Kobus se voetblog

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 23 Jul 2004 00:49

I had my first session in about 2 months last night, but since it was amazingly shocking, I thought I start off my blog with some history instead.

My first encounter with footbag was in the beginning of last year, when one of my friends asked me if I wanted to play hacky sack. Amazingly, I did not know what it was, having only heard of footbag (through California Games). So when she took out her crocheted bag, I was like: Oh, you mean footbag. (Cool heh?). I was a very competent circle kicker right from the start, probably a result of me playing a wide range of sports at school. 10 consecs were considered good by my group of friends, and I could do that easily.

I continued to circle kick for a couple of months, desperately trying to get my hands on a bag of my own, but they are extremely hard to get here. So I turned to the web, found this "amazing" site called footbag.com, and almost ordered a stalling star and 122p Matrix. Luckily I found flipsider before I did anything stupid, and ordered a Mr. Sandbag and Flipsider bag instead. It took some 3 months for it to get here, in which time I continued to circle kick. Infact, the status quo remained until I decided to order Lavers of the WFA (sometime in August of last year (Just want to add, that getting lavers to South Africa is very expensive - total cost with shipping/customs was about $110 (thats American))).

Suddenly my clippers were consistent, I could hit a few mirages, legovers etc., but I was still a circle kicker. I gradually became more focussed, and started stringing some moves together. The problem is though, that I struggle to find time to play, work is taking priority over everything else at the moment. Added to that is the lack of freestylers in this country, making motivation (or the lack thereof) a big issue. (But that seems to be changing, thanks to the guys in Jo'burg (Note to self: make time to have a session with them))

I would consider myself tiltless, hitting long tiltless strings very consistently, with alot of threes thrown in. I am not focussing on big tricks, hence my lack of any 5's. Right now I am just trying to increase string length, build up some variety in my game, and work my way up to guiltlessness. I have most downtime single dex components both sides, solid pixies both sides, stepping both sides (although I'm far from throwing that in my strings), atomic both sides (also not stringing it). Infact, I am really both sided, just need to increase the strenght of my left leg a bit...

Biggest tricks are probably:
- Smog
- Atom Smasher, Legbeater
- Ripwalk, Blur

Goals:
- Some 10+ contact guiltess strings by the end of the year (without relying on BOPs)
- Rubberman drill by end of year (I have all the moves, just need to be able to string them together)
- TORQUE!!!

Oh, feel free to comment in this blog, anything goes...

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 23 Jul 2004 01:02

Just some thoughts on my session last night.

Apparently I can fairy. I was getting frustated with everything else I tried, so I thought I might as well try something I've never really tried before. First try pop right up from under my knee/thigh, clean as I would ever get it. Then I went on to hit fear and fairy butterfly first try. I like this set, and plan to work on it alot more.

Tried it flipside right after the fairy butter. I don't think I'll ever get it flipped. Only tried it twice, but each time was accompanied by a disturbingly loud cracking/clicking sound, coupled with mild discomfort in my left knee. This has been worrying me for sometime now, since I get the same thing with my flip atomic and flip DATW (although less severe), and it seems it will hamper my quest to become BSP. I think it is caused by an old rugby injury I sustained when I was 18. (If you ever have the chance to tackle a 100kg outside centre to save a try, don't. Not if you are only 68kg, and you are going to lose the game in any case. (I did save the try though, and we both left the field after that))

Since my 2 month extended break, I returned alot more both sided, especially with regards to pixies. I don't think my flip got better, rather, my strong pixie got worse. Atleast they are the same now, so from here on, I can work on them together.

Finally hit flip swirl, think it has to do with me becoming more and more sideways, although I'm still a right bigfoot.

Any tips on diving. I can do consecutive ducking clippers very consistently, but as soon as I try to dive, everything fucks up, and I end up headbutting the bag to the ground with a amzing lack of style and grace...

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 25 Jul 2004 08:15

Had my second session (since my long break) this morning. I was a bit stiff from playing 4-square the entire night with a couple of friends, so I took it easy and didn't really push myself to much.

Components worked on:
- BOPs - worked mainly on osis, since my break they are a bit inconsistent. Did the following drill: butterfly > osis > butterfly > pdx mirage [repeat]. Goal is to be able to string butterfly, osis and pdx mirage for consistently 20+ contacts.
- Pixies : Getting a lot more comfortable with them, starting throwing them in mid run on both sides.
- Whirls : Strong whirl improved alot, flip is still lagging behind. My knees started to hurt, so I didn't do to much whirl practice.
- Ducking : Ducking clippers is nice and consistent now. Diving still shines in its absence.

- Spinning : Working hard on spinning. Having problems with the set, and with my balance. Spinning from flip clipper is for some reason alot more consistent than from strong clipper. Hit a couple of spinning clippers, but it still needs a lot of work.

I had some nice tiltless strings with some 3s, averaging above 15 contacts, but still need to improve my endurance, to get my run lengths back to where it was before my break.

All in all, it was a good session, I really had fun. I'm slowly getting back to the level I was before the 2 month break.

brian relly · Post by **brian relly** » 25 Jul 2004 17:06

Hey, good idea! About the 3-add-bail runs. How many contacts have you gotten on that so far?

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 25 Jul 2004 23:35

I'm getting to just about 10 contacts

, but thats for the drill I posted. My goal is to go for as long as I want really, without it being a drill...

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 26 Jul 2004 23:45

Had a short session last night. Was planning to school some 4 adds that I have hit previously, but ended up just drilling butterfly, osis, and pdx mirage.

Butterfly and pdx mirage is working well. Osis is still a bit of a problem, having mainly trouble with my balance. When going for consecutive osisses, I tend to overspin too much. This is fine if I want to link an opp side component, but for a ss component/move, it messes up my balance.
Only got up to 4 consec. osisses, but atleast I got 4 almost every try...

Oh, also schooled consec. ducking clippers again. I love how they feel, and they are becoming so consistent now.

Next session I'll school some bigger moves...

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 28 Jul 2004 10:12

Just had a awefull session. It was so frustrating, so I cut it short.

Limited highlights (all have been hit before):
- drifter both sides (although I've hit it before, its getting easier, and its pretty even on both sides)
- ripwalk both sides
- atom smasher (strongside)
- tap (both sides)
- spinning clippers (both sides).

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 05 Oct 2004 09:56

Its been a while since I updated my blog. I'm trying though to increase my sessions. Had a couple this past couple of weeks, a few with Greg (innersmile), although the last one didn't go so well. I did hit my first 5 though - phoenix, and had Greg as a witness.

Last night I played a bit with a couple of friends I haven't seen in a while. Mostly just circle kicked, but when they got tired, I schooled a bit on my own. Hit phoenix again, and my second 5, pixie ducking osis. I also very stoked with my brand new spinning osis (bs).

After they left, I did some work on run lengths. Inching closer to the 20 contact mark, mostly tiltless with some 3s thrown in (endurance is a bit of a problem). Also working hard on my pixie, stepping and atomic sets. A bit disapointed with my non-existant flip atomic (though I've hit flip tap), since apart from that, I am really both sided and I want to keep it that way.

Gonna try to squeeze in a session or two this week, and one with Greg and a few new guys (hopefully) over the weekend.

Also want to give props to Damian Halforty (he probably won't read this, but maybe Greg can relay it to him). He is really pushing footbag in South Africa at the moment. Right now you can buy a good bunch of decent quality bags (including the Mr. Sandbag) at local skate/surf shops (whereas when I started, I couldn't even find a crocheted bag in the whole of Gauteng).
Maybe in a couple of months, we'll have a good number of shredders starting to show some skill.

innersmile · Post by **innersmile** » 05 Oct 2004 23:02

Kobus,
Thank phoenix ruled so much. Saw it with my own eyes, made me want to practice more...

I sent word to Damian, I'm sure he'll check the blog out. Something around 1000 bags moved so far and I'm sure there'll be a few serious sredders among those.

Looking forward to playing this weekend...

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 13 Oct 2004 06:23

Just had a very good session. Started with some pixie drills:
- legover > magellan > plo (both sides, no luck repeating)
- legover > plo > plo (both sides, no luck repeating)
- pickup > paste > paste (both sides, no lu . . uhm you get the picture)

then I worked on my BOPs. Finally got to 20 contacts. I am really happy about that. Next step is to slowly work in some of my other 3s and 4s into my runs, especially pixie stuff, ducking/spinning and whirls. And stepping. And atomics.

I ended with some spinning practice. Finally hit spinning clippper > spinning clipper (both sides), which is amazing, because up to yesterday, I haven't sealed a spining clipper with anything but a hand catch, and yesterday I couldn't even hit spinning clipper. So its even more amazing (for me) that I hit spinning clipper > spinning osis (BS) as well. I'm very stoked. I don't know what caused the sudden improvement in my spinning. I think I'm setting straighter, and spinning SLOWER. Yeah, I know. I think I was trying to spin too fast, which threw me off balance. I'll try working on some new spinning drills next session. Things like
spinning clipper > 'gyro' clipper [repeat]
spinning clipper > gyro mirage > butterfly [repeat]

Oh, if anyone has some good spinning drills thats roundabout my skill level, please feel free to post them here.

Now I need to go rest my legs, shins are hurting like crazy...

Anz · Post by **Anz** » 13 Oct 2004 07:41

Good luck with spinning - it's a very nice component
Here is some drills:

Spinning Clipper > ss Clipper > "rpt" x infinite (doesn't make your head fizzy so quick)
Spinning Clipper > op Clipper > rpt (same thing but trains both sides)

Both work with butterfly as well ofcourse. It's good to skool butterfly > spin too.

Spinning Clipper > Ducking Clipper > rpt is dexless and still guiltless drill.

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 13 Oct 2004 10:41

Thanks Anssi, those are perfect.

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 22 Oct 2004 11:06

Its been almost two weeks since I stopped smoking nicotine products. Didn't really expect an improvement so soon, since I also took a week off in attempt to let my shin splints heal themselves.

New records:
-40 alternating clippers (previous record before tonight was 21)
-32 infinities (previous record before tonight was 14)
-7 osisses (previous record was 4, new aim 10, then atleast 20). They feel alot smoother, almost confident with them.
-about 40 contacts of mirage > legover [repeat] > mirage > pickup [repeat]
-numerous 20+ contact strings consisting mainly out of BOPs

new drills/combo's:
- spinning clipper > op clip [repeat]. Thanks Annsi. Still needs work though. I get dizzy very quickly

- magellan > plo [repeat]

Extremely pleased

- butterfly > whirl [repeat] (flip whirl still needs a helluva lot of work)

My shins didn't hurt after the session, first time in months that I can say that. My strings are alot longer, I don't tire so quickly, and I think it makes my style alot smoother.

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 21 Aug 2005 13:42

Almost a year since my last entry, I took a long sabbatical from footbag over December, and it extended well into the new year. But I've been playing again for a couple of months. I am trying to increase the number of sessions I have, which is difficult, but I can really see a improvement, so I'll continue to do so...

Went to Jo'burg today, met up with Greg and Douglas. Doug has a stall at a local market, that sells footbags and yo-yo's, so I met them there. It was good seeing them again, haven't seen them in almost a year as well. It seems that they both also took some time off footbag, even more so than me. We went to a parking lot on the roof of the mall, and had a session there. No one was playing particularly well, my runs seemed short, and I dropped alot, which was dissapointing. I have been working hard on my run-length. The wind was pretty strong, I think that may have had a influence. Greg and Douglas also didn't play as well as I've seen them.

Greg had to go early, so after he left, Doug and I went back to his stall. I wasn't planning on playing again there, but I sort of just started kicking there in front of his stall. Ended up having a 2hour solo session, while he played yo-yo (he is quite good with a yo-yo). I was alot happier with my second attempt at a session. Because of all the people, I tried to follow the one true Somolinos way for kicking in public: no dropping. I had lots of long runs, mostly BOPs with some tilts here and there, also lots of spins and ducks/dives (people seemed to like that). I had one guiltless 20 contact run that I was particularly proud of, it started with spinning clip>ducking clip [repeat] >... with drifter BSOS and whirl BSOS and no tilts.

It was fun kicking in public. Lots of people stopped and watched, and I think I did reasonably well, considering that I don't kick in public that much. I'll speak to Douglas and Greg, so that we can make it a more regular occurence.

Anyways, I was pretty tired after that, think my legs are going to hurt tomorrow. I have to work now, deadline for tomorrow and its already 23h42

HG · Post by HG » 21 Aug 2005 14:09

Yay Kobus is playing footbag! Keep posting in here! You rock!

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 23 Aug 2005 17:03

Thanks Henry.

Did not plan on kicking today, but we had a power failure this afternoon, and my notebook's battery only last about an hour, which means I couldn't do much work. So my roommate and I played a bit of good old-fashioned hacky sack. We both got tired pretty soon, and switched to foosball instead. My roll-over/snake shot is really improving, almost scoring everytime from it...just struggling to get the pin.

Anyways, I had a little solo session a bit later. Just messed around with some runs and stuff. I am really confident with my BOPs now. Plus I hit a new move: pdx drifter (both sides). That really felt good. I never really try moves if I don't feel ready for them, and today I just felt that I will hit pdx drifter, even though I never really tried before. Only took about 20 attempts each side.

ptaku · Post by **ptaku** » 24 Aug 2005 03:21

Porps on Paradox Drifter. It's cool feeling move. I like it.

Keep shredin' and bustin' and everything

Later,
Pawel

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 29 Aug 2005 00:04

Thanks Pawel.

I played alot this weekend, again with the guys in Jo'burg. To much to remember so I'll just post some notes:

- I hate playing in the wind. My ducking stuff is usually pretty solid, but this weekend I dropped alot of ducking clippers cause the bag landed a foot or so from where is should've. My bag is kinda light, but I like it that way. Don't know, I'll have to make some kind of adjustment if I wish to continue to play outside more...

- Playing in public is cool. We played in Nelson Mandela Square, which is a square located next to Sandton City. Sandton is infested with rich people, and the square is surrounded with little restaurants and cafe's with the patrons seated so that they have a nice view of the square. There is also a larger than life statue of Nelson Mandela, which draws lots of tourist. Apparently, he is quite famous

Anyways, we attracted lots of interest. I was asked if I played soccer a bunch of times, and once even if I was Brazilian

I played not too bad, couple of longish runs, so it was all good, until we got kicked out by the security.

- Didn't hit any new moves, but did hit pdx drifter again a couple of times. I mostly just tried to focus on longer runs, but I'm still to inconsistent for my liking, so the next couple of sessions I will only focus on that. New tricks can wait, I feel I have a fair number of concepts that I can hit, I just need to get them dialled.

- Playing with Greg and Doug is lots of fun. I had lots of laughs. Hopefully Greg will start to kick seriously again, and hopefully Doug and Greg will keep improving if we can kick together more. I kinda helped Doug grasp a few new stuff, most notably mirage and a s..l..o..w ATW. I think he hit them before, but when he realised he don't need to rush it, it got alot easier for him.

- My legs are sore, I'll have to take a couple of days off...hopefully I can have a solo session again on Wednesday.

- We took a couple of pictures, but they remained in Jo'burg, when I get my hands on them, I'll post them here. Some of them are quite good.

_________________

Kobus Brümmer
__________________

"action is the worst enemy of thought"

Wim · Post by **Wim** » 03 Sep 2005 13:59

Good to see you're back in bagness!

'voetblog'?? Do you speak Afrikaans?

kaos · Post by **kaos** » 03 Sep 2005 21:56

Ja, ek doen. Daar is nie eintlik 'n woord vir 'footblog' in Afrikaans nie, so ek het maar my eie gemaak. Om die waarheid te sê, daar is nie regtig 'n woord vir 'footbag' ook nie, wat noem julle 'footbag' in Nederlands?

I had a couple of sessions since my last post. I only focussed on increasing my run lengths. Made some progress, I had quite a few runs with 20+ contacts. I am working on getting to 40, 50+ contacts, then I'll be happy and start with new tricks again.