Entries Tagged 'Sport' ↓

Big congrats to “Dancing Craze” inventor, Stacy Cho, the winner of HopeLab’s Ruckus Nation competition and recipient of $50,000 in prize money!

What is Dancing Craze? It’s not really like anything else on the market today, in fact, its more an expansion of real dancing and the sharing of that experience. Dancing Craze users will wear motion sensors which will replicate the user’s moves on screen, and then allow the dancer to share those moves with others all over the world. You can even try your hand at matching other’s moves that have already been submitted, or submit group dances.

Hopefully we see a strong community build up around this product and really do see more kids getting up and moving to use it!

Hopelab will now begin prototype development of Dancing Craze, and the second prize winner, iBlob. So its anyone’s guess how long these products will take to get to market. Hopefully not long.

At the invaluable traineo forums I came across a fantastic post by a friendly fella by the name of Matt. He’s come up with the kind of workout I think is key to maintaining motivation, and helping you have fun while you workout.

The best thing about this routine is that you’re competing against yourself. When you fail, you work hard… Which motivates you to concentrate on your basketball shots and creates a bit of tension with yourself. Its also highly versatile and can be tweaked & altered to your hearts content. Over to Matt’s unaltered post from traineo!

“Hello all,

I, like many others, get very bored with regular workout routines. I came up with a fun cardio routine and I thought I’d share it with everyone. The nice thing about this routine is it can be done at my University’s free field house. (or any old basketball court! -J)

1. Jog 2 warmup laps.
2. Shoot hoops, mostly freethrows
3. The first time I miss 3 in a row, I do sprints down the court 4 times
4. The second time I miss 3 in a row, I run a lap
5. The third time I miss 3 in a row I do sprints again
6. The fourth time is another lap
7. The fifth time is a brisk walking lap (lower hr)
8. Repeat

Obviously if you are an ace at basketball, then this is not a good cardio session, but when you are pretty awful (like me), its a fun way to get your heart rate up and improve your free throw %! ”

Thanks Matt! Nice, simple and easy to remember. Here’s a variation on Matt’s routine.

1. Jog 2 warmup laps.
2. Do layups, from side to side, never letting the basketball touch the ground (you can jump every time you put the ball up for an extra workout)
3. The first time you miss 2 in a row, do as many push ups as you can
4. The second time you miss 2 in a row, run 3 laps
5. The third time you miss 2 in a row jump as high as you can, and bring your knees to your chest as you do so, 10 reps should do it
6. The fourth time is another 2 laps
7. The fifth time is 20 jump shots from the 3 point line. Jump high!
8. Repeat

Got any suggestions yourself? Let us know via comments below! Thanks again Matt!

I’m reading Darren Curl’s, “Get there on your bike” blog today. He talks about his kid’s first day at school and how exercise programs aren’t what they used to be when he was a little tacker. Its good to hear a parent blogging in a positive open minded manner about American school’s Dance Dance Revolution programs, instead of blindly assuming we need to return to the past. I rant a bit about that here.

Talking about American DDR programs… When is Australia getting some DDR love in schools? I think we need it, and soon.

Check out Ripcurl’s blog.

I know I called Madden 2007 for the Wii “mediocre”, I know its rude. It’s also not 100% accurate. Madden 2007 like its predecessors is a very deep game that football fans the world over will love, but that doesn’t save it from a beat down in the “Wii Workout Week” article series. I like Madden 2007 on the Wii, my friends like Madden, rumor has it Santa Claus likes Madden, but there just isn’t much in the way of exercise I can extract from it. Remember, the point of this article series is to run some popular games through their paces to determine if we can fit a workout in around the game. Madden 2007 flops in this department.

Fitness:

Madden 2007 has some great control schemes that get you flinging your limbs around when you need to, unfortunately, you just don’t have the opportunity often enough or with enough force. Here’s a quick incomplete rundown of the common Wiimote movements you can perform:

• Push both controllers forward to do a power tackle
• Waggle the nunchuk to the left or right to juke
• Move the Wiimote left or right to stiff arm an opponent
• Pump both controllers up and down to break out of a tackle
• Swing both controllers up to catch
• Swing the Wiimote down to swat

The controls are a great addition to the game, but aren’t used with enough frequency to get your heart rate up at all. As anyone would know from being at a football game, a lot of the game is tactics and strategy, broken up by short aggressive plays. This is the main reason I’m rating Madden 2007 as a 1 tick, because I can’t work anything interesting in amongst the game play, and the already mentioned control scheme doesn’t get me working hard.

You can still do a few things like I suggested in “Get Soccer Slim with Mario Strikers” such as bouncing, and some isometric squats. However, due to the fact that the down time in this game is when you need to be thinking about what plays to implement, you can’t weave a workout into your game like yesterday’s game.

Fun:

I think I’ve said enough about how good this game is. If you like football, you’ll love Madden 2007 on the Wii. The control inputs add something extra the previous games haven’t seen, and make the experience just a bit more gratifying.

Multiplayer is great fun for Madden too, it seems the Wii is the master of the group experience- I think its something about needing to actually move around a bit to make things happen, it just excites people.

Motivation:

The full season mode will get you immersed in Madden 2007 for a long, long time. The career mode has an ocean of options for the beginner right through to people that have been playing Madden since its first appearance (I’ve no idea when that was… yearrrrs ago though). However, given this isn’t a game I’d recommend you’d play for fitness, the motivation rating here suffers as a result. 5 ticks if you just want to play football, 2 if you’re deluded enough to consider it part of your exercise routine.

While I don’t recommend you purchase Madden 2007 for your workouts, Madden 07 is almost a year old now, so you can pick it up pretty cheap at Amazon.

Look out for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, tomorrow.

city to bay fun run - Adelaide, originally uploaded by knumbnutz.

My favorite hang out- Jetty Rd, Glenelg in South Australia and a horde of fun runners. It must be fun after all!

Maybe next year I’ll join in and make up a bunch of t-shirts that I can wear with friends. On the back they’ll say something like, “Anyone who passes me isn’t having fun.” Or something equally silly.

Any suggestions on funny fun run t-shirts?

…if a fun runner can’t run for fun? I’m not really sure, but according to my brother who just completed the Adelaide City to Bay fun run, “Not much!”.

The recent activities in Adelaide for the bay fun run made me ask, “Why is it called a fun run?” As you might know, I’m not the biggest fan of running for fun and fitness, so I have trouble understanding what makes fun runs fun. I was talking to my brother after the event, and he tells me plenty of extremely fit people run these events, but at a snail’s pace. Sounds to me like they’re in it for the socializing, the comradeship, and to participate in the thrill of a large event. I guess that’s starting to sound a bit more like fun.

Rumor has it people even dress up for fun runs. We managed to spot a guy in a gold skin tight, full length outfit wielding a massive toilet brush… I think…! I bet it was a good workout carrying that brush, and a good talking point for other social joggers!

If you’re into jogging, or feel the need to join your local fun run the next time it erm… runs, you should get started on a fitness regimen as soon as possible. Most events will include a sample exercise plan for competitors-to-be, such as this one from the Adelaide City to Bay. Its always a good idea to follow these plans to negate the risk of injury, and as always check with your doc before starting.

Check here for a list of fun runs around the world.

Fun Factor:

Fitness Factor:

Motivation Factor: [whats all this then?]

Enjoy!

Are you passionate about anything which involves you breaking a sweat? Have you got a sport you’ve been into for years and couldn’t imagine giving it up? If not, don’t worry, just realize that finding a sport you’re passionate about can be the key on your way to having fun and losing weight. Problem is; some of you might not be entirely motivated thinking about playing a game of soccer, or throwing a ball through a hoop.

I’m here to tell you there’s a different kind of sport which will not only supply fun in abundance while you’re doing it, but also motivate you in your exercise programs when you’re not doing it. You’ve seen it all over t.v. and likely seen videos on YouTube of people injuring themselves nastily while doing it. Extreme sports can be a great way to get back into exercise, and you don’t have to be featured on YouTube’s nastiest hits to get a lot out of it, and you don’t have to be a fitness god to get started.

Here’s a quick list of extreme sports you can safely get into, break a good sweat, but still get a kick out of:

1. Rock climbing- Visit your local indoor climbing gym to get down the basics and get the feel for climbing sheer rock faces. The level of challenge here is extremely variable, and accommodates you, your kids and probably your 60 year old mum & dad should they not have any major injuries. If you like rock climbing, you can buy some fairly cheap gear on the internet, or through the climbing gym you attend. Depending on your inclinations, you can stay inside on the wall and find insurmountable challenges that take you years to accomplish, or take it into the ‘real world’ with bouldering (a challenging mini rock climbing exercise without need for ropes), or get onto some massive rock faces in some beautiful places around the world. Ever thought of taking a holiday to Colorado to climb a 500m high rock face in the summer? That’d make good water cooler talk for when you get back to work, don’t you think? Get motivation: here.
2. Downhill biking/Mountain biking- Fungredients to start with: You, one mountain bike, one dirt track… add friends for extra fun factor. Mountain biking is one of those sports where you really do set your own challenge factor. Start on a local reserve’s dirt tracks, build up your balance, fitness and dexterity on the bike, and go from there. You’ll get some great scenery, a great work out, and the ability to work towards the crazy and dangerous end goal of conquering a brutal downhill run where small mistakes will probably cost you numerous broken bones. You don’t have to go anywhere near that level of course, but some of us like a little danger to make us feel alive outside the cubicle at work. Try downhill911 for trail locations, or your local bike shop. Get motivation: here.
3. Parkour- The new craze sweeping the world, also known as “free running”, is one you want to have a go at with a good group of friends, in your favorite urban or outdoors location. Parkour is described by its creator David Belle as, “Getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency situation. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, that will help you gain the most ground on someone/something as if escaping from it, or chasing toward it.” Start small and develop the core disciplines of balance, and proper landing techniques so that you don’t hurt yourself on landing. A few quick idea’s to get you started are:
   1. Vault over low objects, such as park benches
   2. Walk over difficult to balance surfaces (again keep it low so you can jump off safely)
   3. Swing from sturdy low branches
   4. Swing around sturdy light poles and other steel beams in an elegant fashion.

   Combine all of this into a basic jogging regimen and you have the beginnings of a parkour routine. Check out any number of parkour groups on the internet and see if you can locate anyone willing to teach you nearby. Get motivation: here.

4. Surfing- Truly one of the most enjoyable sports you can ever engage in. Challenge yourself, have fun and get that surfer’s body look at the same time… while it might take you numerous trips to be able to stand up on a surfboard and ride a proper wave, the euphoria that accompanies this feeling is famous with the sport of surfing. Check out the classic (if not now totally cliche) Point Break, starring Keanu Reeves if you want to get a taste of the sport. But better yet, go out and hire a long board, a wet suit, and get out there yourself. You won’t regret it, I promise! Get motivation: here.
5. Skiing and snowboarding are another pair of sports which can give you a great buzz and a workout at the same time. Get out for a day skiing and develop some great leg muscles and have fun at the same time. I need not mention the beauty of the snowfields around the world, and that working out with a mission to get yourself in snow shape for your next holiday is about the best motivation you can get. Granted, this one is a bit pricey for those on a budget to get into, but if you’re lucky enough to live nearby an indoor ski slope, thank your lucky stars and get out and try it. Get motivation: here.
6. Lastly on today’s list is paint balling. Paint balling for exercise you say? Indeed I tell you! Another great sport to invite a big group of mates along to, paint ball is one of those sports where you get a fantastic all over workout from short sprints, squats into cover, kneeling to aim, and not to mention the rush of nailing a friend with a well placed shot. Those of you with a competitive streak will especially appreciate the workouts paint ball can deliver. Legs, arms, and most of your upper body will cop a hammering over the course of a few hours of the game. Get motivation: here (language warning!).

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times now, if you find a sport, or extreme sport that you’re passionate about, there is nothing better than using your passion to fuel your workouts. You can even checkout popular magazines for these sports and find a great deal of motivation from ogling pictures of the top performers in these sports.

Have fun!