Norman Doidge (2015) points out that Moshé Feldenkrais encapsulated the importance of slow movement awareness with the following: “The delay between thought and action is the basis for awareness” (Doidge, 2015, p. 172).

According to Doidge (2015, p. 169), Feldenkrais is referred to as “one of the first neuroplasticians” who was writing about brain plasticity as early as 1949 (Feldenkrais, 1949). At that time, as noted by Doidge (2015, p. 169), Feldenkrais was of the view “that the brain could form new neural paths.” These new neural pathways, as referenced by Doidge (2015), would be shaped and programmed according to the thoughts and actions of an individual, especially movements that were slow.

This principle of slow movement creating awareness was, according to Doidge (2015), influenced by Feldenkrais’ years of learning, training, and teaching the Eastern martial art of judo. Doidge notes that Feldenkrais emphasised his years of judo experience by stating that slow movements were considered an absolute and immutable part of the entire judo training ethos. This ethos served the purposes of technical development, body and mind judo awareness training, and providing insights into the intricacies and subtle technicalities of judo skills. All of this aimed to cultivate a deep understanding of the essence of judo, both as a skill and as a way of contemplating how the judo body moves in unison with the entire body.

Doidge (2015) notes that, from his observations, Feldenkrais recognised the principle of slow movement and body awareness, which he referred to as the “technical mind,” similarly observed in the martial art movements of tai chi. Furthermore, regarding tai chi, as emphasised by Feldenkrais and reported by Doidge (2015, pp. 172-173), “People learning tai chi practice their movements at glacial speed, with virtually no physical effort.” This perspective was emphasized by Feldenkrais (1941) in his book Practical Unarmed Combat, according to........

© Psychology Today