The Fast and the Furious: Operation El Kemino, Tokyo Edition

[Matt K]

I really like videos in racquetball courts. They all look the same, like there's this shared court that we all use and film in.

[isirc10]

The world has one squash court reserved for footbaggers. Next to it there is a room where they are all stored and released one at a time to shred and film. These films are then posted to the internet. That is how the world works. (actually, I just got a pretty cool video idea... hmmm)

Btw, thanks for helping me out tonight! Can't wait to kick in a week!

[Matt K]

Got in 2 hours tonight back at the college. Was intending on doing just strings, but the floor was so slippery I thought it better to drill and only do a few contacts at a time.

15 Swirls bs
15 Rev. Swirls bs
Pixie Pickup>Smear>PLO 10 times bs
Legbeater>Schmoe>Parkwalk>Blur 10 times bs
Ripwalk>Stepping Clipper>Ripwalk 10 times bs

Ended with 6 runs of 25 contacts each (with shuffle this time). I wanted 10, but I really tired myself out in the middle of them and I ran out of time at the gym. I started one of them with 10 contacts of shuffle, had 10 contacts of shuffle midstring in another, and tried a lot of times to start one with 10 contacts of genuine downtime, but couldn't get the full 25 contacts.

My only link highlight was Rev. Swirl>Blurry Drifter bs a couple of times for Kevin.

[h0ag3yb3atZ]

tombstone>rev swirl is sick. i'd love to see the same to revup/blink. i'm glad your enjoying training again.

miss you bud.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Yo man, excited to see you tomorrow! Shit.. well Saturday.. regardless, still excited.looking forward to kicking with you again and chilling afterward. See ya soon dude

[Matt K]

Played for 4 hours today at PSU. This is the best I've felt playing all year and it feels like my drilling has been paying off =)

Nothing specific to report, but I did end with five, pretty dense, 25 contact runs with Mike and Derek.

[Matt K]

Got another 2.5 hours in at PSU this afternoon before heading out. I had a great time, so thanks to everyone who made this weekend so much fun.

Some more good runs today, and since I was running out of time at the end of the session I was trying hard stuff to start strings with. The best one I managed was Fog>Smog>Pixie Whirl>Whirling Legover>Pixie ss Whirl>Blaze. Other good links were Whirling Legover>Pixie SS Swirl, Mobius>Tombstone (at Nate's request) and Symp. Whirling Swirl>Tombstone

[Matt K]

Got in a quick 1.5 hour drill session at the college tonight; my first time playing since PSU. I felt a little sore still, but well enough, and I played at pretty much the same level as over the weekend, which never happens. I'm going to take that as a good sign.

Swirl>Swirl bs 10x
Rev. Swirl>Rev. Swirl bs 5x
Pdx. Whirl>Schmore>Pixie SS Clipper 10x bs
Legbeater>Tombstone>Blur 5x bs

After the drilling I was pressed for time before the gym closed, so I had to keep it to three 25 contact runs. They all felt good, and were all legit runs with shuffle and genuine tricks.

My sets are feeling pretty good right now. I feel like I'm getting my knee (and set height) up to a good level, which is something that I struggled with a lot in the past. My flip pdx whirl on the other hand is very awkward and has felt weird ever since I started playing again. I'm not really sure why and I can't really remember what it feels like to hit a good one (which I know I used to be able to do). I'll have to video and see.

[Matt K]

Played for 2.5 hours at the college again this afternoon. I wasn't pressured so I took my time with everything and was able to get a nice full session in.

Diving Clipper>Whirl>Diving Clipper bs 10x
Pixie ss Illusion>Smear>Pixie Pickup>PLO bs 5x
Barfly>Rev. Swirl bs 5x
DDD>Stepping Pickup bs 5x
Legbeater>Tombstone>Blur 5x bs

After that I did my five 25 contact runs. All the ones that I got to 25 on were good, but it took a while to get there. I was very tired after Thursday's session. I had some not bad links:
-Legbeater>Tombstone>Blur rpt bs (one of them started a 25er? I think)
-flip Symp. Whirling Swirl>Tombstone
-flip Whirling Drifter
-Whirling Legover>Pixie ss Muted Swirl bs

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Yeah man. Highlights are very "Matt Kemmer" of you. Your game is gonna look even more sick next time we play together. I'm stoked. Keep up those things. I wish I could talk to balloon heads as well as you can.

[Matt K]

I started my session today by showing a freshman at Siena that I met last week some basic tricks. He seems fairly interested so next week or the week after I'll do a full session with him and show him some actual stuff to work on and see if he takes to it. I don't want to push him into it (and honestly I really like my solo sessions), but if he gets into it that'd be cool.

After that I had my normal drilling session:

Pdx. Whirl>Rev. Swirl bs 10x (starting to feel less goofy on flip)
Pixie ss Illusion>Smear>Pixie Pickup>PLO bs 5x
Toe Blur>Smear>Toe Blur bs 5x

I tried something new for my endurance training: Instead of just going for five 25 contact runs for the rest of the session, I challenged myself to do three 20 contact runs within five tries. The strings were a little less dense than usual, but I actually managed it twice with not too much trouble. I think I had four tries at it that I didn't get, so 2/6 for the first time is not too bad.

Other highlights:
Blurry Drifter>Pdx. Whirling Swirl, that I totally thought up all on my own
Revup bs 5x; the ones I got all felt really nice, and I'm looking forward to doing these every session

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Really glad to read the Reverse Swirl x5 bs thing. Mine got so much stronger on flip when I started hitting them x10 a few times every session. Your game is probably looking so tight right now. I can't wait to see your next video

In other news, I have an idea. Will message you.

[Matt K]

Yesterday was 20 degrees warmer out than it has been for the past few weeks, so I took the opportunity to play outside for what is likely the last time until April.

Revup bs 10x; strongside is surprisingly consistent already. flip needs a lot more work but they were getting a little easier with every one
Eggbeater bs 10x; I've long sucked at these, and I'd like not to
Paradon>Rev. Swirl bs 10x
Pdx. Whirl>Symp Whirl bs 10x

I tried my 3/5 thing again, which I managed to get once. I tried a few more times, but I was frustrating myself too much so I stopped and just did the normal five 25 contact strings.

I managed one highlight that I'm fairly proud of:
Symp. Whirling Swirl>Revup

[h0ag3yb3atZ]

Symp. Whirling Swirl>Revup

siiiiiick. I feel like learning rev swirling tricks breathes a new layer of dopeness to your game, they really fit the "tempo" of your game aswell. It's been fun watching you learn something pretty much from the start aswell.

hope to shred with ya soon bud, ideally before years end.

[Matt K]

Played for 1.5 hours yesterday to film for the xmas calendar. I don't like playing for the camera because I focus too much on getting a good shot rather than just playing and I wind up not having much fun. Oh well, it leads to not awful results, I'll just be happy when the video's all wrapped.

[Matt K]

I've since had another filming session and will get another one in before the video releases later this week.

I'm home for Thanksgiving so I had a non-filming session at my house last night which was much needed and super fun. Did my regular drilling and then ended with 3 25 contact strings (was getting too tired and too late to get the other two).

Swirl bs 20x
Eggbeater bs 20x (10 toe op, 10 toe ss)
Rev. Swirl bs 20x
Paradon>Rev. Swirl bs 10x

It's cool to see myself getting good at eggbeaters. I've long loved the way they looked but always sucked at them. I actually had a couple of Bubba Beaters midstring after the drilling which was nice.

[DTank126]

Dude ur intro clip in that Xmas video was hysterical. Ur such a geek.

Oh and btw ur games lookin ill. Hope to kick with u soon!

[Matt K]

Thanks man. It was from like 4 years ago; I had a lot of fun making that.

So I've had one session since the xmas video released. I don't remember what I did too much, but I remember working rev. swirls and eggbeaters like the previous session. I felt super weak so I couldn't muster any strings at the end, but oh well. The college has since closed for winter break, so I don't really have an active place to play right now for the next month. I definitely needed a little time off after filming for the video though, so it's been kind of nice. I also will be playing keyboard for my friend's production of Rent, so I'll need the extra time to practice. That being said I'll be home for the holidays starting this weekend so I'll try to play most days there.

Hope everyone enjoys the end of the year.

[Matt K]

I had my first session today since the holidays (around Dec. 29th probably) which was predictably depressing. Feels like I've already lost all the progress I made last year, but hopefully a few more sessions will turn it around. I only did a handful of 4 adds and just tried to get a sweat going.

In other news I've been practicing like crazy for Rent. The show is the first weekend in March so I've got time, but it still needs a lot of work. I'm super excited for it, but I'll be happy when it's over. I'll try to get in more sessions before the show, but practicing the music is definitely priority right now.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

I was thinking about our link in the xmas video "Blaze> Toe Blur> Far Symp Whirl" and I was reminded of you and wondered how you were doing/hoping you were still playing. Glad to hear you're doing well. Hope to hang out and kick with you at some upcoming jams. Also, good luck with Rent. I don't doubt your acting skills at all