Up until the point of working with four blue circles. I was working on target jumping with two circles. The lateral jumping I had written about in a previous post. When the exercise called for me to jump from one foot onto my other foot. Making certain to land, in the center of a blue ring. Then, I would push off that foot, propelling my body in a lateral direction, to land on the other foot, inside the second blue circle. The movement was like that of an ice skater propelling themselves down the ice. Moving from one leg to the other, attempting to gather speed. The only difference in my exercise was the lateral explosions, instead of pushing myself forward. I am no ice skater, but the movement worked well on the balance necessary to improve my skiing. In the second part of this movement progression, another two blue rings would be added to the exercise. The addition of the two blue circles would change the configuration of the pattern. Instead of having just two rings, side by side, for the lateral jumping. The four rings were set up into a kind of circle, or square shape. I will say when the rings were set on the floor, in this pattern, it didn’t look like anything easy. At that point, I didn’t know what I was going to be asked to execute.
Looking at the four blue circles set in a square like format, was slightly intimidating. In looking down at the configuration I started imagining the concept. However, I couldn’t come up with any kind of idea. My conclusion was to just wait for instructions instead of wasting my energy trying to figure it out. When the movement was explained to me, I felt a little shock. It sounded like a complicated ask, feeling beyond my capabilities. The trainer wanted me to perform a two-footed jump into and out of each circle. Meaning my bunny hopes were going to take me in a more circular design, created by the blue rings. We would work in one direction, going around the design four times. Then, reverse and complete the four target jumps that make up the circle, four more times. There was little doubt in my mind about how challenging this exercise was going to be. I had experience with jumping on both feet. When thinking about doing bunny hops down the turf floor. I had even jumped, using both feet, as far as I could jump, moving down the floor. Add in the experience with jumping over the small hurtles, which sat a few inches above the floor. There was a lot of experience to be called upon, but it all included jumping forward. The design being placed on the turf was going to call for jumping forward and to the side. Along with jumping in a direction moving backward and to the side.
The object of working this movement pattern would be learned later. Because the objective didn’t really register when looking at the four blue circles, designed in the circle/square configuration. Like the way I would ski in the winter. My feet were to move together, like they would if buckled into skis. I would be asked to jump from ring to ring with my feet close to one another. Trying to simulate a jump-turn on the ski slopes. The idea was to help my balance when moving in different directions. Not one of the jumps was easy for me to execute. Though, jumping forward and to the side proved the easiest. Mainly because it felt like the most natural moving portion of the exercise. If I were to make a hopping turn on a set of skis, that would be the direction. Hopping forward and to one diagonal side, to plant my skis moving across the slope. Even this jump into a ring, challenged my ability to catch my balance when trying to land. The core strength required to make the two-footed jump in that diagonal direction was challenging enough. Calling on me to recruit much of my core strength to pull it off. The credit must go to the trainer for finding a way of working those muscles. They felt shocked in being called upon to move my body in that direction. Proving how infrequently I make use of the muscles he was having me call to action.
With how challenging the jump was moving me forward and to the side. The pattern of jumping backwards and to the side, was even more difficult. The movement of jumping back and to the side felt unnatural. However, I understood the importance in jumping in the opposite direction. Working the entire body for stability, instead of just those muscles moving me forward. Convincing my body to make a two-footed jump backward was an incredible obstacle. Something I would have never thought to work on with myself. I remember having intense focus on moving my core toward the target. The blue ring sitting behind me and to the right, or behind me and to the left was where my feet needed to land. Each jump behind myself felt like it turned into a balancing act. With my first thought being to get my feet off the floor. I wasn’t used to trying at exploding off the floor, moving in a direction of reverse. While in the air, my concentration was on keeping my core engaged. Knowing the landing of the jump would be the most unstable aspect. Whether it was moving of the forward jump, or jumping at the angle behind, there was instability when landing inside the circle. Taking much concentration to center my body upon the landings. The most positive part of this drill, jumping in circles, was my ability to remain on my feet. Some of my landings caused a slight stumble to maintain balance and many of them found my body wavering when I landed. With each jump, I hit somewhere in the middle of each blue circle. I was happy with the accomplishment.
Working with the four blue rings felt applicable to helping my skiing ability. Foremost because the jumping of the exercise was done with my feet together. Attempting to replicate the ideal positioning of my skis. Though, my skis are rarely as close together as would be ideal. I find it difficult to maintain the balance for my skis to ride in that ideal skiing position. Still, this movement challenge felt most closely geared toward improving the balance required in bringing my skis into a better position. The practice of jumping into and out of the four rings simulated a jump turn, to a certain extent. Practicing the movement of my body, towards a targeted location, once my feet had become airborne. I had to move the feet together in a diagonal direction and land securely inside the blue rings. As my ski level progresses, the ability to execute a jumping turn, could become useful. When the ski slopes become steeper, the ability to make a smooth turn disappears. The time to perform a that kind of turn isn’t available because of the slopes pitch. The turns require a quicker motion, almost like a hop, to maintain balance, as the skis stay together. This drill of jumping into the blue rings in a circular/square formation seemed to simulate those hopping turns. Helping me strengthen the core muscles and work on the physical movement needed for a more advanced ski turn.
The exercises with the most direct application to one of my hobbies, feel the most fun. Even if it’s only my perception of them relating to one of my sports. Jumping with the blue rings felt very relatable to skiing in the winter. Not only using the four rings, but also starting with the two-ring lateral jump. The four-ring configuration felt decidedly more challenging. As keeping both my feet together and jumping in awkward direction made maintaining balance a hefty chore. I enjoyed how the target jumping, especially during the two-footed jump, pushed my balance to the brink. My body felt like it wobbled with uncertainty each time I landed one of the diagonal jumps. Even though the concept of jumping backward was super uncomfortable and didn’t make much sense. I’m quite sure it will be the movement to help my ski balance the most. As a movement we hardly ever make seems to target muscles we rarely use. Helping take pressure off the muscles we constantly use. Writing these two blogs about target jumping leaves me missing the ski slopes. I caught myself counting the months until I might be able to ski, again. Driving around with windows rolled down in the months of July, I realize snow is a long way off. The time feels well spent with the creativity of a trainer. Finding enjoyable exercises to help improve the connection of my mind to my muscles. To help improve, not only my skiing, but my movements in everyday life.
A Journey With Cerebral Palsy 