Abstract
Although mindfulness is currently receiving attention within sport psychology, there is a lack of discussion on the Eastern origins of mindfulness in the extant sport psychology literature. Several mind‒body practices linked to Chinese Chan and Shaolin martial arts are presented in this paper to illustrate their possible relevance to sport psychology. One takeaway message discussed in relation to the flow experience is that mindful performance of Shaolin martial arts is said to be integral to the psychological transformations associated with realisation of Chan (or “suchness,” satori, Enlightenment), supposedly a goal more likely to be pursued by mindfulness practitioners in the Eastern culture than in the West. Research on Dejian mind‒body intervention, dantian breathing and Shaolin internal martial arts such as Baduanjin and Yijinjing are briefly reviewed to examine the potential psychological benefits of such mind‒body practices. Advancement in sport psychology, particularly in relation to mindfulness-related topics, could benefit from a closer examination of Chan and Shaolin martial arts practices.
Highlights
More than a decade has passed since the first empirical research on mindfulness in the sport context was published in an international peer-reviewed sport psychology journal [1]
The purpose of the current paper is to introduce the relevance of Shaolin martial arts for advancing mindfulness research and practice in sport psychology
Mindfulness is currently receiving considerable attention within sport psychology (Baltzell, 2016) [9], there is a lack of discussion on the Eastern origins of mindfulness in the extant sport psychology literature
Summary
More than a decade has passed since the first empirical research on mindfulness in the sport context was published in an international peer-reviewed sport psychology journal With the mindfulness movement and research flourishing in the West (Lee, 2015) [24] and receiving keen interest within sport psychology (Baltzell, 2016 [9]; Baltzell, McCarthy, & Greenbaum, 2014; Baltzell & Summers, 2018 [25,26]), sport psychologists and athletes in the West may soon see the need to access the “origins of mindfulness practices” after becoming familiar with the Western interpretations of mindfulness, as Schmidt (2011) [11] and Shapiro (1992) [23] have speculated Even if it is not for the purpose of self-transformation, i.e., developing one’s own spirituality in the Eastern sense, accessing the “origins of mindfulness practices” or examining traditional practices in the East may provide important clues as to how the mindfulness practices currently adopted in the West within sport psychology can be enhanced. Colleagues previously unware of such work may, upon gaining some understanding, further investigate the value of such practices in the context of sport, and that could possibly enrich the field of sport psychology
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