Spreading it out

[Brandon Oto]

DODGEBALL -- now why didn't I think of that? http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/C...tDodgeBall.mov

I used to LOVE that game... mostly just the dodging... but between throwing/catching/dodging there's a lot going on here...

[Peter Dell'Orto]

Ah, dodgeball. Brings back "fond" memories of gym class as an asthmatic kid with glasses. You take your ball to the head (nevermind "no shots to the head" rules) or back (so your glasses don't get broken) then go sit down for the rest of gym class, confident you'll never ever get called back in by your team.



More seriously, though, it's not a bad choice. I can't think of a cheap-and-easy "ball sport" that wouldn't involve some accuracy and balance. Hand-eye coordination, speed, stop-start movements. They all have them to some extent. Whichever one is most fun, I'd say go for it!

Good topic, by the way.

[Brian Shanks]

Originally Posted by Mike ODonnell

but at least wearing the parachute pants was fun.....

I think someone is showing their age here!
Parachute pants, what are those?


Bry

[Tom Rawls]

take up a real sport and get good at it.

[Neill Smith]

Originally Posted by Brandon Oto

Nice thoughts guys. What kind of dance, Neill?

I think classical (ballet) would do the best with those areas of fitness. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with it. I have done some hip-hop, which is great for coordination and agility. B-boying (a sub-genre) adds a significant balance component, and is incredibly athletic. There are some amazing videos including this one, which I think was on the CF main page a while back.

Most of my experience is with Latin, which is fun but not very athletic.

[Dave Van Skike]

Am I reading correctly that this is about "Dance"?

For real?

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Originally Posted by Brandon Oto

Anybody have any thoughts on progressive training ideas for improving: flexibility, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy?

The challenge of here, as I see it, is finding ways to improve in these areas without improving only in the specific thing you're practicing. As far as GPP goes I'd like a way to improve, say, my balance, that improves it across the board. Not sure how possible this is -- the next best thing might be to simply "shotgun" with many different training approaches so that each may be specific, but there's enough of them that you cover a nice swath.

Thoughts?

Sorta across the board on this one. Lots of great suggestions. Sorta training for a sport that you don't know quiet what is, just training to be better at the five areas you've identified?

Climbing, combative tai chi (can never spell it - Fa Zhing), tumbling with some vaulting (out of my element), and a few others come to mind.

Believe it or not, my goofy hobby would be perfect for those five elements - but I would not encourage folk to train with razor sharp objects in general proximity to appendages without extensive supervision and a HUGE assumption of risk.

All the best,
Arden

[Garrett Smith]

I had thought about getting into dodgeball a while back. There is a group in town that organizes open dodgeball games at a YMCA one night a week for two hours. That's a "commitment" that I could make!

Very stop/start action, throwing, dodging, catching, which of the aspects of fitness would this not address in some way?

Next week, if possible, I'm going to attend and check it out.

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Originally Posted by Dave Van Skike

Am I reading correctly that this is about "Dance"?

For real?

I think he means in general. I think?

[Brandon Oto]

Now Dave, don't you think picking up girls is about as functional as it gets?