The Tao of Tennis

Source file: 5._The_Tao_of_Tennis.pdf.txt

Domain: mental-game / eastern-philosophy

Tier: reports/tier-2-topic-depth-gaps

Used in artifact: artifacts/reports/tier-2-topic-depth-gaps.md

Abstract

Eastern-philosophy approach to tennis mental training. Wu-Wei (non-forcing) applied to the swing; the ball as a co-moving object rather than an opponent.

Key points

Wu-Wei (non-forcing) applied to the swing.
The ball is a co-moving object rather than an opponent to be overpowered.
Forcing the swing creates tension that slows the racket.
Meditative acceptance of outcomes.
Awareness of breath and body during the rally.

Raw dump (first ~1000 words)

"Bob Warden's `The Tao of Tennis' is an authentic application of the Tao Te Ching in his effort to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary -- that is, in his attempt to elevate the game of tennis to become an elegant and compelling way of life. His reading of the text from a uniquely `tennis' perspective is nuanced and insightful, and his apposite and persistently original interpretations will raise both the eyebrows and a smile from devotees of the king's game as they ponder the wisdom of this antique text." -- Roger T. Ames, Ph.D., professor of Chinese philosophy, University of Hawai'i at Manoa. "The Tao of Tennis is an intriguing blend of tennis coaching and ancient Eastern philosophy. Bob's adaptation contains nuggets of sage advice, though, as with the original [Tao Te Ching], there are passages that may not seem totally comprehensible to the modern reader. If you can get past this the book is a worthy read. There is certainly much good in it." -- Allen Fox, Ph.D., Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame player (UCLA) and coach (Pepperdine), and author of Tennis: Winning the Mental Match. The Tao of Tennis by Bob Warden Smashwords Edition ISBN: 9781301395699 Copyright 2010-2013 Bob Warden All rights reserved. About the Author Bob Warden is a professional tennis instructor and coach. He's worked with youth and adults, novices and advanced players. A two-time graduate of the University of Washington, Bob's formal studies concentrated in philosophy, English, law, and leadership. He lives near Seattle with his wife Grace, sons Kenneth and Carson, and cats Jasmine and Rajah. Connect with Bob via Twitter: @TAOofTENNIS Author web page: TAOofTENNIS.com Dedication This book is humbly dedicated to my wife, my sons, my brother, my friends at Boeing Employees Tennis Club, and especially to my amazing parents who, after all these years, still regularly come out to the courts and watch their boy play the game he loves. Introduction If it was totally comprehensible it wouldn't be Tao! This book is a chapter by chapter adaptation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the twenty-five hundred year old classic work of Chinese wisdom literature. I'll leave it to the interested reader to Google "Tao Te Ching" for in depth information. In a nutshell, the Tao Te Ching has three basic themes. The primary one is a broad theory of metaphysics, the traditional branch of philosophy that, according to Wikipedia, "attempts to clarify the fundamental notions by which people understand the world, e.g., existence, objects and their properties, space and time, cause and effect, and possibility." The second theme concerns how individuals should act so as to be in harmony with the world. The third concerns how to be a leader in harmony with the world. It's important to note that the Tao Te Ching's counsel is pragmatic, not moralistic. We are advised to act a certain way not because it's the ethical thing to do, but because it's the sensible thing to do; to do otherwise would be counterproductive. I undertook this project with two purposes in mind. The first was to apply the Tao Te Ching specifically to the sport of tennis. It has always applied to tennis (as it does to all human endeavors), but I wanted to make the connection explicit. My second goal was to stay true to the simple and succinct style of the traditional English translations. One of my favorite aspects of the Tao Te Ching is that it's fairly easy to read, but challenging to comprehend. If I've done what I set out to do you will spend considerably more time thinking about these eighty-one brief chapters than actually reading them. As Bj�rn Borg said, "You have to find it. No one else can find it for you." The Tao Te Ching is a map, not a destination. One If it can be captured with words it isn't Tao. Our collective vocabulary is inadequate. A coach describing how to hit a backhand does not enable a novice to hit a backhand. A coach demonstrating a backhand does not enable a novice to hit a backhand. Only through a receptive mind and the direct experience of practice can a novice learn to hit a backhand. Tao is a label for how the universe works. Tao can't be defined but it can be understood. Assigning labels and categories to various aspects of the universe creates the illusion of understanding. But observing and experiencing without prejudice or preconception is the only path to real understanding. Two Without bad days there could be no good days. Good has no meaning independent of bad. There is beauty in the world only because there is ugliness. Winter is cold only because summer is hot. Rafael Nadal is fast and strong only because the rest of us are comparatively slow and weak. If every woman in the world played like Serena Williams then no one would be any good. Any pair that can be conceived as opposites depend on each other for their very meaning. Champions make use of many tools, expending minimal energy while achieving maximum results. Roger Federer glides around quietly and respectfully dominating his opponents, hitting any shot with ease from anywhere on the court. Three Not glorifying star players keeps them grounded. Not valuing some above others prevents jealousy. Not envying the talent of others allows a player to focus on developing her own talent. The wise coach operates by providing players the tools they need to succeed without feeding their egos. Strengthening skills without inflating ambition. Four Tao encompasses everything. The source and principle underlying the universe. Tao maintains balance. Blunting the sharp, honing the dull. Returning the serve, poaching the return. Tao is obvious but counter-intuitive. Hidden in plain view. Everywhere all the time. Five The universe doesn't discriminate. The force of gravity is the same on both sides of the net. The lines on the court are human inventions. The universe doesn't recognize borders. Tao is like a bellows that animates