Matt Christopher - Confessions of a Shredder in London, UK

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 28 Dec 2005 03:08

Jan 20th could work, stay in touch. Hope the knee heals up.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 20 Jan 2006 18:19

Meeting an Aussie for a shred tomorrow afternoon. Haven't had a serious session in a few weeks, should be a scream.

Outdoor conditions are becoming far more agreeable over here, so hopefully I can get my game on again before long.

Canthraxsoldier · Post by **Canthraxsoldier** » 20 Jan 2006 21:40

who is the aussie?

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 21 Jan 2006 02:46

A gent by the name of Steven Kiernan.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 24 Jan 2006 07:15

Really beginning to feel the steps for alternating clippers now. Can only manage four hits, but it's good to notice how my legs are picking up the pace. Flipside clippers are feeling stronger, and I'm having fun with the fundamental paradox moves.

I think I should get a medal for drilling outside in 3°C (37°F) topless, but I'm sure players from far colder countries will be quick to slam me

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 09 Feb 2006 04:22

Been jamming on the common at the end of my street, sharing the chilly atmosphere with the joggers and other outdoorsfolk who, for whatever reason, don't have to be at work.

Working on osis at the moment. Just checked a hackrifice video and I think my problem is that I'm not beginning the spin during the set, hopefully that'll help my consistency.

max · Post by **max** » 09 Feb 2006 04:30

Hey Matt, glad to hear you're still at it!

Here are my tips for osis:

- set from the other clipper you want to do your osis on.
- set straight up and low (between knee and waist high although knee-high is good)
- plant your foot and prepare the other foot for the osis (knee bent, foot behind you, toe pointing down)
- start turning your body a little so that the inside of your osis foot is aligned to where the bag will drop.

the idea now is to wait for the bag. Keep looking at it just as it pases your heel and it's about to go past your inside (of osis foot).

At that precise moment you spin your head around, turn your hips and end in a clipper delay. With a bit of luck and practice: congrats you've done an osis!

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 16 Feb 2006 02:31

^^^ Cheers for the tips, Max. It's still kicking my arse, but I'm getting closer.

Juggling club in Kennington last night, home of the famous Oval cricket ground. Saw Tamas for the first time in a while, and we both complained about how unfit we'd gotten over the winter. Convinced him that it's warm enough for some outdoor shredding now, so weekend jams in central London should be back next weekend.

I'd completely forgotten about butterfly! I greatly enjoyed drilling that move again. Think I did butterfly > pdx mirage once.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 21 Mar 2006 03:34

Still pretty freezing over here. This doesn't bother me so much, being the pillar of masculinity that I am, but my friends with more delicate sensibilities are finding it hard to get excited about playing footbag.

Haven't freestyled in a few weeks now, but I've been carrying my crochet bag around with me just to let my legs know they can't get lazy.

Other than that, it's just been about writing essays during the week and getting high at the weekends. Went to a steakhouse and had all-you-can-eat ribs on Sunday: six-and-a-half racks, baby!

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 29 Mar 2006 13:53

Went to the juggling club tonight. ohh man, rusty was the word of the night. Tamas and I were both pretty scrappy.

Butterfly > Paradox Mirage, oh yeah, that's right.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 23 Apr 2006 06:15

Really beautiful day yesterday. Got my first sunburn of the year.

We were at Hyde Park Corner. Great spot to play at, since there's loads of people passing by and they all stop to watch since they don't have a clue what we're doing.

Did some freestyle, circle kicking, 4 square, not a bad day. Going to try and make it a weekly thing from now on. Really need to build my sprint energy up.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 01 May 2006 13:33

Shredding in Vauxhall with Tamas. Still drilling the same old shit, wasn't particularly disciplined over the winter.

Bunch of teenagers tried to sell us coke and weed. Kids nowadays!

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 04 May 2006 13:56

Finally got symposium mirage on my strong side, still struggling with the flip.

Making some good progress with osis.

max · Post by **max** » 05 May 2006 04:24

have you hit osis to osis yet?
keep at it and props for symp. mirage!

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 06 May 2006 01:25

max wrote:have you hit osis to osis yet?

That's the next step - still need more control on my set from osis.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 13 May 2006 10:06

Great shred today, but some thieving cunt stole the front wheel off my bike. £40 for a new one! Wankers.

Strong-side osis is becoming much more reliable, and I managed an osis > legover.

max · Post by **max** » 15 May 2006 00:22

props matt.
you should try osis > butterfly also.

too bad about the bike :-/

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 31 May 2006 09:08

The 17oz lazy-aged rump steak I had last night didn't help the shredding today, but it was certainly worth it. God, all I can think about is steak. Just give me more!

Still, I finally stuck double legover after a fortnight of near misses! Scrumptious. It's an incredibly exhausting trick for me. Had a few shots at ps mirage, but my brain rebels.

Matt Christopher · Post by **Matt Christopher** » 13 Aug 2006 12:26

Not a huge summer for footbag over here, but a few of us had a good shred in Waterloo a couple of weeks ago.

Also, the Estonians are coming to London, so there should be a good meet this week.

max · Post by **max** » 13 Aug 2006 23:57

I'm coming over next week-end. Would you be up for a kick on saturday?