Go with the Flow Arts | Josh Smythe | TEDxDunedin

hi my name is Josh and I’m hadn’t even

hi my name is Josh and I’m hadn’t even vais Florida’s

vais Florida’s

vais Florida’s and also the head of the Dunedin

and also the head of the Dunedin

and also the head of the Dunedin Florence program the flow arts are a

Florence program the flow arts are a

Florence program the flow arts are a series of disciplines that draw on

series of disciplines that draw on

series of disciplines that draw on cultural and martial traditions from

cultural and martial traditions from

cultural and martial traditions from around the world like mo Li Po and Tai

around the world like mo Li Po and Tai

around the world like mo Li Po and Tai aha

aha

aha yoga hacky sack breakdancing Shaolin

yoga hacky sack breakdancing Shaolin

yoga hacky sack breakdancing Shaolin staff and rope dot all of these can be

staff and rope dot all of these can be

staff and rope dot all of these can be encompassed under the flow arts term and

encompassed under the flow arts term and

encompassed under the flow arts term and this is because of the propensity that

this is because of the propensity that

this is because of the propensity that those disciplines have to induce a state

those disciplines have to induce a state

those disciplines have to induce a state of meditative and creative flow defined

of meditative and creative flow defined

of meditative and creative flow defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his dental

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his dental

by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his dental as a state of energized focus where one

as a state of energized focus where one

as a state of energized focus where one is fully immersed in the current

is fully immersed in the current

is fully immersed in the current activity that one is engaged in to the

activity that one is engaged in to the

activity that one is engaged in to the point where you can lose track of space

point where you can lose track of space

point where you can lose track of space of time and of yourself it’s an

of time and of yourself it’s an

of time and of yourself it’s an extremely empowering state to be in it

extremely empowering state to be in it

extremely empowering state to be in it feels awesome when you just let go of

feels awesome when you just let go of

feels awesome when you just let go of everything go with the flow and you’re

everything go with the flow and you’re

everything go with the flow and you’re in the zone you know it’s in our

in the zone you know it’s in our

in the zone you know it’s in our language and it’s when you achieve a

language and it’s when you achieve a

language and it’s when you achieve a certain level of proficiency to the

certain level of proficiency to the

certain level of proficiency to the point where you can just let go and

point where you can just let go and

point where you can just let go and creatively kind of flow it’s often

creatively kind of flow it’s often

creatively kind of flow it’s often common for people that really connect

common for people that really connect

common for people that really connect with the flow arts to quickly integrate

with the flow arts to quickly integrate

with the flow arts to quickly integrate them into their lives as a central

them into their lives as a central

them into their lives as a central practice I’m certain people seem to be

practice I’m certain people seem to be

practice I’m certain people seem to be particularly conducive to working up the

particularly conducive to working up the

particularly conducive to working up the practice but the most powerful aspect

practice but the most powerful aspect

practice but the most powerful aspect that I encountered was the community or

that I encountered was the community or

that I encountered was the community or the culture is built around shared

the culture is built around shared

the culture is built around shared growth and learning I came to university

growth and learning I came to university

growth and learning I came to university at all of 18 years old and I’d rather

at all of 18 years old and I’d rather

at all of 18 years old and I’d rather rough upbringing so vitae

rough upbringing so vitae

rough upbringing so vitae kind of trade um a whole host of

kind of trade um a whole host of

kind of trade um a whole host of negative traits addictions anxiety

negative traits addictions anxiety

negative traits addictions anxiety depression apathy lethargy was rather

depression apathy lethargy was rather

depression apathy lethargy was rather antisocial way too addicted to my games

antisocial way too addicted to my games

antisocial way too addicted to my games my screens and I spend most of my time

my screens and I spend most of my time

my screens and I spend most of my time in my room or in class I remember

in my room or in class I remember

in my room or in class I remember distinctly walking through campus one

distinctly walking through campus one

distinctly walking through campus one night just walking around and bumping

night just walking around and bumping

night just walking around and bumping into members of the Dunedin fire and

into members of the Dunedin fire and

into members of the Dunedin fire and circus club on the Union lon spinning

circus club on the Union lon spinning

circus club on the Union lon spinning fire right there in front of everyone

fire right there in front of everyone

fire right there in front of everyone and it was fantastic you know to see a

and it was fantastic you know to see a

and it was fantastic you know to see a group of people it was standing up a New

group of people it was standing up a New

group of people it was standing up a New Zealand culture you know tall poppy

Zealand culture you know tall poppy

Zealand culture you know tall poppy syndrome just endemic here

syndrome just endemic here

syndrome just endemic here to see a bunch of people standing up in

to see a bunch of people standing up in

to see a bunch of people standing up in front of everyone performing and sharing

front of everyone performing and sharing

front of everyone performing and sharing their passion for their talent and their

their passion for their talent and their

their passion for their talent and their craft and encouraging each other you

craft and encouraging each other you

craft and encouraging each other you know people were experimenting and

know people were experimenting and

know people were experimenting and playing and failing and I was encouraged

playing and failing and I was encouraged

playing and failing and I was encouraged and people were supporting that behavior

and people were supporting that behavior

and people were supporting that behavior you know there’s a there’s a tradition

you know there’s a there’s a tradition

you know there’s a there’s a tradition in Flora’s culture when someone drops

in Flora’s culture when someone drops

in Flora’s culture when someone drops everyone claps because it means they

everyone claps because it means they

everyone claps because it means they tried something new it means that they

tried something new it means that they

tried something new it means that they tried to challenge themselves

tried to challenge themselves

tried to challenge themselves so I rapidly was became really involved

so I rapidly was became really involved

so I rapidly was became really involved in the society and mediately I was like

in the society and mediately I was like

in the society and mediately I was like these are the guys I want to hang out

these are the guys I want to hang out

these are the guys I want to hang out with the people that are happy and

with the people that are happy and

with the people that are happy and empowered and sharing with each other

empowered and sharing with each other

empowered and sharing with each other you know it’s a first year and uni there

you know it’s a first year and uni there

you know it’s a first year and uni there aren’t heaps of cultural options so when

aren’t heaps of cultural options so when

aren’t heaps of cultural options so when I discovered this one it was just this

I discovered this one it was just this

I discovered this one it was just this is the one for me yeah so I started

is the one for me yeah so I started

is the one for me yeah so I started going to the weekly practice it was

going to the weekly practice it was

going to the weekly practice it was anywhere from 60 to 80 people gathered

anywhere from 60 to 80 people gathered

anywhere from 60 to 80 people gathered in this massive hall on campus and they

in this massive hall on campus and they

in this massive hall on campus and they don’t just be playing you know we call

don’t just be playing you know we call

don’t just be playing you know we call them the toys and people would be

them the toys and people would be

them the toys and people would be sharing and learning with each other and

sharing and learning with each other and

sharing and learning with each other and trying new things and it’s fascinating

trying new things and it’s fascinating

trying new things and it’s fascinating when you get a large group of

when you get a large group of

when you get a large group of individuals that are participating in

individuals that are participating in

individuals that are participating in flow State together this really

flow State together this really

flow State together this really wonderful field effect comes about or

wonderful field effect comes about or

wonderful field effect comes about or each of those individuals as driven to

each of those individuals as driven to

each of those individuals as driven to push themselves to contribute to the

push themselves to contribute to the

push themselves to contribute to the community and you see this like creative

community and you see this like creative

community and you see this like creative exploration just kind of exploding out

exploration just kind of exploding out

exploration just kind of exploding out of people it’s a really really powerful

of people it’s a really really powerful

of people it’s a really really powerful thing to observe and the disciplines

thing to observe and the disciplines

thing to observe and the disciplines themselves are really accessible you

themselves are really accessible you

themselves are really accessible you know the stuff you just literally just

know the stuff you just literally just

know the stuff you just literally just pick up the stuff and you can start

pick up the stuff and you can start

pick up the stuff and you can start waving it around or a pair of POI

waving it around or a pair of POI

waving it around or a pair of POI it’s as simple as wanting to be involved

it’s as simple as wanting to be involved

it’s as simple as wanting to be involved taking that first step and then you find

taking that first step and then you find

taking that first step and then you find out quickly that there’s really kind of

out quickly that there’s really kind of

out quickly that there’s really kind of clearly discernible learning pathway

clearly discernible learning pathway

clearly discernible learning pathway there’s different paths you can take

there’s different paths you can take

there’s different paths you can take within even just one prop those

within even just one prop those

within even just one prop those different techniques and styles and

different techniques and styles and

different techniques and styles and attributes and as you’ve become more

attributes and as you’ve become more

attributes and as you’ve become more skilled and unlocks further moves that

skilled and unlocks further moves that

skilled and unlocks further moves that then cross over and then you can start

then cross over and then you can start

then cross over and then you can start doing combos and really getting into a

doing combos and really getting into a

doing combos and really getting into a state of really complex movement in the

state of really complex movement in the

state of really complex movement in the middle of this flow flow State and then

middle of this flow flow State and then

middle of this flow flow State and then we come to fire fire is a really

we come to fire fire is a really

we come to fire fire is a really powerful experience for humans it’s the

powerful experience for humans it’s the

powerful experience for humans it’s the the force that brought us out of the

the force that brought us out of the

the force that brought us out of the caves they gave us the capability to

caves they gave us the capability to

caves they gave us the capability to alter the environment around us and

alter the environment around us and

alter the environment around us and because of this power and

because of this power and

because of this power and you know the capability to destroy it is

you know the capability to destroy it is

you know the capability to destroy it is often reacted to with quite a lot of

often reacted to with quite a lot of

often reacted to with quite a lot of fear people often quite scared a fire

fear people often quite scared a fire

fear people often quite scared a fire and even you know the whole wrist of the

and even you know the whole wrist of the

and even you know the whole wrist of the other kingdom of animals that we are

other kingdom of animals that we are

other kingdom of animals that we are also part of just terrified of fire you

also part of just terrified of fire you

also part of just terrified of fire you know animals just run away but um as

know animals just run away but um as

know animals just run away but um as humans we have the capacity to challenge

humans we have the capacity to challenge

humans we have the capacity to challenge that and to really engage with that as a

that and to really engage with that as a

that and to really engage with that as a process so yeah so when the flow artist

process so yeah so when the flow artist

process so yeah so when the flow artist reaches a certain level of proficiency

reaches a certain level of proficiency

reaches a certain level of proficiency in their art and when they’re ready we

in their art and when they’re ready we

in their art and when they’re ready we facilitate their first fire-spinning

facilitate their first fire-spinning

facilitate their first fire-spinning experience and it’s quite magical to see

experience and it’s quite magical to see

experience and it’s quite magical to see this person who is maybe only dip their

this person who is maybe only dip their

this person who is maybe only dip their toes and recently has been coming along

toes and recently has been coming along

toes and recently has been coming along take the responsibility and the trust

take the responsibility and the trust

take the responsibility and the trust onto themselves to engage in this

onto themselves to engage in this

onto themselves to engage in this potentially dangerous activity and it’s

potentially dangerous activity and it’s

potentially dangerous activity and it’s it’s a rite of passage

it’s a rite of passage

it’s a rite of passage you know the whole community comes

you know the whole community comes

you know the whole community comes together and we watch this person and we

together and we watch this person and we

together and we watch this person and we support them and this trust and respect

support them and this trust and respect

support them and this trust and respect going both ways from the community to

going both ways from the community to

going both ways from the community to the individual and from the individual

the individual and from the individual

the individual and from the individual back out to the community it’s a real

back out to the community it’s a real

back out to the community it’s a real celebration growth celebration it’s not

celebration growth celebration it’s not

celebration growth celebration it’s not much of it today’s society and yeah so

much of it today’s society and yeah so

much of it today’s society and yeah so when you have these this combination of

when you have these this combination of

when you have these this combination of powerful transformative experiences

powerful transformative experiences

powerful transformative experiences where you get to really face this

where you get to really face this

where you get to really face this ingrained evolutionary fear and you’re

ingrained evolutionary fear and you’re

ingrained evolutionary fear and you’re engaged in these learning pathways we

engaged in these learning pathways we

engaged in these learning pathways we break down these really complex

break down these really complex

break down these really complex movements into you know simple

movements into you know simple

movements into you know simple increments that are achievable it gives

increments that are achievable it gives

increments that are achievable it gives you a really powerful toolkit then you

you a really powerful toolkit then you

you a really powerful toolkit then you can take to the risk of your life and

can take to the risk of your life and

can take to the risk of your life and like I quickly noticed at least the

like I quickly noticed at least the

like I quickly noticed at least the overspill of these new modes of view and

overspill of these new modes of view and

overspill of these new modes of view and reality into the other areas of my life

reality into the other areas of my life

reality into the other areas of my life like I mentioned I was not particularly

like I mentioned I was not particularly

like I mentioned I was not particularly socially apt in my first years at uni I

socially apt in my first years at uni I

socially apt in my first years at uni I hadn’t had the same opportunity used to

hadn’t had the same opportunity used to

hadn’t had the same opportunity used to grow and develop and learn those lessons

grow and develop and learn those lessons

grow and develop and learn those lessons everyone else had and so I started

everyone else had and so I started

everyone else had and so I started looking at it like I looked at learning

looking at it like I looked at learning

looking at it like I looked at learning stuff through the flow arts breaking it

stuff through the flow arts breaking it

stuff through the flow arts breaking it down into the individual interactions

down into the individual interactions

down into the individual interactions and the individual skills and talents

and the individual skills and talents

and the individual skills and talents that people were using to engage with

that people were using to engage with

that people were using to engage with each other and through spinning fire you

each other and through spinning fire you

each other and through spinning fire you know after you’ve spun fire for a while

know after you’ve spun fire for a while

know after you’ve spun fire for a while nothing is scary I tell you what once

nothing is scary I tell you what once

nothing is scary I tell you what once you’ve mastered that fear so like you

you’ve mastered that fear so like you

you’ve mastered that fear so like you know holding eye contact or entering

know holding eye contact or entering

know holding eye contact or entering into new social situations became really

into new social situations became really

into new social situations became really easy for me after you know really

easy for me after you know really

easy for me after you know really kind of mastering just primeval kind of

kind of mastering just primeval kind of

kind of mastering just primeval kind of instinct that we’re all we’re all stuck

instinct that we’re all we’re all stuck

instinct that we’re all we’re all stuck with until we BT and the most exciting

with until we BT and the most exciting

with until we BT and the most exciting thing is I’ve seen this effect again and

thing is I’ve seen this effect again and

thing is I’ve seen this effect again and again and again people come into our

again and again people come into our

again and again people come into our community and now show up and you could

community and now show up and you could

community and now show up and you could see them at Club the practice we have

see them at Club the practice we have

see them at Club the practice we have every week you know they’re kind of

every week you know they’re kind of

every week you know they’re kind of looking around they’re not too short and

looking around they’re not too short and

looking around they’re not too short and then because our community is full of

then because our community is full of

then because our community is full of loving wonderful teachers somewhere will

loving wonderful teachers somewhere will

loving wonderful teachers somewhere will come up and offer them a toy give them

come up and offer them a toy give them

come up and offer them a toy give them to give them a gateway into the

to give them a gateway into the

to give them a gateway into the community and you know bring them along

community and you know bring them along

community and you know bring them along do you want to learn something would you

do you want to learn something would you

do you want to learn something would you like to get involved and you see people

like to get involved and you see people

like to get involved and you see people rapidly progress through this pathway

rapidly progress through this pathway

rapidly progress through this pathway and when you combine those factors of

and when you combine those factors of

and when you combine those factors of mastering fear learning how to learn

mastering fear learning how to learn

mastering fear learning how to learn with a really nurturing and warm

with a really nurturing and warm

with a really nurturing and warm community you get a culture that pumps

community you get a culture that pumps

community you get a culture that pumps out leaders and teaches healers and

out leaders and teaches healers and

out leaders and teaches healers and innovators and is one of this very room

innovators and is one of this very room

innovators and is one of this very room who bored us not lovely food tonight and

who bored us not lovely food tonight and

who bored us not lovely food tonight and it’s a really powerful force I have a

it’s a really powerful force I have a

it’s a really powerful force I have a vision for the future of the culture in

vision for the future of the culture in

vision for the future of the culture in this country and it’s no one that’s

this country and it’s no one that’s

this country and it’s no one that’s built around violence or alcoholism it’s

built around violence or alcoholism it’s

built around violence or alcoholism it’s not one that like locks people out or

not one that like locks people out or

not one that like locks people out or shows people how they should be

shows people how they should be

shows people how they should be it’s one of openness and sharing in

it’s one of openness and sharing in

it’s one of openness and sharing in collaboration that’s open to any who

collaboration that’s open to any who

collaboration that’s open to any who wish to take it up this year we’ve seen

wish to take it up this year we’ve seen

wish to take it up this year we’ve seen a rapid expansion in the Florence in

a rapid expansion in the Florence in

a rapid expansion in the Florence in Dunedin I was fortunate enough to find

Dunedin I was fortunate enough to find

Dunedin I was fortunate enough to find funding through the Ministry of Social

funding through the Ministry of Social

funding through the Ministry of Social Development the government thought it

Development the government thought it

Development the government thought it was a great idea

was a great idea

was a great idea to teach kids how to spin fire and I’ll

to teach kids how to spin fire and I’ll

to teach kids how to spin fire and I’ll tell you what there’s nothing more

tell you what there’s nothing more

tell you what there’s nothing more powerful with than watching an

powerful with than watching an

powerful with than watching an eight-year-old spinning fire like a boss

eight-year-old spinning fire like a boss

eight-year-old spinning fire like a boss like that those kids have gone through

like that those kids have gone through

like that those kids have gone through some awesome pathways already I wish I

some awesome pathways already I wish I

some awesome pathways already I wish I had that let’s go yeah so we’re teaching

had that let’s go yeah so we’re teaching

had that let’s go yeah so we’re teaching in three schools were performed at over

in three schools were performed at over

in three schools were performed at over 30 major community events in Dunedin the

30 major community events in Dunedin the

30 major community events in Dunedin the most prestigious of which would be the

most prestigious of which would be the

most prestigious of which would be the midwinter carnival and we’re quickly

midwinter carnival and we’re quickly

midwinter carnival and we’re quickly planning for expansion next year we’re

planning for expansion next year we’re

planning for expansion next year we’re looking to take what we’ve done in turn

looking to take what we’ve done in turn

looking to take what we’ve done in turn even as a model to take it to schools to

even as a model to take it to schools to

even as a model to take it to schools to take it to the Ministry of Education as

take it to the Ministry of Education as

take it to the Ministry of Education as an example of what can be achieved of

an example of what can be achieved of

an example of what can be achieved of how to engage people they’ve otherwise

how to engage people they’ve otherwise

how to engage people they’ve otherwise fallen off the tracks or maybe haven’t

fallen off the tracks or maybe haven’t

fallen off the tracks or maybe haven’t even had a reason or an opportunity to

even had a reason or an opportunity to

even had a reason or an opportunity to engage before so we’re looking for too

engage before so we’re looking for too

engage before so we’re looking for too much expansion thank you for listening

much expansion thank you for listening

much expansion thank you for listening to my story the fire has been lit in the

to my story the fire has been lit in the

to my story the fire has been lit in the flames and now spreading