Jeremy wrote:
There are obviously broad aspects of form that are universal, but there are other aspects where there isn't a consensus. If you talk to Anssi or Ales Zelinka about the correct way of setting the bag for furious blender they tell you different things? Who is right? What kind of way could we determine that one of them is right? We don't have that ability. If I'm judging a sick one contest and they both hit that trick in the manner that they think is the best way of hitting it and the judge makes their own decision based on their personal opinion, doesn't it then just become random as to which person wins? We could just toss a coin and get the same result.
I think the main issue here is there is no consensus in the community on the definition of form. I find that words like form, style, execution and technique are often used interchangeably on the forum because they are vaguely defined in our sport.
You appear to be grouping other aspects of hitting tricks into "form" such as cleanliness and consistency. Obviously someone knows a thing or two about posture and body position if they're hitting things like furious blender. We must accept that these players are the minority and should/need not be the primary focus in our definitions.
Using form as the broader term you suggest, would you agree that something like technique preference (ex. furious as whirling-stepping or stepping-quantum) is a very small piece of the puzzle?
Even if technique preference, consistency and cleanliness are part of form they are really only the top
of the pyramid. 100 clean mirages in a row are meaningless if the player just gave themselves shin splints and can't play for a week. Clean ducks are meaningless if it causes neck strain. Cool-looking furious sets are meaningless if it tweaks your back, etc.
Having mixed-up priorities causes the demise of so many players it's depressing. Look at any video thread from a new player in the Videos subforum. Instead of people giving advice such as "stand up straighter and save your back" people say "don't frog your spins/turn on your DLOs". So the player works on cleaner spins/DLOs with a hunched back. Problem solved. Everybody's happy.
WAKE UP PEOPLE!
The obsession for cleanliness at an early stage in one's game is NOT healthy. What is more important is the foundation that is developed, i.e. posture, relaxedness, breathing, balance, lightness and efficiency.
Creating a grounds for a simplified effortless game will take you leaps and bounds beyond a mindless driller.
An unclean trick can always become 100% clean, but an injured body can sometimes never recover 100% .
Jeremy wrote:
My statement about the attainability of "proper form" was; "In some ways I don't think "proper form" really exists, or at least is unattainable, because I'd call it hitting something perfectly."
From this perspective yeah, "proper form" is unattainable. Although I'm unsure why you defined proper as "perfect". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In any art form perfection is technically unattainable.
However, we know some specific body movements are bad technique (flat feet. knees turned in, etc.). If we only have body movements deemed good technique (efficient and the way our bodies are meant to move, excluding everything known to be bad technique) then why can't there be "perfect" technique? If the player is also completely satisfied with their style and the move is clean, who is to say this isn't perfect?
To say proper form is unattainable, although true by this definition, is unhelpful because it indirectly discourages players from trying to achieve their own perfection. This is something that drives our sport and has created the diversity of players we have today.
Jeremy wrote:
The manner in which I mean that proper form is unattainable is that I mean it's unattainable to actually achieve perfection. It's a goal that's value is in the process, rather than something that you can succeed at.
Right. That's basically what I stated above.
But why the Debbie Downer approach? Especially towards a keen new player? I guess I just don't understand the benefit (if any) of you reinforcing this statement.
Jeremy wrote:Are there tricks that you're perfect at Jorden?
In my view, perfection in footbag is not the muscle memory in the mind to be used at a future time. How could that ever be perfect?
Perfection lies in the instant. Where all elements (environment, crowd, timing, mental state, trick) come together in perfect harmony. When the right trick happens at the right time and generates the right reaction in me and in the crowd.
It's really the best feeling in the entire world.
Synergy.
JM
