Jian Zi

[Chinaspur]

Has anyone tried playing this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jianzi

It's like a cross between badminton and hacky sack. It's played all over China, you can go to pretty much any park and find a game. Young and old play together and there are some pretty awesome skills on display.

A group meets in the supermarket car park opposite where I live every evening and I've started going regularly. We play standing in a circle like this (the skills on show in this video are pretty average):



but I've seen it played in our city's main park like this:



The flexibility of some of the players is incredible. Some of the Chinese players in that video are smashing that down with the soles of their feet!

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I've tried playing it. I'm awful! For some reason it is far easier for me to do kick up's with a ball than to do this, maybe it is the gravity or the shape of my foot but it's definitely easier kicking a ball for me. My wife can do it and she isn't the most coordinated so I'll have to practice because I don't want to be shamed again at Chinese New Year next year.

 

[Chinaspur]

I can't do kicks very well with it, too much awkward side footing, but can hold my own in a circle. I'm always amazed at how a vague wave of the foot can connect pretty well with it. Keep practising, it's worth it for the moment when you pull off a difficult trick shot and everyone mutters '好球‘ (hao qiu)

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I can't do kicks very well with it, too much awkward side footing, but can hold my own in a circle. I'm always amazed at how a vague wave of the foot can connect pretty well with it. Keep practising, it's worth it for the moment when you pull off a difficult trick shot and everyone mutters '好球‘ (hao qiu)

Sounds good at your end. I'm more likely to be on the end of banter than any praise.

 

[Chinaspur]

Just need to swallow your pride and be the clumsy laowai for a few times. If you can play football you can definitely hold your own against some of the grannies in the parks!

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I'm always the clumsy laowai. I couldn't see your videos but I imagine they are pretty impressive. My vpn isn't working though today for some reason.

 

[Chinaspur]

'They' are cracking down on vpns heavily atm. I've just switched to a Chinese based company called Julyrush, much better than 'watchuktv' who i was with previously.

 

[Chinaspur]

Have asked for some jianzi shoes for my birthday: http://shop71415362.taobao.com/

 

[Armstrong_11]

use to play that when i was like............ 7? haha! we call it Chapteh there...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_and_traditional_sports_of_Singapore#Capteh

 

[Chinaspur]

Yeah it seems to have loads of variants in Asia - apparently it is the national sport of Vietnam!