Toolman

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 28 Nov 2007 21:06

ok so i havent written in this thing in a long time, and i dont really know whats compelling me to now. probably boredom.

anyway, im pretty sure my shred level is at a standstill. ive been hovering around this invisible line since before east coasts and i cant seem to get permanently past it and im usually below it. is sucks because at the beginning of the summer i wasnt totally motivated, then david got injured and that put a major damper on all my shred plans for the summer, althoug we did just chill out more which is cool, hes one of those people your lucky to meet.

it sucks because just about everytime i get motivated some other circumstances come up that keep me from doing it, usually work. all this put together leaves me with zero progress, and im barely if at all keeping it together as it is. i bop so damn much, my last video sucked hard. its funny because i just watched a video of me at the same gym from like june and i remember after i made that one i hated it, but now comparing it to the new one i think i was better.

i want to be more creative, but how do i get creative when i can barely keep the stuff i could do easily a few months ago? its like this viscious cirlce: i go outside to shred usually drilling and schooling and then i dont get to play for a while and its all gone, so i do it again and the cycle continues.

footbag was like the first thing iv come across where i actually thought i could be somewhat good, maybe iv reached that, i hope not, but maybe. iv just always wanted to be up there at something. its even tougher now that its cold out because i dont really have an indoor spot.

david was back a whole week for thanksgiving and we played once, its the worst. chris balch has asked me a million times to shred with him but i never have time. iv been wanting to go shred in other places but it never works out.

sorry for this incoherent rant, im just tired.

Kljopa · Post by **Kljopa** » 29 Nov 2007 01:16

Edit:

I didnt want to seem rude or something.But like who will now push me to get better. I always used to like, fuck mike is good i gotta drill more.

So stop being all that

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 30 Nov 2007 09:43

Mike, I've noticed you kinda hit a plateau too. I didn't want to say anything when I saw the video, but I could definitely see it. That's OK, you're still REALL REALLY good. So the plateau is very very high. It will probably take me 2 years to get where you are now and you started at the same time I did.

Make a challenge topic and ask for people to give you creative combos and drills to go for. For instance I know your game is pretty shuffle-heavy so try to hit 20 dexless (guiltless of course). Go for weird stuff like toe drifter > drifter > gyro illusion > RPT. Get some help from the community to help you think outside the box. If you have a challenge topic bump it, and I'll try to throw some creative suggestions your way.

It will give you some variety and make the game more fun for you. Chin up kid. Everyone gets setbacks in footbag, let's see you rally back.

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 30 Nov 2007 10:28

Here I go again with way to much to say.. sigh.. sorry!

In my opinion, one of the things that draws a lot of players into footbag in the first place is the idea of being good at it. For most people with any drop of natural talent, you're pretty quickly better at this sport than 99% of the world, and you quickly outpace the hacky slackers around you in most cases.

But, like any other sport, not everyone can be the best. For every Clavens, there are countless other players more like me that get pretty darn good, and then it's a real struggle (due to athleticism, coordination, dedication, time, whatever) to continue to improve by leaps and bounds anymore.

For me, when I realized that, it was really a tough time for me in this sport. I was no longer the up and comer, and I watched others (Josh Benham, David, others too) pass me up.

So, the cross roads that a lot of players hit is: am I motivated to play because it's fun to play, good exercise, nice people, and because I can still improve in more moderate ways? Or, was my motivation all along to be a top player, and if that feels out of reach now, my motivation is gone?

For me, I ultimately had to decide to give up the game or change my mindset to be about fun/exercise/continual improvement (even if they're small improvements).

Funny thing is... So many players that I know of that have reached "the top" then have a different crisis altogether. The "I'm here now, what's next?" crisis. Read some of David's posts, Jorden's posts, Lon's posts, etc. etc. etc.

HG · Post by HG » 30 Nov 2007 13:13

i think if i never got ANY better from this point on, i wouldn't play.

but every time I, or you, or ANYONE plays, you get a little better.

I dont know, just don't think about it. I can't say i've ever thought i would be the best, or up at the top, which may be why i've never quit, except due to injury. Just play, have fun, hit something new every day.

Zeb Jackson · Post by **Zeb Jackson** » 30 Nov 2007 13:25

my opinion is: progression, and the want to play kind of die down a little in the winter, atleast it does for me, its just easier to maintain during the winter, and shred harder during the summer months, you havent peaked, your just in the winter stage, just think of your self as a bear, you spend all summer shredding up a storm storing all of this shred into your system, so that when winter comes you can hibernate and maintain a certain level of shred.

my 2 cents

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 30 Nov 2007 17:03

drill>drop>pick up the bag>rpt

although you can lose motivation by dropping certain tricks that have been your baseline for months/years, you just need to think about how fun footbag is.

And something that helps me when i'm in that mood is really focusing on lower/upper body form. form comes first. it's what lets you complete your tricks.

best of luck toolan. I love your style!

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 30 Nov 2007 20:10

thanks for the replies guys. a few things

i didnt really mean i wanted to be the best, like just up there, idk if i could ever deal with being vasek because theres so much pressure. and im not really in it to just be good, it was definitely a plus though.

also, i dont really think its been a seasonal thing, i didnt really improve much over the summer. i thinks bens idea of variety will help keep me motivated, all i have to work on is the time and place.

thanks again guys, it means a lot.

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 26 May 2008 19:27

So I haven't been on here in like a month. The truth is I haven't been playing much footbag lately. Precicely three times in the last two months. Once with Pete Bowler and Dave(Pete is super cool by the way) and another two times by myself. Not very productive but that's to be expected. I feel like now that high school is over I'll have more time, but I've said things along those lines before.

Dave came back from college, and the left again for the summer. He got an internship so he won't be back until July-ish i think, don't really know.

I've been really into music, and I've been learning guitar for the past 6 months or so. It's slow going but it's fun and it isn't top hard to stick with. I start private lessons at the guitar store after graduation so I'm ready for something to learn. It's also changed my music tastes quite a bit and I'm really enjoying all the new stuff I've been getting into.

I graduate in two weeks, it's not really a big deal for me. Like I have some really good friends there but I'll see them afterwards and a lot of the rest of the people are pretty stuck up. It's a private school that my parents pretty much killed their life savings to put me and my siblings through. I feel bad about that, I didn't exactly take advantage of it but I also feel I would've gotten and equal if not better education in public school. Which happens to be free. Community college next year because I can't afford anything else. It's the best choice I think though because I don't know what I want to study so I can look around while getting my gen eds out of the way. It sucks that I'll still be at home though.

Only saw one east coast tournament for the summer. I'm pumped for it but I didn't see anything for spike and shred, east coasts, or funtastiks. Hopefully something will pop up.

This was a pretty lame post.

Kljopa · Post by **Kljopa** » 27 May 2008 00:15

Im playing the guitar too

Are barre chords easy for you? (i dont know how to spell barre, F,Bm,B, chords like that).

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 03 Jun 2008 22:04

I take a lot of things for granted. Footbag being a major one. It's given me a lot, the two tournaments i've been to were some of the greatest times of my life. I've made friends, even if I haven't met some of them in real life. Zack Jahner, Alex Strassman, Matt Kemmer, Zac Miley, Aleksei Zikin(sorry if i killed your name, i was too lazy to look it up), and last but most certainly not least, David. Knew you before footbag but it was what made us into great friends. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't the happiest when i found out you'd be across the country the rest of the summer. but im happy for you and hope youre having a great time and i promise ill be worthy of having learned from you when you get back.

talking about footbag is weird. one of the weirdest feelings ive experienced is having lived life never talking about footbag, then talking about it exclusively with david for over a year, and then walking into peter irish's and vince bradley's living room and hearing everyone talking about shred. it was like an epiphany and i loved it.

i havent been playing much lately and am not very good right now. but soon ill be back to the way i was, hopefully better.

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 09 Jun 2008 12:50

some footage from today, um rev whirl stuff. idk if anyone has hit the last move. its rev whirling reverse swirl, i know its hard to tell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc1fOOw4eKk

hacksterbator · Post by **hacksterbator** » 09 Jun 2008 14:50

cool vid. thanks for sharing! that last move is super cool!!! i think erik might have hit it before, but don't quote me on it.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 12 Jun 2008 07:50

Sweet trick! Very stylish.

And your style is just overall very solid and controlled. You should go to the NYC tournament in July.

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 22 Jul 2008 11:55

been playing a lot lately, the sore feeling you get after playing a lot reminds me of the times i used to play a lot, if that makes sense. i like it.

i made my routine yesterday for the nyfa tournament this weekend, kinda got a late start on it. got through it a couple times today but playing for two minutes straight just drains me, and i know ill be nervous so im not expecting to place high. and most of my concentration has been on the routine lately as opposed to on strings, so i doubt ill perform well in circles either. despite all that im still super excited, i havent been to a competition since funtastiks.

wish me luck!

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 22 Jul 2008 12:04

Good luck! Stoked to see you this weekend.

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 28 Jul 2008 09:13

i just made a super huge write up and completely lost it, totally my luck. anyway had a really great weekend, it was fun hanging out with everyone most notably: chris balch, doug tank, pat thomsen, matt cross, pete bowler, brian damato, ken, and waylon. it was great getting to kick with everyone. i got fourth in circle contest but had a bout of bad luck with routines, honest mistakes by some people, myself included, but its cool, ill just have time to practice more for the next comp. im really glad i went and thanks to everyone who made it great!

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 28 Jul 2008 09:20

It was great to see you this weekend Mike. Too bad about your bad luck with your back and your routines. I have to say I really like your style, both in terms of shred and clothing. I'll try and make less sweat jokes next time I see you (Funtastiks?).

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 02 Oct 2008 08:26

Had an awesome time at East Coasts. Was very out of practice but I think I did pretty good. I took third place in routines and circle which was really cool, especially since last year was the year I took first in intermediate routines. It was great seeing people again and I'd especially like to thank Ken, Jon, and Vince for getting me to make it out. It was great seeing people again too; Ian, Drew, Benny, Jon, Ken, Vince, Barret, Scott, Adrienne, and everyone I can't remember right now. Hope to make it again next year.

mtoolan · Post by **mtoolan** » 09 Apr 2009 10:12

So I've played very little footbag in the last two months or so, but this happens every year. I completely lose any motivation to do anything in the winter months, which kind of sucks, maybe I should move to a warmer climate. Anyway, I'm not too worried, I'll probably get back into the swing of things within the next week or so. Beantown Throwdown in two weeks, super psyched. I probably won't be playing very well but I don't even care, it's going to be awesome.

I've been reading a lot lately, and giving serious thought to changing my major from engineering to english. It's tough for me to figure out what I want. Just when I thought I was settled with engineering I started thinking about enlgish. I love language and reading and writing. What will probably happen is I'll wait out engineering for another semester to see if I still want to switch. Luckily community college is pretty cheap and I have some wiggle room before switching to a four year school, smartest decision of my life. So far I have a 4.0.

I found and old bike that was my uncle's from 74, but he never rode it much because he got it as he was graduating college and life got to hectic, so it ended up in our garage. I've decided I'm going to spruce it up and use it. It needs a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to it now that the weather is nicer.