BailongBall Forms – an Example, Part 2

In this series of blogs, we introduce you to BailongBall Forms. After having launched respective series on the disciplines of Multiplay and Freestyle, this series covering the discipline Forms, aims to complete your picture of our sport. The series breaks down a particular BailongBall Form into several parts. In each part, we show you round about two elements. At the end of the last part, you will have covered the Form and you will pick up tips and tricks while progressing from one part to the next.

In the first part der Serie erklären wir, was Formen von den anderen BailongBall Disziplinen unterscheidet. Von der Form haben wir dann das einleitende Element, sowie ein zweites Element, „den Spiegel“, vorgestellt. Wie auch im ersten Teil, werden wir auch diesmal wieder zwei Elemente vorstellen. Sie beginnen genau an der Stelle, bei der wir den ersten Teil beendet haben.

Actually, it is not just a horizontal turn but rather a three part element:

• a 360° leftward rotation
• a contradirectional rotation of both arms
• a 360° rightward rotation

And this is how you perform the parts:

Horizontal Turning

Front view:

Rear view:

Footwork:

Some tips:

• Lower your body and bend your knees a little – like you did with the preparatory element
• Maintain this “lowered stance” – it supports your balance and helps you rotate without “spinning out of control”
• For orientation: image moving on a straight line to your left performing a full rotation in the process
• Rotate slowly at first, with your arms stretched out for control and balance
• Once you feel comfortable rotating along the imagenary line, increase your rotational speed
• Increase your rotation speed by initiating the movement with your pelvis (not with your arms or you will lose your balance)

“Cloud Hands”

This element may challenge your arm coordination a little. Like the one before, it consist of multiple parts:

• While you are standing, you rotate your arms counterdirectionally, with one arm lagging – the so called “Cloud Hands” movement
• You then move to your left opening / closing / opening your legs, while at the same time performing the Cloud Hands twice
• Again, you perform the Cloud Hands, while you are standing
• Next you move to your right, opening / closing / opening your legs, performing the Cloud Hands twice at the same time – this brings you back to your starting position
• With a final Cloud Hands, you lead to the next element (more on this in our next part)

Front view:

Rear view:

Footwork:

Some tips:

• Move your racket in a big circle – the resulting centrifugal force allows for elegant control of the ball
• Move your “racket-free” arm in a smaller circle – your hand turning below your forehead
• Shift your weight with your racket – in other words, if your racket is on your right side, shift your weight to your right leg and vice versa with the left side
• Keep both sides of your pelvis level (no side is lowered) – this allows for smooth movement and keeps your from “bouncing”

You would like to know what is next? Catch a glimpse of our next part:

Train along and “stay in form” 🙂

Olga Ardasheva
BailongBall Instructor