Lost in Translation

Ever have one of those coaching moments where something just gets lost in the translation between coach and athlete?

Flashback Force Friday!

"If you must blink, then do it now..."

I arranged for a team-bonding day with some of my gymnasts, for the movie Kubo and the Two Strings.


If you must blink, do it now!  (Or hit the replay button and re-read the post....)



Decent turnout (from the pool of gymnasts I have; turnout for the movie from the general populace apparently isn't as good as it deserves).  We killed some time with some origami and am thankful no security came over to scold us for throwing this over the balcony.

The movie has a decent story and message; but is probably too intense, serious, and heavy of a storyline for young kids to follow; and not get scared.   The parents seemed to all enjoy it.

I grew up liking traditional Japanese ghost stories; and this movie evoked a certain sense of that.

I do feel that this movie is a good promotional for generating interest in origami (even though much of it has to do with magic than strict paperfolding).

After the scene with the birds, I now kind of want to fold Jared Needle's bird, whereas I didn't have a great deal of interest before.

Focus Features Los Angeles Premiere of LAIKA "Kubo and The Two Strings"

Art Parkinson seen at Focus Features Los Angeles Premiere of LAIKA "Kubo and The Two Strings" on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Universal City, Calif. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Focus Features/AP Images)

 I wonder if any artists out there have the inclination to fold some of the characters from the movie, after seeing it?

The movie was made in stop-motion.  Not CGI.  This movie deserves respect.

Solemn Memorial Day

"Wednesday night, sitting in a pizza joint in the Bronx, watching the world go by, I was upset and couldn’t put my finger on why.

A friend said “Hey! Do you want to go to Fleet Week? It’s this weekend here in the city.”
What? No? Absolutely not. I don’t want to be in the midst of tens of thousands of people clamoring for a chance to look at a static display of Marine Corps and Navy equipment. I don’t want to see Marines and sailors dressed up, paraded around for community relations and recruiting purposes. I don’t want to watch any parades.

As I said it (barked it, really), my friend’s eyes widened and I recognized the frustration in my tone. I didn’t know why I was upset, at first. I paused, and while I was sitting there contemplating my outburst, I heard a commercial on the radio screaming through the tinny speakers.
“Beaches, beats and BBQs!” it said. “We’re your Memorial Day station with everything you need to kick off the summer in style!”

That’s when it hit me. I’m angry. I’ve come to realize people think Memorial Day is the official start of summer. It’s grilled meat, super-duper discounts, a day (or two) off work, beer, potato salad and porches draped in bunting.

~~~

A friend reminded me that plenty of people use the weekend the way it was designed: to pause and remember the men and women who paid the price of our freedom, and then go on about enjoying those freedoms.

But I argue not enough people use it that way. Not enough people pause. Not enough people remember.

I’m frustrated by people all over the country who view the day as anything but a day to remember our WAR DEAD. I hate hearing “Happy Memorial Day.”

It’s not Veterans Day. It’s not military appreciation day. Don’t thank me for my service. Please don’t thank me for my service. It’s take the time to pay homage to the men and women who died while wearing the cloth of this nation you’re so freely enjoying today, day."

-Marine veteran, Jennie Haskamp, May 22, 2015

Wade TV

Today is Tuesday...

Source

Remembering David, Ron, Daniel....

 

Video description:

Uploaded on Sep 5, 2008 These tiles were put up on the fence across the street from St. Vincent's, the hospital in the Village where they waited to take care of the survivors who never came. In case you can't read it, the name on the tile I walked up to at the end is David Reed Gamboa Brandhorst, who was only three years old. His fathers Daniel R. Brandhorst and Ronald Gamboa died with him. I didn't know any of them. I just walked up at a certain point and pointed at the first tile that caught my eye. RIP.

Flashback Friday: Heather Dorniden

It's hard to find a good quality video of this inspirational athlete:

When you fall down?  Get back up.

Find a way or find excuses

This photo has been trending on my FB newsfeed. It was taken last month by Joyce Gilos Torrefranca, a medical student in Cebu:

It shows 9-year-old Daniel Cabrera kneeling on the pavement with the famous golden arches in the background. He's using a makeshift wooden bench as he writes in his workbook. "For me as a student, it just hit me a lot, like big time," Joyce Torrefranca told the Philippine news network ABS-CBN. "This kid, he doesn't have anything but he has dedication to study." Joyce said seeing Daniel struggling with his homework inspired her to work harder. The photo was quickly shared thousands of times with other people saying they'd been inspired by him too.

An inspirational reminder of the blessings in our own lives, the struggles of those less fortunate, and the adage that if it's important enough to you, you will find a way; if it's not, you will find excuses.

Gymnastics is an expensive, "elitist" sport; and many kids don't have the opportunity to discover their potential in the environment of training in a well-managed, well-equipped, well-coached facility. As a gymnastics coach, I try and remind my athletes to never take their opportunities in life for granted. I have one athlete on the team whose parents struggle to afford her monthly tuition. The mom does not speak fluent English. Does not have a computer or email. She once pulled her daughter out of gym. At the end of the month and at the end of practice, without fanfare or warning, her kid comes up to me and matter-of-factly states, "This is my last day. Bye." I guess the mom was too embarrassed to let us know her husband lost his job and they were struggling. She was doing extra work just for her daughter because she knew how much her daughter loves gymnastics Fortunately we were able to talk her into keeping her daughter- my gymnast- enrolled in our program. I'm grateful to the gym I work for in that the owner and office management were willing to work with the mom and negotiate something that she could afford.


 At the annual Vidmar Invitational out in Los Angeles, '84 Olympian Peter Vidmar reminds the competitors of this life lesson, telling the gymnasts that the next time their parents drop them off at the gym, to take pause and thank their parents and show deep appreciation. Because their parents don't have to do any of this: Driving them to practice, financing it, watching meets, etc. The 3 golden rules for the staff at my gym: Do your best... Always do the right thing... And everyday, do something selfless that benefits others.

Happy Old, Happier New!

Polish the Floor and You Polish Your Soul

From the Bleacher Report:

A number of Japan fans flew all the way to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and they reportedly made sure to not make a mess while at the games.

Even after losing 2-1 to the Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 14, a number of Japan fans were reportedly seen picking up trash. The pictures show the fans being quite thorough, making sure there was no trash in sight.

That's quite a classy move coming from fans of a losing team.

[Twitter, h/t BuzzFeed]

I recall talking to my gymnasts about this a couple of years ago. (How they behave at meets and how it reflects upon us; how when we host meets, is it any fun to clean up after other people's mess?).

One of the things I was most proud of with BGS was when I filled in to help at an off-site event and Laura, the program director, ordered us staffers to clean up trash in the area as we were leaving; that it was our responsibility to make the place look cleaner than how we found it when we arrived.

I thought that was a good reflection upon the reputation of the gym.

And I'm really not at all surprised at the Japanese. 


Previously related post:
Cleaning Your Character

Happy Mother's Day

"𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣." 

- 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲

I grew up listening to The Carpenters. One song that had always stood out in simplicity and efficacy is one by Henry Mancini called "Sometimes". The lyrics were written as a simple poem by his daughter wanting to express her love and gratitude for her parents. Mancini set it to music. Karen Carpenter brought it to life with her voice.

To all the mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day. This song always makes me reflect upon my relationship with people; upon how much everyone who has ever crossed my path has meant to me, in one form or another. I feel gratitude and love, even for your simple "Hello"'s.

And I reflect upon my own mother today who has given me everything she could possibly give. I hope I have given her as much happiness in return, and then some.

Thank you, Mom.

Homeward Bound

May 31, 2010, LA Veterans Cemetary

I try not to stray too far off-topic from the purpose of this blog, which is to report all things gymnastics-related.  But so much in life is interconnected; and we all bring lessons and experiences from the really real world and apply them to who we are and how we relate it to the gymnastics world...and vice versa.


A 2009 video tribute I did:




The images I used in this one is focused on recent and current conflicts.  No matter your politics or how you may feel about these armed conflicts/war(s) and issues of foreign policy, the fact remains that throughout our nation's history, brave men and women along with their families have served and sacrificed on behalf of our country.

This weekend is meant to pay respects to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Please respect and honor them.