kicking in Asia

the Executioner · Post by **the Executioner** » 10 Jan 2005 20:02

I am in Saigon, Viet Nam right now and have been playing shuttlecock with guys better than us--60+ year old guys in better shape than me and you, with skills that are intimidating. these dudes do basically what could be called freestyle power kicking. they stand in circles and smash the shuttle at full speeds, usually one kick at a time, but the kicks are usually blind sole kicks, sole clippers, and various freestyle manuevers. to watch these guys bash it back and forth while freestyling is awesome. i have been playing with them--they are pretty impressed by my skill but they are better than me. the shuttlecock is different than a bag for sure.
i am off to cambodia for a few days and when i return to vietnam i will bring my lavers and a bag to the park and show them shred.
i know that it is possible to kick till your very old now, after watching some of these dudes. some of them are almost 70 and in amazing shape, styling away with the shuttlecock. inspiring and awesome.
more later if possible or when i return.

peter

lightningbolt · Post by **lightningbolt** » 10 Jan 2005 20:21

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Thats really amazing! I mean in America there not alot of older people in that great of shape.

Keep shredding and have fun and stay safe!

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 10 Jan 2005 21:00

That is incredible Peter!

I would love to see pictures of them playing someday, or better yet, perhaps I'll have to go see it for myself.

Good luck overseas!

Adam · Post by **Adam** » 11 Jan 2005 01:38

How about making a stop in Japan?!

They just had a ceremonial session of Kemari at a shrine in Kyoto for New Year's. Nothing too fancy, but the kimonos they wear are nice...

the Executioner · Post by **the Executioner** » 12 Jan 2005 06:25

In cambodia now. there's a fair amount of kicking, mostly by little kids but they gots skills. little girls who can kick 10 consecs with a shuttlecock like it's nothing. pretty cool. my legs are too sore for anything now due to climbing temple steps and I'm too blown away by the energy here to do anything more but sleep right now. the art and sculpture on the temples are mind blowing. cambodia is amazing. good night.

mc · Post by mc » 12 Jan 2005 08:59

pete,

would you consider making a footblog to chronicle your adventures in Asia? Those two entries were exciting and inspiring, I'd love to be able to check out some updates from time to time.

hope you're well, have safe travels,

m

Outsider · Post by **Outsider** » 12 Jan 2005 22:10

Kicking it all 'round the world! Go Pete!

But damn it, Janet, now you've got me to quiver with antici.....pation. I must know more. I want to know the history of the game. I want to know who primarily plays it. I want to know what kind of shoes they play in. I want to know the rules of their game and the conventional etiquette of play they follow when playing in public. Mostly I'm dying to know what kind of manuevers these "mind boggling" tricks are.

Take lots of photos. Video would be even better. And, um, could you bring back a shuttlecock for me, Pete?

LittleBoy footbag · Post by **LittleBoy footbag** » 13 Jan 2005 14:28

that's really neat. Pete, is there like, sepak takraw anyplace? I had one in Philippines which was uber hein but I forgot it before I got on the plane. Like a really, really wound up ball it was. And when I looked down on it, I inside kicked it and got smashed in the face! Or is it just shuttlecock there?

BTW:

It just occured to me, please confirm Peter but, is shuttlecock the one with a weight on the tip like something heavy and a feather as a tail? If it is, I have some background in kicking with this as well. And so does my dad so I can pretty much expound in what it is..........and my dad's like what peter descibes..........old and still kicking

ninja · Post by **ninja** » 14 Jan 2005 21:23

Several years ago my mum brang back these shuttle cocks from hong kong. They werent very good. Has a feather and the tip/base is made of newspaper cut into circles probably a centre meter thick.

I also tried one guys shuttle cock which had a real light feather on it and the tip was made of rubber with a metal weight. That one was real bouncy though.

Someone posted on here about shuttle cock a while ago. Had some shuttle cock websites but I cant find that thread.

Outsider · Post by **Outsider** » 16 Jan 2005 09:32

http://footbag.modevia.com/footbag/view ... 00cd044d8a
I haven't practiced my link-posting much here on modified, so bear with me. If it doesn't work, try looking for the "Footbag Documentary" thread in the General Footbag section. I'll bump that to the top. That'll be a first for me.
And seriously, I get the feeling that that game is kind of big in alot of places, and we're just missing it (kind of like how I meet people all the time that have simply never seen footbag, even hacky-sackers who don't know about us...), and it could be good to get involved in what they're doing, and get them involved in what we're doing. Maybe...

JFootbagger · Post by **JFootbagger** » 16 Jan 2005 10:18

yeah, my Grandma use to do that stuff. She actually gave me her ol' shuttlecock (leather pad with feathers sticking up, fun to kick with). When I see her, she still kicks it around with me. I even brought my footbag to Tai-chi one day, and these old ladies started kickin' with me. It was nice to kick with the elders

ninja · Post by **ninja** » 16 Jan 2005 13:50

Yeah I just saw that tread again after you bumped it

it could be good to get involved in what they're doing, and get them involved in what we're doing. Maybe...

Good way of spreading footbag. Maybe get them to go to a footbag event. In NZ they had sepak takraw at one footbag event, it was a good idea

the Executioner · Post by **the Executioner** » 18 Jan 2005 02:43

Back in Vietnam. A few facts: shuttlecock (Da Cau) is the NATIONAL SPORT of Vietnam. the current world champion lives in vietnam, but unfortunately i havent had the chance to find him on this trip. next time. any city, any town you go to you see people kicking all over the place. in fact, everyone here plays. you see constant circles of small kids, 5 yrs old and stuff playing. most little kids can rack off 5-10 consecs no problem in bare feet. many people play in bare feet. the badass players usually wear various shoes, like running shoes. they dont have lavers here

this is truly a nation of kickers. the shuttlecocks everyone uses are generally plastic base with feathers--you can buy them on average of about 20 cents. (everything here is super cheap though--a huge bowl of noodles with seafood and fresh vegetables and a few beers usually comes to less than a dollar. i got an hour long massage for $2). even the great players all use the plastic shuttle. i've been looking for nice ones with leather or some type of hand made ones but cant find any anywhere. either way, Jon, i'll bring one back for you for sure. i'll probably bring a box back. yes, old women and young kids kick. it's incredible. people here are blown away to see a westerner who can really play, you make instant friends wherever you go. it's ironic--i went on this trip not realizing how big it is here but got smacked in the face with a kickers dream. i havent had a chance to shred in saigon yet due to traveling around the country but will be back there tomorrow and will shred for the masters. unfortunately i dont have a video camera with me but my next trip to this country will be based on finding the champions and shred/shuttlecock exchange and i will document it all. one more week here, i'll update anything special if it hits me.

NotHisRealName · Post by **NotHisRealName** » 18 Jan 2005 06:04

Nice work Peter. Let them know that we're catching on and making a few Modifications.

it sounds like an awesome adventure, to see some parts of the world that are so rarely visited.

If only you could swing by Australia on your way home. There are some guys here that would love to see you strutt your stuff.

And the Australian Footbag Championships is in Feb!!!

ebo · Post by **ebo** » 18 Jan 2005 06:06

More Peter! This is so interesting and entertaining to read. I'd really like
to see some video of the asian shuttlecock masters.

LittleBoy footbag · Post by **LittleBoy footbag** » 18 Jan 2005 12:00

the shuttlecocks everyone uses are generally plastic base with feathers--you can buy them on average of about 20 cents. (everything here is super cheap though--a huge bowl of noodles with seafood and fresh vegetables and a few beers usually comes to less than a dollar. i got an hour long massage for $2).

hell yeah! The takraw I bought in Philippines was all bamboo and it was about a buck and he's right about the prices! I'm a little farther down south of asia (Philippines) but everything there's so cheap! CD's are half the price they are here! WOOT!

Peter, have buttloads of fun kicking with these kids!

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 18 Jan 2005 12:29

This story is so enthralling Peter!

What a fantastic discovery to wind up in a land of kickers. I find that incredible that kicking is their National sport!! What a land! I had always dreamed of a place like that!

Thank you for allowing us to have this window into your exciting life!

Take care.