Twizzles! I've tried them twice in the group class environment few year ago and... they seemed quite impossible. I mentioned to my coach that I wanted to learn them, and he seemed to brush off the idea. It kind of gave me the vibe that he thought they are over my ability at that point, being that I'm working on Pre-Juvenile moves and they are required on Intermediate moves.
But I needed twizzles for my solo free dance program. The requirement is a minimum one revolution twizzle...That is very different from the 2.5 revolution required in the Intermediate moves test... It should be achievable.
The definition of the twizzle in the USFSA Rulebook is: "A traveling turn on one foot with one or more rotations, which is quickly rotated with a continuous uninterrupted) action. The weight remains on the skating foot with the free foot in any position during the turn, and then placed beside the skating foot to skate the next step.
A series of checked three-turns is not acceptable, as this does not constitute a continuous action. If the traveling action stops during the execution, the twizzle becomes a solo spin (pirouette). The four different types of entry edges for twizzles are: (1) forward inside (FI); (2) forward outside (FO); (3)
backward inside (BI); (4) backward outside (BO)"
I first try twizzles in group classes, then I've got instruction from my regular coach, not much, just to start me, then, after a week both him and the new choreographer/coach kept adding. Here it goes for a Right Inside Forward Twizzle, for left side it's all reversed:
- In the group classes we haven't really got much instruction, it was monkey see monkey does approach. I was doing something on my right foot (CCW rotation that is my comfortable skating direction) and I was getting stuck on the left, on CW rotation. So I remember being told to not check the 3-turn but to allow/ more force... the left shoulder to stay forward)
- I also remember hearing the "biggest tip about twizzles at the skating seminar about moves" and that was to practice the 2 foot spin from early on not only CCW andbut also CW, so the upper body gets used to keep going and not check out of the rotation, for CW...
- Here is my regular coach instruction: intro step, to get some speed in and set the next edge is an Left Inside Forward Edge. I keep the right ankle near the left ankle for stability. At the end of this edge the upper body faces slightly towards the right side, and the left hand is in front. My regular coach said that he likes his students to start more square, so the upper body won't destabilize the entry. All other coaches actually instructed to use this left hand forward twist...
- Right Inside Forward Edge on a bent knee, allowing the upper body right side to go towards the left, to square the upper body over the hips and help the rotation
- Just before the turn (that is like a Right Inside Forward 3-turn), you rise on your knee and you don't rebend... as for the 3-turns. The twizzles can be done on a straight leg or a slightly bent one, but they shouldn't bounce up and down as the 3-turns
(This was all the instruction I was given on the first lesson about twizzles. I had troubles at first to feel the entry edge with a bent knee and get high on the knee and not rebent after the turn, so I needed few days of practice just to get some body awareness and memory of that). This twizzles are usually practice using the length of the rink alternatively on right foot and left, finishing forward and using the upper body twist from the exit from the previous twizzle to start the next. I haven't really got the hang of that, so I practiced on foot, then the other. I did turn forward but I was feeling that I'm falling off the edge.)
- The next instruction came from the choreographer/coach and it was to fell after starting the twizzle that I've stacked myself/ lift over/ align over the right side hip.
- Also, they are not done on a straight line, but on a curve... and she asked me to try them on a small circle. I immediately felt few that haven't fall to the inside when I finished.
(I was so excited at this point, only to see that in choreography she was exiting the twizzle bacward, so she did 1.5 rotations. I asked if one rotation isn't enough for the test, she said that as per rules yes, but sh thinks I can do the 1.5 one. I thought thanks for the vote of confidence, but that's not gonna happen any time soon... I mean is the same exit as for the backward spin, and I haven't progressed on that at all, I'm just hopping, I'm not pulling out of it.)
So I practiced staidly on the next two weeks worth of sessions without really seeing any more improvement, though definitely getting more comfortable and fast with the entrance and all the motion. looked at how other skaters trained twizzles, on the long axis and they seamed to do 2 rotations and still finishing forward. So, even if I put my foot down, I allowed/ forced myself to continue turning...
I usually ask my coach for new correction when I feel stuck on something, or I feel i incorporated the previews corrections/ instructions he's given me. I haven"t asked now, I think because it felt hopeless not stuck. But he did ask to see them... and gave me new instruction...)
- While the first forward to backward turn is on the ball of the foot, when you are on the back edge you settle on the middle of the blade, and you stay there, for all next rotations. You do not rock back and forth on the blade as for 3-turns...
- After the first inside edge, you don't bring the free foot in from lateral, but from the back. I don't understand this one exactly. I feel it has to do with the foot throwing the alignment off balance.
- Also, for the RFI twizzle, push the right shoulder forward to continue the rotation, not stop it like for checking out of the 3-turns, but also push the right hip forward.
(I hit some that he liked, but I personally wasn't too enthused. I usually ask questions, now I had nothing... I think i was so sure in my mind that it's gonna take a long long time, that I unconscionably didn't bother to think on what I need to improve... I did mentioned that that exit backward after 1.5 rotations seems impossible to me (backward spin exit), and I think I'll get 2 turns and exit forward before I'll be able to do that 1.5 and exit backward and that I try to get the 2 rotations even if I put the free foot down. He said that the backward exit is not the pulled backward spin exit but feels more like a jump exit, and that the 2 rotation with the free foot down is a good idea... that gave me hope... but not much honestly. I also didn't want to obsess with the twizzle and the free dance, all related with the free dance is something to give me joy and be a reward and a distraction for when I feel frustrated and unmotivated by working to hard on moves and pattern dances
But... just before the free dance choreography lesson I've had some extra time. I've already finished working on everything else I planned to and I've already also worked on twizzles, like just go trough them few times on the length of the rink. So I started to work at them again, this time one at a time and on a circle. I also tried to feel my body alignment. And I've realized that after the first turn, so when I've got backwards I was leaning outside the circle, so, of course, turning forward I was not stable. I thought I'll do few quick and tight double 3-turns so I can feel my upper body lean into the circle. After few of those, for RFI twizzle I've tried to push the the right shoulder and hip forward, then tried to pull the left shoulder back... to keep the rotation going...
And you know what? Yes, it worked! I've got few 1.5 RFI twizzles! Then I gave them a break, then I've tried again. They worked again, well not every single one, but enough to get the feeling of them. I was even able to show them to my choreographer!
What I would add, is that they felt slower then when I first tried to do them, making me think that at first I was "spinning" them, probably also forcing the entrance. Also, they happened when I put them on a circle, never on a straight line. Now, I have to get the left side... )
I've got the Twizzle on last Friday, and I couldn't wait to try them again and see if I still have them. And I do! I was even able to include them in the program, from almost a stop but still....
Showing posts with label skating technique-MITF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skating technique-MITF. Show all posts
Monday, September 28, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
Skating technique: edges - Backward Edge Presses
While writing the previous post about hopes and goals and progress, I've went back and I've red some of my old posts and I realized that I haven't wrote in a while a post about technique. I remembered I was planning to write about backward edge presses, and I've filmed them, in January!
I described the forward edge presses here. To me, it is the exercise that helps the transition from the basic beginner forward edges, to all the beginner-intermediate forward dance steps: chasses, progressives, swing rolls and the more advanced skill, the deep forward edges. I see I wrote these posts very soon after I started the blog.
I described the beginner basic backward edges here, where I mentioned the backward push and backward posture. Then I covered the backward push, posture and balance here in more detailed, as it is important and difficult, at least for me. Then I described the backward chasses, swing rolls, but not the backward progressives and edge presses. It's not because I forgot about them, but because I described everything technique related in the succession I've learned them. And I haven't felt I've understood them well enough to describe them properly.
So back to the backward edge presses... They are done on alternating lobes, on an axis (same principle for both outside and inside).
- You start with the upper body almost square with the lower body over the axis, turned towards the inside of the circle just a little bit (for both outside and inside edges) both feet on the axis.
- You push away from the axis, straight back, maintaining the upper body square with the hips.
- Then you bend your knees and "sit"... you bend the knees and ankles, you push the ankles towards your back (that helps the balance) and keep the shoulders back too and you PRESS with your ankles into the ice
- you create the edge by leaning into the circle, with the whole body and the ankle, being careful to not drop out the free hip or stick out the skating hip into the circle
- and you repeat on the other side...
Here is me practicing them I start on the right side of the screen with the outside ones, then I come back with the insides but somebody cut my way. I'll try to film them again when I'll get the chance for a more close up view and update on the progress.
I was saying that I waited to be sure I understood them before writing about them... And that was smart. I was one day telling my coach of how much working on them help me with balance and alignment for the backward 3-turns. And he said "let me see them", because he hasn't seen them in a while. And he said... you are doing them all wrong! I was twisting my upper body immediately after the push... The coach said to keep doing them as an exercise for the 3-turns, as you need the body twisted like that before the turn. And here are a version of the backward edge presses, with the upper body twisting after the push.
But the correct edge presses, that my coach thought me, with the body square, train something else...The meaning of this exercise is to help find the lean for getting an edge going backwards (along with finding the alignment, balance, posture and the finding the feeling of "gripping" the ice).
I described the forward edge presses here. To me, it is the exercise that helps the transition from the basic beginner forward edges, to all the beginner-intermediate forward dance steps: chasses, progressives, swing rolls and the more advanced skill, the deep forward edges. I see I wrote these posts very soon after I started the blog.
I described the beginner basic backward edges here, where I mentioned the backward push and backward posture. Then I covered the backward push, posture and balance here in more detailed, as it is important and difficult, at least for me. Then I described the backward chasses, swing rolls, but not the backward progressives and edge presses. It's not because I forgot about them, but because I described everything technique related in the succession I've learned them. And I haven't felt I've understood them well enough to describe them properly.
So back to the backward edge presses... They are done on alternating lobes, on an axis (same principle for both outside and inside).
- You start with the upper body almost square with the lower body over the axis, turned towards the inside of the circle just a little bit (for both outside and inside edges) both feet on the axis.
- You push away from the axis, straight back, maintaining the upper body square with the hips.
- Then you bend your knees and "sit"... you bend the knees and ankles, you push the ankles towards your back (that helps the balance) and keep the shoulders back too and you PRESS with your ankles into the ice
- you create the edge by leaning into the circle, with the whole body and the ankle, being careful to not drop out the free hip or stick out the skating hip into the circle
- and you repeat on the other side...
Here is me practicing them I start on the right side of the screen with the outside ones, then I come back with the insides but somebody cut my way. I'll try to film them again when I'll get the chance for a more close up view and update on the progress.
I was saying that I waited to be sure I understood them before writing about them... And that was smart. I was one day telling my coach of how much working on them help me with balance and alignment for the backward 3-turns. And he said "let me see them", because he hasn't seen them in a while. And he said... you are doing them all wrong! I was twisting my upper body immediately after the push... The coach said to keep doing them as an exercise for the 3-turns, as you need the body twisted like that before the turn. And here are a version of the backward edge presses, with the upper body twisting after the push.
But the correct edge presses, that my coach thought me, with the body square, train something else...The meaning of this exercise is to help find the lean for getting an edge going backwards (along with finding the alignment, balance, posture and the finding the feeling of "gripping" the ice).
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Skating technique: Intermediary skating skills (power, press, alignment, lean)
I usually have my private lessons on Monday and I get to skate before the lesson, so I'm warmed up already. I cannot skate next Monday so I asked for an extra lesson this week. It was on the first hour of the "Freestyle practice ice" so i had to start with a warm up with my coach watching and obviously helping and correcting.
After slalom forward and backward I did the forward outside edge presses. First the forward outside. My coach said that the hip is sticking out. That is the hip inside the circle. I am supposed to lean into the circle, with the shoulders parallel with the ice, but the rest of the body being a straight line. Like here. I tried and tried again and we ended at the boards looking into the glass and modeling my body to achieve the hip in, so the straight body line, the lean into the circle. This lean should be achieved on all edges forward, backward, outside, inside and it is always the same visual of not having the hip inside the circle sticking out. Another way I was asked to not stick the hip out was to feel, to make a hollow, that somehow doesn't work for me. I was even allowed to look down, at the hip... blasphemy! I've learned that the hip that is mentioned in the skating instruction is lower then I thought of it. That may make a difference in trying to align it. One other words I remember I've red about this hip in, were to push with the hip from inside the circle into the hip from the outside of the circle. Whaaat? No, actually that made sense when I've tried it, that's why I'm mentioning it here. To add to that is to make a hollow under arm of the arm towards the inside of the circle. That is to help the lean but I suspect also to not drop that shoulder. And also, on all the edges the upper body should be align over the circle.
After this anatomy (or contortion) lesson, I did the crossovers to inner edges from the PreJuvenile MITF test as my next warm up. My coach said to press into the ankle, so ice, the inside edge on both forward and backward. Not to just glide there. Use each step energy into the next step. We've run this 3 times. But it seams the coach was happy seeing that I was able to incorporate some of these corrections (that I've heard many times before), so he decided to continue with all this concept of power in skating. I mentioned the concept of power in skating many times, like here. The first step in building power in your skating is the correct push, (from underneath you, and pressing into the ice, that I described before (forward and backward)
So we've continued with the rest of the MITF test exercises. Next were the power pulls. There, the biggest correction today was on the backward ones to align the upper body over the circle (the edge) so on the back outside edges pull the opposite shoulder back to lead with it, and on the back inside edges, the same side shoulder. Obviously on the power pulls you press into the ice. The 3-turns had less corrections then usual! But the focus was the same, the same alignment over the circle and lean into the circle. And then it was mentioned probably the biggest component of power on ice, the speed. I have to put more speed into the 3Turns. But generally, speed goes hand in hand with feeling confident in the edges, lean, alignment, press into the ice. You cannot have speed without having the others, and I think when all these "others" work, the speed increases automatically.
Back circle 8, you've guessed, we've insisted on the exact same points... On the inside ones I'm leaning out of the circle as I bring the foot in at the top of the lobe, then I'm twisting too much facing inside the circle (that would be not align over the circle) and that's slows me down. I worked at this alignment over the circle when skating backwards mostly trough backward edge presses, that I'm realizing I've never described, but I will soon...
I'm very happy with this lesson. It made me feel that I'm on track to getting the power.
After slalom forward and backward I did the forward outside edge presses. First the forward outside. My coach said that the hip is sticking out. That is the hip inside the circle. I am supposed to lean into the circle, with the shoulders parallel with the ice, but the rest of the body being a straight line. Like here. I tried and tried again and we ended at the boards looking into the glass and modeling my body to achieve the hip in, so the straight body line, the lean into the circle. This lean should be achieved on all edges forward, backward, outside, inside and it is always the same visual of not having the hip inside the circle sticking out. Another way I was asked to not stick the hip out was to feel, to make a hollow, that somehow doesn't work for me. I was even allowed to look down, at the hip... blasphemy! I've learned that the hip that is mentioned in the skating instruction is lower then I thought of it. That may make a difference in trying to align it. One other words I remember I've red about this hip in, were to push with the hip from inside the circle into the hip from the outside of the circle. Whaaat? No, actually that made sense when I've tried it, that's why I'm mentioning it here. To add to that is to make a hollow under arm of the arm towards the inside of the circle. That is to help the lean but I suspect also to not drop that shoulder. And also, on all the edges the upper body should be align over the circle.
After this anatomy (or contortion) lesson, I did the crossovers to inner edges from the PreJuvenile MITF test as my next warm up. My coach said to press into the ankle, so ice, the inside edge on both forward and backward. Not to just glide there. Use each step energy into the next step. We've run this 3 times. But it seams the coach was happy seeing that I was able to incorporate some of these corrections (that I've heard many times before), so he decided to continue with all this concept of power in skating. I mentioned the concept of power in skating many times, like here. The first step in building power in your skating is the correct push, (from underneath you, and pressing into the ice, that I described before (forward and backward)
So we've continued with the rest of the MITF test exercises. Next were the power pulls. There, the biggest correction today was on the backward ones to align the upper body over the circle (the edge) so on the back outside edges pull the opposite shoulder back to lead with it, and on the back inside edges, the same side shoulder. Obviously on the power pulls you press into the ice. The 3-turns had less corrections then usual! But the focus was the same, the same alignment over the circle and lean into the circle. And then it was mentioned probably the biggest component of power on ice, the speed. I have to put more speed into the 3Turns. But generally, speed goes hand in hand with feeling confident in the edges, lean, alignment, press into the ice. You cannot have speed without having the others, and I think when all these "others" work, the speed increases automatically.
Back circle 8, you've guessed, we've insisted on the exact same points... On the inside ones I'm leaning out of the circle as I bring the foot in at the top of the lobe, then I'm twisting too much facing inside the circle (that would be not align over the circle) and that's slows me down. I worked at this alignment over the circle when skating backwards mostly trough backward edge presses, that I'm realizing I've never described, but I will soon...
I'm very happy with this lesson. It made me feel that I'm on track to getting the power.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Skating technique: Backward Stroking and Backward Push
When I first started writing about technique I looked into the ISI levels to follow their progression in difficulty of the skills I describe. I was surprised to find backward stroking in the Beta level (early beginner). For once, I don't remember learning it at all, and then, I think it is impossible to learn it at that level. Surely, at that level it is an intro to backward stroking. And I had post describing skating forward and backward for beginners. And on the ISI web page there are videos demonstrating the skills for each level. (https://www.skateisi.org/programs/testing-requirements/). On the ISI next levels there is some back push into the back edges, that I described here, but more then that there is no backward stroking in Freestyle. To go backward in Freestyle you use 3-turns and mohawks and do backward crossovers.
In Ice Dancing, on the other hand, there is all kinds of backward skating that need a strong backward push and he understanding of posture and balance when going backwards.
The posture and balance: for skating backward you should feel your weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of your foot, but then it's the back part of it. (Reminder, for forward stroking you feel your weight at the back of your foot arch, some say back of the blade). The posture when skating backwards is even more erect then skating forward, it almost feel you are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath you (towards your back, but they travel forward) bending your ankles and knees more.
The backward push:
- bend your knees
- keep the weight on both feet, but mostly on the the foot that will push, otherwise the push will be "empty", will have no power
- push back from "underneath" you at a 30 degrees angle from the axis of traveling (pigeon toe), gripping the ice with the ankle. I kind of have the same sensation as when I cut with a knife the flower stems at an angle (to absorb water) to put in the vase.
- there is tension in that push, extension, that is kept to turn out the foot from the pigeon toe (this may be that ice cream scooping image that I was given, that I didn't really feel)
- do not drop the free hip (the ice cream scooping made me drop the free hip). For me is more the feeling of piercing something, so pointing forward while rotating, the ice cream scooping feels for me more like grabbing around). The most recent correction was that my free hip is too back (I feel it's part of the same problem as dropping the hip). Also that I don't transfer the weight completely on the left side (and I can see that in the video that I've took for this post)
- keep a strong core, you should feel like you are a wall and the push moves the whole wall. My coaches explanation is that you feel the push in your opposite shoulder blade.
The backward stroking: after a good backward push there is no much to stroking. You just bring the free foot turned out and with pointed toe to align 6 inches to the skating tracing on ice.
Here is some beautiful, beautiful forward and backward stroking.
And here is my stroking
In Ice Dancing, on the other hand, there is all kinds of backward skating that need a strong backward push and he understanding of posture and balance when going backwards.
The posture and balance: for skating backward you should feel your weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of your foot, but then it's the back part of it. (Reminder, for forward stroking you feel your weight at the back of your foot arch, some say back of the blade). The posture when skating backwards is even more erect then skating forward, it almost feel you are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath you (towards your back, but they travel forward) bending your ankles and knees more.
The backward push:
- bend your knees
- keep the weight on both feet, but mostly on the the foot that will push, otherwise the push will be "empty", will have no power
- push back from "underneath" you at a 30 degrees angle from the axis of traveling (pigeon toe), gripping the ice with the ankle. I kind of have the same sensation as when I cut with a knife the flower stems at an angle (to absorb water) to put in the vase.
- there is tension in that push, extension, that is kept to turn out the foot from the pigeon toe (this may be that ice cream scooping image that I was given, that I didn't really feel)
- do not drop the free hip (the ice cream scooping made me drop the free hip). For me is more the feeling of piercing something, so pointing forward while rotating, the ice cream scooping feels for me more like grabbing around). The most recent correction was that my free hip is too back (I feel it's part of the same problem as dropping the hip). Also that I don't transfer the weight completely on the left side (and I can see that in the video that I've took for this post)
- keep a strong core, you should feel like you are a wall and the push moves the whole wall. My coaches explanation is that you feel the push in your opposite shoulder blade.
The backward stroking: after a good backward push there is no much to stroking. You just bring the free foot turned out and with pointed toe to align 6 inches to the skating tracing on ice.
Here is some beautiful, beautiful forward and backward stroking.
And here is my stroking
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Test: MITF Pre-Juvenile part 1
I
skated 3 times last week and the hip was fine. My plan is to listen to
my body, but ideally I would like to skate at least 4 times a week. I'm
working mostly on MITF Pre-Juvenile that was ready for testing at the
beginning of the summer but my registration didn't go trough for that session. I plan
to test it as soon is revived, the moves are there, but again I'm
lacking power.
I'll describe the elements of the test now, and when I'll take it, I'll describe how it all went.
This is a standard test. I've worked on it with pauses, for almost 2 years. I've got the moves rather quickly (like 6 months) but not the power that is asked at this level. And then I hurt my hip and I couldn't work on power...
Here is the judging form where there are drawings with the pattern for each move.
1. Forward and Backward Perimeter Power Stroking (focus on power, F: extension, B: edge quality)
- I do 4 intro strokes then 2 forward crossovers CCW. That is on half the hockey circle (that I will call a lobe) and brings me to the imaginary axis where I do an right inside edge for the first half of the lobe. The next half of the lobe would be a CW crossover. Then a new lobe with a left inside edge and again a CCW crossover.
- Important thing here is the power. Both the first stroke of the crossover and the second one, the under push, need to be pressed and pushed. Speed and lean into the circle will help the power.
- The inside edge need to start at the axis, stroking perpendicular to the axis and the blade should be placed on an inside edge. Update on Nov 2019 to press the inside edge (both forward and backward) and to use the energy from each stroke into the next stroke
- Extension and pointed toe are expected on each of the crossovers strokes and on the inside edge.
- The crossovers strokes are 1 beat each, the inside edge is 2 beats.
- After the last CCW crossover that ends at the axis the end pattern is another crossover and a stroke of 2 beats, right inside mohawk
- The backward line starts with 2 back crossovers CCW (1 beat each stroke) that brings me around at the axis (correction to square the upper body and arms), where a power inside edge is done hold for 2 beats (pull the shoulder and arm back). Then the weight is transferred for the CW back crossover.
- When I started working on this test I thought this was the easiest move from the test, but I've got so many corrections... Looking back is was all about the second stroke on both forward and backward crossovers being whimper and shorter. Of course to fix that I needed a strong alignment on the edge on the first stroke, allowing the upper body to move around the circle, hips under, lean, speed...
2. Forward Outside to Backward Inside 3-turns in the field (focus on edge quality)
- These are quite big lobes, bigger then what I was doing before. Of course I needed a bigger push and that was hard to control at first.
- Important things are to turn the 3s at the top of the lobe, control the edges, start the lobe perpendicular to the axis, don't do 2 foot transitions
- Here are some corrections and tips, from the millions I've got: turn your head, align the upper body with the circle (at first I was pointing with the arm to the center of the circle to be sure I twisted enough), have the upper body parallel with the boards just before turning, feel the blade parallel to the boards before turning, free hip up, don't think of turning but thing of going back/ forward, count, look up (of course..). The latest tip was that the back shoulder turns the 3-turn...
- I hurt my hip on a back inside 3-turn, but it wasn't the 3-turn, it was another skater that came with some speed way to close to me and spooked me. After that I was always extra cautions working on these to not be close to people, but how realistic is that? And you cannot work on alignment awareness, while twisting to see who is in your way...
- The hip hurt at different intensities for a year (and it still hurts occasionally). All the 3-turns on that hip (left), disintegrated at points because I wasn't committing in transferring the weight solid on that hip...
- Even without the hip trouble, when started working at this test I thought these 4 lines of 3-turns were the hardest move of the test.
- Update Nov 2019 for the FO 3-turn. I've been recently asked to press the edge in and out of the 3-turn and I couldn't do it at first. I was stroking, then releasing the pressure into ice, then press just before the turn, then releasing the pressure at the turn. To make myself hold the pressure I hold the extension longer (that I was asked anyhow to do), until the turn and that made it basically a Ice Dancing 3-turn. So, I've got corrected again, to bring the feet together, when closing to turn, with the skating foot still bent from the stroke, because it is more stable, the to rise o turn, while still pressing into the ice (whaaat? I was doing the opposite, I was releasing the pressure), then bend again. I'm wondering when I will finally understand correctly what I have to do?
3. Forward Inside to Backward Outside 3-turns
- Same (similar) as before...
- My worst 3-turn is the LFI one. The corrections I've got are to really turn my head before the turn and to not drop the right shoulder.
4. Forward and Backward Change of Edge Pulls (focus on power)
- Instructions I remember: set the edge first, press and fall into the edge/bend and pull up, hips underneath, on forward ones keep knees together, point the toe and direct it over the tracing of the circle, on the back inside that means pigeon toe. On the back ones the last piece of advice was to rotate the upper body from the shoulders not just the arms.
- My instructor doesn't feel terrible unhappy about these but I think the kids have more power and speed then me...
- I surely could have practice these more, if it wasn't for the quads burn... And don't get me started on the backward on the bad hip. I think I've aborted half of them...
5. Backward Circle Eight (focus on edge quality)
- These is the hardest move of the test in my coaches opinion. And I've learnt he's always right... So I started to get around the circles fairly quick... somehow. And I've worked on it a lot even when the hip was hurt because it didn't bother me. To be honest I still get corrections on this.
- The first thing is the backward push, not straight back but at a 90 degrees. And there are 2 secrets: don't transfer the weight to the new foot until the push is completed and pigeon toe the new skating foot and lead with the heal.
- Then, for the edges there is the alignment and where your weight falls so you are over your skating hip, and keep the free hip up. There is also the lean, slightly towards the inside of the circle, but definitely not outside the circle because it's taking you of the edge. One tip was not to turn around at the middle but to lift over the hip, bring the free foot straight into the skating foot.
- Then, there is use oh head movement
- Then arms and foot coordination
- The inside edge got more corrections. Firstly to push back not around and to look outside the circle immediately after the push, that was kind of scary somehow. Then to really keep the free foot over the tracing and at the middle of the circle to bring it straight into the other foot, without changing the hips position. Then, allow the upper body and hips to get square to the tracing of the circle.
6. Five step Mohawk sequence (focus on edge quality and extension)
- There is an inside mohawk, a back outside edge, step forward om an outside edge, and forward inside edge with the free foot forward.
- This requires even steps so an even count to 5.
- The back edge should fall exactly at the middle of the lobe.
- I didn't get many correction on this. At some point I was making it quick and it looked stepped so my coach wanted more flow. But I've got the BIG correction: to look up! My continuous battle...
I'll describe the elements of the test now, and when I'll take it, I'll describe how it all went.
This is a standard test. I've worked on it with pauses, for almost 2 years. I've got the moves rather quickly (like 6 months) but not the power that is asked at this level. And then I hurt my hip and I couldn't work on power...
Here is the judging form where there are drawings with the pattern for each move.
1. Forward and Backward Perimeter Power Stroking (focus on power, F: extension, B: edge quality)
- I do 4 intro strokes then 2 forward crossovers CCW. That is on half the hockey circle (that I will call a lobe) and brings me to the imaginary axis where I do an right inside edge for the first half of the lobe. The next half of the lobe would be a CW crossover. Then a new lobe with a left inside edge and again a CCW crossover.
- Important thing here is the power. Both the first stroke of the crossover and the second one, the under push, need to be pressed and pushed. Speed and lean into the circle will help the power.
- The inside edge need to start at the axis, stroking perpendicular to the axis and the blade should be placed on an inside edge. Update on Nov 2019 to press the inside edge (both forward and backward) and to use the energy from each stroke into the next stroke
- Extension and pointed toe are expected on each of the crossovers strokes and on the inside edge.
- The crossovers strokes are 1 beat each, the inside edge is 2 beats.
- After the last CCW crossover that ends at the axis the end pattern is another crossover and a stroke of 2 beats, right inside mohawk
- The backward line starts with 2 back crossovers CCW (1 beat each stroke) that brings me around at the axis (correction to square the upper body and arms), where a power inside edge is done hold for 2 beats (pull the shoulder and arm back). Then the weight is transferred for the CW back crossover.
- When I started working on this test I thought this was the easiest move from the test, but I've got so many corrections... Looking back is was all about the second stroke on both forward and backward crossovers being whimper and shorter. Of course to fix that I needed a strong alignment on the edge on the first stroke, allowing the upper body to move around the circle, hips under, lean, speed...
2. Forward Outside to Backward Inside 3-turns in the field (focus on edge quality)
- These are quite big lobes, bigger then what I was doing before. Of course I needed a bigger push and that was hard to control at first.
- Important things are to turn the 3s at the top of the lobe, control the edges, start the lobe perpendicular to the axis, don't do 2 foot transitions
- Here are some corrections and tips, from the millions I've got: turn your head, align the upper body with the circle (at first I was pointing with the arm to the center of the circle to be sure I twisted enough), have the upper body parallel with the boards just before turning, feel the blade parallel to the boards before turning, free hip up, don't think of turning but thing of going back/ forward, count, look up (of course..). The latest tip was that the back shoulder turns the 3-turn...
- I hurt my hip on a back inside 3-turn, but it wasn't the 3-turn, it was another skater that came with some speed way to close to me and spooked me. After that I was always extra cautions working on these to not be close to people, but how realistic is that? And you cannot work on alignment awareness, while twisting to see who is in your way...
- The hip hurt at different intensities for a year (and it still hurts occasionally). All the 3-turns on that hip (left), disintegrated at points because I wasn't committing in transferring the weight solid on that hip...
- Even without the hip trouble, when started working at this test I thought these 4 lines of 3-turns were the hardest move of the test.
- Update Nov 2019 for the FO 3-turn. I've been recently asked to press the edge in and out of the 3-turn and I couldn't do it at first. I was stroking, then releasing the pressure into ice, then press just before the turn, then releasing the pressure at the turn. To make myself hold the pressure I hold the extension longer (that I was asked anyhow to do), until the turn and that made it basically a Ice Dancing 3-turn. So, I've got corrected again, to bring the feet together, when closing to turn, with the skating foot still bent from the stroke, because it is more stable, the to rise o turn, while still pressing into the ice (whaaat? I was doing the opposite, I was releasing the pressure), then bend again. I'm wondering when I will finally understand correctly what I have to do?
3. Forward Inside to Backward Outside 3-turns
- Same (similar) as before...
- My worst 3-turn is the LFI one. The corrections I've got are to really turn my head before the turn and to not drop the right shoulder.
4. Forward and Backward Change of Edge Pulls (focus on power)
- Instructions I remember: set the edge first, press and fall into the edge/bend and pull up, hips underneath, on forward ones keep knees together, point the toe and direct it over the tracing of the circle, on the back inside that means pigeon toe. On the back ones the last piece of advice was to rotate the upper body from the shoulders not just the arms.
- My instructor doesn't feel terrible unhappy about these but I think the kids have more power and speed then me...
- I surely could have practice these more, if it wasn't for the quads burn... And don't get me started on the backward on the bad hip. I think I've aborted half of them...
5. Backward Circle Eight (focus on edge quality)
- These is the hardest move of the test in my coaches opinion. And I've learnt he's always right... So I started to get around the circles fairly quick... somehow. And I've worked on it a lot even when the hip was hurt because it didn't bother me. To be honest I still get corrections on this.
- The first thing is the backward push, not straight back but at a 90 degrees. And there are 2 secrets: don't transfer the weight to the new foot until the push is completed and pigeon toe the new skating foot and lead with the heal.
- Then, for the edges there is the alignment and where your weight falls so you are over your skating hip, and keep the free hip up. There is also the lean, slightly towards the inside of the circle, but definitely not outside the circle because it's taking you of the edge. One tip was not to turn around at the middle but to lift over the hip, bring the free foot straight into the skating foot.
- Then, there is use oh head movement
- Then arms and foot coordination
- The inside edge got more corrections. Firstly to push back not around and to look outside the circle immediately after the push, that was kind of scary somehow. Then to really keep the free foot over the tracing and at the middle of the circle to bring it straight into the other foot, without changing the hips position. Then, allow the upper body and hips to get square to the tracing of the circle.
6. Five step Mohawk sequence (focus on edge quality and extension)
- There is an inside mohawk, a back outside edge, step forward om an outside edge, and forward inside edge with the free foot forward.
- This requires even steps so an even count to 5.
- The back edge should fall exactly at the middle of the lobe.
- I didn't get many correction on this. At some point I was making it quick and it looked stepped so my coach wanted more flow. But I've got the BIG correction: to look up! My continuous battle...
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Skating technique: Forward Crossovers
The Forward Crossovers are taught in the very first sessions of group lessons under ISI curriculum. A Crossovers has 2 strokes on edges, an outside one, then the free foot comes from behind and crosses over the skating foot and gets on an inside edge while the skating foot pushes.
I don't remember much from the beginning instruction. We surely started with CCW, the more comfortable direction for most of us and that is Left Stroke on Outside Edge then cross with the Right Leg on Inside Edge. I don't think we were instructed to stroke on a LO edge, we may have been just gliding on 2 feet. We were asked to pick up the right foot and to put it over the left one. We were instructed to try by the boards and even off ice with and without the skates on. I understand now that the reason to start with picking up the right foot is to transfer the weight completely over the left one before stepping on the right one. In time that will allow to lean towards the left (into the circle). Next step would have been to understand that we follow a circle and learn to twist the upper body towards the circle, look towards the center of the circle and have the arms right hand forward, left hand back. And we would have been asked to try the other side.
Here is an instructional video I like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cyvQ_vPdgA
Now for the real forward crossovers (let's still talk about CCW):
1.You start by bending, pressing into ice and pushing (read the Forward Stroking and push post) on a LFO edge with strong knee bend, with the upper body twisted facing the inside of the circle but not so much that the arms are over the circle lines (the front arm is a little outside of the circle and the back am a little inside the circle) and looking towards the inside of the circle, the free leg goes 45 degrees laterally not back (to maintain the edge and also it will be easier to bring it forward to cross), pointed tow, straight knee,
- the weight on the blade for both feet, as for al forward skating is an the back of you arch foot.
- press into the ice
- the body alignment is as if the neck zipper is over the skating foot and you feel the weight on left front ribs
- the left hip shouldn't stick out
- back hand higher
- bend the knee and ankle so the knees forms a 90 degree angle
- LEAN!
- hold the extension for 2 counts
- a good exercise that allows you to concentrate on all these points is chasses on a circle as here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFAjcVYOME&t=57s
2. Swipe the free (right) leg forward over the left and set it on an inside edge
- under push with the left foot from the back arch of your foot laterally outside the circle, not back, I thought the toe is pointed pointed but in the first video I shared he asks to flex the foot but to stretch the leg.
- push forward the opposite side of the rib cage, so the right side here
- allow the left hip to go under the right hip
- hold for 2 counts
- bring the foot near the skating foot and repeat
And here is the ice dancers Oleg and Kseniya instruction on crossovers, with even more tips. The only difference I see from my coach's instruction, is that they rise (bounce) between strokes, my coach wants me to keep the same level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNedknuKF9g&t=179s
Exercise summer group class 7/19/2018. On all 5 circles...
- stay on outside edge and pumps (half swizzles)
- stay on inside edge after one crossover and under pump
- stay on outside edge and push and hold extension for 3 counts
- crossovers
Crossovers are a basic skating skill that even good skater work on continuously to maintain and improve. My CW crossovers are still weaker then the CCW because I lean forward and I loose the right point of balance on the blade, so I keep paying attention to that. I also push the back shoulder forward as shown in the first video to not do... Another realization I would share is that a coach instruction at one point in time will be different from another time. At each point the coach teaches what the skater needs. The instruction would differ from one skater to another at the same level from the same coach, as the coach would customize the instruction. And obviously different coaches tech different techniques and use different words.
I'm not getting corrections on crossovers at the point I'm at. That means that they are good for my level. But after I'll pass the Pre-Juvenile MITF test and I'll work on the Juvenile (equivalent with adult Gold), surely I'll get new instruction as power crossovers on a spiral pattern will be a requirement for that test.
Dec 2020: I've asked for corrections as I felt that my under push is week, it felt like it was sliding from under me. The correction was to start pressing into that edge while the free leg comes around from being extended after the initial push. Then, for training purpose, I should hold the under push as long as the push, so let's say 2 counts and 2 counts... Also, I was skating those with the upper body square to the circle, as the ice dancing chasses and progressives. So I got the correction to really put the back arm back... that also helps with the posture. Also, I was asked to lean more into the circle.
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Test: MITF Preliminary - part 2
Here is again the link to the judging form.
And the videos of my tests, retry the first one, pass the second one
1. Forward and Backward Crossovers on circles (focus power) with a swing Mohawk when transferring from the second forward circle to the first backward circle.
I'll write a post about the crossovers technique soon and link it here.
I started from standing at the middle of on an end line with 2 strokes, then forward CCW crossovers on the hockey circle, then a left forward swing roll (not required) continued with forward CW to the right hockey circle, swing Mohawk, then CCW back crossovers, back swing roll (not required) before changing to the last circle of CW back crossovers, finish with a backward stroke holding the extension and step forward and stop. The circles have to be similar in size.
My challenges were
- making all 4 types of crossovers looking as they had the same power (they didn't), so I had to pull back on the stronger ones and obviously push as strongly as I could on the weaker ones
- figuring out where to start the swing rolls and finding a pace for the crossovers to get to finish at the point were I was starting the swing. I worked on this test for around a year, and as I did get stronger and faster I had to adjust the number of crossovers and the place were I started the swing rolls.
- the back swing roll I did just on the second test, coming with some speed after the CCW backward crossovers, at first I wasn't comfortable in stroking backwards and holding the extension forward before swinging.
- the swing Mohawk. The swing is all on an outside edge, but then the edge should be changed to inside for it to become the start of the Mohawk. I could do it at slow speed and using more space but on the tight space between the circles I always ended up getting on the inside edge as I was swinging the leg and that made it look wimpy. This is one of the skills on my "wish" list. After I injured my left hip I figured that the forward swing roll to the right was straining my left flexors and abductors so I stopped doing them. But it's time will come.
I've got passing score of 2.5 on both tests but I do think I was more confident at the second test.
2. Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals (focus on extension and edge quality).
My straight spirals were pretty consistent on both legs at this point, BUT you need to do 5 consecutive and equal lobes of outside edge spirals on the length of the ring, then 5 more on an inside edge. And you need to keep the extension higher then the hip level for 4 seconds so you need to get on the edge and the leg up very quickly, otherwise you run out of space. My biggest problem proved to be getting out of the spiral quickly and in a controlled way. I was saying when I talked about the spiral technique here, that I wasn't used to square the hips and upper body, but stack the hips and twist the upper body. I think that is easier to hold the edges like that, but it's hard to change the lobes, you have to change the lobes square to the axis, there is no other way. By the second test I've gotten a little better.
Again I've got 2.5 on both tests, but I definitely improved the control on changing lobes on the second test.
3. Forward Power 3-Turns (focus on power)
That is a 3-turn step wide on an inside edge and pull into a back crossover, and step forward into the 3-turn and repeat. My RFO was way slower then the left one, but to be honest they were both slow. This is a power move so it needs to show speed. I also wasn't turning the 3-turns at the middle of the lobes on the first test, i was rushing. That wasn't even my biggest challenge. That was to step forward squared after the back crossover, perpendicularly to the axis. If I wasn't square at that point I couldn't control the next 3-turn.
On my first test I messed up a 3-turn, but either the judge didn't see it, either one mistake was allowed, she didn't comment on it. But still I've got just 2.4 for luck of power. I've got. 2.5 on the second test.
4. Alternative Forward 3-turns (focus on edge quality)I've got 2.5 on both tests.
I talked about outside and inside forward 3-turns technique here and here.The alternative outside 3-turns was the hardest move for me, more exactly the transition between the 3-turns. Theoretically you need to do a controlled 3-turn (figures style) leaving perpendicularly from the axis (forward outside edge) and returning perpendicularly to the axis (back inside edge) with a perfect balance and posture and then twist your blade on that spot from backwards to forward to start next 3-turn. But again, for this test the quality should be 2.5 out of 6. The judges don't expect perfection. And I saw kids testing and forcing the end of the 3 turn close to the axis but not on the axis into the next one, so that's what I set up to do. So, my trick was to snap the turn and really keep the free leg, hip and glutes tight and as I was approaching the axis, open the hips to be able to start the next turn. This move is not on any of the adult MITF tests, it is an award, wicked one...
5. Forward Circle 8 (focus on edge quality and continuous flow). I talked about it here. I've got 2.5 on both my tests. On the first test I was wobbly but I didn't actually put the foot down (as it appears in the video) and after the test the judge complimented me for the "exact" edges and that circle 8. Again, she either didn't see the wobble or it was "exact" for this level.
6. Alternating Backward Crossovers to Backward Outside Edges (focus on power and extension)
I've got 2.3 on my first test, again for "lack of power", and 2.5 on my second test but with the suggestion "more power needed". I'll talk about power in one of my next post, I have enough thoughts and feelings about it to fill a whole post! What I think helped me on this move the most in the second test, was a straighter posture (shoulders rolled back and lift from the waist up, core engaged) on the backward edge. On the first test I was off balance after the back edge so I couldn't push well into the crossover. I knew and I see in the video that on the LBO edge was not over my hip, I'm working now on back swing rolls and I'm close in finally correcting that.
And the videos of my tests, retry the first one, pass the second one
1. Forward and Backward Crossovers on circles (focus power) with a swing Mohawk when transferring from the second forward circle to the first backward circle.
I'll write a post about the crossovers technique soon and link it here.
I started from standing at the middle of on an end line with 2 strokes, then forward CCW crossovers on the hockey circle, then a left forward swing roll (not required) continued with forward CW to the right hockey circle, swing Mohawk, then CCW back crossovers, back swing roll (not required) before changing to the last circle of CW back crossovers, finish with a backward stroke holding the extension and step forward and stop. The circles have to be similar in size.
My challenges were
- making all 4 types of crossovers looking as they had the same power (they didn't), so I had to pull back on the stronger ones and obviously push as strongly as I could on the weaker ones
- figuring out where to start the swing rolls and finding a pace for the crossovers to get to finish at the point were I was starting the swing. I worked on this test for around a year, and as I did get stronger and faster I had to adjust the number of crossovers and the place were I started the swing rolls.
- the back swing roll I did just on the second test, coming with some speed after the CCW backward crossovers, at first I wasn't comfortable in stroking backwards and holding the extension forward before swinging.
- the swing Mohawk. The swing is all on an outside edge, but then the edge should be changed to inside for it to become the start of the Mohawk. I could do it at slow speed and using more space but on the tight space between the circles I always ended up getting on the inside edge as I was swinging the leg and that made it look wimpy. This is one of the skills on my "wish" list. After I injured my left hip I figured that the forward swing roll to the right was straining my left flexors and abductors so I stopped doing them. But it's time will come.
I've got passing score of 2.5 on both tests but I do think I was more confident at the second test.
2. Consecutive Outside and Inside Spirals (focus on extension and edge quality).
My straight spirals were pretty consistent on both legs at this point, BUT you need to do 5 consecutive and equal lobes of outside edge spirals on the length of the ring, then 5 more on an inside edge. And you need to keep the extension higher then the hip level for 4 seconds so you need to get on the edge and the leg up very quickly, otherwise you run out of space. My biggest problem proved to be getting out of the spiral quickly and in a controlled way. I was saying when I talked about the spiral technique here, that I wasn't used to square the hips and upper body, but stack the hips and twist the upper body. I think that is easier to hold the edges like that, but it's hard to change the lobes, you have to change the lobes square to the axis, there is no other way. By the second test I've gotten a little better.
Again I've got 2.5 on both tests, but I definitely improved the control on changing lobes on the second test.
3. Forward Power 3-Turns (focus on power)
That is a 3-turn step wide on an inside edge and pull into a back crossover, and step forward into the 3-turn and repeat. My RFO was way slower then the left one, but to be honest they were both slow. This is a power move so it needs to show speed. I also wasn't turning the 3-turns at the middle of the lobes on the first test, i was rushing. That wasn't even my biggest challenge. That was to step forward squared after the back crossover, perpendicularly to the axis. If I wasn't square at that point I couldn't control the next 3-turn.
On my first test I messed up a 3-turn, but either the judge didn't see it, either one mistake was allowed, she didn't comment on it. But still I've got just 2.4 for luck of power. I've got. 2.5 on the second test.
4. Alternative Forward 3-turns (focus on edge quality)I've got 2.5 on both tests.
I talked about outside and inside forward 3-turns technique here and here.The alternative outside 3-turns was the hardest move for me, more exactly the transition between the 3-turns. Theoretically you need to do a controlled 3-turn (figures style) leaving perpendicularly from the axis (forward outside edge) and returning perpendicularly to the axis (back inside edge) with a perfect balance and posture and then twist your blade on that spot from backwards to forward to start next 3-turn. But again, for this test the quality should be 2.5 out of 6. The judges don't expect perfection. And I saw kids testing and forcing the end of the 3 turn close to the axis but not on the axis into the next one, so that's what I set up to do. So, my trick was to snap the turn and really keep the free leg, hip and glutes tight and as I was approaching the axis, open the hips to be able to start the next turn. This move is not on any of the adult MITF tests, it is an award, wicked one...
5. Forward Circle 8 (focus on edge quality and continuous flow). I talked about it here. I've got 2.5 on both my tests. On the first test I was wobbly but I didn't actually put the foot down (as it appears in the video) and after the test the judge complimented me for the "exact" edges and that circle 8. Again, she either didn't see the wobble or it was "exact" for this level.
6. Alternating Backward Crossovers to Backward Outside Edges (focus on power and extension)
I've got 2.3 on my first test, again for "lack of power", and 2.5 on my second test but with the suggestion "more power needed". I'll talk about power in one of my next post, I have enough thoughts and feelings about it to fill a whole post! What I think helped me on this move the most in the second test, was a straighter posture (shoulders rolled back and lift from the waist up, core engaged) on the backward edge. On the first test I was off balance after the back edge so I couldn't push well into the crossover. I knew and I see in the video that on the LBO edge was not over my hip, I'm working now on back swing rolls and I'm close in finally correcting that.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Skating technique: Spiral or Arabesque
The spiral is another skating element that you learn as a beginner but you will make it better as you progress. The definitions is: gliding on one foot while raising the free leg above hip level. I will sound like a broken record, but I'll have to say again that when I learned this in group lessons it was a "monkey sees monkey does" approach. One side was working fine for me, including later when I had to do them on edges. The other side was not, and it was puzzling because my flexibility is the same on both sides.
My private coach's instruction was:
- take a regular stroke (read about it here) extending the free foot just as high as comfortable. So you'll have the skating foot bent, upper body erect but lower back curved and the free leg extended back. The hips should be squared, the free leg is turned out from the hip, tense, pointed and straight.
- keeping your core and lower back engaged and the skating hip as the balancing point, simultaneously lower the torso until parallel with the ice while looking up and lift the skating leg. Slowly! You will feel the weight on the blade on the back part of the arch of your foot, or just back of the middle of the blade and as you lower your torso forward move that balancing point on the blade to more back. Keep the free leg tense, pointed, turned out from the hip, hips square. Lift the chest and head and pull the shoulders back. Straiten the skating leg. I don't remember the instruction in group classes, but when I started the lessons with my private coach I wasn't keeping my hips squared, but I wast lifting the hip of the free leg, or stacking the hips. I think is important to have the hips and upper body squared for doing consecutive spirals on edges on lobes, so you can control the change of edge. Corrections that I've got: push back into your hip (that's what fixed my bad side spiral) and lock the skating knee to make sure it's straight. Beginners worry that they'll catch the toe pick and fall forward. One reason for this is if you lower the upper body first, you move your balancing point forward on the blade (near the toe pick...) and as you lift the free leg it's hard to re balance. So I'll repeat myself, lower the upper body at the same time as lifting the free leg, and push back into the hip to move the balancing point back on the blade.
- hold for at least 3 counts.
- lower the free foot simultaneously with rising the torso, in a controlled manner, with the core and lower back engaged and using the inner thighs to bring the feet together, while keeping the balance on your hip. Don't just drop the skating hip...
I found that the most important point in learning the spiral is figuring out the balancing point, the hip. Comparing the good side spiral with the bad side spiral, the correction to push back in my hip made total sense. On my good side I was settled in my hip, on my bad side I wasn't, and I wasn't on the right point on my blade. It felt like I was reaching forward. To help bring awareness of that balancing point I like putting on leg up on the board and playing with where the weight is on my hip. Then, skating, I find that it's easier to established that balancing point on the stroke, on a bent skating foot, before lifting the free foot.
My private coach's instruction was:
- take a regular stroke (read about it here) extending the free foot just as high as comfortable. So you'll have the skating foot bent, upper body erect but lower back curved and the free leg extended back. The hips should be squared, the free leg is turned out from the hip, tense, pointed and straight.
- keeping your core and lower back engaged and the skating hip as the balancing point, simultaneously lower the torso until parallel with the ice while looking up and lift the skating leg. Slowly! You will feel the weight on the blade on the back part of the arch of your foot, or just back of the middle of the blade and as you lower your torso forward move that balancing point on the blade to more back. Keep the free leg tense, pointed, turned out from the hip, hips square. Lift the chest and head and pull the shoulders back. Straiten the skating leg. I don't remember the instruction in group classes, but when I started the lessons with my private coach I wasn't keeping my hips squared, but I wast lifting the hip of the free leg, or stacking the hips. I think is important to have the hips and upper body squared for doing consecutive spirals on edges on lobes, so you can control the change of edge. Corrections that I've got: push back into your hip (that's what fixed my bad side spiral) and lock the skating knee to make sure it's straight. Beginners worry that they'll catch the toe pick and fall forward. One reason for this is if you lower the upper body first, you move your balancing point forward on the blade (near the toe pick...) and as you lift the free leg it's hard to re balance. So I'll repeat myself, lower the upper body at the same time as lifting the free leg, and push back into the hip to move the balancing point back on the blade.
- hold for at least 3 counts.
- lower the free foot simultaneously with rising the torso, in a controlled manner, with the core and lower back engaged and using the inner thighs to bring the feet together, while keeping the balance on your hip. Don't just drop the skating hip...
I found that the most important point in learning the spiral is figuring out the balancing point, the hip. Comparing the good side spiral with the bad side spiral, the correction to push back in my hip made total sense. On my good side I was settled in my hip, on my bad side I wasn't, and I wasn't on the right point on my blade. It felt like I was reaching forward. To help bring awareness of that balancing point I like putting on leg up on the board and playing with where the weight is on my hip. Then, skating, I find that it's easier to established that balancing point on the stroke, on a bent skating foot, before lifting the free foot.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Skating technique: edges - Basic Backward Edges Outside and Inside
edges - part 6.
As I didn't do much skating lately, I was thinking to go back in time and tell you about my first MITF test. I realized I never talked about the basic back edges and they were part of the test. If interested, read older posts where I covered the Forward Edges and the importance of Edges and Lobes.
For the backward edges, as for all the skating backwards, you should feel your weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of your foot, but then it's the back part of the ball of your foot. The posture when skating backwards is even more erect then when forward, it almost feels like you are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath yourself (towards your back) bending your ankles and knees more.
Right Backward Outside RBO and Left Backward Outside LBO Edges:
- Start with the feet shoulders apart, staying on the axis, perpendicularly, left arm in front, right one lateral, hands waist level facing/ pressing down.
- Look left, on the length of the axis, towards were you'll go
- Push back not around: Bring your weight over the left foot, bend both knees and push with the left foot into the ice or push the ice away, at an angle of approximately 60 degrees not 45 as pushing forward, turning the foot out after the push (like scooping ice cream or the beginning of a back swizzle) onto your right foot, holding the left foot extended over the circle tracing. See the back push and stroking here in the second part of the video. Initially I was asked to push like I was doing the first half of the back swizzle (that is half of a lobe but on this back edge lobe would be smaller than a quarter of the lobe). And that's a good visual for a beginner. The problem with that is that was making me push around not back. I was saying to push back, not around, that means to not allow the upper body to rotate after the push. Hold your core, lower back and shoulders together.
- First part of the lobe: Now, your back goes forward so it's hard to describe which hand is forward and which is back... I'll say that the right arm and shoulder lead the way, your weight is on your right hip, right leg bent, and the left arm and left foot that's extended, trail over the lobe tracing. Your upper body is twisted to face the circle and leans a little towards the inside of the circle.
- Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hands and feet, lower your hands near your sides and bring the left foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
- Second part of the lobe: Continue the upper body small rotation so your back will be towards the inside of the circle left hand and shoulder will lead the way. The left foot can stay near the right ankle or can extend together with the left arm. The head turns, but more then the upper body, you look over your left shoulder to the axis where you'll change the lobe.
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.
Right Backward RBI and Left Backward Inside LBI Edges:
- Start with the feet shoulders apart, staying on the axis, perpendicularly on the axis, left arm forward, right arm lateral, hands waist level facing/ pressing down.
- Push: Bring your weight over the left foot, bend both knees and push back with the left foot, onto your right foot and hip, left foot extended in front.
- First part of the lobe: Right shoulder is leading the way but right hand is lateral, or a little towards your back, so your right shoulder doesn't twist around too much and loose control. Left arm is trailing the tracing of the circle and you look over your left shoulder inside the circle. This is what helps me not over rotate. Left foot is extended to the front, over the tracing. That helps holding the balance. Also, engage your core and don't let your right hip stick out. You are kind of with the back at the circle but not really, again maybe 45 degrees.
- Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lower your hands near your sides and bring the left foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
- Second part of the lobe: Continue the upper body small rotation so it's turned towards the inside of the circle. Left arm and shoulder leading, right arm trailing, keep looking over the left shoulder. Left foot could stay at the ankle or could extend with the left arm leading the way over the imaginary tracing.
- Tip... on back inside edge, stay on skating hip, skating shoulder back, weight between the front ribs
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.
My back edges were way weaker than the forward ones when I tested MITF Pre-Preliminary level. But they were good enough for that level. I find that the beginner elements are really learning tools so it's not to be expected to be done 100% correctly. The goal at this level should be to understand. I don't think good backward edges could be done without proper posture. Even when I understood what that should be, I still couldn't hit it quickly enough after pushing. Plus, I was pushing around. I'm working now on Backward circle 8 for MITF Pre-Juvenile level and I feel I'm finally starting to get it.
As I didn't do much skating lately, I was thinking to go back in time and tell you about my first MITF test. I realized I never talked about the basic back edges and they were part of the test. If interested, read older posts where I covered the Forward Edges and the importance of Edges and Lobes.
For the backward edges, as for all the skating backwards, you should feel your weight on the front part of your foot arch, some say it's the ball of your foot, but then it's the back part of the ball of your foot. The posture when skating backwards is even more erect then when forward, it almost feels like you are leaning back. To balance, you push your heals underneath yourself (towards your back) bending your ankles and knees more.
Right Backward Outside RBO and Left Backward Outside LBO Edges:
- Start with the feet shoulders apart, staying on the axis, perpendicularly, left arm in front, right one lateral, hands waist level facing/ pressing down.
- Look left, on the length of the axis, towards were you'll go
- Push back not around: Bring your weight over the left foot, bend both knees and push with the left foot into the ice or push the ice away, at an angle of approximately 60 degrees not 45 as pushing forward, turning the foot out after the push (like scooping ice cream or the beginning of a back swizzle) onto your right foot, holding the left foot extended over the circle tracing. See the back push and stroking here in the second part of the video. Initially I was asked to push like I was doing the first half of the back swizzle (that is half of a lobe but on this back edge lobe would be smaller than a quarter of the lobe). And that's a good visual for a beginner. The problem with that is that was making me push around not back. I was saying to push back, not around, that means to not allow the upper body to rotate after the push. Hold your core, lower back and shoulders together.
- First part of the lobe: Now, your back goes forward so it's hard to describe which hand is forward and which is back... I'll say that the right arm and shoulder lead the way, your weight is on your right hip, right leg bent, and the left arm and left foot that's extended, trail over the lobe tracing. Your upper body is twisted to face the circle and leans a little towards the inside of the circle.
- Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hands and feet, lower your hands near your sides and bring the left foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
- Second part of the lobe: Continue the upper body small rotation so your back will be towards the inside of the circle left hand and shoulder will lead the way. The left foot can stay near the right ankle or can extend together with the left arm. The head turns, but more then the upper body, you look over your left shoulder to the axis where you'll change the lobe.
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.
Right Backward RBI and Left Backward Inside LBI Edges:
- Start with the feet shoulders apart, staying on the axis, perpendicularly on the axis, left arm forward, right arm lateral, hands waist level facing/ pressing down.
- Push: Bring your weight over the left foot, bend both knees and push back with the left foot, onto your right foot and hip, left foot extended in front.
- First part of the lobe: Right shoulder is leading the way but right hand is lateral, or a little towards your back, so your right shoulder doesn't twist around too much and loose control. Left arm is trailing the tracing of the circle and you look over your left shoulder inside the circle. This is what helps me not over rotate. Left foot is extended to the front, over the tracing. That helps holding the balance. Also, engage your core and don't let your right hip stick out. You are kind of with the back at the circle but not really, again maybe 45 degrees.
- Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lower your hands near your sides and bring the left foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
- Second part of the lobe: Continue the upper body small rotation so it's turned towards the inside of the circle. Left arm and shoulder leading, right arm trailing, keep looking over the left shoulder. Left foot could stay at the ankle or could extend with the left arm leading the way over the imaginary tracing.
- Tip... on back inside edge, stay on skating hip, skating shoulder back, weight between the front ribs
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.
My back edges were way weaker than the forward ones when I tested MITF Pre-Preliminary level. But they were good enough for that level. I find that the beginner elements are really learning tools so it's not to be expected to be done 100% correctly. The goal at this level should be to understand. I don't think good backward edges could be done without proper posture. Even when I understood what that should be, I still couldn't hit it quickly enough after pushing. Plus, I was pushing around. I'm working now on Backward circle 8 for MITF Pre-Juvenile level and I feel I'm finally starting to get it.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Skating technique: turns - Forward Inside 3-Turn
turns - part 3
Read about the Forward Outside 3-Turns here and Forward Inside Mohawk here.
The Forward Inside 3-Turn goes from a Forward Inside Edge to a Backward Outside Edge, on the same foot. I found it scarier than the outside 3-turn. And it's because you finish on an back outside edge with back and weight towards the inside of the circle and the free foot on the outside of the circle. So, if you would loose your balance after the turn, towards the inside of the circle, the free foot it's not there to "fall on it". It goes like this:
- stroke on an Forward Inside Edge from a T-position, with the same hand as the skating foot in front, skating knee bent. The alignment should be the imaginary neck zipper, in line with the belly button, in line with the back of the arch of your skating foot, where your weight should fall when skating forward. You can ride the edge with the free foot extended back over the circle tracing that you skated or you can bring it immediately at the back of the skating foot. For "figures" style the free foot boot is perpendicular on the skating boot, for a more relaxed skating like MITF could oblique near the skating foot boot like here or here. For a Freestyle 3-turn, used before jumps and spins, the free leg stays extended, like here. The idea for a beginner is to not keep the free foot boot parallel with the skating foot boot, because it will make the turn harder. One tip I've got was to keep the knees open, that would keep the free boot back and oblique not parallel with the skating boot.
- to turn, twist the upper body towards the inside of the circle (for beginner until the hand that was in the front points to the center of the circle) and look towards the inside of the circle, while rising on on that foot (so straightening the knee) to bring your weight over the skating hip. One thing I'm careful about is to press into the ice during the initial edge and the rising on the skating hip and foot, until I'm ready to turn on the ball of the skating foot when I release the pressure into the ice.
- after the turn you'll be on a Back Outside Edge on a bent knee again and pressing into the ice again. You have to twist the upper body the opposite direction from what you twisted before the turn to check the turn. I feel I have to push back the skating shoulder. And you have to stay over the skating hip, ideally leaning toward the inside of the circle. A correction I still get is to not drop the free hip, that makes the skating hip to stick out.
Important to all the turns is to not rush the turn, at the beginner level that usually means that the upper body is not rotated enough.
If you'll continue holding the BO edge, after the check you'll allow the arms and shoulders to move so you will be with the back at the circle, so the skating arm will be to your front and the free arm to your back, leading the way as you go now backwards. Also is important to allow your head to look back, meaning, outside the circle.
This is all there is to it :)
Read about the Forward Outside 3-Turns here and Forward Inside Mohawk here.
The Forward Inside 3-Turn goes from a Forward Inside Edge to a Backward Outside Edge, on the same foot. I found it scarier than the outside 3-turn. And it's because you finish on an back outside edge with back and weight towards the inside of the circle and the free foot on the outside of the circle. So, if you would loose your balance after the turn, towards the inside of the circle, the free foot it's not there to "fall on it". It goes like this:
- stroke on an Forward Inside Edge from a T-position, with the same hand as the skating foot in front, skating knee bent. The alignment should be the imaginary neck zipper, in line with the belly button, in line with the back of the arch of your skating foot, where your weight should fall when skating forward. You can ride the edge with the free foot extended back over the circle tracing that you skated or you can bring it immediately at the back of the skating foot. For "figures" style the free foot boot is perpendicular on the skating boot, for a more relaxed skating like MITF could oblique near the skating foot boot like here or here. For a Freestyle 3-turn, used before jumps and spins, the free leg stays extended, like here. The idea for a beginner is to not keep the free foot boot parallel with the skating foot boot, because it will make the turn harder. One tip I've got was to keep the knees open, that would keep the free boot back and oblique not parallel with the skating boot.
- to turn, twist the upper body towards the inside of the circle (for beginner until the hand that was in the front points to the center of the circle) and look towards the inside of the circle, while rising on on that foot (so straightening the knee) to bring your weight over the skating hip. One thing I'm careful about is to press into the ice during the initial edge and the rising on the skating hip and foot, until I'm ready to turn on the ball of the skating foot when I release the pressure into the ice.
- after the turn you'll be on a Back Outside Edge on a bent knee again and pressing into the ice again. You have to twist the upper body the opposite direction from what you twisted before the turn to check the turn. I feel I have to push back the skating shoulder. And you have to stay over the skating hip, ideally leaning toward the inside of the circle. A correction I still get is to not drop the free hip, that makes the skating hip to stick out.
Important to all the turns is to not rush the turn, at the beginner level that usually means that the upper body is not rotated enough.
If you'll continue holding the BO edge, after the check you'll allow the arms and shoulders to move so you will be with the back at the circle, so the skating arm will be to your front and the free arm to your back, leading the way as you go now backwards. Also is important to allow your head to look back, meaning, outside the circle.
This is all there is to it :)
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Skating Technique: turns - Forward Outside 3-Turns
turns - part 2.
Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique and my experience in learning skating, could be not the correct one...
The Forward 3-Turns allows you to go from skating forward to skating backward without changing feet, so you stay on the same foot. It is called a 3-turn because it make a mark on ice resembling the figure three. As I was saying in the previous post about the Forward Inside Mohawk, it is not an easy skill. I actually don't find it a beginner's skill. At this level you get the idea, and you do it better and better as you progress.
When I learned these in my group class, the only instruction I remember I was given, was:
- to go on an arch (lobe), so outside edge turned at the top of the lobe into an inside edge,
- start with the opposite hand than foot in front,
- twist the shoulders towards the inside of the circle
- turn on the ball of the foot
- twist the shoulders back (to check)
And it was demonstrated. I was saying before, the group classes were more "monkey see, monkey does"... While I understand that beginners can be overwhelmed by too much instruction I wish I knew a little more. Like:
- to keep my weight on my skating hip (that usually translates to me in don't drop the free hip)
- twist your shoulders is actually twist your upper body (from the waist up, so the core, rib cage and shoulders) while engaging the core and keeping the upper body connected with the hips. I had a breakthrough when I was told bring the hips around too, but it may be a correction just for me because I have open hips, and I used to really leave the free hip back...
- you turn on the ball of your foot to lift the rest of the blade of ice so it won't scrape and stop the turn
My private coach says for 3-turns you should work on 4 things
- head (turn your head first)
- upper body (that I explained already)
- bend- rise- re bend, that is you ride the edge with the knee bent, you rise to bring your weight on your skating hip and the ball of your blade, then bend again after the turn to hold the inside edge
- AND LEAN. I mentioned the lean when I was talking about edges, and I was saying that that's more an intermediary requirement, because it wasn't mentioned to me as a beginner. But I think the beginner should be aware about the lean and start working on it
The most interesting fact that I learned about the 3-turns was that the turn is done from the skating knee. This may an intermediary level information, so as a beginner maybe ignore it...
I think this is a good time to say that, surprise!, there are different types of forward outside 3-turns...
The "figures" style 3-turn is an oldie but goldie or goodie. This would be done at slow speed in a controlled and exact manner. I don't think this is a beginner turn but maybe it should be...
And here is a link to an old book I found online. Do notice that what they call spirals are actually edges: http://iceskatingresources.org/Chapter3FO3Turns.html
This 3-turn relies in the understanding of edges done using the lean. And the free foot is kept at the back of the skating foot (in a T-position) and the free hip hold back (that I was saying I was corrected to not hold back... as a beginner). The foot and hip in this position help to hold the back inside edge, more precisely to do not over rotate it after the turn. And the turn is done by shoulder rotation, leaning and turning on the ball of your blade while being align on your skating hip. They also mention to press into the ice. That would be bend-rise-bend that happens a lot in skating.
The Freestyle 3-turn (before jumps or spins) is faster, straighter and with the free leg extended.
Ice Dancing 3-turns that I know are the dropped 3-turn and the American Waltz 3-turn. They are exact, compact so the partners can do them together, they have a very specific count and they are very pretty :)
The MITF 3-turns are a little bit of everything. Plus each level of testing asks for the 3-turn to be put in a different combination. One of the skills in the first test (Pre-Preliminary) is the "waltz eight", and while there is no specific requirement about the 3-turn, is customary to be done with the free foot extended on the exit edge, to look waltzy... I think this is the easiest, the beginner, waltz eight 3-turn and goes like this:
- stroke on an outside edge from a T-position. Opposite hand is in front, the skating hand laterally-back. The skating foot is bent and the free foot is extended as long as comfortable then brought near the skating foot, laterally, not in the back. This helps keeping yourself over the skating hip. Also it brings the hip around, which ideally would be done with the core being engaged during the upper body twist, but I feel beginners don't engage the core properly.
- twist the upper body until facing the inside of the circle, the free hand should point to the center of the circle. Press into the ice with the skating foot while still bent and when you feel the twist is almost turning straighten the knee and get on the ball of your foot while still pressing into the ice. Then release the pressure into the ice to allow the foot to turn. The ball of your foot is the axis of the turn, the heel of the foot will make an arch.
- check the upper body after the turn (twist the other way so the skating hand is now in front), press into the ice again and extend the free foot back to help with the check. The skating knee should bend again to have a better inside edge. I was kind of snapping that free foot back while holding the lower back and buttocks tight, and while it helps with the check it flattens the edge... The alternative was that I couldn't hold the exit edge at all, I would have put the free foot down immediately, so while not ideal, it was helpful. I also could't bend the knee until I was stable on the edge.
The 3-turns are hard!!!
Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique and my experience in learning skating, could be not the correct one...
The Forward 3-Turns allows you to go from skating forward to skating backward without changing feet, so you stay on the same foot. It is called a 3-turn because it make a mark on ice resembling the figure three. As I was saying in the previous post about the Forward Inside Mohawk, it is not an easy skill. I actually don't find it a beginner's skill. At this level you get the idea, and you do it better and better as you progress.
When I learned these in my group class, the only instruction I remember I was given, was:
- to go on an arch (lobe), so outside edge turned at the top of the lobe into an inside edge,
- start with the opposite hand than foot in front,
- twist the shoulders towards the inside of the circle
- turn on the ball of the foot
- twist the shoulders back (to check)
And it was demonstrated. I was saying before, the group classes were more "monkey see, monkey does"... While I understand that beginners can be overwhelmed by too much instruction I wish I knew a little more. Like:
- to keep my weight on my skating hip (that usually translates to me in don't drop the free hip)
- twist your shoulders is actually twist your upper body (from the waist up, so the core, rib cage and shoulders) while engaging the core and keeping the upper body connected with the hips. I had a breakthrough when I was told bring the hips around too, but it may be a correction just for me because I have open hips, and I used to really leave the free hip back...
- you turn on the ball of your foot to lift the rest of the blade of ice so it won't scrape and stop the turn
My private coach says for 3-turns you should work on 4 things
- head (turn your head first)
- upper body (that I explained already)
- bend- rise- re bend, that is you ride the edge with the knee bent, you rise to bring your weight on your skating hip and the ball of your blade, then bend again after the turn to hold the inside edge
- AND LEAN. I mentioned the lean when I was talking about edges, and I was saying that that's more an intermediary requirement, because it wasn't mentioned to me as a beginner. But I think the beginner should be aware about the lean and start working on it
The most interesting fact that I learned about the 3-turns was that the turn is done from the skating knee. This may an intermediary level information, so as a beginner maybe ignore it...
I think this is a good time to say that, surprise!, there are different types of forward outside 3-turns...
The "figures" style 3-turn is an oldie but goldie or goodie. This would be done at slow speed in a controlled and exact manner. I don't think this is a beginner turn but maybe it should be...
And here is a link to an old book I found online. Do notice that what they call spirals are actually edges: http://iceskatingresources.org/Chapter3FO3Turns.html
This 3-turn relies in the understanding of edges done using the lean. And the free foot is kept at the back of the skating foot (in a T-position) and the free hip hold back (that I was saying I was corrected to not hold back... as a beginner). The foot and hip in this position help to hold the back inside edge, more precisely to do not over rotate it after the turn. And the turn is done by shoulder rotation, leaning and turning on the ball of your blade while being align on your skating hip. They also mention to press into the ice. That would be bend-rise-bend that happens a lot in skating.
The Freestyle 3-turn (before jumps or spins) is faster, straighter and with the free leg extended.
Ice Dancing 3-turns that I know are the dropped 3-turn and the American Waltz 3-turn. They are exact, compact so the partners can do them together, they have a very specific count and they are very pretty :)
The MITF 3-turns are a little bit of everything. Plus each level of testing asks for the 3-turn to be put in a different combination. One of the skills in the first test (Pre-Preliminary) is the "waltz eight", and while there is no specific requirement about the 3-turn, is customary to be done with the free foot extended on the exit edge, to look waltzy... I think this is the easiest, the beginner, waltz eight 3-turn and goes like this:
- stroke on an outside edge from a T-position. Opposite hand is in front, the skating hand laterally-back. The skating foot is bent and the free foot is extended as long as comfortable then brought near the skating foot, laterally, not in the back. This helps keeping yourself over the skating hip. Also it brings the hip around, which ideally would be done with the core being engaged during the upper body twist, but I feel beginners don't engage the core properly.
- twist the upper body until facing the inside of the circle, the free hand should point to the center of the circle. Press into the ice with the skating foot while still bent and when you feel the twist is almost turning straighten the knee and get on the ball of your foot while still pressing into the ice. Then release the pressure into the ice to allow the foot to turn. The ball of your foot is the axis of the turn, the heel of the foot will make an arch.
- check the upper body after the turn (twist the other way so the skating hand is now in front), press into the ice again and extend the free foot back to help with the check. The skating knee should bend again to have a better inside edge. I was kind of snapping that free foot back while holding the lower back and buttocks tight, and while it helps with the check it flattens the edge... The alternative was that I couldn't hold the exit edge at all, I would have put the free foot down immediately, so while not ideal, it was helpful. I also could't bend the knee until I was stable on the edge.
The 3-turns are hard!!!
Monday, October 22, 2018
Skating Technique: turns - Open Forward Inside Mohawk
turns - part 1.
Turns are what allows you to skate from forward to backward and backward to forward. Disclaimer :) this is my understanding of the technique...
Looking back, I'm surprised that the 3-turns and Mohawks, which are turns from an forward edge to a backward edge, are covered by ISI before the actual edges. They are covered in Delta and Gamma levels, which are the last to level of the Intro to Skating (read my view about skating levels here). More then that, my backward skating, when I started learning these turns, was less developed that the forward one. But, as I said two posts ago (Beginner Forward and Backward Skating), the backward skating takes time to develop because anything that messes your posture, messes the balance point on the blade. One thing that messes the posture is the backward push. From this point of view, the 3-turns and Mohawks are just another way to start going backwards, instead of the push... It will be equally hard, but they'll develop at the same time, and at the same time as the edges.
I vividly remember when I was first taught these turns, that I was laughing inside at the "crazy" idea that I will ever learn them. But I did... And I wish I've known at that point, that there are levels of precision expected for any skill, turns included. You first get "the idea" of them, you "kind'a... sort'a" (this is how an instructor in dance class was asking if we've got the choreography) do them. And then you improve them, and improve them more. My coach says that you still improve them on the expert level.
For me the Mohawks came a little easier so I'll start with those. I looked on youtube and most of the instructions there, are for a more intermediate quality, like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p-nKfrM2PU&t=29s
The instructions for a correct Forward Right Open Inside Mohawk (this is the easier side for me, the left one is the same but on the other side) are:
- stroke on an RFI (Right forward Inside) Edge on a bent skating leg with the free leg extended, facing the imaginary circle the edges curves on, right hand forward, left hand back, hugging the circle and hold the stroke for a length equal with your height
- at the point you want to turn rotate the upper body so the right arm and shoulder point towards the center of the circle, the left arm and shoulder press back. The skating foot increases the pressure into the ice at this point as you rise into your knee and bring your free foot at the instep of the skating foot. As a beginner I was bringing the heels together, not the heel to the instep. One tip I've got that helped me correct this was to bring the foot a little more forward then the instep. It helped at the time, but I have the feeling that messed up the turned out of my free foot and I started to bring the knees together too. Now, I'm trying to think of turning the foot out as I take the first stroke, and to lead with the heal when I bring the foot in and keep the knees separated (another tip I heard is make a diamond with your knees)
- immediately bend both knees, as a mini ballet plie, and put the left blade down on an backward inside edge (LBI), pressing into the ice and rising a little, then bend again to hold the edge. The right leg could be extended or kept at the back of the ankle. At the same time, the upper body checks the rotation, so the right hand and shoulder goes back and the left ones in front, hugging the circle and still looking inside the circle.
Finally I found one video showing exactly what I was doing as a beginner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHCmI7tAc94
- stroke on RFI edge, right hand forward, left one back, on top of the circle
- turn out your free foot as much as you can, don't mess up with the upper body
- just put the left leg down on a inside (LBI) edge somewhere where you are comfortable, it's ok if it's a blade length apart from the other blade, and it's ok if it's more near the heel than the instep... for now... Now extend the right foot between back and lateral, like 45 degrees (if it's back it won't hold the inside edge. And really tighten the right side of your lower back and buttock. And push your right arm and shoulder back.
The ISI Delta level also asks for this Mohawk to be put in a 7 step combination:
1 left LF stroke
2 right RF stroke
3 left LF stroke
4, 5 right Mohawk RFI to LBI
6 push with the left inside edge into a RBO
7 turn around keeping your weight on your right hip and step on a LFO
They call the steps 6 and 7, so the RBO to an LFO, a backward outside Mowhak. and while everybody agrees it is a Mohawk, nobody calls it a Mohawk, but simply "step forward", being implied that is from an back outside edge .
Turns are what allows you to skate from forward to backward and backward to forward. Disclaimer :) this is my understanding of the technique...
Looking back, I'm surprised that the 3-turns and Mohawks, which are turns from an forward edge to a backward edge, are covered by ISI before the actual edges. They are covered in Delta and Gamma levels, which are the last to level of the Intro to Skating (read my view about skating levels here). More then that, my backward skating, when I started learning these turns, was less developed that the forward one. But, as I said two posts ago (Beginner Forward and Backward Skating), the backward skating takes time to develop because anything that messes your posture, messes the balance point on the blade. One thing that messes the posture is the backward push. From this point of view, the 3-turns and Mohawks are just another way to start going backwards, instead of the push... It will be equally hard, but they'll develop at the same time, and at the same time as the edges.
I vividly remember when I was first taught these turns, that I was laughing inside at the "crazy" idea that I will ever learn them. But I did... And I wish I've known at that point, that there are levels of precision expected for any skill, turns included. You first get "the idea" of them, you "kind'a... sort'a" (this is how an instructor in dance class was asking if we've got the choreography) do them. And then you improve them, and improve them more. My coach says that you still improve them on the expert level.
For me the Mohawks came a little easier so I'll start with those. I looked on youtube and most of the instructions there, are for a more intermediate quality, like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p-nKfrM2PU&t=29s
The instructions for a correct Forward Right Open Inside Mohawk (this is the easier side for me, the left one is the same but on the other side) are:
- stroke on an RFI (Right forward Inside) Edge on a bent skating leg with the free leg extended, facing the imaginary circle the edges curves on, right hand forward, left hand back, hugging the circle and hold the stroke for a length equal with your height
- at the point you want to turn rotate the upper body so the right arm and shoulder point towards the center of the circle, the left arm and shoulder press back. The skating foot increases the pressure into the ice at this point as you rise into your knee and bring your free foot at the instep of the skating foot. As a beginner I was bringing the heels together, not the heel to the instep. One tip I've got that helped me correct this was to bring the foot a little more forward then the instep. It helped at the time, but I have the feeling that messed up the turned out of my free foot and I started to bring the knees together too. Now, I'm trying to think of turning the foot out as I take the first stroke, and to lead with the heal when I bring the foot in and keep the knees separated (another tip I heard is make a diamond with your knees)
- immediately bend both knees, as a mini ballet plie, and put the left blade down on an backward inside edge (LBI), pressing into the ice and rising a little, then bend again to hold the edge. The right leg could be extended or kept at the back of the ankle. At the same time, the upper body checks the rotation, so the right hand and shoulder goes back and the left ones in front, hugging the circle and still looking inside the circle.
Finally I found one video showing exactly what I was doing as a beginner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHCmI7tAc94
- stroke on RFI edge, right hand forward, left one back, on top of the circle
- turn out your free foot as much as you can, don't mess up with the upper body
- just put the left leg down on a inside (LBI) edge somewhere where you are comfortable, it's ok if it's a blade length apart from the other blade, and it's ok if it's more near the heel than the instep... for now... Now extend the right foot between back and lateral, like 45 degrees (if it's back it won't hold the inside edge. And really tighten the right side of your lower back and buttock. And push your right arm and shoulder back.
The ISI Delta level also asks for this Mohawk to be put in a 7 step combination:
1 left LF stroke
2 right RF stroke
3 left LF stroke
4, 5 right Mohawk RFI to LBI
6 push with the left inside edge into a RBO
7 turn around keeping your weight on your right hip and step on a LFO
They call the steps 6 and 7, so the RBO to an LFO, a backward outside Mowhak. and while everybody agrees it is a Mohawk, nobody calls it a Mohawk, but simply "step forward", being implied that is from an back outside edge .
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Skating technique: edges - Forward Circle Eight
Edges - part 4.
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
This continues ideas from previous blogs that covered an introduction to Edges and Lobes, Basic Forward Edges and Advanced Deep Forward Edges.
Forward Circle Eight is a more difficult skill, thou still in the beginners range (like an advanced-beginner), and is part of the Preliminary MITF Test and Adult Bronze MITF Test. Here is the diagram. I was first thought to do it on a hockey circle, actually inside a hockey circle. Starting in the middle of the dot and shooting to touch the line of the circle at each half of the circle eight. But at test time you could be asked to do in the center of the rink, as the diagram shows. It's allowed to start with either foot.
As with all the skating forward, the point where you should feel your weight on the blade, is the back part of your foot arch. I find good posture with the core engaged and looking up is helpful at this level.
First circle: outside edge
1. You start from standing in a T-position with a good push both described here, with the upper body and arms set as for Basic Forward Outside Edges, so the back at the circle or same hand and foot forward. You need to keep a erect posture after the push, don't allow the body to drop forward, because you'll loose control and speed trying to balance. It is important to set the blade on an edge! Again, if you put the foot down on a flat edge, you will have to adjust your body to get to the outside edge and that will affect your balance and slow you down. When you learn this, is gonna be a continuous negations between the need for strong push to go around, and the ability to control the body after a push that is too strong.
2. After the push you bring the free foot at the back of the ankle of the skating foot. The skating foot will be a little bent. This bent knee helps with both keeping a good posture and keeping the weight over the skating hip. One tip in bringing the weight over the skating hip is to lift the free hip or don't drop the free hip...different words work for different people. Lean your body a little toward the inside of the circle. Stay square to the circle tracing (the direction of travel).
3. At half circle you bring your free foot near your skating ankle, simultaneously with lowering the arms. Keep you free foot touching the skating foot, if you let it go around you will loose the edge.
4. On the second half of the circle, in my coach's words, you lift yourself over the skating hip. You straighten the skating knee and bring your free arm and skating foot forward, over the imaginary tracing of the circle. It's helpful to pigeon toe the free foot over the circle tracing. That will also help in holding the free hip up (I, for once, used to drop my hip) and the body square with the direction of travel.
Second circle: outside edge on the other foot
1. The arms starting position will the same as the ending position from first circle. The rest is the same.
Third circle: inside edge on the foot used on the first circle but same on same tracing as second circle
1. You need to change the arms position between second circle and third circle, so when you start the inside edge, you'll have the opposite arm from skating foot in front.
2. After the push you bring your free foot laterally near the ankle of skating foot. The skating knee is bent.
3. At half circle lower the arms.
4. Continue the arm movement, rise on the skating hip and bring the free foot forward over the imaginary circle tracing. Hold a strong core. Don't pigeon toe the foot this time but don't turn it out either as can make you drop the free hip and loose balance.
Forth circle: Inside edge on the other foot.
I underlined what seamed to help me when I learnt it.
When I tested this move, I didn't do everything I explained here. Some things I didn't understand at the time, some things I couldn't do consistently, or I just forgot to do when I tested (the pigeon toe comes to mind). Any skating skill is a work in progress and could be improved...
Here is a video of the outside edge circles, where I think I do everything I was describing, except on the second part of the circle, I should have brought the free foot over the circle tracing and I should have pigeon toed. I have to say that seeing yourself in a video is very, very useful, after I saw this video I always remembered to pigeon toe!
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
This continues ideas from previous blogs that covered an introduction to Edges and Lobes, Basic Forward Edges and Advanced Deep Forward Edges.
Forward Circle Eight is a more difficult skill, thou still in the beginners range (like an advanced-beginner), and is part of the Preliminary MITF Test and Adult Bronze MITF Test. Here is the diagram. I was first thought to do it on a hockey circle, actually inside a hockey circle. Starting in the middle of the dot and shooting to touch the line of the circle at each half of the circle eight. But at test time you could be asked to do in the center of the rink, as the diagram shows. It's allowed to start with either foot.
As with all the skating forward, the point where you should feel your weight on the blade, is the back part of your foot arch. I find good posture with the core engaged and looking up is helpful at this level.
First circle: outside edge
1. You start from standing in a T-position with a good push both described here, with the upper body and arms set as for Basic Forward Outside Edges, so the back at the circle or same hand and foot forward. You need to keep a erect posture after the push, don't allow the body to drop forward, because you'll loose control and speed trying to balance. It is important to set the blade on an edge! Again, if you put the foot down on a flat edge, you will have to adjust your body to get to the outside edge and that will affect your balance and slow you down. When you learn this, is gonna be a continuous negations between the need for strong push to go around, and the ability to control the body after a push that is too strong.
2. After the push you bring the free foot at the back of the ankle of the skating foot. The skating foot will be a little bent. This bent knee helps with both keeping a good posture and keeping the weight over the skating hip. One tip in bringing the weight over the skating hip is to lift the free hip or don't drop the free hip...different words work for different people. Lean your body a little toward the inside of the circle. Stay square to the circle tracing (the direction of travel).
3. At half circle you bring your free foot near your skating ankle, simultaneously with lowering the arms. Keep you free foot touching the skating foot, if you let it go around you will loose the edge.
4. On the second half of the circle, in my coach's words, you lift yourself over the skating hip. You straighten the skating knee and bring your free arm and skating foot forward, over the imaginary tracing of the circle. It's helpful to pigeon toe the free foot over the circle tracing. That will also help in holding the free hip up (I, for once, used to drop my hip) and the body square with the direction of travel.
Second circle: outside edge on the other foot
1. The arms starting position will the same as the ending position from first circle. The rest is the same.
Third circle: inside edge on the foot used on the first circle but same on same tracing as second circle
1. You need to change the arms position between second circle and third circle, so when you start the inside edge, you'll have the opposite arm from skating foot in front.
2. After the push you bring your free foot laterally near the ankle of skating foot. The skating knee is bent.
3. At half circle lower the arms.
4. Continue the arm movement, rise on the skating hip and bring the free foot forward over the imaginary circle tracing. Hold a strong core. Don't pigeon toe the foot this time but don't turn it out either as can make you drop the free hip and loose balance.
Forth circle: Inside edge on the other foot.
I underlined what seamed to help me when I learnt it.
When I tested this move, I didn't do everything I explained here. Some things I didn't understand at the time, some things I couldn't do consistently, or I just forgot to do when I tested (the pigeon toe comes to mind). Any skating skill is a work in progress and could be improved...
Here is a video of the outside edge circles, where I think I do everything I was describing, except on the second part of the circle, I should have brought the free foot over the circle tracing and I should have pigeon toed. I have to say that seeing yourself in a video is very, very useful, after I saw this video I always remembered to pigeon toe!
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Skating technique: edges - Deep Forward Edges Outside and Inside
Edges - part 3.
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
Continued from the previous blogs where I covered the importance of Edges and Lobes, and the Basic Forward Edges.
As I was saying, the deep edges are not a beginner figure skating skill. I would say it's a intermediate level. They are a basic skill for Ice Dancing and are done on deep lobes. For Freestyle, good crossovers can use them as a foundation. I also see Freestyle skaters using a version of them called edge rolls, as a warm up. These are done quickly and on straighter and smaller lobes.
This is how Deep Forward Outside Edges should look like. Now, they are national ice dance competitors, what I'm doing is not quite that. I think is fair to say I'm working on it...
These are the differences of forward outside deep edges from the basic edges.
1. More speed, way more speed. You start with taking 2 strokes along the end of the rink to get some speed and you do them on alternating direction lobes on the length of the rink.
2. It's all about the lean: blade into the ice, ankle and the whole body are leaning towards the inside of the circle. The body should look like a straight line, tense, core engaged, hip shouldn't stick out. To achieve this takes probably years, so practice, practice, practice...
3. At the beginning of the lobe the body is positioned with the chest towards the inside of the circle (like crossovers), not with the back towards the circle as the basic edges.
4. The extension is held from the initial push to I would say 3/4 of the lobe, and it is not on top of the tracing of the lobe, but 45 degrees laterally towards the outside of the circle, to give you balance for the body leaning towards the inside of the circle.
5. You finish the lobe with a very quick roll from the outside edge to an inside edge... whaaat? This took me a while to understand, and it's a work in progress.
So... When there is a 1/4 left of the lobe you start to rise/ gather/ draw the free leg in, while still on an outside edge. This is coordinated with an upper body counter movement. It's important to stay on the outside edge until the axis. It actually feels like I'm deepening the edge and I'm crossing the axis to continue the circle. Then, as you are on the highest point of the rise, while still keeping the weight on the skating foot!!! very important, you roll/ flip from the outside edge to an inside edge and press and re bend to have a strong push. And here is what the ice dancers say.
Update 4/20/209: The point of balance for these is, as for all forward skating, the point of the blade align with the back of your arch foot. The body alignment is an imaginary neck zipper over your skating foot.
And here are the Deep Forward Inside Edges.
3. On this, you start the lobe as on the basic edges with the back at the circle (more like the free shoulder forward).
4. The video shows the free leg brought at the ankle of the skating leg, but it could be extended too.
5. There is no roll when you start the new lobe. The trick here is to and to have your weight over your skating hip and foot and allow some space between the skating foot and where you place the new foot and not to drop the weight on the new foot too quickly.
I like to remember the important points on each skating skill. On deep edges they go hand in hand... Still, they are: speed, lean, pressure into ice, square body (perpendicular to an imaginary tangent to the circle) while riding the edge, posture. Roll on an inside edge before you push on an outside edge. Be sure to place the blade on an outside edge to start with. The point on your blade where you feel the weight of your body is still on the back part of your arch of the foot.
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
Continued from the previous blogs where I covered the importance of Edges and Lobes, and the Basic Forward Edges.
As I was saying, the deep edges are not a beginner figure skating skill. I would say it's a intermediate level. They are a basic skill for Ice Dancing and are done on deep lobes. For Freestyle, good crossovers can use them as a foundation. I also see Freestyle skaters using a version of them called edge rolls, as a warm up. These are done quickly and on straighter and smaller lobes.
This is how Deep Forward Outside Edges should look like. Now, they are national ice dance competitors, what I'm doing is not quite that. I think is fair to say I'm working on it...
These are the differences of forward outside deep edges from the basic edges.
1. More speed, way more speed. You start with taking 2 strokes along the end of the rink to get some speed and you do them on alternating direction lobes on the length of the rink.
2. It's all about the lean: blade into the ice, ankle and the whole body are leaning towards the inside of the circle. The body should look like a straight line, tense, core engaged, hip shouldn't stick out. To achieve this takes probably years, so practice, practice, practice...
3. At the beginning of the lobe the body is positioned with the chest towards the inside of the circle (like crossovers), not with the back towards the circle as the basic edges.
4. The extension is held from the initial push to I would say 3/4 of the lobe, and it is not on top of the tracing of the lobe, but 45 degrees laterally towards the outside of the circle, to give you balance for the body leaning towards the inside of the circle.
5. You finish the lobe with a very quick roll from the outside edge to an inside edge... whaaat? This took me a while to understand, and it's a work in progress.
So... When there is a 1/4 left of the lobe you start to rise/ gather/ draw the free leg in, while still on an outside edge. This is coordinated with an upper body counter movement. It's important to stay on the outside edge until the axis. It actually feels like I'm deepening the edge and I'm crossing the axis to continue the circle. Then, as you are on the highest point of the rise, while still keeping the weight on the skating foot!!! very important, you roll/ flip from the outside edge to an inside edge and press and re bend to have a strong push. And here is what the ice dancers say.
Update 4/20/209: The point of balance for these is, as for all forward skating, the point of the blade align with the back of your arch foot. The body alignment is an imaginary neck zipper over your skating foot.
And here are the Deep Forward Inside Edges.
3. On this, you start the lobe as on the basic edges with the back at the circle (more like the free shoulder forward).
4. The video shows the free leg brought at the ankle of the skating leg, but it could be extended too.
5. There is no roll when you start the new lobe. The trick here is to and to have your weight over your skating hip and foot and allow some space between the skating foot and where you place the new foot and not to drop the weight on the new foot too quickly.
I like to remember the important points on each skating skill. On deep edges they go hand in hand... Still, they are: speed, lean, pressure into ice, square body (perpendicular to an imaginary tangent to the circle) while riding the edge, posture. Roll on an inside edge before you push on an outside edge. Be sure to place the blade on an outside edge to start with. The point on your blade where you feel the weight of your body is still on the back part of your arch of the foot.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Skating technique: edges - Basic Forward Edges Outside and Inside
Edges - part 2.
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
Read about the importance of Edges and Lobes in the previous blog.
Basic consecutive edges are a beginner skill and are part of the Pre-Preliminary MITF Test and Adult Pre-Bronze MITF Test. They are done on a short line of the rink. There are 4 edges: forward and backward, outside and inside so we'll have 4 lines. And the test pattern suggests 6 lobes, alternating the direction. You can start on either foot. Here is the diagram.
For forward edges, as for all the skating forward you should feel your weight on the back part of your foot arch. The speed is on a slower side.
Left Forward Outside LFO and Right Forward Outside RFO Edges:
1. Start on a T-position covered here, with the left foot in front, perpendicular to the line that we use as an axis. I was thought to have the left hand (and shoulder) forward, right hand back, waist level, palms facing/ pressing down. So you are with your back at the circle (half in this instance) you'll skate. An easy way to remember was: start with the back at the circle, or same hand as skating foot.
2. First part of the lobe: Bend and push with the right foot on the left foot, keep the left shoulder slightly forward, so the back at the circle and look over your left shoulder into the circle. Hold the right foot at back of the left foot, over the tracing you are making so the right hip is slightly back and the right foot is turned out from the hip. All this will make you lean a little towards the inside of the circle. An alignment check is to have the top part of your zipper, so the middle of your chest over your skating hip and ankle.
3. Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lover your hands near your sides and bring the right foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
4. Second part of the lobe: Rise your right hand forward and left hand back and bring the right foot forward over the imaginary lobe line. The right shoulder and hip will be slightly forward, the left hip slightly back. Don't turn out your free foot, but make an almost pigeon toe to hold it over the lobe.
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push
Left Forward Inside LFI and Right Forward Inside RFI Edges:
1. Start on a T-position covered here, with the left foot in front, perpendicular to the line that we use as an axis. We still have start with the back at the circle, but this time we have opposite hand from the skating foot in front, so right hand and left hand back. Hand at waist level, palms facing down. Right shoulder is a little forward and left hip a little forward.
2. First part of the lobe: Bend and push with the right foot on the left foot, maintain the shoulder and hip start position, right foot goes behind the left foot. Look towards the inside of the circle over your right shoulder. The inside edge happens easier as the free side is towards the inside of the circle already.
3. Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lover your hands near your sides and bring the right foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
4. Second part of the lobe: Rise your left hand forward and right hand back and bring the right foot forward over the imaginary lobe line. The left shoulder and right hip will be slightly forward, the left hip slightly back.
Update 11/6/2018 The body alignment for the forward inside edge is rib over same side hip.
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.
To be continued with the backward edges later...
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
Read about the importance of Edges and Lobes in the previous blog.
Basic consecutive edges are a beginner skill and are part of the Pre-Preliminary MITF Test and Adult Pre-Bronze MITF Test. They are done on a short line of the rink. There are 4 edges: forward and backward, outside and inside so we'll have 4 lines. And the test pattern suggests 6 lobes, alternating the direction. You can start on either foot. Here is the diagram.
For forward edges, as for all the skating forward you should feel your weight on the back part of your foot arch. The speed is on a slower side.
Left Forward Outside LFO and Right Forward Outside RFO Edges:
1. Start on a T-position covered here, with the left foot in front, perpendicular to the line that we use as an axis. I was thought to have the left hand (and shoulder) forward, right hand back, waist level, palms facing/ pressing down. So you are with your back at the circle (half in this instance) you'll skate. An easy way to remember was: start with the back at the circle, or same hand as skating foot.
2. First part of the lobe: Bend and push with the right foot on the left foot, keep the left shoulder slightly forward, so the back at the circle and look over your left shoulder into the circle. Hold the right foot at back of the left foot, over the tracing you are making so the right hip is slightly back and the right foot is turned out from the hip. All this will make you lean a little towards the inside of the circle. An alignment check is to have the top part of your zipper, so the middle of your chest over your skating hip and ankle.
3. Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lover your hands near your sides and bring the right foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
4. Second part of the lobe: Rise your right hand forward and left hand back and bring the right foot forward over the imaginary lobe line. The right shoulder and hip will be slightly forward, the left hip slightly back. Don't turn out your free foot, but make an almost pigeon toe to hold it over the lobe.
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push
Left Forward Inside LFI and Right Forward Inside RFI Edges:
1. Start on a T-position covered here, with the left foot in front, perpendicular to the line that we use as an axis. We still have start with the back at the circle, but this time we have opposite hand from the skating foot in front, so right hand and left hand back. Hand at waist level, palms facing down. Right shoulder is a little forward and left hip a little forward.
2. First part of the lobe: Bend and push with the right foot on the left foot, maintain the shoulder and hip start position, right foot goes behind the left foot. Look towards the inside of the circle over your right shoulder. The inside edge happens easier as the free side is towards the inside of the circle already.
3. Middle of the lobe: Coordinating the hand and feet, lover your hands near your sides and bring the right foot near your ankle, this will square your shoulders and hips.
4. Second part of the lobe: Rise your left hand forward and right hand back and bring the right foot forward over the imaginary lobe line. The left shoulder and right hip will be slightly forward, the left hip slightly back.
Update 11/6/2018 The body alignment for the forward inside edge is rib over same side hip.
To start the next lobe you hold your hands and shoulders in the same position and bring the free foot at the ankle, bend and push.
To be continued with the backward edges later...
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Skating technique: edges - Edges and Lobes
Edges - part 1.
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
The figure skating blade has curved shape (a rocker), and is sharpened to form 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge. I would say the all figure skating is done on an edge, so on a curve. I cannot thing of anything but beginners moves that is done on a flat. Freestyle jumps and spins enter on edges, MITF turns are edges and Ice Dancing is all about edges on lobes.
Depending if you go forward or backward, on the left foot or the right foot, and if you press onto inside or outside of the blade there can be 8 possible edges. LFO is Left Forward Outside and there are LFI, RFO, RFI, LBO, LBI, RBO, RBI.
So skating is done on edges that form curves that we call lobes. An imaginary line called axis is the line where a lobe starts and ends, and many skating skills are done on alternating lobes to the left and right on that axis.
There is a quality associated with edges as with any other skating element. So there are basic edges that are learned as beginners and deep edges that are a more advanced skill. There are also skills you practice to get there. The difference between them is given by the angle of the blade bite into the ice, the lean of the ankle and boot towards the ice, the lean the body, the speed, the depth of the lobe (curve) created and the quickens you achieve the lobe.
The deep edges create deep lobes quickly. To get deep lobes you need the deep bite into the ice. For that you need speed to create that centripetal force. You also need your body to lean towards the inside of the circle, without breaking at the hip. As I said this is an advanced skill, a beginner doesn't have the kind of control to be able to do that.
The basic edges introduce the notion of lobes. I think the most important think to understand is that the lobes start perpendicular to the axis and then they curve around, finishing perpendicular to the axis. They are quite slow and the lean of the body and blade is small, so the upper body is used a little to help steer into the wanted direction. Working on basic edges helps the beginner find the balance point on the blade and understand the idea of staying over the skating hip. Basic edges also teach upper body and lover body coordination and the concept of being square (shoulders and hips are forming a rectangle on the same plan).
A more advanced edge skill (still beginner level) I can think of are Circle Eights where you hold an edge all around a circle not half circle and edge presses. At this level I fell you learn to stay square to the direction of travel and you work on gaining speed and balance.
I'll cover each of these skills in future posts...
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn more. Disclaimer: this is my understanding of the technique, it may be or not the correct technique.
The figure skating blade has curved shape (a rocker), and is sharpened to form 2 edges, an inside edge and an outside edge. I would say the all figure skating is done on an edge, so on a curve. I cannot thing of anything but beginners moves that is done on a flat. Freestyle jumps and spins enter on edges, MITF turns are edges and Ice Dancing is all about edges on lobes.
Depending if you go forward or backward, on the left foot or the right foot, and if you press onto inside or outside of the blade there can be 8 possible edges. LFO is Left Forward Outside and there are LFI, RFO, RFI, LBO, LBI, RBO, RBI.
So skating is done on edges that form curves that we call lobes. An imaginary line called axis is the line where a lobe starts and ends, and many skating skills are done on alternating lobes to the left and right on that axis.
There is a quality associated with edges as with any other skating element. So there are basic edges that are learned as beginners and deep edges that are a more advanced skill. There are also skills you practice to get there. The difference between them is given by the angle of the blade bite into the ice, the lean of the ankle and boot towards the ice, the lean the body, the speed, the depth of the lobe (curve) created and the quickens you achieve the lobe.
The deep edges create deep lobes quickly. To get deep lobes you need the deep bite into the ice. For that you need speed to create that centripetal force. You also need your body to lean towards the inside of the circle, without breaking at the hip. As I said this is an advanced skill, a beginner doesn't have the kind of control to be able to do that.
The basic edges introduce the notion of lobes. I think the most important think to understand is that the lobes start perpendicular to the axis and then they curve around, finishing perpendicular to the axis. They are quite slow and the lean of the body and blade is small, so the upper body is used a little to help steer into the wanted direction. Working on basic edges helps the beginner find the balance point on the blade and understand the idea of staying over the skating hip. Basic edges also teach upper body and lover body coordination and the concept of being square (shoulders and hips are forming a rectangle on the same plan).
A more advanced edge skill (still beginner level) I can think of are Circle Eights where you hold an edge all around a circle not half circle and edge presses. At this level I fell you learn to stay square to the direction of travel and you work on gaining speed and balance.
I'll cover each of these skills in future posts...
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Monthly skating review: progress and goals adjustment
My goals for last month were:
To take it easy, skate just 3 days a week so my soft tissue hip injury will have a chance to heal. I did this, and I'm felling better, though still not 100%. I couldn't work on power and extension but I did work on posture.
To use the ice show as a learning opportunity. I did control my nerves. I did concentrate on specific goals and I realized that it takes away from the overall performance. Going forward I'll know that I'll have to work on specific things in practice, and to concentrate on being in the moment in performances, tests or competitions. And my technical goal was to put in the scratch spin, and I did.
To balance the skating with other physical activities. I was considering ballet but it didn't work out for my schedule. I did add an once a week yoga session.
Progress? I don't know... I didn't feel that I could work on things, but merely go trough things and I had just 2 lessons.
Freestyle: The scratch spin has definitely improved. As I was learning the scratch spin I was talking a long time to set it so it could center. In performances (the ice show) there is no time for that, but shortening the entrance can either mess up the centering or totally take you out of the spin. On the other hand entering the spin quicker, gives more power, so if centered successfully, it will be a better spin.
I took a lesson mid month and review basics: edges, crossovers, chasses and worked more on the scratch spin and started the back spin. The correction on the scratch spin is to bring in the free foot higher, over the knee and close the hip of the free foot before I bring the leg down.
MITF: Before the injury 2 months ago they felt almost ready to test, the only thing the coach was pushing for, was power. The lesson I took on the last week on the month was concentrating on moves. I feel I actually lost power, but the coach thought that working on posture helped with being more exact and that will give me confidence in adding power soon. I still got corrections...
-back power crossovers hold the arms in the same position as the crossover while doing the inside edge
-3 turns: hold the first edge extension longer, be more aware where the weigh falls during the turn, don't rush
-back edge pulls: turn the free leg from the hip pigeon toe for inside edge, open toe for outside edge
- on back circle eight inside edge hold the arms towards outside of the circle till the middle
-5 steps mohawk: skate it, don't step, on the back edge push around
Ice Dancing: As I felt I couldn't hold the extensions without pain, and the 3 sessions per week I skated were all crowded, I kind of let the dance training go. I did run trough the dances once in a while.
Goals for this month:
Try to skate 4 days a week and get one lesson every week. That will give me at least a day when the ice is not crowded so I can work on dances. As it doesn't feel I'm close to test anything, I would like to balance the training and lessons between moves, dance and free style. So, start working on free style consistently even if it's just spins while I'm not feeling 100% with my hip to work on jumps. Work on what I can, don't push what I can't!
Continue being aware of the posture! This really seems to help.
Go to the ice rink a little early and warm up off ice.
Yoga also seems to help. I would like to add a second class per week but seems hard to fit in my schedule so I hope I can start doing a little at home.
To take it easy, skate just 3 days a week so my soft tissue hip injury will have a chance to heal. I did this, and I'm felling better, though still not 100%. I couldn't work on power and extension but I did work on posture.
To use the ice show as a learning opportunity. I did control my nerves. I did concentrate on specific goals and I realized that it takes away from the overall performance. Going forward I'll know that I'll have to work on specific things in practice, and to concentrate on being in the moment in performances, tests or competitions. And my technical goal was to put in the scratch spin, and I did.
To balance the skating with other physical activities. I was considering ballet but it didn't work out for my schedule. I did add an once a week yoga session.
Progress? I don't know... I didn't feel that I could work on things, but merely go trough things and I had just 2 lessons.
Freestyle: The scratch spin has definitely improved. As I was learning the scratch spin I was talking a long time to set it so it could center. In performances (the ice show) there is no time for that, but shortening the entrance can either mess up the centering or totally take you out of the spin. On the other hand entering the spin quicker, gives more power, so if centered successfully, it will be a better spin.
I took a lesson mid month and review basics: edges, crossovers, chasses and worked more on the scratch spin and started the back spin. The correction on the scratch spin is to bring in the free foot higher, over the knee and close the hip of the free foot before I bring the leg down.
MITF: Before the injury 2 months ago they felt almost ready to test, the only thing the coach was pushing for, was power. The lesson I took on the last week on the month was concentrating on moves. I feel I actually lost power, but the coach thought that working on posture helped with being more exact and that will give me confidence in adding power soon. I still got corrections...
-back power crossovers hold the arms in the same position as the crossover while doing the inside edge
-3 turns: hold the first edge extension longer, be more aware where the weigh falls during the turn, don't rush
-back edge pulls: turn the free leg from the hip pigeon toe for inside edge, open toe for outside edge
- on back circle eight inside edge hold the arms towards outside of the circle till the middle
-5 steps mohawk: skate it, don't step, on the back edge push around
Ice Dancing: As I felt I couldn't hold the extensions without pain, and the 3 sessions per week I skated were all crowded, I kind of let the dance training go. I did run trough the dances once in a while.
Goals for this month:
Try to skate 4 days a week and get one lesson every week. That will give me at least a day when the ice is not crowded so I can work on dances. As it doesn't feel I'm close to test anything, I would like to balance the training and lessons between moves, dance and free style. So, start working on free style consistently even if it's just spins while I'm not feeling 100% with my hip to work on jumps. Work on what I can, don't push what I can't!
Continue being aware of the posture! This really seems to help.
Go to the ice rink a little early and warm up off ice.
Yoga also seems to help. I would like to add a second class per week but seems hard to fit in my schedule so I hope I can start doing a little at home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
I plan to use the section "skating technique" as a journal. I'll start with what I know, but I will keep updating as I learn ...
-
I went on and on about edges because along with stroking they are the foundation of everything in skating, freestyle, MITF and even more in ...
-
Review of last month: basically NO SKATING. At the very end of the month I've bought new boots that I'm breaking in now... Progres...
