G's Footlogger

[innersmile]

Fri 6 August 2004

Dear Footblog,
Lately it seems that I am going backwards in my pusuit of that elusive, but oh so cool trick. I am still nowhere closer to hitting osis than I was 10 days ago although, admitedly I haven't schooled them that much in the elapsed time.

The rest of my game is showing no major signs of improvement but I can feel certain aspects getting stronger. Clipper stalls are what I have been working the most and throwing the odd clipper or two into normal kick runs. Last night was the first night in a while that I managed +300 consecutive kicks. Actually, I hadn't landed more than 100 in a while which I was getting slightly concerned about. I feel that I need to keep working the kicks 'cause my control needs some tlc.

I also worked ATWs last night. They were pretty awful at first but after a few minutes I was landing them really well. Even out-ins were happening somewhat frequently which is a rarity for me.

Inside toe stalls, even though I am still not close to my goal of 50 are getting a whole lot better. I hit 40 once but I don't think I've accomplished more than 25 lately. The movement is getting more natural and my foot is now more relaxed when I stall the bag. It will come...

What I need to do is have another 3-4 hour monster shred soon and just break through a few plateaus that have sprung up. I won't be able to make it this weekend due to a kung fu competition but soon. Time will be made.

TGIF

[innersmile]

wed 11 August

I hadn't had much time to shred over the weekend because I had a kung fu competition on the whole weekend. It went well but, this is a footblog...

Last night I had a little shred, around 40 minutes. My left leg was a little stiff 'cause I got kicked just by the knee over the weekend so I restricted my shred to kicks and stalls only. Not 1 ATW / Legover / butterfly / dragonfly in the whole session, but my legs needed the break.

I have been throwing a whole lot more clippers into my normal kicking runs and I average around 4 clippers per run. They are becoming more natural now but I still lose control way too much. I need to work on my touch after the clipper which is too hard at times.

I have started doing this really cool stall drill (taken from my kung fu training), this is how it goes:
10 toe stalls to
9 inside stalls to
8 toe stalls to
7 inside stalls to
6 toe stalls etc...

I got as far as 6 last night but I want to be able to continue indefinitely with this. Go down to 1 and up to 10 adnauseum, it will take a while.

My fitness is absolutely attrocious! I started smoking fags again about 4 months ago and my endurance levels have plummeted into the nether regions of ' spluttering couch potato' as a direct result. I will stop soon, fucking useless, filthy , and nastey little disease.

I seem to have hit a plateaux lately but I'm not really bothered. I still enjoy kicking and I'll continue doing so until I don't. I'd like to be a tiltless player by this time next year but first things first...

I have ordered a pair of Lavers (white, blue)and they should arrive in the next 14 days. I did say that I'd order them when I hit 100 inside stalls but I have yet to conquor 41. It's funny though, I know they are getting better. I can feel the footbag land on my foot now but I still have this effing mental block of reaching 50 and beyond.

Next month is my birthday and I'm thinking of treating myself to an Abshire bag. I'm not too sure about this though because I ordered a Twisted, which wasn't cheap and I still prefer the Sandbag. I tried but, what can I say... I love the softness of the Sandbag.

Foot in Mouth training will resume on Friday after some weeks of disruptions. Can't wait...

[innersmile]

Fri 13 Aug

Hmm. I am going to take a break from shredding for a while. I am bored of shredding alone and I seem to pick up these funny little knocks that affect my training (kung fu) which, as much as I love footbag, my training comes first. Funny, I never got hurt training and since I started shredding my legs are always stiff / sore / stained. Wierd...

I still will play on Sundays at the flea market but that's it for a while. I'll see how it goes in a few weeks from now.

later

[innersmile]

Mon 16 Aug

Okay, my faith in shredding has been restored!

Yesterday I had the usual flea market shred but it lasted lond, from 8:30 am till 4pm. A total of about 5 hours of kicking.

Nothing particulaly amazing went down but I had fun. Shredding in a group is just better. I got Dragonflys down yesterday and am working on pick-ups as well.

Most of my game is still getting there; but you'll be the first to know Flootblog.

[innersmile]

Wed 18 Aug

Had a lil' shred last night; 'bout 50 minutes or so.

Toe Stalls- good
Inside stalls- ok
ATWs- both sides getting better, right foot needs work
Clippers- the most improved part of my game lately
Clipper stalls- as above
Leg Overs- I'm happy with these, land softer tho
Fairy- same
osis- die
Dragonfly- got 'em down on the weekend, so far so good
Butterfly- um... they need tlc


Lately, instead of just drilling single tricks I've been throwing them into kick runs and, although I'm far away from having a run worth posting about, I'm landing a few tricks smoothly. I have landed about 4 / 5 tricks in a run between kicks (not basic stalls tho). Not too bad ey?

My stretching needs work, esp my hipflexsors (splng?) but I am working it slowly. Still not loving solo shredding tho but I have no choice during the week.

[innersmile]

Fri 20 August 2004

Pretty average shred last night, not too long either. I kicked for about 40 mins.

Toe stalls- good
Inside stalls- could be better
Clipper/Clipper stall- happy with these
Leg Over- Getting there
Fairy- ok
ATW's- pretty awful last night
Osis-
Dragonfly- improving
Butterfly- needs a lot of work, only landed 1 last night

While schooling ATWs last night I just caught the footbag on the outside of my foot and had to lift my leg quickly so the bag wouldnt roll off. I managed to kick my left hand which was by my side and I think I sprained my index finger. LAME, but slightly amusing.

Right at the end of my session I remembered that I was going to start practicing the pick up, which I have yet to land. On my first attempt I almost nailed it, the bag just rolled off. I only tried once and was pretty pleased about almost getting it- today I'll land my first.

[innersmile]

Mon 22 Aug 2004

Had a really long shred yesterday, about 4-5 hours in total. It was a good session but I'd had a rather hectic weekend so I was far from my best.

I broke my consecutives record which now stands at 580 so I am really pleased about that.

I have just started to work on spins. I throw one in during kicking runs and I am starting to land them quite well. Something to add into my future sessions.

Sometime in the first 2 hours of playing my thigh started to hurt so I left dexing tricks for another session. I played plenty of circle kicking and we had a really strong circle going. Just 2 touch pass and 1-1; 2-2;3-3. We had some really great rallies cause everyone was relaxed and enjoyed themselves. I'm looking forward to shredding on the beach front in December.

Break down of yesterday's stuff:
Toe stalls- ok
Inside stalls- ok
ATWs- need work, more focus
Leg overs- could be better
Fairies- same
clipper- moving on really well, hit about 8/9 in a kicking run
clipper stall- getting stronger each session
osis- one day
pick up- came close to landing it on 3 occasions. Should be mine soon
Dragonfly- ok, right leg needs work on dex
Butterfly- didn't attempt ever one, I'll work these at home for a while 'til I'm better at them.

Right, that's all for now. Farewell til the next shred.

[innersmile]

Thur 26 August

I was away yesterday so this post is for Tuesday night's shred...

All is going well actually. All my moves are improving but sometime while schooling ATW's I got that all too familiar strain in my thigh. I am really getting fed up with this little nagging injury and have decided that for the time being I am going to leave dexes out of my shreds. I'll still do them but not as intense as I have been lately. Stoopid thigh... At least I get to focus on my fav aspect of footbag, clipper stuff.

Toe Stalls: ok
Inside Stalls: ok
Clippers: Sweet
Clipper Stalls: Good
ATWS: Great until my friggin thigh started. I think they were the best they've ever been
Leg Overs: Nice
Fairy: Smoother
Dragonfly: good, but my flipside needs love
Butterfly: eeish
Pick up: nearly there, gimme a week
Osis: will be mine
Spins: Getting more comfortable with these all the time but I've only thrown them into kicking runs. I'll work stalls soon.

I have a full weekend of shred ahead which I'm looking forward to. Hopefully I'll get my possie to shred on Friday but I'm doing a demo (eek) on Saturday to promote the good habbit of kicking (please don't drop anything from the toss). I'm a little nervous but I shred in front of people every Sunday so I'll be alright.

I have a sesh planned tonight that I'm looking forward to already. So til then, take care all...

[innersmile]

Fri 26 August 2004

Not the longest shred by any means last night, a total playing time of just over 30 minutes. I kept the sesh short because I am shredding a whole lot this weekend and I didn't want to aggrevate my thigh (yet it aggrevates me to no end) any more.

I didn't do a single dex last night apart from a few Dragonflies; these just don't cause me pain and I enjoy doing them. I worked on mainly kicks and clippers but something amazing happened last night...

I LANDED 2 OSIS ON EACH SIDE!!!!!!!

w00t w00t (it's contagious, sorry)

I was working them from the toss though. I don't know why I never did that before but I was always setting it from a clipperstall. Anyway, most of the time the bag didn't even touch my foot on it's way to the floor except for a few near misses and the joyous ones I landed. I still need to do this about 10000000000 more times so I'll whittle down that monstrous number every sesh. I'm super chuffed to be making progress though.

Otherwise there was little else in the shred. Clippers continue to get stronger and my basics are coming along well. After landing the second Osis with my left foot I ended my sesh on a high note.

I am shredding with my one buddy later who is actually pretty good. In December holidays we're going to have some wicked days full of shred, smoke, and sky... Gotta get through these next months though, baby steps.

May your weekend rock your friggin socks off!!
"Ok, it's gig time. What T shirt am I going to wear?"

[innersmile]

Mon 30 August

Had a pretty constuctive weekend footbag-wise. The demo on saturday went well. We just set up a banner or two in a huge sports shop and kicked around for a couple of hours. Got a few bags on the shelf, we'll see how they sell in fortnight.

Sunday was the usual 9-5 shred. I had very little sleep on Saturday night but I was on top of my game most of the day (thank you Coca-Cola).

Lately I have really started to love every second I spend with my footbag, and I am playing better than I ever have. I am slowly getting the hang of linking tricks together and I find myself landing about 4/5 2adds in a run. The run is only dropless though because I still need a kick every now and then to get the bag back under control. Nevertheless I feel I am making progress and nothing can top that sensation...

Here's a breakdown of tricks etc:


Sealed on both sides:
Toe Stalls- good
Inside Stalls- good
Outside Stalls- um... they need attention
Clipper- Solid
Clipper Stalls- wicked
ATW's: I was happy with these yesterday
Leg over- starting to come really easy for me
Fairy/Pixie- good, but could be better
Dragonfly- also, another trick I'm on top of

One side
Pendulum- Finally got 2 yesterday with my left foot. Nice trick.
Pick-up- Landed 2 yesterday (footbag ended on left foot)
Butterfly- I land very few of these but they're getting there (kicking w/ right clipper)


What, no Osis you ask? Well, no actually. You see, right now I have decided to school them behind closed doors until I can land them with some sort of vague consistency. I have a few midweek shreds planned this week and I'll be sure to work them to the point of furious anger. I am still gonna do it from the toss.

This week (finally, for five snakes!) my Lavers should be arriving. Nice, clean, and new white/blue Lavers just begging to be thrashed. I'll probably wear them to training until they are sufficiently destroyed along with each shred (duh). Being my birthday month (almost, but sept is near) I also ordered myself an Abshire Reg. Not sure what colours I'm getting but it matters not. That bag will well cared for in a loving, nurturing environment.

And that's all folks...

[innersmile]

1 September 2004

Happy Spring Day Footblog!

Had a pretty decent sesh last night although it would have lasted longer had the traffic not sucked so much. I left almost an hour early in hope of getting to class early so I could get a solid shred under my belt but it took me an hour to get there, normally, it takes like 20 minutes. I used what time I had well nevertheless.

Here's the breakdown:

Basics
Toe stalls- good
Inside stalls- better
Outside stalls- need more attention

Clipper stuff
Clipper- really coming along
Clipper stall- the aspect I am most pleased with

2 Adds
Leg over- solid
Fairy/Pixie- semi permiable, solidifying
ATW's- mmm, not great
Dragonfly- flipside is improving

One side tricks
Pick up- didn't work it last night
Butterfly- I am slowly getting the timing for the jump so I got some decent ones with big air last night, one sided tho...
Pendulum- tried 1, didn't land it, not one of my NB tricks

Work in Progress
Osis- landed 3 on one side and 2 on the other, from the toss. The movement is getting smoother and smaller as well as more natural. I know where to look now and after watching tricks of the trade like 3 times on Sunday, I kept my effing shoulders open to the bag. They were really imroved last night, the bag actually hit my foot often instead of just plopping on the floor. I'm going to do 50 each leg everyday when possible until I get it.

Spins
Didn't give 'em love last night

Ducking
Finally, the GREG has ducked a footbag!! I took your advice (thanks Modified fam) and started ducking from the toss and it really made a difference. I don't think I even landed a toe stall once after a duck but my head went under the bag a few times and I almost got it. This uber cool part of shredding will be included in most future sessions.

The shred lasted about 40 minutes.

I WANT MY FRIGGIN LAVERS ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!


peace,

[innersmile]

2 September 2004

Tiny little sesh last night. Only had time to play for about 20 mins. I worked mainly on Osis and kicking. I landed about 2 on each side last night but I worked them quite hard.

I kept schooling from the toss and sometimes I got rather dizzy after like 10-15 on each leg.

Still not where I want it to be but little by little I'll get there. Going to have about an hour to school tonight.

[innersmile]

3 September 2004

I almost didn't shred last night because my stomach was in serious pain from lunch. Note to self: Omlette, beer and coffee do not mix well; avoid in future. It felt like someone slashed me right across the belly... ow.

Anyway, I lay on my bed for a while and after a cup of peppermint tea I was ready to go.

Osis
I mainly schooled Osis from the toss again last night, I did about 50 each leg. I'm landing about 10% now with my right foot and slightly over 10% with my left; not bad but not good either. I'm getting better though and I'm not getting as dizzy as I was before.

Clipper Stuff
This is improving pretty well. My alternating clippers are still nowhere but stalls and normal clipper kicks are doing pretty good.

Basics
Toe stalls- good
Inside stalls- lucky nobody was watching, they were really off last night. I managed a max of like 12...

That's all I really had time to focus on with kicking in between Osis attempts. Had an awesome stretch afterwards and my legs feel pretty zesty now; I think I'm going to have a sesh when I get home, weather permiting of course (it looks like rain and is pretty dull out).

Total shred time: 40 mins, the stretch came after training.

Still no sign of my Lavers or Abshire, feeling a little downcast and dejected...mumble, mumble...maybe next week?

Happy Friday everyone
reach for the lasers
safe as fuck

[innersmile]

Still 3 September 2004

Sometimes an edit button would help... I understand why it's not there though.

Anyway, while schooling Osis last night I lost one of my Sandmasters. I actually really enjoy using these bags especially for new tricks because they are slightly bigger. Anyway, the bag rolled off my foot and in a vain attempt to keep it under control I kicked it up, pretty high and stupidly hard. The bag hit the rafters, bounced, hit the light, bounced and fell into the light fitting way up. It was at a conference centre where we train kung fu but I have a feeling that when they leave the lights on they'll smell burning footbag... the thought alone gives me shudders. I'm sorry lil' one...

And, it was my fav. Sandmaster; the multi coloured one with the white pannels. I had had it for a relatively long time considering my short footbag career and it was really broken in well. It wasn't my first one though, he's still safe in his pouch.

A minute's silence please...

















Thank you.
(I'm not smiling, the shades are to hide my tears)

[innersmile]

4 September 2004

Today is one of those Saturdays that I have little but nothing to do. I just had a decent sesh outside in perfect weather, spring time rules! My Lavers are still MIA but I'm actually fine with the shoes I have now. I hope they'll make a difference when they come.

Anyway, here's the low-down:

Warm up
200 hundred inside kicks with the first touch- I dig it when that happens!

Basics
Toe stalls: ok
Inside stalls: a little off lately, haven't nailed 20 in a while
Outside: didn't work today

Clipper Stuff
Clipper: good
Clipper stalls: need to be better
Alternating Clippers: still on 2. I am going to work these along with Osis as often as possible

2 Adds
ATW's: ok, just did a few. I'm cautious of my hip...
Leg Over: sweet
Pixie/ Fairy: mmm, can be a whole lot sharper
Dragonfly: Flipside getting much better
Pick-up: Still only one side, landed 2 today. Gotta work clipper stalls more.

3 Add
Butterfly: oy! Still pretty awful.

Osis
My left foot is really getting the hang of it, I hit 4 / 10 from the toss today and the bag mostly touched my foot before the floor. Right side is a different story. My turn is also really getting smaller and sharper. It's opnly a mtter of time...

Spins / Ducks
Not today Josephene

[innersmile]

6 September 2004

Didn't have the usual Sunday flea-market shred yesterday; we were given the day off. We (Doug & I) still met up for a lil sesh at a mall.

Nothing amazing happened at all, just kicked around for a while and did our best to get some photo's. Doug's camera has a really long delay before the photo is shot so the timing was tricky. We did get some decent shots of clippers but butterflies eluded us. Somehow we managed to get a whole lot of pics of us picking up the footbag but I suppose that's what happens when newb's shred.

Anyway, shredding will resume as normal from tomorrow...

[innersmile]

7 September 2004

Unspectacular at best is how I can describe last night's sesh. Nothing really clicked at all for me but at least I'm 1000 mistakes closer to getting certain aspects of my game right.

Warm up
Hit 65 kicks first touch...

Basics
Toe stall- I want it better
Inside stall- still not there

Clipper Stuff
Clipper- ok, need to work on getting the bag higher / straighter
Clipper stalls- off, along with everything else last night
Consecutive Clippers- on 2 each leg
Alternating Clippers- on 2, gotta set the footbag higher

Osis
Luckily for my jovial disposition last night or I would have quit footbag! I must have tried like at least 30 Osis on each leg from the toss, but I was hopeless. I struggled to get 10% success rate and it felt like the first time ever with my right foot. I did start setting it from a toe stall but, I got a lot of practise to put behind me.

Other
Didn't really work other aspects of my game but I did nail a few 2 adds in my runs. I'm going to start drilling some stuff like Fairy > Fairy (I'm going to learn the friggin job notation today!) and leg over > atw > legover > atw next sesh, probably tonight.

Bags
Black/Red/Yellow Mr Sandbag
Tan / Brown / White Sandmaster

Shred Time
45 mins

[innersmile]

8 September 2004

SUCK!!!

I HATE TRAFFIC!

Couldn't shred at all last night because of sucker than suck traffic. Got to class like 10 minutes before we had to start and I still had a wholesome dinner of chips, chocolate and coke to get through.

I'll make it up tonight before class, I've got a little over an hour...

peace,

[innersmile]

9 September 2004

Warm up
165 Inside kicks- 2nd attempt (14 on 1st try, )

Basics
Toe Stall- 36 best
Inside stalls- 22 best- these need to be better

Drills
Leg over > ATW > Leg over > ATW
Almost landed 1 full set, bag rolled off my foot on the 2nd ATW about 4 times

Fairy > Fairy
This needs work

Clipper Stuff
Alternating Clippers- still getting there
Clipper stall- same
Clipper kicks- landing some really sweet, high and straight ones

Bag
Silver / Green Sandbag

Time
40 Mins

Not a bad sesh last night. At one point these kids were watching me and were pretty excited by some of the stuff I was doing, so that gave me a bit of a boost.

Took a break from Osis last night but I'll start working them again tonight. That's all for now, I got a busy day ahead of me...

[innersmile]

10 September 2004

The Shred Unfantastic

Wow, last night I must have sucked more than anything that's ever sucked before! Nothing went right from the start when I nailed a huge 15 consecutive inside kicks. From there it was straight on to the basic stall drop session; I dropped from everywhere, the toss, on 1, 2, 4, even 8. I think I broke 10 once...

There was one good thing other than the session ending pretty early last night. I did manage to land:
leg over > ATW > leg over > ATW once.

My patience lasted a meagre 26 minutes. By that time I was serriously comtemplating incinerating those stupid little bags, one by one, nice and slowly. Luckily, I had no unber-flammable liquids on me and I had to be content with throwing my bag really hard against the wall.

I was in such a shitty mood afterwards and, joy of joys, my footbag form carried through to my kung fu sesh, where again, my grace and smooth style continued to wow audiences all night...

It blew ass...

happy friday,