Danny Boi'$ FootblG

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Good, because I'm hungry for some words. Maybe a few short sentences.

[DC Clinks]

Had a mirage kinda session today. Shit is exhausting. Some stuff:
10 mirage ss muted mirage rpt op x1
10 ss muted mirage rpt op x2
10 mirage ss mirage rpt x1
Clipper far legover > ss muted mirage rpt op bsos

Also did some attempts at just ducking starting from toe. Uncle Poolini helped a bunch. El Kemino dad will work on it with me when we have a session Friday. Cool stuff. Ducking mirage will be mine soon. That is all. Cya for now. Expect some footage of stuff soon.

[DC Clinks]

Another session focusing on clipper / mirage stuff. Didn't really keep track of stuff I was doing, mostly just tried to film some things. Some things include:
5 Paradox Mirage rpt opposite x1
Paul's Tiltless Mirage Challenge
Video will be uploaded tomorrow when I got some time. I'll try n work on the other ones too, maybe do mirage one over again with ss muted instead of planting. Also gonna get start on level one badge stuff... Geez, lots of stuff to work towards. Hopefully have time for it all. Session with Mattburger Kemsauce on Friday. Doooope.

[DC Clinks]

Yo real talk today's session with Optimus Kemino was fucking radical. Both of us played really well and the session went on for about 3 hours until "The Man" kicked us out of the gym. Much thanks to April for making such a dope bag to shred with. Highlights:
Mirage > SS Muted Mirage repeat opposite x4 (16 contacts, inspired by a talk with April a few days ago)
Several solid tiltless runs with 10-15 contacts
Dada Curve starting from left toe
Paul's Legover Challenge complete (no video unfortunately, will try to get one in the next week after hell week is over)
Ducking Toe starting from right Clipper

Talks with Nick got me trying some new shit. Matt also recommended I take a look at Ianek's Intermediate trick list and get started on a few of them. The plateau for the last few months is ending ALL NEW POSSIBILITIES ARE OPENING UP IT'S SO EXCITING.

Also wanted to share some positive life choices: I haven't had soda in 5 days and I'm cutting it out of my diet completely, hopefully soon. Sugary drinks in general but I also did not like being dependent on caffeine to function normally. Been drinking just a shit ton of water and it's so much better already.

I've been doing a lot better in school on keeping up with work and studying for exams and stuff like that. Midterm grades are pretty good so far. Really starting to develop more self disciple, even if it's a little bit slow. Still, it's better than where I was two years ago. Everything in life is just better in general, happy about that. Okay that's all now

[Cass]

Props on quitting soda, that's great! Green tea is where it's at. I have like six different varieties in my desk a school. Coconut water is also the bomb.

Looking forward to seeing your improvements next month at PSU!

[krustykrakk]

Everything in your last post is awesome. I'm happy for you! Can't wait to see you in a month.
Soda is terrible. Its just carbonated syrup, yuk.

[DC Clinks]

Cassy: Yea I feel so much more lively already, it's great. I'm not the biggest fan of tea but I've never really experimented with different favors, you'll have to show me a few sometime. Totally, can't wait to see everyone again, it will be awesome.

Ben: Thanks doode. You're awesome, have fun in SD where 50 degrees is cold LOL so funny. Definitely looking forward to kick with people. I agree, soda is yuck. Two weeks of no soda and the headaches from caffeine withdrawal are pretty much over. Had some urges in the first few days to drink more of it but just told myself not to. So doing a lot better now.

So... Interesting few days. Hell week is over until the end of March hopefully so that's good. Played Footsies with El Kemquistador on Thursday, was fun. Didn't really hit much besides pickup x6 or 7, and a few good tiltifull runs, but it was cool. Legs were kinda hurting whenever I put a lot of pressure on them, specifically with high impact stuff like symposium mirage. It was kind of lower leg calf muscle near my ankle, a little bit above the Achilles. Took a couple days off to physically recover, but having a session with Matt tomorrow. Went a little too hard with partying yesterday, as a result I had several really odd dreams by which I learned some new life goals:
1) Ask out that girl in my World Politics class in a weird Chinese mafia type of restaurant where the seats are broken by mouthing out the words to her.
2) Get better at footbag as I was at the "kiddy table" of said restaurant, alone, while Poolini, Gatesman, and Kemino were at a full table next to me.
3) Learn martial arts of some sort to defend myself against badass criminal gangster chicks who want to put a bullet in my skull.
4) Avoid or limit interactions with fundamental extremists to not be kidnapped or executed as was the case in said dream; or if said interaction does occur, refer back to point three.
5) Call my mom. She probably misses me.

In other news, been working on html stuff with codeacademy, trying to learn some rudimentary coding languages for fun. Here is a picture of a "website" (lol what a joke) I've made, referring to my love of Yugioh. All for now, much love <3

[DC Clinks]

Successful session with Kemsauce today, despite continuing soreness/ aches in my inner lower calves. Kemz says it will probably wear off eventually but I'm been considering using something to alleviate it in the meantime like athletic tape or compression sleeves. If anyone has any expertise in that area I'd love to hear your opinions.

Anyways, session was cool, worked on clipper stuff mostly. I want to devote a good length of time to them for now, at least until PSU Jamps then we'll see where they are after that.

Highlights:
Clipper SS legover > opposite legover > opposite legover BSOS
Butterfly > SS legover BSOS
SS mirage x28 (14 BSOS)
Butterfly > paradox mirage BSOS

[Cass]

I'm not completely sure we have the same issue but these stretches have helped me quite a bit:

http://drsunderman.com/soleus-muscle-stretch/

[DC Clinks]

Goooood morning Modified! It's currently a slightly chilly Saturday morning at 28° partly cloudy. You can expect the temperature today to get into the low 40s with some light showers later on in the day. It is not a great day for casual shred, but if you're determined I'd suggesting bundling up for those of you in the North-East. As far as the next few days go, spring may be here in name but expect weather more resembling winter for a couple more weeks! Temperatures in the middle teens partly cloud, with a high of 50° and sunny on Wednesday.

-Me if I was a weatherman

[Kylescook]

Loved it^

[DC Clinks]

First solo session in a while. Worked a bit on pickups. They're coming along, really focusing on the stall-- trying to make it straight down and back up rather than a raking motion like Kemino says. Seems to be helping, form is starting to look better on them. Small amount of ankle/ shin strain, I'll see how I feel in the morning. Only played for maybe 30-40 minutes so hoping I'll be good for another session on Tuesday.

30 pickups x2
5 pickup > ss pickup > rpt op x1

[krustykrakk]

Moar futkiq!

[DC Clinks]

More futkiq. Another small session cut short by aches in my lower calves. Looked up shin splits and the symptoms and the location are pretty much identical to what I'm experiencing. Gonna schedule a visit with the doctor over Easter break to see what's up. In the meantime, just... kick less I guess. Anyways, session went okay. Worked a bit more on Pickups, got a couple links:
Clipper > SS Toe > Pickup > Op Toe > Repeat Op
Clipper Far Pickup > SS Mirage > Repeat Op
All for now.

[krustykrakk]

Stretch more! Toe bail less! Tippy toes! Softer landings! Jog? Moar danse

[DC Clinks]

Ben: Yes. Toe bail less? Good suggestions. I'll try them out.

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Some kick recently. Session with Matt on Saturday went okay. Got a few decent things.
Mirage x25 right
Butterfly > Near Mirage rpt x1 (starting from BS)

Short solo session on Monday. Didn't want to stress out my legs too much so worked on Orbits / ATWs. Some drills/ links:
Orbit x2
ATWs x1
Legover > ATW > rpt op x1
Pickup > Orbit > rpt op x1

Seeing the doctor tomorrow, hopefully getting some answers/ solutions.

[DC Clinks]

Went to doctor. Recommended 1-2 weeks of rest (so basically until jamps) along with stretching and massaging to alleviate/ strengthen the muscles. Also supposed to take anti-inflammatory pills to help recovery. Guess I'll find out how it feels after PSU. Sooo cya at Jamps people.

[DC Clinks]

Had a small session yesterday to warm up for psu. Very low intensity stuff, softer impacts etc. So here's stalls I did.
214 toe stalls (107 BSOS)
36 inside stalls (18 BSOS)

Safe to say I can do toe stalls okay. Ah man, I remember when I couldn't do 10 in a row.... Weird stuff. Thanks Kemino. Taught me everything I know. Was reading nicks blog the other day and saw the part about having to leave Nathan soon. Just realized that will happen to Matt and I eventually. That's kinda sad. But also cool in a way. Young footbagger leaves his mentor going out into the world in pursuit of adventure. Should be a movie or something. Anyways, hyped for jamps so much. Can't wait to see people and kick. Peace.

[DC Clinks]

My inner goddess murmurs with delight, revealing a ghost of a smile.

-Fifty Shades of Grey in one sentence

[DC Clinks]

Happy Modified Day everyone. Here's a extensive PSU write-up along with various other personal events/ thoughts. Breaking this post up into multiple parts in the sake of convenience for readers/ my sanity. Sections posted below. As usual, please excuse any spelling and/ or grammatical errors located in this post and feel free to point them out if you notice any.
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Section 1. PSU Jampionships
1a. Friday
1b. Saturday
1c. Sunday
Section 2. Physical/ Muscular Developments
Section 3. Future Goals for summer into 2016
Section 4. Other/ Random thoughts or events
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Section 1a: Friday

Seems like it's been weeks since this event, so weird. Anyways, made it through classes dreaming of footbag stuff and friend I would see at the event. Finished classes at 2:30 and Kemino came around 3 for our venture. I hop in the car and he hands me Fifty Shades of Grey audio-book two and I groan in protest. However, I soon after relent and we pop in the first CD of 17 as we take off onto the highway. For those of you who enjoy listening to bad erotica in car rides, this book is a must. We stopped for dinner at one of the rest stops along the highway, where Matt made a new friend.


Matt greets his new-found companion with a lustful gaze in his eyes.

During one of the scenes in the book, there was a statement about a no rules relationship between Anastasia Steel and Christian Grey, to which Matt responded "No rules Christian Grey? This is a crazy nation state, the militants have won". After several nauseating hours of Fifty and motion sickness from the car ride, we make it to Penn State-- where a session is already underway, according to Ryan's very kind post on Facebook, at the Rec Hall. Matt and I wander through campus, using our expert navigation and memorization skills to first determine the whereabouts of the gym, then opening random doors/ climbing suspicious looking staircases to eventually find our way to the squash courts. Almost the whole squad is there, PSU or otherwise, and we all hug and exchange greetings and/ or foot props in the case of Ben Babyakaranz.

Matt brought all his shred gear in his backpack while I'm sporting some rolled up corduroy pants and skate shoes. As such, he stays to shred a little bit with everyone while Ryan, Marc, and I go back to the Shredhaus to order some food from Wings Over, which I guess is a prominent place to go to for all chicken wings related food items. Soon after everyone comes back from shred and there is casual chill to be had. Some of us want to watch shred videos (not Marc) and so we bug Ivan and Ryan to help us figure out the complicated robot machinery that is the projector/ TV of the Shredhaus. We continue on to watch classic videos of Vasek and earlier Worlds vids, later passing on the laptop to Nick (huge mistake) who decides on several choice funny cat compilation videos. At this point it is something like 1 or 2 am and most people have left to go back to their respective chill spots, and we decide to go to sleep around 2 or 3. After a few jests and fits of girlish laughter, we (Nick, Hogan, Corey³, Zach (sporting a portable fishing bed), and I) all crash the fuck to sleep.
Section 1b: Saturday

As usual in the few events I've attended, my biological sleep clock is shot to shit and I wake up before everyone else at around 8 am. I stealthily sneak through a sea of sleeping shredders, then facing me as my last obstacle to huddle is a rocking chair (I actually have to jump over it to get out the living room). I quickly take a shower and get ready for shredage, exiting the bathroom to find Polini up and making everyone wake up from laughter. It is by this miracle that we get everyone up and ready by 10 or 11 and head over to the gym to set up the site (stopping at a grocery store to purchase some peanut butter and crackers of course) after eating some breakfast bagels at Irving's.

After getting to the location, we start to warm up as more and more people arrive. Boatz appears with some massive speakers and starts mixing some playful antics into the songs. Soon after that we get kicked out due to injury liability or something I guess, and take a nice stroll in the sunshine over to the basketball courts.


Nick² (Landes on left and Polini on right) enjoy a rousing staring contest amidst chaotic atom smashing shred.

Alongside these basketball courts was a volleyball court with an active crowd alternating volleys. The fear of a stray volleyball rolling under someone and injuring them was somewhat palpable for a while, for me anyways (I got hit in the head at one point :p). In terms of shred, I still get nervous even at informal events like this; rushing my stalls and tricks until matt reminds me to slow down or I recognize it happening myself. However, once I got comfortable kicking with other people my runs were more consistent. Mostly played with Ben and Hogan, although I did kick a bit with April, Ivan, Matt, Mikie, and others for a while. The mirage race was fun and seems like something I could be pretty decent at in the future. I didn't compete in the Intermediate request thing though; I feel like I'm on the cusp of trick learning explosion in the next few months so a larger trick pool would be nice for something like that I figured. After a few hours my pain killers wore off and I figured it was time to rest after that. Mostly walked around or sat watching other shred circles. Twas fun even if I could not participate.

Ryan, Ivan, Evan, Khoa, Jeremy and I (maybe a couple others) left early to grab some food as we were all hungry as fuuuck. We stopped at this Chinese restaurant that was dope as shit. Honestly the best Chinese food I've ever had. Plus they served Coke and not Pepsi so +1 from the start. After that most of us headed back to the Shredhaus to chillax. Eventually everyone came over and the partying commenced. Nick Polini did a cool comedy skit that had me laughing pretty hard at several points. It was interesting to see parts of his act inspired by Brian Regan, of whom I am I big fan. After that Khoa did a little karaoke to a nice sounding song linked below, very neat stuff. It's very cool to listen to songs in foreign languages. Music is something that transcends languages in a way. I played 4 Square for the first time, didn't find it very much to my liking (I sucked). I guess they started up a 9 Square or something like that, looked kinda confusing. Ivan, Corey³, and I walked to the local Weis (ghetto ass food/ convenience store from what Ivan was telling me) and I got some protein bars and crackers for the next day of shred. We returned shortly thereafter, where I gave Kemino a plastic ring I got for a quarter. After a while things started to calm down a bit and people started to head back to their crash spots. I think around 3 or 4 I went to sleep, pretty exhausted physically and mentally but content.

Section 1c: Sunday

Woke up on Sunday, feeling the full effects of the sunburn from Saturday. It hadn't really occurred to me after a pretty relentless winter that the Sun actually had damaging effects if you stay under it too long. Go figure. Anyways, we all got up and ready for the day, taking a pit stop at the same grocery store from yesterday to pick up some sunscreen and other necessary items. We got to the hub around 11 or noon, immediately taking up defense against the Sun by applying ample amounts of sunscreen (Gatesman reminded me to cover the back of my knees, totally forgot about that).


Hogan and Kemino share a loving caress as Kevin lathers sunscreen onto Matt's back.

In terms of footbag, I did not play that much, maybe an hour or two. I had taken Ibuprofen beforehand and so in the sake of not playing through pain, I rested for a while to see how I felt around 3 or 4 (I was on a similar level of physically wrecked as Anna after Christian Grey gives her the Fifty treatment). As such, I mostly chilled and watched people play; taking some pictures and handing out protein bars/ peanut butter crackers to whoever wanted them.


Here we can see footbags in their natural habitat; solid concrete fit for shred.


The last vanguard of shred members on Sunday around 4 or 5 pm.

Soon after that it was time for goodbyes and hugs. Kevin didn't say bye to me at first because I was changing out of shred shorts lol. After a quick trip to Shredhaus to gather up our gear, Kemdawg and I hit the open road. Stopped for dinner at McDonald's at some point where I then forgot how to interact in normal society... Again. Got home around 11 or midnight and basically just crashed instantly to bed.

In regards to footbag highlights, I don't really have any other than some good solid tiltless runs of 10-20 contacts. At one point on Sunday I hit Clipper > Opposite Clipper x4 (8 contacts). Other than that though nothing specific comes to mind. I figured out that the key to improvement isn't really judging yourself in comparison to others; it's by constantly improving from where you were a month or a year ago that you truly grow and excel.

Many thanks goes out to the organizers of this event, I know Ivan and Ryan among others probably put in a lot of effort to get this event rolling again for a fifth time. Very lucky to have been a part of it for the first time as last year around this time I could barely do toe stalls and I think Matt had a wedding or something to go to. Speaking of Matt, he is the sole reason why I've been able to attend so many cool events in the past year, so thanks a bunch El Kemino.

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Section 2. Physical/ Muscular Developments

Where physical/ muscular growth is concerned, I have experienced both positives and negatives in the almost year I've spent playing footbag. My muscles in my legs have developed to the point where I no longer get sore after a regular session, and for the most part I've become accustomed to the various basic movements involved in footbag. My lower body has never been so muscular/ toned in my life, and while I still have some work to do in regards to upper body, it's better than where I was in high school.

I guess every rose has its thorns however, as I've also developed somewhat severe pain during and after my sessions. After around 30-40 minutes of practice, sometimes ealier, I get this ache on the inside/ interior of my shins close to the bone. If I try to play through the pain it just gets worse and I'm forced to stop after an hour max. I went to a doctor and she essentially proscribed rest for 1-2 weeks and taking anti-inflammatory pills, which I did until PSU Jamps. Following the PSU weekend, I tried to have a session with Matt on Wednesday and after maybe 10-20 minutes I had to stop. Mostly watched Matt do Vortex stuff (which I know now is Gyro Drifter) and chilled.

Tried to have another session on Friday, same thing. Been doing some research and I'm pretty sure it's some form of shin splints or overworking of the muscles/ inflammation. Most sources say it could take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to a few months to heal. As such, I will be taking an indefinite break from footbag for a few weeks. Going to try some other forms of lower intensity exercise to strengthen my legs while I recover. Also will do some stretching before and after any physical activity. If I do all that and the pain still recurs I'll probably have to see the doc about future options.

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Section 3. Future Goals for summer into 2016

It's been a little over a year since I had my first session with Matt on March 27th. I would be hesitant to say that I've been playing footbag for a year however as I took a significant break during the winter months. By the end of the summer I can probably say that I've actively footbagged for a year. In terms of further progression, Matt said we could work on various uptime sets over the summer. Besides that, I suppose my goal is just to finalize my tiltless game; polish up my LIMP game, and work on longer, denser strings. Also want to really master basic stuff like toe kicks, outside kicks, stuff like that so I can hopefully start up a footbag club next semester and teach some people basic kicks and stalls along with some beginner tricks. As far as my own progress next year goes, haven't really given it a lot of thought. We'll see where I am at the end of the summer.

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Section 4. Other/ Random thoughts or events
Went to my friend James' band gig in Albany a few days ago. The line-up was his band, two interesting metal bands, and a cool ska type of band. Forgot how much I love going to concerts. Even at a small venue as this was, the energy and emotion at concerts is so great. I've never felt more physically alive and energized than after a good metal concert. Anyways, James' band was dope, music overall was dope, people were dope.Here's a link to their band camp for anyone interested. They're kind of like an indie rock folk kinda sound.


James casually shredding on guitar.

In other news, this past weekend was SIenafest at my college campus, which was kind of like a big party thing with a bunch of events in the academic quad and a concert with some rappers whom I didn't know. Didn't go to the concert, mostly just chilled with friends and played videogames and Kan Jam outside. Party hard. Classes end next Monday with a week for finals, kind of insane to see another semester gone. Definitely performed better than previous semester but there's still room for improvement in terms of self-discipline and proactively working on assignments.

That concludes this long ass post. Will be updating this throughout the course of the next few weeks with what will most likely be non-footbag related things. Peace out girl scouts.