Therelationship between theatrical improvisation and Brazilain Jiu Jitsu
Therelationship between theatrical improvisation and Brazilain Jiu Jitsu
Introduction  Theatrical improvisation is a situation whereby most or evenall of what is performed in a given theater is created at the momentat which it is being performed. It does not rely on any pre-writtenscript, and the players require a high level of creativity andcoordination so as to come up with a piece which will be fascinatingenough to the audience (Nachmanovich, 1991). Most of the performancesmade are usually comedic although there are also several cases wherenon-comedic actions are made. Instructors frequently use this typeart to train people who wish to take part in the drama, film andtelevision acting. The art is also used during the rehearsal processof written productions. The essence of its use is that it makes theindividuals on the stage more comfortable and capable of addingcreativity into the works that they are doing so as to make them moreappealing and original.
BrazilianJiu-Jitsu is a combat sport that applies the use of martial arts,whereby the players grapple each other and fight while on the ground. The sport came to be as a result of the experimentation andadaptation of judo (Kesting, n.d). The main concept that is shown inthe sport is that a person who is weak has a big chance of defendinghimself fully and winning against the one who is heavier andstronger. The reason behind such an argument is that the emphasis isoften put on the technique that an individual applies rather than thestrength of that person. This activity is essential in the provisionof training for persons who take part in sports that involvegrappling, such as mixed martial arts.
Similarities
Boththeatrical improvisation and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have some elementsin common. One of them is that they rely on the ability of a playerto apply his mental strength so that he may have an excellentperformance (Kesting, n.d). The capability of an individual to thinkoutside the box comes in quite handy in these two types ofperformances because the audience is often interested in seeingsomething that is different from what it is normally used to. Both ofthe acts can also be used solely for recreational rather thancompetitive purposes (Nachmanovich, 1991). People who are interestedin these types of art can engage each other as a pass-time, forentertainment purposes.
Anothersimilarity between the two practices is that they can be used in theimprovement of the skills of the players in a bid to make them highlycompetent (Nachmanovich, 1991). Through the continued use of theseactions, the players become more comfortable and add in theirthoughts so as to entertain the audience much further (Kesting, n.d).The practices are also able to make people have a great belief intheir abilities since they can rely more on their creativity ratherthan a written manual that is already pre-determined. The peopleinvolved in these actions, over time, tend to feel at ease beingthemselves rather than aiming to imitate other individuals that existin the same industry.
Differences
Inspite of the similarities that the two forms of art share, there alsodoes exist some differences. The first one is based on thephilosophical influences. In the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, a person cancome up with ways which he may use to triumph over an opponent. Inthis sport, the other person who the actor is engaging with is seenas the ‘enemy’ this is clearly shown in the, ARoadmap for Brazilian Jiu-jitsuas explained by Kesting, (n.d). Kesting outlines conclusively thedifferent techniques that people can apply in the sport. This view isdifferent from that of theatrical improvisation (Kesting, n.d). Here,the play is more about viewing the other person whom an actor isengaging with as a partner rather than a rival. As a result, both ofthem assist and coordinate with each other so that they may be ableto give out an impeccable presentation. In the long run, they areboth able to enjoy if the performance is as good as they had desiredbecause they took part in making it so. This concept is wellexplained in the book, Improvisationin Life and Art.In the book, Nachmanovich (1991) goes a long way in showing theimportance of assisting one another in ensuring that a presentationbecomes a success.
Anotherdifference is the listening aspect and structure that the two genreshave. Theatrical improvisation is based on the audiences listeningintently to what the performers are saying. Its structure could beone or many actors who may be involved in making presentations infront of an audience (Nachmanovich, 1991). The audience could be calmor could be cheering on the performers so as to encourage them,making the performance more enjoyable. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on theother hand mostly deals with the audience watching more rather thanlistening to the people engaged in the performance (Kesting, n.d).The audience is usually very jovial and picks sides between the twoplayers who are on the field.
Thethird difference between the two art categories is the similarity ofthe period and social structure. Theatrical improvisation draws itsthemes from the prevailing situations and current issues that aretaking place so as to send a certain message to the audience. TheBrazilian Jiu-jitsu has a standard message to the audience,regardless of the time at which it is being performed. This messageincludes the need to be tactical in life.
Misconceptions
Thereis a misconception that theatrical improvisation is not a seriousform of art. This argument is not true as there are some people havebecome experts on this genre of art (Nachmanovich, 1991). It can bepracticed professionally, and its usage is growing over time. Anothermisconception also exists in the Jiu-jitsu where people tend to thinkthat it is a sport for people who are violent in nature (Kesting,n.d). In contrast, the sport motivates people to be quite calm asonly through such an attitude, are they able to harness their innerpower into having a great influence in life.
Conclusion
Thetwo genres of art are critical for making people use their bestintellect in solving real life problems. In my personal experience,the moments that I have been able to make sound decisions are thosewhere I relied on my creativity and thoughtfulness while handlingcertain situations. The effect of such cases has always been quitefulfilling. It is expected that people shall make use of these formsof art to for personal development and build on their skills.
References
Kesting,S (n.d). ARoadmap for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.Edition1.3
Nachmanovich,S (1991). FreePlay: Improvisation in Life and Art