RCS IN DA CLUB

[bustinjustin]

Looks like I'll be making two posts today. I've been trying to get this video out since Thursday but due to glitches it has taken longer and there are two small sections taken out to make it work. I'm a little sad it isn't seamless, but after the time spent I figured I might as well put it out.

This is the group freestylers I street perform with, Freestyle X3. We have freestyle footbag, Frisbee, and football. We've been playing around with some names trying to figure out what will stick. I think we need to keep working on it. Anyone got any suggestions? Fun names you could think of? Throw anything out there. For example, I was thinking Seattle Freestyle Collective SFC, but that's a little much.

We have also had a recent addition of a break dancer joining the group. I have been wanting to add that element to our crew for some time and he will be performing with us when he gets back from vacation.

I'll have more video's like these coming out trying to highlight and promote our work street performing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUWCa1vKYq4[/youtube]

[bustinjustin]

I was really exhausted today and was not going to kick.
My current training regiment:
Monday: Hour work out, mostly upper body (lower body exhausted from weekend), 30 minute ab class
Tuesday: Cross Fit, Tabata Tuesday, Intense interval training. For example last week 56 lunges, 56 leg to bar raises, 45 bar bell hang snatches, 80 floor press in 16 minutes. The week before 100 pull ups, 150 push ups, 200 sit ups, 250 air squat in 32 minutes.
Wednesday: Footbag training
Thursday: Hour work out, more body and cardio focused, hang cleans, box jumps, kettle bell work, etc
Friday: Yoga during lunch, busk for 1-2 hours after work.
Saturday: Busk for 2-4 hours
Sunday: Club shred day 2-4 hours
Repeat

Needless to say I am super exhausted most the time I kick, but when I have a chance to kick fresh, footbag feels incredibly easy and like anything is possible.

Everyone bailed on today's session and the weather wasn't great. Trevor was the only one who wanted to kick today so he talked me into it and we had a short session at my place.

Today in our mini session I got 4 beasts, 3 of them new. No 7's this session, next time. I have two more 7>7 combos I want to get before I go for the Jackpot.

Here's the latest Video my VHS series as well.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qleow9B ... e=youtu.be [/youtube]

[bustinjustin]

Today I did a two man session with Dan at the Bite of Seattle. I had another day where many string were close to the next level but fell short. Many strings I could make a video like I did for Greenlake but I probably wont. Not much of a let down though considering I played 5.5 hours the day before, and hour + the day before that, and today we kicked for 3.5 hours. I mentioned on the video post for my new video that Ricky and I played extra long on that day. I wanted to mention one of the best ways to get good fast is to spend more time with the bag than other players. That's how Ricky caught up to my level so quick, just playing non stop. Our Sunday sessions would usually go 4 hours on average.
Today's session:
New 7>7, one more 7>7 combo to go then I start on the Jackpot.
The Arinens got me wanting to do big tricks with rakes: New 8 add
Inspired by Erik: dim walk>fog>dim walk>haze repeat into string
Other than that I don't know what to write, had a good day, just trying to get my strings nastier and denser.

New VHS series video:
RCS Chronicles 12 Las Vegas Jam 04 Part 3

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgfeabvYifA[/youtube]

[C-Fan]

The Arinens got me wanting to do big tricks with rakes: New 8 add

Props! I'm guessing alpine gig rake.

See you at USO in like a month!

[Allan]

Posting from mobile as a test. Props on ... Everything. It's great to see

[bustinjustin]

Only thing to report is a new 10 fearless. I'm getting 10 pretty consistent now, but trying to push 15 is troublesome. Yesterdays session was frustrating and not great. In other news RCS is starting an extension club in Bellingham and we are starting to recruit players up North. I had 3 players down for yesterdays session, and they are kicking every day and super passionate about it. It's always refreshing to see a new round of players going through that process and bringing that excitement to sessions.
I want to mention that I always question and hate what I write on these forums. I made a huge post on Jay's blog and I only wanted to mention a few things, then before I knew it I had written a book. I'm not changing anything, but I'm always conflicted about writing my thoughts on these forums. Like, why did I bring up the two types of ab thing? Why did I write something that was so much more about me in someone else's blog?
I guess I just wanted to concede if you roll your eyes to reading my posts, I'm right there with you. I just think, maybe if one person will get something out of it, the post/grief was worth it.

[C-Fan]

In this dead-post era of modified, where participation is way down, I don't think you should ever apologize for making detailed posts of your thoughts. That kind of post is what keeps modified interesting and going.

Great to hear your game is so strong. Can't wait to shred with you and see it firsthand at USO. Us grizzled vets need to keep pushing, making things harder for all the neophytes.

[Muffinman]

I feel the same way Justin. But I agree with Ken -- I enjoy reading your insights and would much rather have them to read than nothing at all. Also, props on the 10 fearless consistency.

[bustinjustin]

Thanks guys, your words are really reassuring. I really like having this blog area where I feel free to express myself and my opinions and I don't have to second guess what I write in my own blog.
I would like to say none of the footage released so far is Ricky at his peak and I don't have video of any of Ricky's peak playing on these VHS tapes. We had a 3rd VHS tape with all his stuff on it. His 14/15(?) fearless, his ridiculous mobius and vortex drills, big moves, and all the other crazy bsos stuff he got. He borrowed it from me once, and I never saw it again. I can only hope as I delve into more of my taped footage I will find some of that old material. I do have a lot of his play up to that point though and he will be featured in some upcoming RCS Chronicles.
Someone mentioned in Jay's blog about a Green Cup write up. Well, I did my own write up and I've been touching it up for a while to post and I think it's ready. This was a great tune up event for me, not much pressure and I was able to just see where my competition level was currently. I focus a lot now on trying to get my peaks during tournament times. In this case I peaked a month before this event and did not have much confidence going in.
The highlight of this tournament was talking to David and getting a lot of advice from him. Also just getting to experience playing with him and witnessing his demeanor during play and competition. I've never played with and against someone so jovial and up beat. He was just having so much fun and being so supportive of all the players regardless of their level or status. It was really refreshing and I came away from this event with many new epiphany's. One of the most significant was he told me stories of playing other sports growing up and any time people were too serious about the game/competition and would ask him the score he would always say, "fun to fun." I get so caught up in taking footbag seriously and my own goals I don't leave room for fun. Even if I play soccer with a rec team I can get aggressive because all I want to do is win. But if I could take a step back and just enjoy the time spent with friends and playing I would realize I've already won. So now I try to keep that mentality in the back of my mind, "who's winning?" "Fun!"
In stark contrast to that last story, I was devastated to lose the Greencup event. On the drive back to Steve's from Oakland I did this write up:

Always a bridesmaid. Never the bride.
Once again, I melted down in competition. It seems champions have a quality that they raise to a challenge. A quality I seem to lack. I'm always collapsing in the big moments. I think of Vasek and David, people that make it look effortless and fun when it just seems so hard. Not to say I'm not once again seeing improvements. First dropless routine and I positioned myself well at every turn, I just fell short. I feel like I have everything I need, the moves, the ability, the athleticism but I don't seem to have the mental aspect, that x factor that makes champions.
I'm a very emotional player, it is one of my biggest weaknesses. It's easy to get caught up in the negative moments more than the positive. Moments like these make me think the positive isn't worth all the negativity I seem to slog through. Don't get me wrong I have an immense amount of fun and joy when playing, just not competing. I think what I need to focus on is not letting my emotion show. Regardless what I may be feeling inside I need to act dignified and collected, like a leader, someone that needs to set an example. To this end I now end my routines with a bow and a smile regardless of how the routine went. It seems even if the routine wasn’t great that one aspect makes it greater. That's been a big change in my routines and performances of late and a piece of advice every player should hear.
Today I am not happy with my actions. I sat down in circle out of frustration and I think everyone could read my face of disappointment when I received 3rd place in routines. Keeping clear headed seems to be my biggest hurdle. All weekend I just haven't been able to think of links and combos. Like my mind is blocked. The harder I try at tournaments the worse I do. I changed this aspect over the last few years and have gone into tournaments not caring. I've been happier and seemingly done better but never gotten to the top, never gotten where I want to be, and I’m tired of being the runner up. So I'm determined right now. I know I've got what it takes to get to the next level. I just wish getting there wasn't so unpleasant. I understand I’ve got to go through learning years, but now I shouldn't be back to rebuilding, I should be dominating, but I've always felt like I'm rebuilding, I'm always behind, and now another wave of players is passing me by. My hat goes off to Alex and Brian. I couldn't be happier for them. They did such a great job. Dustin has also been really consistent. It's been great seeing up and coming players playing so well.
I got my dropless routine on Saturday which was really great and all I set out to do down here. But once I had put myself in position to win I wanted first place. My nerves are much better than they used to be since I street perform so much now but I can’t seem to do well in front of a footbag audience. When I finished my routine and everything was over I went and talked to Kenny who was there competing net. I asked him how he handled pressure situations since he had been through so many and done so well. His response, he said he would throw up before competing freestyle routines. I was floored, he had worse nerves than me! He said he always competed net and freestyle and so he had to consider doing routines on tired legs after playing a full day of net. He said that he never planned his routines, he would just make it up as the song was playing and make adjustments in the routine for consistency and energy saving moves. He finished by saying that it's totally different and nerves aren't as great or inhibiting when playing in a high pressure net game. Losing a point isn't losing the match, but in freestyle, an early drop and it's over. Hearing this from such a decorated champion as Kenny was reassuring. Even he was a mess inside before a championship routine. Again though, it seems champions have that x factor that they don't just get through those moments they flourish in spite of going through the same jitters, expectations, and pressures, a quality I just don’t seem to have.

Kenny has done dropless routines all 3 rounds of 1989, final round of 1994, and opening round of another year, but he says his memory is less clear on remembering any others, and those done outside of Worlds.
----------------------------

In summary: Can winning and fun be balanced? Can I find a way to do both? Can I make it work for me? Can I get that first place I've worked so hard for but have never gotten? I don't know, but I'll never give up.

[fatbagger]

"We all have to perform under "pressure" and we’re expected to deliver results. MY approach is to view the moment as a great opportunity by visualizing the results I'm looking for and then being able to "let go" and allow all of the training to flow out of me." -Kobe

[bustinjustin]

I didn't make my usual Sunday post this week. The music I put to my latest VHS video isn't YT friendly so I am thinking I am going to cut a version with other music to load onto YT. I'll post that here when it's done. Not a big deal though, the vid is available on Vimeo.
So, I've been pushing really hard lately, as many of you may be able to tell from all the video's and posts I've been making. Well, last Thursdays Crossfit workout was a monster on the legs and I underestimated it. It involved Box Jumps, Sumo Dead Lift High Pull, and Kettle Bell Swings. I was the first to finish in the class, and pushed myself too hard. Now my knees are fucked. I played the weekend uncomfortably and finished Sunday basically unable to do another single trick, and wasn't able to push any of the concepts/combos I've been working toward. So I am taking the week off, icing, taking ibuprofen, and letting my knees heal. I am hoping they will get back to 100% quick, but they have been hurting the last two days. Very disappointed and frustrated and why I didn't make my Sunday post.
I've got some video's coming outside of the VHS series. First is a video from 2 weekends ago at the BITE of Seattle where I performed for a friends clothing company's booth (SEA206). I said I wasn't going to do a video from that session, and that motivated me to do one. I mostly just shredded and worked on my game, but if a crowd gathered, or someone gave me money or kids were watching I would do a little show for them. I included two such instances at the end. My next video I'm going to do will be the Greencup sideline footage with Jay, Dave, and myself. Seems there will be a lot of World's footage coming out so I thought I would get this video out now, before all those worlds videos drop.
So here's a quick little video from the BITE.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKfXSsU1sn0[/youtube]

I don't know if I'll put this video many other places, just kind of a guilty pleasure video for myself. Thanks for reading the RCS blog.

[Sporatical_Distractions]

I said I wasn't going to do a video from that session, and that motivated me to do one.

hwhat?

I'm liking all the vids Justin.
Whatever happened to Sam Potter? He had a lot of potential

[bustinjustin]

I know, I miss Potter so hard!!!!! He's pursuing his love of nerdery and rocking college classes like pimp. I talked to him recently and he said he will play with us if we come to him. So we are planning a Potter session soon, but he has basically given up footbag. So sad, his dedication to form was really inspiring although I think it eventually became his downfall. He never felt his form was good enough to move onto bigger and better tricks, became stagnant, frustrated, then quit. I kept telling his he was the bomb and should just move on, I guess he took that a different way than I intended.
boom boom booOOOM

[C-Fan]

Kenny who was there competing net. I asked him how he handled pressure situations since he had been through so many and done so well. His response, he said he would throw up before competing freestyle routines. I was floored, he had worse nerves than me! .

As a fellow NBA fan, thought I'd chime in here and mention that Bill Russell also did this in pressure games (elimination games and such). The man won eleven rings and 5 mvps, but puked before big games because he had that much emotion.

But yeah, mostly just wanted to say I appreciate your heartfelt posts, and I'm also impressed by how much effort you are putting into your game. As for your competitive goals...is it winning routines at a tournament? Circle? Both at the same event? As a friend, I really hope you kick ass at USO. On the other hand, I also hope I beat you, since my girlfriend will be watching me compete for the first time. In all seriousness, I'm stoked we'll get to play in a couple weeks. Should be a blast.

[bustinjustin]

This weekends session was one of the funnest I have had in years. I really wish I had gotten a picture because it was so special (I'm really kicking myself!). We had several players from out of town and played at scenic Gasworks park in Seattle. We had an 8 man circle including two football freestyle players. My friend Khoa (football) was in from Vietnam, Taylor Hamilton is down from Alaska for US Open prep, and Taylor Chaintreuil was in town (all summer I guess) doing an internship at Boeing. Plus our usual suspects Trevor, Dan, Scott, Cole (football) and Myself.
I am back kicking again after taking two weeks off to heal and I'm feeling great. Not ready for US Open great but hopefully I have enough time to get there. I was planning on doing my routine from Green Cup but with many of the parts beefed up on combos and adds, but with all the talk about routines happening on Facebook I felt I couldn't bring that to this comp. So I made a new routine song on Friday and will be putting together a new routine in the next 2 weeks. Fingers crossed I can have it ready in time. I will be playing with Taylor every day this week and taking lots of footage.
I haven't had time to work on any video's lately outside of the VHS series. I'm thinking when I am done with this series I will post all of my video's to Vimeo. I will have the latest one on Vimeo when I get home. I tried doing it this morning but Vimeo wouldn't cooperate.

[bustinjustin]

In super prep mode for US Open. Taylor Hamilton is down from Alaska for his first competitive footbag tournament. We have been playing every day and Wed. we did some street performing and routine work at Seattle Center. Here is a quick little vid of that day. You get to see some of Taylor's strings, which is nice because he usually only posts his big moves and here I got him doing nice long slow runs which you don't see from him often. I was working on my new competition routine which I am still not sure if I will use, but it is coming along. The routine in the video is one of my street performing routines I do fairly often. I had to take a break from working on my competition one and it came out very nice. As usual, a fun ending.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcFrLsYRgk0[/youtube]

This weekend is Hempfest. One of the best events to play and busk. So many of the kids at this event have kicked, so we get big crowds really quickly that stay for long periods of time. It's going to be a lot of fun in the heat, I can't wait. Last year I felt like a celebrity everyone was so into it. More on that write up on Sunday.
Stay thirsty my friends

[rjadamson]

08-21-12

Really fun day. Everyone seemed to be doing pretty well. I hadn't gotten to play with Dan in probably almost two months, and this was one of the regretfully few times I'll be able to shred it up with Taylor this summer. As always Our Glorious Leader Justin was there.

I got a few videos that encapsulate my favorite moments of the day.

My stupid trick suggestion of the day was shut gyro pickup. Dan actually beat Justin to it which in my mind warrants a Snow Cone Challenge victory:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKGeozeZFUA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5NrjsxH-rg[/youtube]

Taylor hits crazy shit more than he hits osis so I could just choose any random moment for here, but this was cool:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq4R3dJkZvQ[/youtube]

Dan went and decided to hit spender. Then he hit flip far blender right afterward. Then he passed me the bag and I immediately hit flip symposium blur for the first time. I should have left these as one video, but oh well:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3TwDx6F3vk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kecICOl8b2s[/youtube]

We played for four hours straight. We tried to end the day with a last man standing sort of competition. Sorry guys (well really just Dan), but I had to post this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WIWU9JgR6k[/youtube]

Dan is really close to gangsta party, which would be his first 7-add. Taylor is super close to spinning scorpion's tail. Fun day!

[Muffinman]

Fun. I miss that club atmosphere. You guys are so lucky. Props to all of you.

[bustinjustin]

Great post Reilley, and great job including all those clips. I just wanted to put two video's here as a little catch up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwPhEZnec9c[/youtube]

I'm really proud of this video. I am getting so much better at street performing. Here is one of my street routines I did at Hempfest 2 weeks ago. We had big crowds like this one all day and this was one of my first attempts doing a routine to this song. Besides one little bobble it turned out really great. The biggest tip I have for anyone footbag busking is to make sure you put some sort of pause and address the crowd in the middle of the routine. It keeps them from leaving and once you acknowledge them they are much more willing to tip.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCKgQljzWU[/youtube]

We are very lucky to have nurtured such a wonderful club here in Seattle. Footbag can get so intense and frustrating as we push really hard it's nice that we joke around as much as we do. Its the number one thing I do push when meeting new players, lets just have fun, the improvements will come.

We just got done hosting Rory Dawson over the weekend and we had an awesome time. I got lots of footage and will work on getting that video out some time. He looked really strong and his routine performances when we busked were top notch. He has been doing a lot of shows and busking lately and it shows. It really seems to help players. Taylor was mentioning how doing street performing and routines has tripled his string length and really improved his game. He's attempting to do it more often up in Alaska now.

That's all I got. I've spent most of this day doing these write ups and videos. Who know the VHS project would be so time consuming

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, since it's the blog I can put my thoughts on the judging bullshit that happened as USO. I made a Facebook post saying that Gordon should have won. It was controversial but I think they got it wrong. I agree with Jim that he did have the better routine, but if this were any other sport, gymnastics or ice skating, the performer with a better routine but fell down twice would never be able to be first place. You would never see the gold medal go to the girl who fell off the beam twice, the deductions from those two mistakes would not account for a higher score than the worse routine without mistakes. Jorden mentioned that we shouldn't consider drops as heavily because of our trick ratio but I feel as professionals we have to hold ourselves to a dropless standard and that's the bottom line. That's what defines how costly the drops are, and it's a lot. As a professional perfection is our standard.
In the first round I was one of 2 dropless routines. I should have placed in the top 3, instead I got 6th. Sure my routine was not as well executed and may have not had a ton of contacts but it did have 3 5's and 1 6, choreography, and was dropless. I think now that Steve is having to judge his own players there is a little bit of bias. I don't think it's intentional by any means but he is so familiar with their routines that he would be more lenient having known exactly what went into the routine and their execution.
I will say my routine was shit this year. I didn't have time to put together the new one I had been working on and in the end I did deserve 7th. I'm not against that, but I do feel Steve was biased against my routine because he didn't like the music or the choreography, but it's not necessarily that bad of a routine, it just has more subtle music cues. Lessons learned though, ready to put together my next one.

[bustinjustin]

Oh yeah, forgot the most important news, Seattle will be hosting US Open next year. We'll make more formal announcements but I just wanted to confirm the rumors that people have mentioned. Talk about burying the lead on that one.