complete beginner

[mannel rox]

Hi I've been playing footbag for a little over two months. I can kind of do good kicks (I can do about 24 and I can do like 10 every time) i can kind of toe stall but it really isn't that great. also my inside stalls arent very good. I can't do a clipper at all or any of the dex moves. Can someone tell me what to practice or any goals I should have?

Thanks

[professor]

Always try and beat your kick record.
Dial all your main stalls both sides. (toe, inside, outside)

After that work on your main 2 add tricks both sides. (mirage, illusion, legover, pickup, & around the worlds)

That should keep you busy for a few months at least.

[sanuke okumatzu]

Aye, practice getting consecs with both feet. If you can do 100 then shoot for 200, or even 300.

As for stalls, lift your leg as if you were to stall, then drop the bag from just above your knee, do this with both feet. And as you get better, increase the height. Do the same with your inside stalls.

Get to where you can do at least 30 of each in a row without catching or droping the bag. This done you can move onto other basic one and two add tricks.

The best thing you can do for yourself is buy yourself a pair of lavers here

And a Mr. Sandbag here

Alternatively you can buy this if you have the money. If you have any other question feel free to PM me or ask over aim. Good luck man

[jrstubs]

Start doing toe taps right now, BEFORE you get shin splints, hopefully it will prevent them. Mine are terrible. I wish I had done that.

Do 200 on each side twice a day. That should do it

[mannel rox]

whats a shin splint
whats a toe tap?

[BenRea]

shin spints are something that hurts really bad in the front of your leg from being too fat and playing footbag


toe taps are when you tap your toes...

[jrstubs]

shin spints are something that hurts really bad in the front of your leg from being too fat and playing footbag


toe taps are when you tap your toes...

Mr. Ben Rea, you are Wrong once again. You never do any research do you

Shin splints (also known as periostitis) is a general term used to refer to a painful condition in the shins. Shin splints are often caused by running or jumping, and may be very slow to heal.

The purpose of the muscles of the anterior shin (tibialis anterior) is to dorsiflex the foot (raise the toe). It may not be obvious why a muscle which raises the toe can be stressed or injured by running, given that it is not responsible for propulsion. The reason is that unskilled runners overstride, and land heavily on the heel with each footstrike. When this happens, the forefoot rapidly slaps down to the ground. Effectively, the foot, which is dorsiflexed prior to making contact with the ground, is forcefully extended. This forceful extension of the toe causes a corresponding rapid stretch in the attached muscles. A reflex in the muscles responds, causing a powerful contraction. It is this eccentric contraction which leads to muscle soreness and possible injury to the muscle, tendon or connective tissue.

If a foot pushes off almost entirely from the big toe, this can cause excessive strain on the big toe and the outside of the shin. In contrast, dorsiflexion, occurs when the foot does not roll enough. This causes the entire weight of the foot strike to concentrate on too small of an area on the outside of the foot which places a corresponding strain on the shin.

It is also commonly believed that a contributing cause of shin muscle pain in some cases is the relative weakness of the muscles on the anterior of the lower leg compared to those in the calf. In this case exercises that preferentially strengthen the anterior muscles may help alleviate or avoid shin splints. The shin pain is attributed to a forced extension of the muscle, in this case by the opposing calf muscles which "overpower" the shin. While running you will feel extreme discomfort.

Sit in a chair with arms resting on thighs. Begin to tap toes by lifting up foot except for the heel and returning it to the floor as fast as possible. You should start to feel the muscles in the front of the ankle working. Continue tapping for 20 seconds and repeat 5 times.

I think my job here is done

[mannel rox]

thanks

[jrstubs]

[Dave Da]

shin spints are something that hurts really bad in the front of your leg from being too fat and playing footbag

LOL nicely put dude. Im freaking 6'0 200 pounds Im probably the fattest shredder ever

[BenRea]

I'm not wrong andrew, I just have the balls to tell the truth.

[sanuke okumatzu]

I'm not wrong andrew, I just have the balls to tell the truth.

I'm pretty big, never had shin-splints.

[HG]

I'm not wrong andrew, I just have the balls to tell the truth.

you have the balls to say something on the internet! OOOOOOOHHHH! BURN!!!!!!!1!!!!


I say we make Ben Rea and Jr Stubs battle to the death. Battle of the worthless trolls!

[brinard]

anybody remember battle trolls? (trolls for boys)

[sanuke okumatzu]

anybody remember battle trolls? (trolls for boys)

[Stefan]

hahah taping does

NOTE: Im not a doctor. I dont take any responsibility for this information im giving you or how it affects you. Just speaking from experience and what helped me beat shin splints.

You should do toe raises before, during and after sessions, they will help relieve pain while it hurts, and strengthen your muscles so that its less likely to hurt next time.
Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the ground, and lift your toes in the air while keeping your heel on the ground (ie. use the heel as a pivot). Raise and lower the toes repeatedly and you will start to 'feel the burn' in your shin muscles, which is good. You can do them rapidly or raise and lower them slowly, alternating left to right, whatever. This will help to strengthen your shin muscles.

Also do calf stretches to keep your calves nice and warm. What you are trying to get out of these stretches is a balance to your muscle usage in the shin and in the calf.
As far as im aware, Shin splints are caused by an imbalance of muscle use, where one muscle (usually the calf) becomes stronger than the shin muscle too quickly (like if you just started playing footbag for the first time and practise ALOT), so when you play, the calf muscle pulls on the leg harder than the shin muscle can deal with, and starts to pull the shin muscles away from the bone, causing one motherfucker of an inflammation

By strengthening the muscles you can avoid this pain and eventually be rid of it. You just have to do the stretches alot and be patient.

Also
* If you have Lavers, get new innersoles. They may be pricey but its worth it, the stock soles are shit
* Play on your toes as much as possible. This is good for your style and makes some tricks slightly easier, but will also definitely help protect your shins and your knees because you take the impact shock of hitting the ground, and cushion it with your whole leg, not just the shin.
* Go easy on concepts that hurt your shins, for now. These can include Stepping, symposium tricks, and spinning stuff inc. Torque
* You can also alternate sessions between hard concrete surface, and carpet surface. This will allow your muscles to strengthen because you are still playing, but will give them a rest from hard contact.

Dont stop playing altogether (maybe reduce the number or intensity of your sessions though, and dont play if it reeeally hurts) The unfortunate thing with shin splints is that despite the pain it brings, playing will help fix them too because it builds muscle strength. You just have to do the stretches all the time (when playing and when not) to make sure you are building all muscles.

Good luck!

A post Ian Pritchard made a while back. Many well educated replies in this thread.