http://www.streettraining.org∞
Street Training is the art of safely and joyfully exploring ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. Street Training teaches us that, by focusing our thoughts and behavior, we can have an effect on our surroundings equal to that which our surroundings exert upon us. As changes take place within the street trainer they also take place in the streets: it is a discipline that evolves interactively in relation to physical, social and mental structures that make up the city.
Street Training is an emergent 21st century Martial Art. It requires commitment and sustained practice, and encompasses the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of being. It rewards the Street Trainer with incremental changes in their ability to defend themselves against the bombardment of city life, and shape their environment positively.
The Street Training manual contains a wide variety of people’s knowledge and just like different ways of using public space the ideas are sometimes conflicting. Please carefully study these instructions passed on to you from people of London, Linz, Munich and Sao Paulo. Begin by trying the ideas listed here then move on to develop and invent your own. Street training has two components the Path of Safety and the Path of Joy, everyone who uses the street considers safety but joy is usually forgotten. It is vitally important that you study both aspects equally, too much focus on keeping out of danger and the lighter side of your street training practice will suffer too much emphasis on creating joy may put you in jeopardy.
ThePathOfSafety
ThePathOfJoydownload PDF version of the complete printed manual here
http://malinky.org/files/camberwell_v4_ARTWORK.pdf∞
Like a martial art, it also balances rigorous physical exertion with quiet, still meditation: this latter aspect has taken the form of small social acts of 'Do Nothing' – typically by lying on the ground in public space, and (apparently) doing as little as possible. Within the frenetic social systems of our super-cities, 'Doing Nothing' creates a problematic dynamic, because its value is not immediately apparent or useful; it throws the activity around it into contrast, and raises questions about the frenetic pace of modern urban life, and our apparent powerlessness to control its pace, despite our increased awareness of information overload, the benefits of holistic health solutions, of stress-induced disorders, and a shared need for an 'oasis of calm'.
∑ how we are shaped by the environment;
∑ the politics of public space, and how these are played out between people every day;
∑ how to foster creative 'free' behaviours within a two-way dialogue in structures and spaces that appear constructed to limit behaviors and increase conformity;
∑ how we deal with risk;
∑ how we can engage creatively with our surroundings
∑ how we can develop tools to 'centre' ourselves in order to cope with, and not be overwhelmed by, urban environments.
the dynamics between order and chaos as a defining element for me. My focus is the city and on a macro scale the wildness within it, on micro scales its the expressions of wildness + creativity or chaos that i want to identify in others, in myself and in the actual places i go to. then i want to isolate an aspect so that i can demonstrate it or ask some one else to.
so as to be part of the process of wildness shaping places and developing wildness in myself. I think this relates to being 'street smart' knowing how to make the most of a situation and not get into difficulties, to be spontaneous, take advantage of opportunities for joy and pleasure and avoid being attacked, controlled and disciplined.
acting in the city 'as if' it were as we wish it to be. – this is a central concept learned from reading around child psychology – we develop ourselves – grow our brains and make real by behaving 'as if' I'm testing the limits of this way of constructing self and culture in relation to each other – in feedback loops.
To monitor changes i ask questions
how were your ways of moving, thinking and using the streets different to your usual modes of using the streets?
how did you impact on your physical surroundings? Social surroundings?
how will you move, think, behave differently as you move through the streets?
MoreAboutStreetTraining
A definition of the word:Training
activity leading to skilled behavior to accustom ones self to a mode of behavior or performance.
to make ones self proficient with specialized instruction and practice
to make prepared (as by exercise) for a test of skill
to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction:
to make proficient by instruction and practice, as in some art, profession, or work: to train soldiers.
to make (a person) fit by proper exercise, diet, practice, etc., as for an athletic performance.
to discipline and instruct (an animal), as in the performance of tasks or tricks.
to treat or manipulate so as to bring into some desired form, position, direction, etc.: to train one's hair to stay down.
A definition of the word street
Pronunciation: 'strEt
Function: noun
1 a : a thoroughfare especially in a city, town, or village that is wider than an alley or lane and that usually includes sidewalks b : the part of a street reserved for vehicles c : a thoroughfare with abutting property <lives on a fashionable street>
2 : the people occupying property on a street <the whole street knew about the accident>
3 : a promising line of development or a channeling of effort <a crafty politician working both sides of the street> <success through compromise is a two-way street>
4 capitalized a : a district (as Wall Street or Fleet Street) identified with a particular profession b : the people who work in such a district <doing better than the Street expected>
5 : an environment (as in a depressed neighborhood or section of a city) of poverty, dereliction, or crime <grew up on the mean streets>
- on the street or in the street
1 : idle, homeless, or out of a job
2 : out of prison : at liberty
- up one's street or down one's street : suited to one's abilities
A definition of the word skill
The ability to do something well, usually gained through experience and training
Something such as an art or a trade that requires training and experience to do well.
view short training videos here
http://youtube.com/user/malinkychild∞
Street Training on Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/streettraining∞
Street Training Linz blog
http://streettraining.blogspot.com/∞
photos of street training in Linz Austria
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sooperkuh/484116978/in/pool-371252@N20/∞
http://www.flickr.com/photos/streettraininglinz/∞
Street Training on Twitter
http://twitter.com/streettraining∞
to join the mailing list
http://eliot.at/mailman/listinfo/streettrainers∞
Street Training is the name I have given to the overarching framework for my practice: The ability to judge the right time, place and approach to actively engage and when not to engage with the social and physical structures in the street . The art is training ourselves to use our behavior on the streets, by regularly, safely and joyfully exploring ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. To develop as a Street Trainer in relation to other local collaborators, and to undertake peer learning, is crucial. Street Training teaches us that, by focusing our thoughts and behavior, we can affect our surroundings as much as they affect us. Street Training focuses on the conditions of specific urban locations through the senses of specific individuals and frames them in a way that can be tested in any global city.
here is a short training video demonstrating the floor diving technique best done on shiny floors in railways stations and shopping centres. Take a run up and then lie down letting your body slide along the floor.
http://www.youtube.com/v/yK9mKkUA80s∞"
Comments - please use the comments button below to add your own street skills
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