Budd Root
Budd Root
A Peaceful Revolt
Throughout the course of history many revolutions explode from civil unrest. Impoverished citizens of corrupt nations protested diplomatically through either strike or elected representatives, who spoke for the people. Eventually the haughty hierarchy would plug their ears and ignore the cries of the poor plebeians. Silence never solved issues such as hunger, shelter and bankruptcy so the meager masses chanted louder and louder with each passing day. Their woes and miseries still fell on the deaf diamond encrusted ears of royalty. Changes were not made and the civilians grew hungry. Hunger lead to starvation, starvation lead to insanity and insanity lead to violence. Once the poor snapped from depravation of food, they turned on their negligent government and stormed the castle. Much violence occurred and often the leaders of the crumbling nation were executed for their inability to satisfy the population. Shortly after the bloody coup, new leaders were elected by the masses who promised to bring a never-ending wave of prosperity and good fortune to the once tumultuous land. The aforementioned type of revolution would normally take place in Europe during a chaotic era of time and although most rebellions start in havoc and end in mayhem, many transformations erupt out of silence.
The 1950s was quite the static decade in America. Cherry-red dress wearing women baked apple pies and married nine-to-five gray suited bankers. The couples produced offspring with names such as Timmy and Mandy. Mom, Pop, Timmy and Mandy lived in a suburban house with two front windows, a white picket fence, a dog named Rover and a tire swing in the front yard. On a typical day Pop would go to work, Mom would maintain the house and Timmy and Mandy would go to school to study reading, writing and arithmetic. The typical post-nuclear family of Mom, Pop, Timmy and Mandy were usually religious, orderly and financially sound, definitely not the types who would instigate riots. But something caused a revolution to occur at the end of the 1950s: a revolution that sparked out of calm, stability and normality, not homelessness, hunger and poverty. This particular revolution started because of the boredom and the conformity of the 1950s. Once 1967 arrived, the revolution peaked, Mandy let her hair down, burned her bra and sewed her own hemp necklaces while Timmy squeezed into his bell bottomed jeans, hopped in his Volkswagen bus, picked up his buddies and headed out to the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, California. It was there, in that district, during the Summer of Love, that the social norms of Americana were shattered and grass smoking, tie-dye wearing hippies flipped American culture of the 1950s onto its head. The Haight-Ashbury district acted as a catalyst for a new wave of thought in popular culture and America's youth single-handedly took responsibility for its psychedelic creation. Through music, drugs and new radical thought, the hippies in the Haight-Ashbury district during the Summer of Love managed to change the culture of America.
The Haight district seemed to be the perfect place for music to spawn a scene. In fact, most of the bands that defined the generation of hippies and beatniks rose in popularity during the Summer of Love. In the summer of 1966, the Grateful Dead, a popular psychedelic jam band, moved into the Haight-Ashbury district . The Haight area provided cheap dwelling areas for students in the San Francisco area and struggling North Beach beatnik artists . Shortly after the Grateful Dead began playing for youthful, hip audiences, bands such as Jefferson Airplane and the Charlatans settled in the Haight district. The impact that the three bands had on the style, culture and attitude of the youth in the district was astronomical. Due to the cheap housing, hippies, artists, beatniks and adventure seekers from all walks of life could easily travel to the Haight-Ashbury district to witness such great performances. Spencer Dryden, drummer for Jefferson Airplane recalls that, "…the Haight was heaven for anybody with long hair" . Hippies and misfits were not only accepted, but welcomed by the free flowing jams that coursed through the Californian air. The members of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane infected the audience with their colorful tie-dyed and psychedelic rainbow fashion. Because of these bands, the flower children of the Summer of Love had a non-conformist uniform that boasted of frills, leather, jeans, vest, and flowing dresses all in multiple colors. The fans not only replicated the style of their musical idols but their ideals as well. Writer Barney Hoskyns states that the culture in the Haight became "zany" and "anarchic" after the sound waves produced by the aforementioned bands hammered the malleable eardrums of the hippies who were already imitating the clothing trends of their onstage heroes . Once the music booming from the Haight caught the ears of listeners around the country, other bands embarked to the west coast to lend their sounds to the groovy times. Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Country Joe and the Fish, Frank Zappa and the Beatles all journeyed to the district to stoke the fires of the mind bending musical inferno . Soon, the sights, sounds and style of the Haight captivated the youth of the entire nation and the local musical artists perpetuated all of the characteristics mentioned above. Musical artists in the Haight-Ashbury district directly affected the culture and the ideals of the 1960s but the new, radical ways of thinking solidified the generation's views for eternity.
The groundbreaking thoughts and ideals birthed in the revolution of Summer of Love destructively shattered the straight and square attitude of the 1950s. Conformity, respect, family values were shoved into the back of most of the minds of America's youth while free love, creativity, mischief, sex, peace and antiauthority roamed throughout the rest of their brains with priority. Most of this opposition to authority stemmed from the conflict in Vietnam but some viewed the war as necessary because it "brought us (the hippies) together" . Most liberals flocked to the area because it welcomed all those who opposed the war so naturally they shared the same ideals which were contrary to the mainstream. Since most of America was still stuck in a very conservatory nature, the dwellers in the Haight opposed consumerism and typical sexual traditions and "experimented in chaos" . This form of rebellion consisted of sex with multiple partners and communes that were often less than sanitary where many hippies would share food and supplies and most importantly ideas. Some of the ideas and rituals created in the Haight district were not always positive and full of peace. For example, the infamous cult leader and mass murderer, Charles Manson, traveled to the Haight district during the summer of '67 where he apparently preached his views of peace and love . Years later, Manson and his cult followers brutally slaughtered Sharon Tate, an actress, and many of her friends. Along with the ideas of peace came many of mischief and destruction for those who wished to abuse the newfound freedoms that the Haight offered. One policeman who patrolled the area recalled a time when he was harassed by several hippies who offered him necklaces and bread then proceeded to call him a pig while forcefully heckling him away from his designated patrol area . This behavior was not uncommon for those who took positive aspects of the Haight and filled them with their own agenda, whether it was their hatred for police or just distaste for authority in general. Radical ideas sprouted from the planted roots of the Haight music but the main binding element of the Summer of Love was drugs, which lead to both the zenith and the nadir of the psychedelic experience.
The Summer of Love in the Haight district managed to flourish with the extreme amounts of drug use. Marijuana and LSD rose as the main mind bending substances of choice for the hippies due to their easy availability and their brain altering qualities. Also, both drugs were new on the scene, especially LSD. Writers such as Ken Keasey and Allen Ginsberg promoted the use of these drugs, claiming that it would expand the minds of the youth . The status and influence that these authors had on the flower children surely inspired many of the traveling youth to experiment with these illicit substances. Editor for the San Francisco Oracle, Albert Cohen, explained the allure of hallucinogenics when he theorized that, "LSD was the catalyst for experiencing a deeper sense of our humanity than most of us had been taught or expected to exist" . The type of transcendental experience that hippies would experience on LSD seemed correspond almost directly with the ideals of the Summer of Love, which were peace, love and cheer. Naturally since drugs put such a strain on the brain and body, many hippies grew strung out and tired. The hippie turned into a lifeless drone once heroin was introduced to the scene at the end of the Summer of Love. Many free drug rehabilitation clinics opened in the Haight district to treat the newly classified "junkie" . The free love and positive vibes came to a screeching halt once heroin and other forms of hard drugs ruined the happiness that the music and thinking created. Officially the end of the Summer of Love occurred when popular folk singer Janis Joplin died towards the end of 1967 . The revolutionary music, new ideas and mind-expanding drugs that created the magic of the Haight-Ashbury district soon fizzled but thankfully a significant impact was made on America.
The conformity and the strictness of the 1950s was shattered by the wild and rambunctious times found in the Summer of Love. Now, the Haight-Ashbury district is accepting of all types of people and still boasts about its status as a place of former revolution even though the insanity has since faded. Many different things rose from the Summer of Love. The term "hippie" is now widely used, tie-dye is a new fashion, bands such as the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane are defined as classic rock, the use of drugs can be justified positively and many new arrays of thought helped build a new type of American culture.
Barney Hoskyns, "Happy 30th birthday to the coolest place on the planet; In 1967, Haight-Ashbury as the definitive hippietopia. Thirty years later, the spirit lives on, says Barney Hoskyns", The Independent 1 (1997)
Hoskyns, "Happy 30th birthday to the coolest place on the planet; In 1967, Haight-Ashbury as the definitive hippietopia. Thirty years later, the spirit lives on, says Barney Hoskyns", 1
Hoskyns,"Happy 30th birthday to the coolest place on the planet; In 1967, Haight-Ashbury as the definitive hippietopia. Thirty years later, the spirit lives on, says Barney Hoskyns", 2
Hoskyns, "Happy 30th birthday to the coolest place on the planet; In 1967, Haight-Ashbury as the definitive hippietopia. Thirty years later, the spirit lives on, says Barney Hoskyns", 1
Joe Budd, "Summer of Love", The Advertiser 1 (2003)
Herbert Gold, "Days of Magic and Disaster", New York Times 1 (2003)
Hoskyns, "Happy 30th birthday to the coolest place on the planet; In 1967, Haight-Ashbury as the definitive hippietopia. Thirty years later, the spirit lives on, says Barney Hoskyns", 2
Hoskyns, "Happy 30th birthday to the coolest place on the planet; In 1967, Haight-Ashbury as the definitive hippietopia. Thirty years later, the spirit lives on, says Barney Hoskyns", 2
L.H. Whittemore, "COP!", (Holt, Rineheart and Winston, 1969), 226-229.
Budd, "Summer of Love", 2
Budd, "Summer of Love", 2
Charles Leerhsen with Sandra Gary, "A Witness to the Times", Newsweek 1 (1984)
Budd, "Summer of Love", 3
About the Author
This article has been provided by Specialty Answering Service. Specialty is available as an New York answering service and Florida answering service provider. We answer for each client 24 hours a day and follow their instructions to handle each inbound or outbound communication perfectly.
Budd Root
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Kettlebell and Barefoot Training
Kettlebell Training and Barefoot Training
Ok so imagine living with your hands strapped up in cotton wool and living your whole life without being able to use your hands. Can you just imagine how irritating this would be as you would not be able to pick things up properly. In fact this is like wearing air system shoes all day long, where you are not able to spread your toes and feel the ground that we walk on. All the nerve endings, motor sensors, joints and bones in our feet are protected and very rarely see daylight at all.
But if you go far back to cave men and women times where we first evolved over thousands of years ago we survived perfectly well without having our feet strapped up in colourful air system shoes on our feet. There are many modern day examples of how barefoot training can help aid physical performance particularly in Kettlebell Training. Even Zola Budd the marathon runner favoured barefoot training when she ran marathons, and there is research to show that running barefoot ensures correct body mechanics.
In his book "Take Off Your Shoes and Walk" foot Doctor Simon J. Wikler D.S.C., states that,
"Practically all shoes worn daily by men and women in our Western civilization have little relation to the shape of the human foot - Most adults' foot trouble would either not exist or would be much less bothersome if properly-shaped shoes had been worn during childhood or, better yet, if those people had gone barefoot"
So what are the benefits of barefoot training anyway?
Enhanced running efficiency;
Laboratory research has shown that running barefoot results in a 4% increase in performance. It is seen that the arches of the foot are allowed to move more freely without the need for air system shoes!
· More ability to spread your toes- yes you will have the freedom to spread and get some air on your toes!
· Stronger muscles in your feet and legs-When running barefoot on hard surfaces, the runner compensates for the lack of cushioning underfoot by plantar-flexing the foot at contact, thus giving a softer landing (Frederick, 1986). Barefoot runners also land mid-foot, increasing the work of the foot's soft tissue support structures, thereby increasing their strength and possibly reducing the risk of injury (Yessis 2000, p.124).When running barefoot on hard surfaces, the runner compensates for the lack of cushioning underfoot by plantar-flexing the foot at contact, thus giving a softer landing (Frederick, 1986).
· Greater agility and balance- It is claimed that footwear increases the risk of such sprains, either by decreasing awareness of foot position provided by feedback from plantar cutaneous mechanoreceptors in direct contact with the ground (Robbins et al., 1995), or by increasing the leverage arm and consequently the twisting torque around the sub-talar joint during a stumble (Stacoff et al., 1996). Siff and Verkhoshansky (1999, p.452) reported that running shoes always reduce proprioceptive and tactile sensitivity, and that using bare feet on the high-density chip-foam mats in gyms preserves proprioceptive sensitivity. Robbins et al. (1989) considered that behaviors induced by plantar tactile sensations offer improved balance during movement, which may explain the preference of many gymnasts and dancers for performing barefoot.
· Greater flexibility in your leg muscles- goes without saying really. If your feet aren't strapped up all day in comfy shoes then they are going to be able to move freely whoch will help your feet and legs get better range of motion-thus increasing flexibility.
· Improved posture which may help reduce lower back pain-walking barefoot means, inherently, that the only heel you're walking on is your own. Walking wearing standard shoes means, almost inevitably, you'll have an extra heel. Any change in the orientation of the heel instantly changes the mechanics of the arch of the foot, but importantly also changes the mechanics of the low back - increasing the curve. An increased curve in the low back means that the small facet joints on the back of the spine which are not designed for weight bearing (Bogduk 2003) become loaded and, across time, painful.
· Improved circulation because the motion you get from your unrestricted foot when walking barefoot activates a number of muscles in people's feet and legs, which in turn helps to pump blood back to their hearts. This motion may not be as effective if your foot is confined in a shoe, especially if it's a poor fitting shoe. This muscle action prevents the pooling of blood in your feet and legs, reducing the stress on the entire cardiovascular system and reducing blood pressure. This is why going barefoot is recommended to prevent deep vain thrombosis.
· A better contact to nature because life-force energy called Chi (also called Qi or Prana) can only be absorbed through the soles of the feet. Ground Chi is absorbed automatically and unconsciously when walking barefoot, which may be one of the reasons why it's so relaxing to walk without shoes on and why exercises geared toward strengthening the body and relaxing the mind (yoga, tai chi, martial arts) are also typically practiced barefoot.
-Facilitated venous return
Decreased blood pressure; this is true - particularly if walking on uneven ground (ie cobbled streets or off road). The walking itself, of course, helps to support good cardiovascular function but, in addition, the fact that the foot strikes the ground at a slightly different angle with each step and is allowed to roll over the naturally convex heel (rather than a flat, straight, rubber plate) means that multiple muscle groups are activated resulting in greater pumping of blood back through the valve-based venous system (Vines 2005). People in Germany, Austria and Switzerland can visit "barefoot parks" and walk along "paths of the senses" - with mud, logs, stone and moss underfoot - to receive what's known there as reflexzonmassage. Reflexologists have long advocated walking on textured surfaces to stimulate so-called "acupoints" on the soles of the feet. Practitioners of this complementary therapy believe that pressure applied to particular spots on the foot connects directly to corresponding organs and can enhance their function.
Reduced risk of deep vein thrombosis; for the same reason as above there is less pooling of blood in the lower leg and enhanced venous return.
Lower incidence of varicose veins; because there is improved venous return, blood does not rest in the veins increasing pressure on the vein walls and creating varicosities. Instead it is pumped back to the heart through enhanced muscular use in the lower leg.
-Decreased ankle sprains
it is claimed that increased awareness of foot position from direct contact with the ground (Robbins et al., 1995) may decrease risk of ankle sprain - and/or the reduced leverage and consequently twisting around the ankle (sub-talar) joint from going "barefoot" minimizes the risk of spraining the joint during a stumble (Stacoff et al., 1996).
-Better proprioception The modern running shoe and footwear generally reduce sensory feedback, apparently without diminishing injury-inducing impact-a process Robbins and Gouw (1991) described as the "perceptual illusion" of athletic footwear. A resulting false sense of security may contribute to the risk of injury (Robbins and Gouw, 1991). Yessis (2000, p.122) reasoned that once the natural foot structures are weakened by long-term footwear use, people have to rely on the external support of the footwear, but the support does not match that provided by a well functioning foot.
-Increases biomechanical performance - the arches of the feet are shock absorbers for the foot. They store energy and return energy to the gait cycle. Similarly, the natural arches of the spine are designed to perfectly store energy as the body "derotates" during the gait cycle (Gracovetsky 1988, 1997, 2001). Wearing shoes that have arch supports prevent the arches from functioning properly and heels cause chaos to posture as they compromise energy storage and change the sdhape of the spine which cause back problems and neck problems.
-Reduced risk of bunions the big toe is often pushed towards the middle of the foot and the same is true of the little toe when wearing traditional shoes. Heels on a shoe load the big toe and cause more strain and the hallux longus is strained and here bunions develop.
-Improves balance and prevents falls;
The feet provide significant sensory feedback to the brain and are therefore significant in balance and efficiency when running or walking. But , (Chek 2004) sees the most common cause of death in people above 65 years is falling. 25% of elderly people who fall and fracture a hip, die within 1 year of falling.
So how can going barefoot help me with my Kettlebell Training?
When you go barefoot when kettlebell training your movements not only become the movements of a child-playful and sensitive, yet purposeful and confident, but you experience the unbound joy of being able to grip and feel the floor better and being able to balance better whilst performing ballistic movements like 2 arm swings. This is called 'rooting' in kettlebell training where your feet are in contact with the ground.
A strong base of support is also required for strength exercises like squats. Rooting will help you become more stable and movements like swings, squats or presses will naturally align you into a more powerful position that will significantly increase and lengthen your ability to produce force. The improved alignment of your body also ensures that you are safer training.
Rooting and Kettlebell Training
Jamie Lloyd of Russian Kettlebells UK tecahes rooting to his clients so that they form a more powerful foot to ground connection. The first step is becoming aware of your technique and to feel the ground underneath you when performing exercises like kettlebell swings and the kettlebell squats.
Body awareness is essential for learning proper form when kettlebell training. First, become aware of how you lift a kettlebell from the floor. This will work best if you do them in barefoot. Now lift your kettlebell or weight off the floor and do 5 repetitions.
Take a few seconds and think about how you felt. Where did you feel the weight shift into your feet? Was it in the heels or in your toes? Did your feet come off the floor? Being aware of these feelings is important in properly aligning your body when you are picking up a kettlebell.
Rrooting is becoming aware and influencing how your body is aligned through the contact of your feet and the ground. This is done by focusing on how your feet are connected to the floor by three contact points. The first contact point is located on the heels (point one). Next are the points just under the big toes (point two). The last one is under the little toes (point three). Look at the diagram to view these contact points below.
By constantly contacting these points the body will align itself naturally.
The following steps will help increase your awareness of the three contact points of rooting:
- Shift your weight back onto your heels so your toes lift off the ground. Feel for where your heels make contact with the floor (point 1).
- Go onto your toes. Feel for the two contact points on the balls of your feet. These are the inner (2) and outer (3) points of the upper foot.
- Then bring your knees together so you feel your weight shift to your insides of your feet. Feel for the point (2) just below your big toes that are in contact with the floor.
- Then move your knees apart and feel your weight shift to your outer foot. Feel for the point (3) just below your little toes that are in contact with the floor.
Once you have learned the three contact points, then to learn how to root them.
This is what you do:-
Stand up tall, move one knee inwards. You should feel your outer foot come away from the ground and point three lose contact. Thn push back into point three. Don't shift your bodyweight to reconnect. By pushing back into point three, you will find that your knee realigns naturally.
You can do this with all the above exercises in the same manner. Closing your eyes will increase your proprioception and awareness.
Lastly,go back to your kettlebell. Find a strong root and spread your toes and then lift the kettlebell off the ground. Focus on maintaining constant contact through the three points; think of anchoring your feet to the floor .
Putting rooting into practice into your kettlebell training
Let's look how you can use rooting and barefoot training in your kettlebell exercises.
The body needs to work as a whole unit. If the body is unstable then it has to work on keeping itself stable. If you fall over you must activate and fire up your muscles up to stop you falling. Through proper rooting, alignment and stability you will have a more solid foundation for lifting kettlebells. Instead of muscles being used to balance the body they can now be used to help you push more weight .
Squatting
The first exercise would be squats. A lot of people have poor alignment when squatting. So rememeber the contact points for rooting and stay connected through the ground and keep the weight on your heels with your knees tracking in line with your toes. If you feel that you are losing connection with any of the points, look at your toes, reconnect and your body will naturally realign. Try to maintain a strong base and push through the heels.
Military Press
When the weight gets too heavy to lift some people tend to lean to one side get the kettlebell up. This is because your body is not properly rooted into the ground . If you have established a good base and are properly rooted and your abdomials are braced you will have better alignment and you will be able to press more efficiently.
Swings
Establish a solid base, keep your weight onto your heels- don't come onto your toes or the bell will run away from you. Keep connected to the floor as if your feet are screwed down and drive. You will then feel that your swings are more powerful and efficient.
So when kettlebell training train in bare feet and be aware of working from the ground up before you lift. Ensure that you take the correct steps to maintain proper alignment and through practice it will become easier and you will feel like all your kettlebell exercises are more fluid, safer and stronger.
For more on kettlebell training, kettlebell courses, kettlebell classes and kettlebells contact Jamie Lloyd BSc RKC CKT
He is based in Wimbledon, London and regularly coaches kettlebell training to personal traners and fitness enthusiasts.
Check out:-
http://www.russiankettlebellsuk.com
http://www.russiankettlebellsuk.ning.com
http://www.jlpersonaltraining.com
About the Author
Jamie Lloyd is a Certified Personal Trainer and the owner of Russian Kettlebells UK in London. He One of only a handful of certified Russian Kettlebell coaches in London, and is passionate about coaching kettlebells and even uses them for his own training.
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