes, new challenges keep things fresh. Hope to see some of your wife or daughter’s work at some stage.
This is awesome, Sensei Matt! I like that fact that you go out and take out new challenges and try to expand yourself. I admire people with those traits. I tried to expand myself by attending a stand up comic class – but I found out I wasn’t funny as I thought.
Thanks Elmer. That’s one thing the kids have taught me. What is there to fear? You probably learned a thing or two about yourself in that comic class, I’m sure it was well worth it.
The instructor told me I couldn’t tell a joke, but I had good stage presence. I have no clue what the means, but I think that I have a way of drawing in people or a crowd.
He is saying that you have charisma in front of a group, which means you’d probably be a good public speaker…or martial arts instructor. A good sign in any case. Thanks for visiting, Elmer.