CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Non-Audio Stuff => Random Thoughts => Topic started by: Deep Funk on August 26, 2014, 11:48:10 AM
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This thread is about sports. You know, the physical activity in which you demonstrate your athleticism in some way or another. I mean when chess is a sport, the range is quite broad.
To start off, I used to be a fencer as a teenager. I also fenced in competition but I was never good enough to trouble the national top ten. My weapon was the foil and I might pick up the sport again. There is a technical elegance to fencing that still gets to me. It is a martial art at its core.
After fencing I practiced Kyokushinkai Karaté for a year. I learned many unexpected things from that martial art. There is a strong philosophy there that lays a basis for a very respectable perspective on behaviour and morals. Either way it was very much worth it.
These days I squash on a regular basis at the gym. I did not like fitness so I picked up a racked and some balls to start something new. I like squash because it is quite technical yet accessible. You can challenge yourself in many ways by just playing with less bouncy balls. I can see myself playing squash for quite some time.
What sports do you practice or appreciate?
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In order: cricket, tennis, golf.
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I'm a cross country coach. If anyone needs running tips, feel free to hit me up!
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I played table tennis competitively on and off. Got all my fundamentals down for lots of coaching sessions but never enough time to develop great feel and experience. Became an adult that works 6 days and ultimately don't have time to practice because it takes two to play.
Starting to pick up shooting, but haven't bought my first handgun yet. I know this will be one expensive hobby/sport...
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Moto GP, Moto Cross, Super cross
I do some track riding (Although taken a break this year) and trail riding mostly as I like to keep my bones intact..much bigger chance of breaking it when doing motocross.
Follow basketball (Go Blazers!) and just to get my drink on i watch a few football games. (Go niners!, unless the packers are playing against them haha)
Ocassionally follow cricket.
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I played table tennis competitively on and off. Got all my fundamentals down for lots of coaching sessions but never enough time to develop great feel and experience. Became an adult that works 6 days and ultimately don't have time to practice because it takes two to play.
Starting to pick up shooting, but haven't bought my first handgun yet. I know this will be one expensive hobby/sport...
When the costs are expected to increase make a long-term plan with budget limits and prognosis. Quality fencing equipment has a price tag and through the years of fencing I made every exercise and training session count.
I am already thinking of upgrading my squash racket but I can control myself just enough to wait a few months.
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Grew up playing football (I was a goalkeeper), basketball, and lacrosse (no way I was playing goal, I played midfield).
I'll watch pretty much anything except American football, rugby, and motorsports. And golf.
Teams I root for: Nottingham Forest, LA Galaxy, New York Mets, Duke, Australia cricket, USA men's and women's football. Would root for Republic of Ireland football and Finn Harps (the local club in Donegal) if they didn't both suck so thoroughly (ancestral ties still count for something after 167 years).
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Basketball player practically all my life.. had opportunity to play D1 (opted not to). I love hoops.. but live & breathe college football. Wife & I are absolutely junkies (down to the Xs & Os of the game). grew up in the great pacific NW & I enjoy the NFL & NBA (life long Seahawks & Trailblazer fan).. but am a bigger college sports fan.
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I played soccer* and basketball on the streets where I have learned to play. I played basketball on the street for years until life changed and I moved to Amsterdam. I loved playing basketball under the clear skies, just a ball a basket and you. Sometimes other players came by for a one-on-one. Good times...
*Word used for distinction purposes only, the confusion...
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When the costs are expected to increase make a long-term plan with budget limits and prognosis. Quality fencing equipment has price tag and through the years of fencing I made every exercise and training session count.
I am already thinking of upgrading my squash racket but I can control myself just enough to wait a few months.
I've spent a lot of money on table tennis too. I paid for a good 50 hours of coaching plus I have a lot of gear. Fees at a club at ~$10 which isn't bad, but it used to be a lot cheaper. This is what I want to continue doing but I need to get back into shape in order to play too. Finding time is really the hardest part.
Shooting will be ~$40 per session. The thought of throwing away a 25 cents every time you pull the trigger kind of makes me hesitate, but it's damn fun!
I also follow F1 very closely!
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Grew up playing soccer and basketball. Messed up my achilles so I play those once in a blue moon now, but mainly golf these days.
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I played organized soccer and basketball since I was a youngling. Played varsity basketball in high school; would have done both if they weren't the same season here. I did play keeper for a while but it just ain't as fun as being in the midfield. 3/4 on the court (I was lighter and could shoot better, I swear :)p8).
Picked up rugby in college. There's nothing quite like it. I had never played a full contact sport before so the transition was rocky. But boy is it fun.
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Yeah rugby is fun! Played at university (class sport, but with contact).
I've played Ice Hockey from 8 to 22 (on and off during my 18+ years / school oblige).
I now play beach/grass volleyball 4 times a week (California oblige). I've always liked this sport so now I have the opportunity, I'm committed to it.
Done a lot swimming, table tennis, badminton when I was younger. Discovered Squash recently: awesome sport / workout!
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I've been powerlifting/bodybuilding for nearly20 years-never competed, but everyone thinks I should. Been playing bball for even longer-still play 2-5 hours per week as I have for 20 years now.
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I love sports! Somehow I grew up as a nerd instead of a meat-head though. Soccer is my favorite sport, and I'm hoping to make it to Liverpool this year to see them live. Cool to see other soccer players. I currently play rec soccer 3-5 times a week depending on the season. I didn't start playing until college so now I pretty much play as much as possible. I also started playing ice hockey recently. I snowboard and ride a motorcycle, but those aren't competitive, just for fun.
I obviously watch soccer. I also watch the NHL, F1, and MotoGP. If I'm bored though I can pretty much watch any sport.
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I love sports! Somehow I grew up as a nerd instead of a meat-head though. Soccer is my favorite sport, and I'm hoping to make it to Liverpool this year to see them live. Cool to see other soccer players. I currently play rec soccer 3-5 times a week depending on the season. I didn't start playing until college so now I pretty much play as much as possible. I also started playing ice hockey recently. I snowboard and ride a motorcycle, but those aren't competitive, just for fun.
I obviously watch soccer. I also watch the NHL, F1, and MotoGP. If I'm bored though I can pretty much watch any sport.
I think the difference between nerds and jocks is not that big when it comes to motivation for a given activity. I read and still read most of the time on my own. When I was younger I simply had so much energy that it was only a matter of time.
Sometimes my brains assume I am still seventeen, I am not. At least I am experienced enough to train injury free nowadays.
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Taekwondo at one time but I was more forced into it rather then wanted it, I loved sparring but we rarely do so, more kata which I admittedly never had the patience for. Jujitsu during my tertiary years which was very enjoyable even if I wasn't great at it, broke half way because I did not have the moolah to continue with lessons.
Lately swimming and biking has been a joy of mine more for health reasons(and training for my local APFTs) However I slowed down now as my work hours on aircraft have been irregular.
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That is the thing with certain schools in martial arts. When they underestimate sparring, fuck them.
In fencing I have learned the most in 5 points and 15 points sparring sessions. In those small matches you can practice everything at once.
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I played all thesports you have to play as a kid growing up in America: soccer, then little league baseball, then basketball during non-little league season, etc. Hated most of them, soccer I was too young to care, baseball was too boring, basketball I was never self-motivated for (I was tall so I had no excuse to not be excellent, this was not motivating to a 9 year old).
First sport I loved playing was Tennis. Just me and one opponent, and most of the time you are really are playing against yourself. Then I started playing street hockey when growing up in Phoenix. It was probably a very tame rebellion for not getting to play america football ("too dangerous"). I ended up playing hockey a ton, and still do. Once I moved to parts of the country with ice, I switched to proper skates and haven't looked back. I play mostly beer leagues now, but I was reasonably competetive in club hockey through college.
I also love rock climbing and biking, but again those or more competetition-against-self activities. Ironically, I now love watching soccer, baseball, and college basketball; expectedly, hockey as well.
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Medieval two handed great sword. Introduced to me by a big scotsman who worked with me in IT almost 10 years ago.
Simple basic strokes and parries. Actually a lot of thrusting (slashing don't work against armor.) Emphasis on footwork, leverage, momentum, wrestling. No bullshit katas. Basically just tiring workouts that caused the odd muscle under the chin or to the right of my eye socket to be sore for days. The scary thing is that great swords didn't need to be sharp to cut people in half.
When it comes to martial arts, everyone thinks Kung Fu or MMA. People don't seem to realize that europeans had been killing each other on a much more regular basis than almost everyone else on the planet. There were actually lots of european manuals on two-handed sword fighting.
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Tae Kwon Do (mainly). Archery. Soccer... But now only doing jogging once every other full moon. Would have loved to learn to use a sword, but for me that was sort of unobtanium.
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Tae Kwon Do (mainly). Archery. Soccer... But now only doing jogging once every other full moon. Would have loved to learn to use a sword, but for me that was sort of unobtanium.
Try sable fencing to start light. I did no like epée but I did appreciate the sable as technical swing and thrust motions are at the basis for handling a sable. You control you weapon from the hand and wrist, the arm just adds strength and reach.
Purr1n, when duels in Europe were banned, fencing modernised. The blunt weapons in modern fencing as determined by the FIE are still deadly with an effective and powerful enough thrust motion. The white vests are not a joke in any way, they save you. Kendo is also interesting regarding sword fighting traditions.
Modern Europe has buried and modernised many aspects of its violent past...
Edits for completion...
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Maybe I'll pick up TKD again. Love that sport... and some sort of fencing or Kendo too. A Japanese friend from college was a Kendo practitioner. He told me very little, but on one occasion he demonstrated a move by locking wood swords and then pushing unexpectedly to throw off balance and attack very quickly... Tricky.
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Maybe I'll pick up TKD again. Love that sport... and some sort of fencing or Kendo too. A Japanese friend from college was a Kendo practitioner. He told me very little, but on one occasion he demonstrated a move by locking wood swords and then pushing unexpectedly to throw off balance and attack very quickly... Tricky.
Locking and pushing your opponent off balance is not as tricky as it seems. In modern fencing physical contact is forbidden. What you can do though is divert your opponent. Just cross tap you opponent at the right time, step in and attack before your opponent is aware of the diversion.
In Karaté kumites I did the same thing a lot: cross tap and induce weak moments in either defence or stability. Control over technique and timing are essential. Practice diversion tactics enough and you can add or reduce the force behind your attack per situation. Only a good stance an relaxed breathing really help with opponents who try to provoke you. Good opponents are difficult to read and provoke...
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I've been powerlifting/bodybuilding for nearly20 years-never competed, but everyone thinks I should. Been playing bball for even longer-still play 2-5 hours per week as I have for 20 years now.
At the age of 55, I am a powerlifter wannabe. Its just that I'm so freakin sore and stiff like a cardboard after every leg session. What do you do to keep loose and maintain some agility?
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I grew up in country side so every sport that intrigued me was for practical reasons first. So i did power lifting at first, then subconciously i thought i might be too weak still and went for kickboxing then boxing and then wrestling. Not very practical choices, but most fun i have had in sports. Contact sports triger some ancient wild instincts or something. Makes me feel more alive.
I also like to play soccer a lot, but i suck at it.
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Playing soccer and sometimes basketball with friends. Not on very high levels though mostly for fun :)p1
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I've been powerlifting/bodybuilding for nearly20 years-never competed, but everyone thinks I should. Been playing bball for even longer-still play 2-5 hours per week as I have for 20 years now.
At the age of 55, I am a powerlifter wannabe. Its just that I'm so freakin sore and stiff like a cardboard after every leg session. What do you do to keep loose and maintain some agility?
Start light, listen to your body and build up the exercises and weights as you go along and build muscle endurance. If you need a trainer to guide you, get a trainer. Always stretch after sessions and rest when you have to.
I am not into body building. I did do power training and it helped me in the past. As a B-Boy you need a lot of muscle control. As a fencer some weights exercises also helped to exert more control over my body. Most of all, listen to your body. The human body is flexible yet fragile...
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I've been powerlifting/bodybuilding for nearly20 years-never competed, but everyone thinks I should. Been playing bball for even longer-still play 2-5 hours per week as I have for 20 years now.
At the age of 55, I am a powerlifter wannabe. Its just that I'm so freakin sore and stiff like a cardboard after every leg session. What do you do to keep loose and maintain some agility?
Foam rollers, lacrosse balls. Roll before and after your lifting sessions, use a lacrosse ball for those problematic knot areas.
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AZN, thanks mate. Do golf balls work well instead of lacrosse?
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If anyone feels stressed out sometimes, just pick up a squash racket and play the game. Besides a technical sport squash is also very effective to let go of some stress after a day of going through the motions...
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AZN, thanks mate. Do golf balls work well instead of lacrosse?
Golf balls might be too small. I've seen baseballs and softballs being used too, although I don't like the laces digging in.
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Does porn count? That's basically only physical activity im into besides weight training, calisthenics, ect. To improve myself. Other then that I always hated sports.
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Well if you practice porn with two or more people you can call it a group sport of sorts.
Just imagine walking in a bar.
You: "Hello, a coffee please."
Other guest: "Good day, could you make it a double espresso?"
After the orders are noted and passed on you talk.
You: "Coffee time, out of office time?"
Other guest: "Yes, cubicles are rather square."
You: "What do you do in your leisure time?"
Other guest: "Well, I run a bit and enjoy playing snooker. What about you?"
You: "I work out, listen to music and practice the fine art of enacting Aphrodite's and Ares' activities."
Other guest: "Aphrodite and Ares?"
You: "Yes, they are mythological divinities who shared a meta-platonic connectedness in each others company."
Other guest: "That is food for thought..."
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Deep Funk, got 'em creative juices flowing eh? TGIF :)p13
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i ran track, cross-country, and raced downhill skiing before transferring to an "arts high school" in my last two years of high school. these days i enjoy bicycling on the local paved trails/roads on my single speed, and bike rollers in my basement. i enjoy watching cocaine and EPO fueled bike races, Spring Classics or Grand Tours alike.
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Bicycles are great for both transport and sports. In the Netherlands most kids grow up with bicycles and can cycle around for the rest of their lives.
The pro-sports aspect of cycling, especially the "Tour(s)" are both fascinating and a subject of justified mockery. Lance Armstrong was just one big case.
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jumping rope is pretty boss. i like it a lot more than running. i can run for miles and miles no problem but 20 minutes of jump roping kills me. i just use a basic weighted(2lb each handle) pvc speed rope i got for 10 bucks at local gnc. i like weighted ones cause the ones without weight feel too light to me like having nothing in my hand.
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jumping rope is pretty boss. i like it a lot more than running. i can run for miles and miles no problem but 20 minutes of jump roping kills me. i just use a basic weighted(2lb each handle) pvc speed rope i got for 10 bucks at local gnc. i like weighted ones cause the ones without weight feel too light to me like having nothing in my hand.
True, when warming up and cooling down for squash training I do skipping rope exercises. In warm-up with ankle weights. In cooling down without ankle weights.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b71e1aQefNU
Never played this but looks awesome. Tag + wrestling + red rover?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b71e1aQefNU
Never played this but looks awesome. Tag + wrestling + red rover?
This is a little different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APYO64omFF4
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The "Midshipmen" do what is practised in Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and MMA schools. In many martial arts disciplines a form of wrestling/grappling or sparring is practised, also in training for the armed forces.
Even in "standing" traditional martial arts this kind of training can occur.
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Hmmm, I started off as a child in T-ball...lol and I struck out. I didn't like the sport. I went on to try basketball, and again (maybe I was too young at the time) but I didn't enjoy it. I tried chess, and I liked it but grew out of it. Tried table tennis but there isn't much competition here while I was the age of about 14.
I got involved in volleyball and have been playing it for about 20 years. I got hooked because I got to see pros come to Hawaii's Haili Tournament and watch how athletic they were. For instance, Allen Allen who played for the UH Manoa mens v-ball team is only 6ft tall but could jump waist high to the top of the net and smash balls. It felt like the punch of subwoofer when he hit the ball. He also played for the USA mens v-ball team.
5 years back I began training MMA (Jujitsu, some Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, Muay-thai, a little of Kenpo) only to have self defense because BJ Penn's goons would try to fight random people to promote their gym. A friend of mine got his ass kicked because of them. Fortunately, I never had that problem. Other than that, I'm open to any sport but have enjoyed v-ball mostly. I wish we had a Hockey team here but that never happened. Rugby just started up and I wish that was here when I was growing up also.
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Just noticed the video on kabbadi, the national sport here. Awesome combination of agility, strength and lung power. You have to repeat the word "kabaddi" continuously when you enter the opponents''s part of the rectangle. The opponent team literally falls on you and you try to go back to your half while repeating the word. If you lose your breath and stop the repetition, you are out. If you come back successfully, the number of opponents who wrestled you down unsuccessfully are out. Played it all the time in high school !