Kenzo: How was the Okinawa tournament? Please try and write something about it here.
Note: There was a small jam held in Okinawa this weekend, and a bunch of mainlanders attended it. Okinawa is a tropical island pretty south of Japan. It`s sort of like Japan`s equivalent to Hawaii. I was real stoked to hear that a bunch of shredders from Tokyo and Osaka attended this jam for several reasons. First off, the fact that there is a jam in Okinawa is proof that footbag has spread all over Japan. Footbag in Japan isn`t just Tokyo, and that`s of critical importance. Secondly, the fact that Tokyo and Osaka shredders are willing to shell out the time and money to attend a jam thats so far away, shows how close and strong the Japanese footbag community has become. I`m very anxious to hear a tournament report.
Adam and Kenzo: I`m coming to Osaka for my birthday! I will fly into Osaka on Friday, April 15th, and leave on Monday night, the 18th. It sounds like Henmo will no longer be in town, so could I crash with one of you? Or could you ask around? It`d be rad to get a big birthday jam on Saturday and Sunday, could be real good practice for TSG3 which is only 2 weekends later.
Adam: Glad you`re back in the game. Next time we play you should teach me frantic set. You should also try and make it to Tokyo sometime to play.
Nice work on the blog so far... Kenzo ganbatte! I want to read more Kenzo posts!
Kankeri Japan
Thanks for the message Ken. I'll try to get Kenzo to write up a report.
Ken:
You're more than welcome to stay at my place during that time! It would be nice to kick with you outside of tournament mode. I'll check with Kenzo also because you might want to stay at his place since it is more convenient (right in the heart of Osaka). It takes about two hours from my house to Osaka! But there are some nice onsens up here!
Looking forward to the session in a couple of days. I just finished a massive translation project so I feel a little lighter...
Ken:
You're more than welcome to stay at my place during that time! It would be nice to kick with you outside of tournament mode. I'll check with Kenzo also because you might want to stay at his place since it is more convenient (right in the heart of Osaka). It takes about two hours from my house to Osaka! But there are some nice onsens up here!
Looking forward to the session in a couple of days. I just finished a massive translation project so I feel a little lighter...
ＯＦＭ２ was held in Okinawa on the 20th of February. About 30 people came and played there.Okinawa is a small island.
From Tokyo 2 people.
From Sizuoka 1 person.
From Osaka 6 people visited.
The contest was structured Phat Combo and Sick Trick.
Let me introduce the main players' tricks and combos.
Phat combo:
USK (from Tokyo): pixie butt > blurry whirl
Kim (from Tokyo): toe blur > atom smasher
Karzu(from Okinawa): paradon > osis
Sick Trick:
USK: blurry Whirl
Kenzo: blurriest
My impressions of Okinawa besides the competition:
Okinawa has very comfortable weather, and there are many people from other countries. Chatan city is nicer than other cities. There stands Ferris wheel, and the floor is made of wood.
Anyway, Okinawa is tourist attraction of Japan.
Ken:
You can stay at my apartment. My apartment is near Nanba station.
I'm looking forward to seeing you.
From Tokyo 2 people.
From Sizuoka 1 person.
From Osaka 6 people visited.
The contest was structured Phat Combo and Sick Trick.
Let me introduce the main players' tricks and combos.
Phat combo:
USK (from Tokyo): pixie butt > blurry whirl
Kim (from Tokyo): toe blur > atom smasher
Karzu(from Okinawa): paradon > osis
Sick Trick:
USK: blurry Whirl
Kenzo: blurriest
My impressions of Okinawa besides the competition:
Okinawa has very comfortable weather, and there are many people from other countries. Chatan city is nicer than other cities. There stands Ferris wheel, and the floor is made of wood.
Anyway, Okinawa is tourist attraction of Japan.
Ken:
You can stay at my apartment. My apartment is near Nanba station.
I'm looking forward to seeing you.
Kenzo Ogawa
West Japan shredder
West Japan shredder
Nice report Kenzo! Keep up the good work on your English!
Kenzo and I had a session today. We got off to a late start because I had to do some finishing touches on a translation project. We started at about 5pm. Right as we walked out of my apartment it started raining (like it always does when I try to play footbag!). So we wandered around and ended up at the Kyoto International Conference Hall. This is the place where the Kyoto Protocol was written up. There was a nice well-lit area with a roof so we started to play. We were about 45 minutes into our session when the security guard kicked us out. So we went into the subway station and in a few minutes had the same security guard kicking us out again! At least he was nice about it. So we hit up our third shred spot: a parking lot under a large bookstore. It was a little dirty but proved to be usable.
Highlights:
+Osis>spinning clip>(repeat)
+Other zooming stuff, mostly out of ducking osis, torques, etc.
+I was hitting consecutive gyro clippers pretty consistently
+We drilled torques and paradox torques. Kenzo and I had a few nice paradox torques. Kenzo was really close to paradox torque>paradox torque! I was hitting some stepping stuff out of torques pretty well.
+My blurry whirls and blurriests are getting lighter and smoother.
+I had a run with drifter>ripwalk BSOS
+In general we've been working on runs with lots of spinning and ducking-type tricks.
I realized the importance of torques and paradox torques for learning to use the upper body. Torque-type tricks take a lot of fine tuning but they are well worth the work because they help with the overall use of the body. The combo drifter>torque>(repeat) has a paradox motion between the drifter and torque which makes this drill hard. I had never really thought about paradox in this way but it makes sense.
Kenzo is really close to CLOWNFACE!! The boy's crazy, just crazy!!!
Kenzo and I had a session today. We got off to a late start because I had to do some finishing touches on a translation project. We started at about 5pm. Right as we walked out of my apartment it started raining (like it always does when I try to play footbag!). So we wandered around and ended up at the Kyoto International Conference Hall. This is the place where the Kyoto Protocol was written up. There was a nice well-lit area with a roof so we started to play. We were about 45 minutes into our session when the security guard kicked us out. So we went into the subway station and in a few minutes had the same security guard kicking us out again! At least he was nice about it. So we hit up our third shred spot: a parking lot under a large bookstore. It was a little dirty but proved to be usable.
Highlights:
+Osis>spinning clip>(repeat)
+Other zooming stuff, mostly out of ducking osis, torques, etc.
+I was hitting consecutive gyro clippers pretty consistently
+We drilled torques and paradox torques. Kenzo and I had a few nice paradox torques. Kenzo was really close to paradox torque>paradox torque! I was hitting some stepping stuff out of torques pretty well.
+My blurry whirls and blurriests are getting lighter and smoother.
+I had a run with drifter>ripwalk BSOS
+In general we've been working on runs with lots of spinning and ducking-type tricks.
I realized the importance of torques and paradox torques for learning to use the upper body. Torque-type tricks take a lot of fine tuning but they are well worth the work because they help with the overall use of the body. The combo drifter>torque>(repeat) has a paradox motion between the drifter and torque which makes this drill hard. I had never really thought about paradox in this way but it makes sense.
Kenzo is really close to CLOWNFACE!! The boy's crazy, just crazy!!!
As I mentioned earlier, here is a little sample of some of my guitar playing. I have been studying seriously for about 12 years. I know there are some other guitar players on this forum who might enjoy this so let me know what you think!
Prelude from the first cello suite by Bach:
http://adammadam.hp.infoseek.co.jp/20050224.wmv
Prelude from the first cello suite by Bach:
http://adammadam.hp.infoseek.co.jp/20050224.wmv
A quick update:
Had a short session today. I played in the library of my school. The floor was covered with a thin carpet so it was easy on the bones. Nothing really out-of-the-ordinary today, although I did notice a few things:
On spinning or ducking type tricks where the bag is set relatively high, it helps to slighty 'sink' with the whole body as you do your clipper. I was able to get a nice rhythm going of sink and rise, sink and rise. Zooming, spinning, and ducking all became a little smoother after I started being aware of this.
I love millet bread! I used to bake millet bread every weekend. My friend used to bake millet bread naked every weekend! Naked bread-baking with your lover on a Sunday morn', what could be better?!
Ok, back to footbag. The other thing I was being more aware of today was the specific relation of the bag to my leg during a dex. I find that if I can get a clear visual image of the path my leg will travel around the bag, my dexes become much cleaner. Of course this is obvious but my image of the bag and my leg often can get a little fuzzy. It's subtle. But as they say, ''subtle is significant''. Or sometimes my image of the bag in relation to my leg doesn't match with reality; like people who think that the place the body bends at is at the waist, not the hip joints.
Let's see more classical piano music in routines! There is an awesome Rakhmaninov piano piece that would be excellent for a routine.
And a joke to end:
Stock market report at the end of the world:
The Tao remains the same.
I'm outy...
Had a short session today. I played in the library of my school. The floor was covered with a thin carpet so it was easy on the bones. Nothing really out-of-the-ordinary today, although I did notice a few things:
On spinning or ducking type tricks where the bag is set relatively high, it helps to slighty 'sink' with the whole body as you do your clipper. I was able to get a nice rhythm going of sink and rise, sink and rise. Zooming, spinning, and ducking all became a little smoother after I started being aware of this.
I love millet bread! I used to bake millet bread every weekend. My friend used to bake millet bread naked every weekend! Naked bread-baking with your lover on a Sunday morn', what could be better?!
Ok, back to footbag. The other thing I was being more aware of today was the specific relation of the bag to my leg during a dex. I find that if I can get a clear visual image of the path my leg will travel around the bag, my dexes become much cleaner. Of course this is obvious but my image of the bag and my leg often can get a little fuzzy. It's subtle. But as they say, ''subtle is significant''. Or sometimes my image of the bag in relation to my leg doesn't match with reality; like people who think that the place the body bends at is at the waist, not the hip joints.
Let's see more classical piano music in routines! There is an awesome Rakhmaninov piano piece that would be excellent for a routine.
And a joke to end:
Stock market report at the end of the world:
The Tao remains the same.
I'm outy...
Have to rescue my blog from the deep recesses of the second page!
My folks came to Japan so we have been spending lots of time together. Maybe I'll try to get in a session today. Kenzo is going to San Francisco this weekend for about six days.Anyone who can make it out there should try to make the trip! He will be staying at a youth hostel and probably will hook up with Sunil and the Vu brothers.
Here's your chance to shred with Kenzo!!!
I had a session in Tokyo this last weekend. I was really impressed with Takumi's stuff. I am definitely with Ken about Takumi's style being like Felix's.
Highlights for me:
+Pixie paradons all over the place, both sides.
+Drifter>torque BSOS (This gets an extra 'mid-move' paradox add in my book)
+Lots of ducking, diving, weaving, and zulus (I like hitting all possible variations in one run)
+Mid-run blurriest
+Barfly>barfly a few times mid-run
+Paradox egg BSOS (I always get confused with bubba beaters and paradox eggs. Both moves have the same feel)
+Lots of spinning combos. I really like hitting spinning clipper>gyro clipper>(rpt) midstring.
My folks came to Japan so we have been spending lots of time together. Maybe I'll try to get in a session today. Kenzo is going to San Francisco this weekend for about six days.Anyone who can make it out there should try to make the trip! He will be staying at a youth hostel and probably will hook up with Sunil and the Vu brothers.
Here's your chance to shred with Kenzo!!! I had a session in Tokyo this last weekend. I was really impressed with Takumi's stuff. I am definitely with Ken about Takumi's style being like Felix's.
Highlights for me:
+Pixie paradons all over the place, both sides.
+Drifter>torque BSOS (This gets an extra 'mid-move' paradox add in my book)
+Lots of ducking, diving, weaving, and zulus (I like hitting all possible variations in one run)
+Mid-run blurriest
+Barfly>barfly a few times mid-run
+Paradox egg BSOS (I always get confused with bubba beaters and paradox eggs. Both moves have the same feel)
+Lots of spinning combos. I really like hitting spinning clipper>gyro clipper>(rpt) midstring.
Had a nice sweaty session in a dirty parking garage in downtown Kyoto. I kicked myself in the thigh on a syposium bubba a few times and it left big black streaks on me. I like this parking garage but it is dirty.
Highlights:
+Fiesta BSOS
+Flip ps whirl
+Flip spinning paradox whirl
+pixie ss double down
+Footed flip scorpion's tail
+paradon>barfly bs
+Legbeater BSOS
I've got all the pieces for plasticman I just need to put him together.
Atomic: rather than bringing the dexing leg up, stomp down over the bag.
PS whirl: don't wait too long before you jump for the symposium.
Overall, I feel like my game is in a transitional period. I don't feel a big difference in either side of my body, and my strong and weak sides are changing sides recently! It feels like my nervous system is going through a rewiring...
Highlights:
+Fiesta BSOS
+Flip ps whirl
+Flip spinning paradox whirl
+pixie ss double down
+Footed flip scorpion's tail
+paradon>barfly bs
+Legbeater BSOS
I've got all the pieces for plasticman I just need to put him together.
Atomic: rather than bringing the dexing leg up, stomp down over the bag.
PS whirl: don't wait too long before you jump for the symposium.
Overall, I feel like my game is in a transitional period. I don't feel a big difference in either side of my body, and my strong and weak sides are changing sides recently! It feels like my nervous system is going through a rewiring...
Thanks Matt and Mitya for the comments! Matt, I hope to get some more videos up this summer. I am recording the first cello suite by Bach now. It feels good to have my hands in shape.
I haven't been to the forum recently. I was out with a cold for awhile and there was also that computer virus that kept me away. I've been doing a lot guitar practice recently too. And trying to land a date with Kaori!
I had orientation at my university today and talked with a Vietnamese friend of mine. He had returned to Vietnam over the school break and brought me back a shuttlecock! It is so cool! It is made of real feathers and little plastic disks that give it a spring. We were kicking it around today and it has quite a different feel than a footbag. It really flies!
Updates from recent sessions:
Went down to Osaka last weekend and because I had been sick I decided to do some simple drills to get my touch back:
+butter>paradox mirage (all repeat)
+butter>par. illusion
+magellan>plo
+smear>plo
+diving clip>ducking clip
+weaving clip>zulu clip
+spinning clip>drifter
+spinning clip>ducking clip
toe drifter>bubba beater!
+whirl>drifter
+toe drifter>dlo
Also, I worked on barraging set a little and could feel it starting to come together.
Today's session. By myself. Did a little drilling and a little shredding:
I hit toe whirl, whirl, and paradox whirl all BSOS in one run and toe drifter, drifter, paradox drifter all BSOS in one run while warming up. Also nailed tomahawk pretty easily on both sides. Torques felt good today also.
I have been so close to toe whirl>gyro mirage (repeat)!
May the force be with you...God, I hope everything works out between this girl and I!!!
I haven't been to the forum recently. I was out with a cold for awhile and there was also that computer virus that kept me away. I've been doing a lot guitar practice recently too. And trying to land a date with Kaori!
I had orientation at my university today and talked with a Vietnamese friend of mine. He had returned to Vietnam over the school break and brought me back a shuttlecock! It is so cool! It is made of real feathers and little plastic disks that give it a spring. We were kicking it around today and it has quite a different feel than a footbag. It really flies!
Updates from recent sessions:
Went down to Osaka last weekend and because I had been sick I decided to do some simple drills to get my touch back:
+butter>paradox mirage (all repeat)
+butter>par. illusion
+magellan>plo
+smear>plo
+diving clip>ducking clip
+weaving clip>zulu clip
+spinning clip>drifter
+spinning clip>ducking clip
toe drifter>bubba beater!+whirl>drifter
+toe drifter>dlo
Also, I worked on barraging set a little and could feel it starting to come together.
Today's session. By myself. Did a little drilling and a little shredding:
I hit toe whirl, whirl, and paradox whirl all BSOS in one run and toe drifter, drifter, paradox drifter all BSOS in one run while warming up. Also nailed tomahawk pretty easily on both sides. Torques felt good today also.
I have been so close to toe whirl>gyro mirage (repeat)!
May the force be with you...God, I hope everything works out between this girl and I!!!
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QuantumBalance
- 100-Watt Warlock
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- Joined: 22 Apr 2002 14:24
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- Contact:
Ohaiyo nihonjins - Totemo sigoi yo! I just happened to find a copy of that drills list on my wall a week ago and so far I have hit about 3/4 of them. Gyro mirage > toe whirl > repeat was a tough but rewarding one. Good luck hitting it. Also, are those drills still posted on line? I guess I'll run a search. Keep it up!
WA KA TA YOOOOOOOOO
-samurai
WA KA TA YOOOOOOOOO
-samurai
Just got back from a massive session in Osaka. Ken came down and stayed for a few nights. It was really nice to get to spend some time with Ken. We all stayed at Kenzo's place and watched DVDs and talked some footbag. Ken was just getting over the flu but he looked pretty good today during our session.
Kenzo and I also had an intense two-day session last week. I don't remember much about what I hit but Kenzo was on! He hit plasticman, almost plasticman with flurries, and drifter>torque (repeat).
Today's session was great. Playing with Ken confirmed my feeling that there are things that you can't learn by watching videos of players. You have to see it in person and somehow the overall way a good player moves with the bag is transmitted--it's very subtle!
I was feeling good today and hit:
Bedwetter!!! (first time)
Sidewalk>ripwalk drill (finally!)
15 alternating rakes! (new personal record)
Really close to drifter>torque drill
A run with gyro butterfly BSOS
Just a few thoughts, as I am worn out! I had an image today of keeping the bag really low, and it seemed to help. I don't know if in actual reality the bag was lower, but I was trying to always stall the bag as low as possible. Somehow this helped give me more freedom and time in my shred.
Everyone was having a massive four-square session but I was intent on shredding. Man, I burned my legs so hard today! Felt great! I came back a bit earlier and had dinner with a friend of mine at a 'family restaurant'. Now I think I'll spend the rest of the evening with my new Bach CD of harpsichord music played by Bob van Asperen...
Kenzo and I also had an intense two-day session last week. I don't remember much about what I hit but Kenzo was on! He hit plasticman, almost plasticman with flurries, and drifter>torque (repeat).
Today's session was great. Playing with Ken confirmed my feeling that there are things that you can't learn by watching videos of players. You have to see it in person and somehow the overall way a good player moves with the bag is transmitted--it's very subtle!
I was feeling good today and hit:
Bedwetter!!! (first time)
Sidewalk>ripwalk drill (finally!)
15 alternating rakes! (new personal record)
Really close to drifter>torque drill
A run with gyro butterfly BSOS
Just a few thoughts, as I am worn out! I had an image today of keeping the bag really low, and it seemed to help. I don't know if in actual reality the bag was lower, but I was trying to always stall the bag as low as possible. Somehow this helped give me more freedom and time in my shred.
Everyone was having a massive four-square session but I was intent on shredding. Man, I burned my legs so hard today! Felt great! I came back a bit earlier and had dinner with a friend of mine at a 'family restaurant'. Now I think I'll spend the rest of the evening with my new Bach CD of harpsichord music played by Bob van Asperen...