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twoflipstwotwists · 3 years

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It’s a late afternoon in April, and Sunisa “Suni” Lee is where most people find themselves a year into the pandemic: Home, in a sweatshirt, talking into a webcam. The 18-year-old gymnast is poised to make history at the summer Olympics, but over Zoom, she’s just like any teenager, reflecting on everything she’s balancing behind the scenes.

While training for a wildly unpredictable Games, Lee has been caring for her recently paralyzed father, mourning the deaths of her aunt and uncle from COVID, and recovering from a broken foot that jeopardized her lifelong dream to win gold. Now Lee, whose parents emigrated from Laos, is also fighting to qualify as the first-ever Hmong American Olympic gymnast—all while her community contends with a national surge in anti-Asian violence. “People hate on us for no reason,” Lee says from her parents’ house in St. Paul, Minnesota. “It would be cool to show that we are more than what they say. I don’t know how to explain that...”

Lee’s father inches his wheelchair closer into the Zoom screen, and answers for her. “It would be the greatest accomplishment of any Hmong person in the U.S. ever,” he says. “It will go down in history.”

Before the Tokyo Olympics were postponed in March 2020, Lee’s family was preparing for the trip of a lifetime. Though she hadn’t actually made the team yet, her parents John Lee and Yeev Thoj had no doubts. They bought plane tickets to watch their daughter compete, and planned to celebrate afterward with a trip to Laos to show Lee and her siblings where they grew up. Both John and Yeev are Hmong, an ethnic group made of people primarily from Southeast Asia and areas in China who fought alongside the U.S. in the Vietnam War. After losing most of their land in the war, many Hmong fled to Thailand as refugees. By the late ‘70s and ‘80s, around 90 percent of the refugee population had resettled in the U.S., where there are now 18 Hmong clans, the largest residing in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Lee describes her community there as “really close.” More than 300 people come to her family’s annual camping trip, and she can’t go to a local Asian store without someone asking after her dad. She has become something of a local celebrity herself. At Hmong events, Lee gets stopped for photos by people who tell her how proud they are. “It’s nice knowing I have them to fall back on,” she says. “The support is amazing.”

But last May, just two months before the Olympic opening ceremony was originally scheduled to take place, Lee’s family and the rest of the Twin Cities Hmong community found themselves thrust into the national conversation over race and policing. Kellie Chauvin, the now ex-wife of Derek Chauvin, the officer who murdered George Floyd, is Hmong American. So is Tou Thao, another officer on the scene who is set to stand trial in August on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in connection to Floyd’s murder. As part of the ensuing protests, several nearby Hmong American businesses were vandalized. John says it got “scary” when several homes on their block were broken into.

“I was trying to make the Hmong community more known,” Lee says. “When that happened, I felt like it was a setback.”

Lee’s journey to the Olympics started with a lumpy mattress and a piece of plywood. Her parents were eager to preoccupy their energetic, gymnastics-obsessed seven-year-old, and a balance beam seemed like the perfect distraction. John built a four-foot-long structure from a spare mattress that, to his credit, still stands in their yard today. He also taught Lee, who’s one of six kids, how to do flips on the bed.

By then, Lee had captured the attention of Jess Graba, a coach at Midwest Gymnastics. “It was super raw and she was just a little kid, but she had some talent,” Graba says, remembering when they met. “Her flips were kind of crazy—she had been practicing in her yard—and she clearly had some ability to go upside down without fear.”

In 2016 when she was 14, Lee was named to the U.S. junior national team, and it became clear Graba could be coaching one of the next great American gymnasts. They traveled around the world together for competitions, and by 2018, Lee had won a gold medal on uneven bars at the National Championships. Five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin, Lee’s longtime hero, took notice of the high-flying athlete. “Her abilities as a gymnast, especially her bar routine, are incredible,” Liukin tells ELLE. “But it’s the unparalleled mental strength that she has shown during the most difficult time of her life that make her the person she is.”

Just two days before the 2019 National Championships, John fell from a ladder while trimming a tree. He was paralyzed from the chest down. At the time, Graba thought Lee shouldn’t compete out of concern for her safety: A distracted athlete is a danger to themselves because they are much more likely to lose focus and get injured. It would have been a devastating end to a decade of training, as nationals are like an unofficial pre-qualifier for the Olympic Games. But John remained confident in his daughter’s ability to compete under pressure. Before Lee stepped onto the mat, they FaceTimed and he advised her to clear her mind—and remember to have fun. “She can stay focused when she puts her mind to it,” he says.

As John watched the competition from his hospital bed, beaming with pride, Lee won the silver in all-around competition, nailing one of the hardest bar routines in the world. One month later, at the U.S. World Championships selection camp, she came within four-tenths of a point of beating Simone Biles in the all-around—the closest anyone has come to Biles in years—and landed one step closer to fulfilling her Olympic dream.

In March 2020, Lee was scrolling through Twitter after practice when she saw the news: The Olympics were postponed, for the first time in modern history, due to COVID. Lee wiped tears away with chalky hands as years of carefully laid plans were thrown into limbo. “To have that taken away from us without having any control is very hard,” she says. “I went through a depressed phase, and it was hard to get out of.”

For weeks Lee could do little more than sleep and cry. Her gym was closed for three months— practically an eternity in the unforgiving timeline of an elite gymnast. When it did reopen in June, Lee broke her foot, meaning three more months of downtime. “If you were 100 percent ready for the 2020 Olympics, then you’re spending the year going, ‘Let’s just not get injured. Let’s just not make any mistakes,’” Graba says.

Lee found an unexpected source of comfort in Biles, who went from being her biggest competition to one of her closest friends after they competed in 2019. “She was there for me,” Lee says. During lockdown, they Snapchatted and texted—two of the only people in the world who truly understood the gut-punch of waiting another year for the Games to begin.

Then, as the country continued to face rising COVID rates in summer 2020, Lee’s own family was devastated by the virus. Her aunt and uncle—close family members who babysat her as a kid—both died of COVID less than two weeks apart. Lee’s uncle, a Hmong shaman, had helped heal her hurt foot with hot ginger and other herbal medicines. Like so many others did during the pandemic, Lee said goodbye over Zoom.

As the nation slowly starts to heal, so has Lee. She can now spot small silver linings from the past year, like spending more time with her siblings and driving her dad to doctor’s appointments, which she calls “good for me mentally, because typically I’m never with them.” It has taken months and months to get back to the peak shape she was in pre-pandemic, but now it’s full steam ahead. The U.S. Championships are the first week of June, and the Olympic trials are later that month. Lee says the extra year has strengthened her performance on the uneven bars and made her more consistent overall. “I just didn’t want to see myself fall back,” she says. “I don’t want to disappoint my coaches or my parents.”

Still, a spot on the team isn’t guaranteed. For the first time in history, U.S. women’s gymnastics has only four open spots (down from five at the 2016 Games), one of which will almost definitely go to Biles. At this point, it might be harder for a U.S. gymnast to make the Olympic team than it is to actually win a medal once they’re there.

Unsurprisingly, none of this seems to phase Lee. She is no stranger to finding the best version of herself under intense circumstances—the version that wins medals, defies gravity, and advocates for her community. Before falling asleep at night, she visualizes herself sticking a perfect landing and coming home as the first Hmong American Olympic gymnastics champion. History made.

#sunisa lee #i want nothing but good things for her

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alternate-pokemon-next-gen · 4 years

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Alternate Next Gen (Main Cast): Lazarus Ketchum

Lazarus is the son of Ash and Anabel. Lazarus always admired both of his parents and how they’re both Frontier Brains, since he was little he always wanted to be a Frontier Brain like his mom and his dad so he takes time to train himself and his Pokemon. Lazarus inherited his father’s Aura abilities, as such he can understand Pokemon and he’s currently training to become an Aura Guardian like his father, he can only do so much with his aura and trains a lot so he can improve himself. Lazarus is a boy who isn’t easily defeated no matter what, he’s always determined and never gives up until it’s over as it’s something his father taught him when he was young. He’s calm and mature like his mother, but he still has some bits of impatience and recklessness that comes from his father, he’s also trusting and will always go through anything to befriend a Pokemon, as such many wild Pokemon are friends with him and stay by his side. Due to all kinds of training he goes through, Lazarus is physically fit, he has a lot of physical strength, stamina and he has a high endurance to pain, being able to take plenty of hits from anything before going down. Like his mother, Lazarus has the ability to sense the emotions of living beings, he isn’t sure if it related to his mother’s ability as a Psychic type user but he doesn’t mind and will make sure to do his best to heighten that ability, it’s also thanks to that ability that he can talk to his Pokemon through telepathy, which he does in battle or outside of battle. Similar to Ash, Lazarus has a unique battle style where he’ll often do unorthodox methods such as having his Lucario use his aura during battle or having Frogadier battle like he’s an actual ninja, it makes him as unpredictable as Ash during battle.

Lazarus has a Key stone fitted into one of his gloves. His Aura abilities range to talking with Pokemon, preventing mind control to those around him and himself, creating a barrier of aura, being able to read actions of others and being able to sense others even when blinded.

His Pokemon:

Partner Eevee- Eevee has been Lazarus’ Pokemon ever since he was five, as such their bond is very strong. Eevee is very different from a normal Eevee, being able to learn special moves based around Eevee’s eight evolutions. Eevee is a very playful Pokemon, he enjoys being with Lazarus and is very loyal to him however, it takes a lot for him to warm up to anyone he’s never met before however the fastest way to get his approval is mostly to pet him or give him food. Eevee enjoys a good battle between another Pokemon as he finds it very enjoyable, he’s always happy when he wins a battle, especially against a Pokemon with a type advantage or a Pokemon bigger than him. Eevee acts as the leader of Lazarus’ team. Eevee doesn’t want to evolve as he wants to be the strongest Eevee the world has ever seen, he’ll always refuse the chance to evolve even if someone suggested to Lazarus that he should evolve Eevee. Eevee stays out of his Pokeball and is often walking beside Lazarus, riding on Lazarus’ head, riding on his shoulder or is carried by Lazarus. Eevee often relies on his speed or his size while battling someone bigger than him.

Caught in a Pokeball.

Ability is Adaptability.

Moves are Return, Quick Attack, Double-Edge, Helping Hand, Swift, Glitzy Glow, Bouncy Bubble, Sparkly Swirl, Shadow Ball and Headbutt.

Lucario- Lazarus had received his Lucario when he was a Riolu, the two were very close and always trained together. It was thanks to Lazarus’ friendship with Riolu that he evolved into a Lucario when Lazarus was only twelve years old and on Lazarus’ fourteenth birthday he had received his Key Stone glove and a Lucaironite, when the two of them tried Mega Evolution for the first time they had a few bumps but after getting through it together they managed to perfect Mega Evolution. Lucario is fiercely loyal to Lazarus and is always going to protect him, he has a strong sense of justice, a trait that is shared between him and his trainer. Lucario is also very proud in what he does, he enjoys battling and training alongside his teammates, often acting as a coach for his fellow Pokemon. Lucario is able to adapt to any situation during a battle and he won’t hesitate to protect someone, even if it isn’t his trainer. There are times where Lucario will act without Lazarus’ orders but as both of them are in sync neither have a problem with it. Lucario will also use his own arua during battle, a trait that Lazarus is glad he can do as it helps Lazarus learn what he could do with his own aura.

Caught in a Pokeball.

Ability is Inner Focus, changes to Adaptability when Mega Evolved.

Held Item is Lucaironite.

Moves are Aura Sphere, Iron Tail, Drain Punch, Meteor Mash, Metal Claw, Swords Dance, Flash Cannon, Ice Punch, Mind Reader and High Jump Kick.

Frogadier- While in the Kalos region, Lazarus had befriended a Froakie that Professor Sycamore was going to give to a new trainer but since Froakie was getting along with Lazarus, he allowed him to keep Froakie. After being with Lazarus and his team for a while and training with him, he had evolved into a Frogadier and he decided to stay as a Frogadier instead of evolving further. Frogadier is very clever and quick on his feet, while in battle he can be a little bit ruthless, outside of battle he’s a gentle Pokemon who treats others kindly. He also has a lot of justice and hates it when bigger Pokemon bully smaller Pokemon just for the fun of it, because of that he’s often known as the Pokemon Protector. Frogadier likes to battle and while he did find Lazarus’ battle style strange at first, he would still follow whatever he said and later gained an appreciation for Lazarus’ battle style since he would battle using his moves in ways he couldn’t think of on his own.

Given in a Pokeball.

Ability is Torrent.

Moves are Smokescreen, Quick Attack, Water Pulse, Substitute, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Scald, Waterfall, Water Pledge and Ice Beam.

Hitmonchan- Hitmonchan was caught by Lazarus as a Tyrouge at the same time his cousin Jewel caught another Tyrouge. The two of them had their Tyrouges train together and soon enough they both evolved, Lazarus’ Tyrouge becoming a Hitmonchan and Jewel’s Tyrouge becoming a Hitmonlee. Hitmonchan is an energetic and determined Pokemon, much like his trainer, Hitmonchan refuses to give up even if he’s in a losing situation and it’s because of his unwavering spirit that he gets along with Lazarus. Hitmonchan trains hard each day and he often helps the others with training. Hitmonchan greatly admires Lazarus for his stamina and trains hard so he could match his trainer’s stamina so that he doesn’t need to take a break every three minutes. He has a brotherly bond with Jewel’s Hitmonlee despite how different they are in personality, he enjoys his company and will always spar with him.

Caught in a Great Ball.

Ability is Iron Fist.

Moves are Drain Punch, Bullet Punch, Power-Up Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Mega Punch, Agility, Focus Punch and Brick Break.

Galarian Rapidash- Lazarus caught his Galarian Rapidash when she was a Ponyta, he was confused on how different she looked from a normal Ponyta but he still found her to be very cute. He had caught her, thinking that he could find plenty of ways to have her battle during matches when he became a Frontier Brain. She had evolved into a Rapidash after training with Lazarus for a while, when she was a Ponyta, Rapidash was shy and mostly stayed by Lazarus’ side due to how she felt that he was a good person, she was also a bit childish and would much rather play than battle, so Lazarus had to make her training regimends more fun so she would train with the other Pokemon. After evolving, Rapidash had become more mature and while she was prideful, she always remained humble and modest when complimented for how strong she was how beautiful she looked. Rapidash mostly relies on her psychic abilities during battle but she also improves on her speed and she tries to figure out ways to battle when her speed is hindered.

Caught in a Heal Ball.

Ability is Pastel Veil.

Moves are Psycho Cut, Play Rough, Healing Wish, Heal Pulse, Agility, Megahorn, Psychic Terrain, High Horsepower, Zen Headbutt and Future Sight.

Hypno- Lazarus caught his Hypno while he was training, Hypno had approached Lazarus and instead of backing in fear or telling his Pokemon to attack he simply smiled at Hypno and offered him to watch his Pokemon train or train with them, surprised by this reaction he agreed to watch his Pokemon train before joining in on their training himself. Hypno enjoyed his time with Lazarus and asked to be caught by him, Lazarus agreed to let him join the team. Hypno is an easy going Pokemon, he doesn’t enjoy the rumors about his species being dangerous and is instead rather helpful when Lazarus or his parents are having trouble sleeping, he also offers his help for Pokemon who are having trouble sleeping or patients at hospitals who need help sleeping. Hypno is very loyal to Lazarus because he didn’t treat him like a threat when he had approached him and even then he still treats Hypno as a friend instead of just as another Pokemon, for that, Hypno fully trusts him and allows Lazarus to hold onto his pendulum as well as polish it for him when it gets dirty. Hypno relies on using status ailments during battles and uses moves that benefit from status ailments.

Caught in a Dream Ball.

Ability is Inner Focus.

Moves are Hypnosis, Nightmare, Psybeam, Dream Eater, Psychic, Future Sight, Wake-Up Slap, Return, Dazzling Gleam and Assist.

#Pokemon #Next Gen #AbilityShipping #Lazarus Ketchum #Main Cast #Pokemon Next Gen #Fan Kids #Pokemon Fan Kids

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ritis-world · 3 years

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Self made Indian entrepreneur in making youth self-reliant

IFortisCorporate,Grown into One of India’s leading Corporate

IFortis Corporate has grown into one of India's leading Corporate.As time evolved, dependence on the technology began to hinder IFortis's ability to guarantee competitive pricing and provide innovative services. As a result, a strategic decision was made to line up its own headquarters in India so on raised satisfy the wants of IFortis’s customers. As time went on, IFortis’s principals of transparency, timely communication, quality of services and competitive pricing allowed for significant expansion.We compete fairly in accordance to law and business ethics.We make customer satisfaction our top priority. IFortis Corporate believes that ethical management is not only a tool for responding to the rapid changes within the global business environment but also a vehicle for building trust with its various stakeholders including customers, employees, business partners and native communities. IFortis Corporate continues to coach its employees and operate monitoring systems, while practicing fair and transparent corporate management.

Our Vision is To be a global firm of uniquely skilled executives who can build a better future.

Mission: #MakingWomenSelfReliant #YouthShouldLead

Today, out youth who want to begin a business are held back due to lack of proper skills and training at the grassroot level. In spite of having a brilliant industry knowledge , This is because, in addition to hard skills (technical knowledge), one also need soft skilling starting a business. Also, life skills are the building blocks of any business, especially for start-ups, with many people now willing to take the risk of running a business. Ignoring soft skills like public speaking, time management, and relationship building, negotiation and leadership may hamper the rapid growth of the startup environment which is otherwise possible by honing these. These come with best of practice and practical familiar by IFortis corporate

Growing up he got early hands on training with managing industry, it has raised him into a better leader who have been inculcating Six Sigma techniques, Corporate strategies, Managing HR . Here we have secured women and some men business owners from around the world to share their own informative and realistic journeys of business ownership and this initiative will be India’s first evidence – based practise in creating women entrepreneurs is says by the organiser.

Unlocking opportunities for young peoples in the field of entrepreneurship according to the United Nations Department of economic and social Affairs 2020 World Youth Report, will dramatically achieve positive social change around the world and help underserved communities. He continually assess his effectiveness, infusing innovative and creative strategies thus ensuring that all his co-workers also succeed.

Mr.Rohit Naidu ,CEO of IFortis Corporate is passionate about helping the youth to find their way forward by cultivating confidence and committed to upskilling the professionalism of the youth.He is a visionary leader who welcomes new innovations and develops cutting-edge business strategies. He is dedicated to helping youth people find their way forward by instilling trust in them and upskilling their professionalism. Rohit Naidu launched “SMART-OFFICE” founded by IFortis Corporate in order to provide realistic experience in corporate culture. Virtual courses will be taught via Webinar jam and invited speakers will include business owners from the United States, India, Australia, Israel and the United Kingdom. consulting Services Company; Norma Stanley, Advisor on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Public Relations, author and owner of E.

A great leader posses a clear vision, is courageous, has integrity, honesty, humility and clear focus. ... Great leaders help people reach their goals, are not afraid to hire people that might be better than them and take pride in the accomplishments of those they help along the way. Thank you Ms. Simran, team manager of IFortis Corporate.

Company’s Future goal: IFortis Corporate is stepping into Apparel Manufacturing Industry (Textile & Manufacturing Industry) with an ambitious mission to create more employment opportunity for the women & youth across India and helping them to become self-reliant obsessive focus on the quality, worker’s safety & welfare, Social Responsibility and customer satisfaction.

https://atlbusinessjournal.com/ifortis-corporate-launches-entrepreneurship-360-to-

encourage-activate-women-business-leaders-in-india-week-long-event-to-offer-practical-

expertise-from-entrepreneurs-around-the-glo/

2. https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/entrepreneurs-from-united-states-and-india-

partner-on-entrepreneurship-training-program-for-youth-2021-02-09

3. https://www.wtnzfox43.com/story/43320831/entrepreneurs-from-united-states-and-india-

partner-on-entrepreneurship-training-program-for-youth

Team information:

IFORTIS CORPORATE - https://www.ifortiscorporate.com/

CEO – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohitnaidu-s/

Team Manager - www.linkedin.com/in/simran-gond-aa4679204

[email protected] - mailto:[email protected]

• Website:- http://ifortiscorporate.com/

Account handles:

• Instagram handle:- https://instagram.com/ifortiscorporate?igshid=nw6115ee0w3t

• Facebook account:- https://www.facebook.com/groups/600624417534619/?ref=share

• LinkedIn id:- IFortis Corporate

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the-depressed-shiny-buneary · 4 years

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Pokemon Next Gen (Competition Kids): Coast Suiren

Coast is the older twin son of Lana. He’s known as the ‘Evil Twin’ and his sister Minuet is known as the ‘Good Twin’. Coast and Minuet had inherited different traits from their mother, Coast had inherited Lana’s “Battle Mode” as Kiawe calls it, being serious and sometimes violent especially when he’s in a Pokemon battle. Despite how he may act, he’s still protective of his Pokemon and his younger sister, he’ll often speak in a hushed, icy tone should someone bad mouth his sister or either of their Pokemon. Like his mother and sister, he’s a very strong swimmer and is a great fisherman, also being able to fish up Water-types and befriending them easily. He can be a bit more sadistic when it comes to telling outrageous jokes, unlike his sister he doesn’t give anyone a hint that he’s joking, he’ll say “I’m joking” but then he’ll add an “Or am I~?” when others let their guards down and give a sadistic grin, which freaks out a lot of people. Coast isn’t afraid of much and can approach violent Pokemon with no fear in his eyes, a trait he got from his mom. He’s also athletic and has a lot of stamina, being able to swim for a long time without getting tired. Unlike his sister, he’s more interested in competitions, mostly those that deal with water or using Water-type Pokemon. He competes in competitions like the Whirl Cup, fishing contests and water races, he became friends with Acorn, Riley, Zach, and Mary and supports them with their respective competitions, as well as helping them with any training they might need.

His main colors are blue and black. From blue, he’s caring and expresses a lot of concern for his Pokemon and his sister. He’s also loyal to his friends and is very perseverance and reliable (mostly to anyone he’s close to). He can, however, be deceitful if you get on his bad side, as well as spiteful and unforgiving if he sees anyone messing with Pokemon or his younger sister. But he’s still helpful and happy to help anyone who needs his help. Blue also represents how he’s devoted to what he does and how he has a lot of spirit when it comes to the competitions he competes in. Black represents how he’s protective of Pokemon and his sister and friends, as well as how he can be mysterious as well as how it represents how he can be intimidating and strong. Black also gives him a bit of power and radiates authority that can at times cause fear into anyone who gets on his bad side.

His Pokemon:

Feraligatr- Coast had caught Totodile while he was fishing, after a while of just spending time with him and fishing up other Pokemon, Coast had decided to keep Totodile and caught him. With Totodile by his side, Coast went to catch and train other Water-type Pokemon so he could compete in different water-based competitions. Totodile had eventually evolved into Croconaw during training and evolved again into Feraligatr during a battle in the Whirl Cup. As a Totodile, Feraligatr was very playful, but as time went on he had adapted a bit of Coast’s protective and even a bit of his violent side and would often bite anyone who would insult him or bring harm to other Pokemon. When he evolved into Croconaw, he gained some more of Coast’s sadistic nature, often taking pride when he bites someone and sometimes grinning sadistically alongside his trainer. As a Feraligatr, he still retains some violence and sadistic behavior but he does know how to hold back and will only cause actual harm to someone who deserves it, he isn’t disobedient either and will always listen when Coast tells him to hold back and he’ll only actually attack someone if Coast tells him to. He can be a gentle giant at times, mostly when he’s around people or Pokemon that Coast doesn’t seem to have an issue with.

Caught in a Dive Ball.

Ability is Torrent.

Moves are Aqua Tail, Hydro Pump, Ice Fang, Dragon Dance, Hydro Cannon, Focus Punch, Seismic Toss, Dive, Liquidation, and Crunch.

Swanna- Coast caught Swanna when he was a Ducklett. As a Ducklett, Swanna was shy and didn’t enjoy battling as much, however with training and some encouragement from Coast and his other Pokemon he slowly got more courageous and was more okay with battling alongside the others. He soon evolved into Swanna and when he did, he developed a bit more of a temper problem, mostly when someone would think he was a girl or that he was weak, which caused him to lash out by spraying them or pecking their heads in retaliation. Like his trainer, he can be a bit sadistic if he gets pushed hard enough and he’s protective of other Pokemon, rushing to protect them should something happen. He isn’t afraid of Electric types and will often come up with ways to counter them, he also fully trusts Coast.

Caught in a Net Ball.

Ability is Hydration.

Moves are Rain Dance, Aqua Ring, Hurricane, Air Slash, Brave Bird, Scald, Steel Wing, Mud Sport, Water Pulse, and Brine.

Crawdaunt- Coast had found out about Crawdaunt causing trouble nearby and decided to go on a trip to find it and try to catch it when he found the wild Crawdaunt, he battled it and after a hard battle, he managed to catch it. Most found it surprising that Crawdaunt had warmed up to Coast so quickly as they’re known to being difficult to raise, some still don’t know how he was able to get Crawdaunt to follow him. Crawdaunt is as violent and battle-hungry as the next Crawdaunt, but he’s even more so, always wanting to find more Pokemon to battle against and getting excited every time he battles against another Pokemon. He does have to be told to hold back at times due to how strong he is, it annoys him sometimes but he still follows through with his orders of needing to hold back.

Caught in a Dive Ball.

Ability is Hyper Cutter.

Moves are Hone Claws, Razor Shell, Crabhammer, Crunch, Dive, Metal Claw, Night Slash, Guillotine, Lash Out, and X-Scissor.

Quagsire- Coast fished Quagsire up when he was a Wooper and Coast had him join the team given how Wooper is part Ground-type which he could use to counter Electric-type Pokemon should he ever face one. Wooper had evolved into Quagisre during a battle in the Whirl Cup. Quagsire often reminds Coast of his mother, as Quagsire has two personalities one being his carefree and almost dopey side when he’s out of battle and his more serious side when he’s in battle. Quagsire is also known to be very spacey and quirky when he’s not in a battle, Coast often uses some of Quagsire’s quirks to his advantage during battles or in any kind of competition. Quagsire does enjoy battling, but he also enjoys a nice swim and is a very strong swimmer, he doesn’t mind either pulling Coast around or having Coast ride on his back. He also gets along with children and enjoys playing with them when he’s around them.

Caught in a Lure Ball.

Ability is Water Absorb.

Moves are Aqua Tail, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Dig, Water Pulse, Muddy Water, Waterfall, Headbutt, Mist, and Yawn.

Poliwrath- Coast had caught Poliwrath when she was a Poliwhirl along with his sister’s Poliwhirl, who she evolved into a Politoed when she had gotten a King’s Rock. Coast had evolved his Poliwhirl into a Poliwrath when he had found a Water stone for her. Poliwrath is a fierce and tough Pokemon, she enjoys a good swim and a good battle with anyone. Poliwrath enjoys battling and is proud to show off her skills in battle, as such she enjoys participating in the Whirl Cup the most. Poliwrath likes to spar with her teammates and she helps them with training, acting as the coach of the team and Coast himself. She enjoys helping them with any kind of training, be it swimming for Coast or battling for her teammates.

Caught in a Lure Ball.

Ability is Swift Swim.

Moves are Rain Dance, Submission, Dynamic Punch, Coaching, Ice Punch, Superpower, Liquidation, Scald, Waterfall, and Darkest Lariat.

Starmie- Coast caught Starmie back when they were a Staryu, he wanted to evolve them into Starmie as he thought that Starmie could provide some good coverage to his team so, after a lot of training, he gave Staryu a Water stone and had them evolve. Starmie is a pretty laid back Pokemon, they have a special ability to change the color of their gem to express how they’re feeling, they also will flash their gem to try to talk to the others. Starmie has a surprisingly loose body, making them able to get out of moves like Wrap and Bind easily unlike other Starmie. While Starmie does like to relax, they still battle when they need to but they honestly prefer being ridden on or surfing through the water in water races. They’re still loyal to Coast and will always assist him should he need help.

Caught in a Dive Ball.

Ability is Analytic.

Moves are Rapid Spin, Confuse Ray, Recover, Hydro Pump, Surf, Psychic, Power Gem, Psyshock, Scald, and Water Pulse.

#Pokemon #Next Gen #Pokemon Next Gen #Coast Suiren #Competition Kids #My OCs

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soccernetghana · 4 years

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How will football move on when Messi and Ronaldo retire?

Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? It's the question that has defined a decade of football; the cause of innumerable arguments across the globe. In the age of social media, you are not allowed to appreciate both. You have to pick one or the other. And whom you chose apparently tells you a lot about how you view the game. As Luis Figo famously argued, it really is a question of taste: "It's like choosing between white truffle or caviar." Indeed, the one thing that everyone agrees on is that both are incredible; both belong in the conversation on the best player of all time. They are, after all, responsible for an unprecedented rivalry in the history of the game: two all-time greats on opposite sides of the Clasico divide for nine years, pushing one another to scale even greater heights. As Messi himself told DAZN: "It was a duel that will last forever because it went on for many years, and it isn’t easy to keep at your highest level for so long – especially at those two clubs we were at, which were so demanding, in Real Madrid and Barcelona, the best clubs in the world. "Competing head to head for so many years will be remembered forever. The sporting rivalry between us was very nice on a personal level. I think that the fans also enjoyed it, be they Madrid or Barca supporters, or just those who like football." It is not over yet, of course. Ronaldo and Messi may be 35 and 32, respectively, but they have yet to show any real signs of letting up. The Portuguese may have changed teams, leaving Real for Juventus in 2018, but the rivalry with Messi endures; the debate rages on – at least among their most ardent supporters. When Ronaldo transferred to Turin, his fans followed. Juventus' social media numbers skyrocketed, highlighting this new phenomenon of some supporters prioritising players over clubs. These very modern consumers of football have a favourite player – not a favourite team, which begs a far more pressing question than Messi or Ronaldo: What happens after the pair retire? Will football lose followers? The two greatest protagonists in the most absorbing drama of the past decade will have left the stage – will some of the audience leave before the next act? After all, how could anything top what has gone before? Ronaldo and Messi have distorted our perceptions of what is possible on a football field, making the extraordinary, ordinary. They have altered our idea of what constitutes an excellent goal-scoring season. Anything less than 50 goals a season could, in future, be construed as underwhelming. And that is the key here: consistency. "They've done it for so long," Spanish football writer Andy West told Goal. "They've barely taken a week off. They've both had the physical fitness to play 40 or 50 games a year. Neither of them have really had serious injuries problems, which is amazing in itself. If you go back over the history of the game, there are very, very few players who are able to sustain that excellence for so long. "Even if you look at players just from my lifetime, such as the Brazilian Ronaldo, he was the best player in the world at his peak, but he had so many injury problems that meant he was only at his greatest for a short period of time. "They've not given anybody else has had a look in. There have been lots and lots of great players over the past decade who would have previously had a claim on being the best player in the world but they've not even been close. I don't think anyone would dispute that. Nobody has been close to the level of Messi and Ronaldo." Hazard and Neymar? Not even someone like Eden Hazard. The Belgium international was one of the best players in the world for years, lighting up the Premier League with his wing wizardry at Chelsea. However, even Hazard has admitted that he is simply incapable of matching Ronaldo and Messi's numbers, as so painfully underlined by the 29-year-old's form and fitness issues in his first year at Real Madrid. "I often ask myself what I can do to become like Messi and Ronaldo and get 50 or 60 goals in a season," he confessed to Sport/Foot. I try, of course, but I realise that I will never be a true goalscorer like them. It's not in me. It is mainly mental: at 2-0, not thinking that is enough for example. Sometimes I still think after a goal, 'That's enough.' "I'm not in search of records like some other players – if I can score between 15 and 20 goals each season, I will be very happy." One could never imagine Messi or Ronaldo being content with such a tally. Of course, for the sake of narrative, they are portrayed as polar opposites: Messi is the quiet, unassuming genius who puts the team first; Ronaldo the self-made goal-scoring machine who takes as much pride in his appearance as his records. Both are crude caricatures, which do both a disservice. Messi can be as ruthless as Ronaldo; Ronaldo can be as magnanimous as Messi. In addition, they are bound not only by brilliance but also determination, an inner drive that has seen both make the absolute most of their considerable skills. Which is perhaps why Neymar is no longer the favourite to step into the spotlight when Messi and Ronaldo bow out. There have never been any doubts over the Brazilian's ability but his level of focus has long been a cause for concern. Neymar's situation has hardly improved in the interim. If anything, that storm has only worsened. As has his physical condition. Since moving to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee in 2017, Neymar has been blighted by injuries and ill-discipline. At 28, his career path now looks more likely to follow that of Ronaldinho than Ronaldo, having, thus far, failed to strike the perfect balance between sporting and commercial growth. Time for Mbappe and Haaland? But what about the next generation? Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are considered the frontrunners to fill the void that Messi and Ronaldo will leave behind. Both are extraordinary young talents. Mbappe is the only man other than Pele to have scored in a World Cup final as a teenager; Haaland is the youngest player in history to score 10 Champions League goals, having reached that mark in just seven matches. Their potential is as obvious as it is enormous. Questions remain, of course. Can they sustain their fine form? Will they avoid serious injuries? Will they be as dedicated to their profession as Messi and Ronaldo? Both are considered colourful characters. Haaland's former Red Bull Salzburg team-mate Maximilian Wober described the Norwegian to Goal as "crazy insane" yet recalled how the striker would spend his time on away trips "reading scientific articles on who he could improve his sleep pattern or diet" while the rest of the team were playing cards. In a similar vein, Mbappe once skipped a party in honour of Monaco's shock 2016-17 Ligue 1 title triumph so that he could get enough rest to be in peak physical condition for the following day's training session. The Frenchman was only a teenager back then, though, and there having been growing concerns about his allegedly egotistical behaviour since being taken under Neymar's wing in Paris, as underlined by his recent spats with PSG coach Thomas Tuchel. Mbappe has admitted himself that he is "not a hard worker" but is still regarded by journalists who follow the French league and national team closely as someone who simply loves playing football. As long as he retains that passion for the game, he should – like Haaland – continue to rack up record after record. Of course, it would be unfair to expect anyone to equal Messi or Ronaldo's remarkable strike-rates. Or carry the game into a new era, for that matter. Besides, it's not as if the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has been the only show in town over the past 10 to 15 years. Messi has never played in the Premier League, while Ronaldo left in 2009 – yet the English top-flight is by some distance the most watched and, consequently, the richest championship in club football. There are, of course, many reasons for its global popularity: the sheer pace of the game separates it from its European rivals; what it loses in quality, it makes up for in frenzied entertainment. In addition, the almost total absence of running tracks around its pitches only accentuates the raucous atmosphere generated by the massive and passionate crowds found with its modern stadia. England changed its practices and image following the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies of the 1980s, and reaped the rewards. With the advent of the Premier League in 1992, English football became a perfectly packaged product expertly sold to audiences across the globe by BSkyB and, in turn, the further riches bestowed upon clubs by the sale of overseas TV rights enabled the acquisition of some of the most talented and charismatic characters in football. All of this, coupled with the sport's innate capacity for unscripted drama, made the Premier League compelling viewing. Essentially, football faces a far more pressing concern than the imminent retirement of two living legends, with the Covid-19 pandemic having plunged the game into financial crisis that represents a very real existential threat for clubs and leagues across the world. By its very nature, though, football is a simple game. Its popularity will not be dimmed by the pandemic; if anything, it may be enhanced by it, as people become even more appreciative of a sport that can be played by anyone with a ball. So, if football can survive Covid-19, it can survive the loss of Messi and Ronaldo. The show will go on. But so too will the debate over who was better: Messi or Ronaldo? There will never be an agreement, of course, but that is beside the point. As Messi says, his rivalry with Ronaldo is a duel that will last forever. Source: m.allfootballapp.com source: https://ghanasoccernet.com/

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quecksilver · 5 years

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FS Tarot: Yuzuru Hanyu

I got a few anon messages asking for readings and the name most mentioned was Yuzuru Hanyu. You asked for it so here it is! I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this again because it's a lot of work but while watching JGP and ACI practices I had some time so I banged this out in like two hours. Don't look at the typos and grammar mistakes. My first language is still not English so if there's awkward phrasing ignore it. I'll now go into my usual spiel...

I use the Deviant Moon Deck with the moon spread, in which i arrange the cards in a circle and read from the left side, counterclockwise. Each card represents a different aspect. You can look at the cards yourself HERE so ill just forego describing them like I did previous seasons (though feel free to ask me about interpreations and how I arrived at conclusions if you want).

Present Day: Upright Page of Pentacles

This card represents a young person with an open mind, particularly a student who is eager to learn and push the boundaries of what they are able to do. They've set their sight on self-improvement and are willing to work hard for it.

1t also often stands for someone who's very inventive and daring.

Pretty straightforward card in the context of Figure Skating. Even though Yuzuru is recycling his programs it can be said that his new content and tech is pretty daring and it's no secret that he's very set on self-improvement.

Past Influences: Upright Ten of Cups

This is a card usually meaning family, home life and the bond with the people closest to you. In its upright position the Ten of Cups stands for a peaceful, loving home that is full of unconditional support and love.

It's often read as a return to a loving home after a rough period or injury with a newfound appreciation of the previous experiences, good or bad.

Since this is a card usually read to be about family/close confidants I'm not sure how much of it can be read into an Figure Skating context but since it is the card that represents past influences it's probably not wrong to read it to mean his actual family/close loved ones. Their influence remains a positive one.

Subconscious Influences: Reversed Seven of Wands

The Seven of Wands stands for triumph over adverse circumstances or, as it is here since the card is reversed, loss. Self-Doubt plagues the person as previous defeats have made them lose faith in their own ability and it will take effort to shake off that impression. Self-Doubt can be a self-fulfilling prophecy after all.

This card appears in the subconscious influences spot which I'd interpret to mean either that the person is not ready to tackle these self-doubt or that they're actively working to get over them but have not done this (yet). Either way, self-doubt is not at the forefront of their mind.

Secret Desires and Wishes: Upright Star

And here we go with pretty much the complete opposite of the previous card. In the secret desires and wishes we have a card that represents hope and regained faith. Whether that is in ones own abilities or not is not clear but with the previous card being what it is, I'd say it fits all too well.

Another meaning this card often has is destiny. What the person sees as their destiny and moving towards it. Since it's “secret” maybe the person simply speaks to no one (or very few people) about their dreams and hopes, thinking them foolish or embarrassing or maybe even being afraid to jinx it. The subconscious self-doubt may also play a role here.

Hidden Forces: Reversed Page of Wands

The reversed page of wands can be interpreted to be someone... well... stupid. But I really prefer to interpret it as someone rash and unthinking who makes stupid decisions. That just seems more polite. Indecision and poor decisions together can make for quite the big hurdle to jump over.

I find the Hidden Forces card to always be the hardest to interpret since it is a hidden force to the person the cards are read for so how am I, from a distance reading, supposed to make a guess who this card pertains to? I'm gonna be daring and not go for a person though and instead guess it's about a governing body of a sport. Not naming any names.

It's just as likely (if not more) though that this card simply pertains to someone close to Yuzuru whose short-sighted choices affect him.

Events yet to come: Upright Seven of Swords

There he is again. The harlequin that tries to swallow a sword. This card is pretty easy to read and stands for a dangerous and ill-conceived situation that very likely ends in failure and/or injury. After all, if you flirt with danger without a safety net the risks are great. Better not underestimate them.

Well, this one is easy to interpret. Yuzuru is certainly putting himself at risk attempting the high tech content and pushing the envelope again despite his history with injury. The cards definitely point towards a high risk of injury once again. That isn't really a surprise. It remains to be seen if the card simply represents the risk (possible) or a coming injury (and if so, how big of an injury). If I was reading for a person I had sitting across from me I'd definitely advice them to more cautious.

Surrounding Environment: Reversed Eight of Cups

In the surrounding environment position we have a card that means mostly perseverance. It stands for people seeing things through despite the risks that may be associated. It doesn't say anything about how wise this decision may be however.

Another thing that could be said is that this card means someone who can't break out from their path due to fear or simply stubbornness. Either way it means someone isn't straying from their preset path no matter the costs. Since this card is about the surrounding environment I'd interpret it to either mean the coaching team or the other skaters. It doesn't necessarily have to be bad especially if the path has been well thought out. If it is the coaching team, I'd say it probably pertains to a season-long plan they may follow.

Influence of Others: Reversed Empress

Quite a hard card to interpret to me because it is usually associated with a female figure in the person's life. I'd like to simply forget about that aspect for a bit though it may actually point to a female figure in his life I don't know about. The Reversed Empress usually means things like infertility, fights with a female figure or lack of care from such a figure.

I'd like to interpret it more creatively and say it's related to creativity. Stagnation after keeping to a certain path without looking elsewhere and rather than a fight with a female figure an inner turmoil pertaining to that. This is a very creative interpretation and may thus be completely off the mark but I simply feel better about doing this rather than speculating about the personal life of someone I don't know.

Spiritual Forces: Upright Nine of Pentacles

The Nine of Pentacles often stands for material wealth or someone wealthy. As such it's quite hard to interpret in the spiritual forces position. The closest I can get is someone wealthy in spirituality. Whether that's religious spirituality or simply the belief in something of a higher power such as luck. It could also be the belief that hard work will be rewarded or something equally pragmatic. Aside from that, I've got nothing. It definitely points to a positive spiritual mindset though or if you want to be more esoteric the spiritual forces smiling down upon the person.

Final Outcome: Upright Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles stands for a hard won goal, but a won goal nonetheless. The person takes pride in one's work, is ambitious and doesn't give up and thus comes out victorious in the end. What's interesting about the Eight of Pentacles in particular is this focus on the training, hard work and overcome hardships that precedes the victory rather than a victory that happens out of luck.

I feel it fits in very well with the rest of the reading that speaks of hardships but also a lot of determination and a influences that support and aid in reaching the set goal.

Interpretation:

Honestly what else is there to add?

Once again I'm quite astounded by how much sense Yuzurus readings make. Every single one I've done for him so far just flows very well and falls into place in a way that makes sense. This one is no exception. Sorry about drawing the Seven of Swords again... I swear... It's just his card at this point.

As always, please don't take these too seriously and don't call me a witch in the notes. I usually interpret the cards quite favorably because I feel like I should but there are some cards... You just can't do anything about it. (Hi, Seven of Swords...)

Feel free to share, discuss, lament, cry and be merry! And don't forget to have fun with this new season and support small fed skaters!

#FS #Yuzuru Hanyu #well i'm tired but i wanted to finish it before he actually skates at aci #here ya go #to the lovely anons that were very polite #i may do more skaters but i may also not because i tend to get busy unexpectedly

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byobossworld · 4 years

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The Japanese Model of Success Written & brought to you by Ken Crause – Business Transformation Coach. The war in Japan had ended in chaos and destruction. Nothing could look bleaker for the Japanese. Their country had recently been bombed with an atomic bomb and life in Japan had become one of survival. How does one take a country in such ruin and turn it into the economic giant it has become? It has little land base – it’s a small island country. It has minimal resources in terms of material things and was broke after spending so much on the war which ended in disaster. Their pride caused them to make the stupid mistake of trying to take on the giant America and they paid dearly for it. What did they have left? Well the only real resource they had left was people. As manufacturing began to revive slowly because of lack of capital, products they produced soon earned the reputation of “Jap crap”. Things made in Japan were inferior in quality to American or European made. How would they survive and thrive? It is often in the place of desperation that we give up our notion of grandeur and pride. It is often at this place that we realize we don’t know it all and need help. This is where the Japanese found themselves. But what of America? Well the bombing of Hiroshima and decisive end to the war caused Americans everywhere to be proud, believing they knew it all and needed nobody to make them better – they were the best. This same foolish attitude has shown up throughout history in many countries and empires – all of which ultimately lead to their demise. The same attitude has caused many great companies such as IBM to fall from their once place of leadership in their industry. There was at that time an American by the name of Dr. W Edwards Deming. In 1950 Deming was a renowned quality control expert who General McArthur had commissioned to go to Japan to help improve things there since America itself was having trouble doing what it needed to do in the country they had just defeated. Nobody really gave Dr. Deming any serious consideration but the Japanese who were willing to learn now, did. Dr. Deming devised 14 “Principles” of success which he faithfully taught the business owners and government in Japan and soon from practicing these principles, the rise of Japan became meteoric and they soon became the country to be reckoned with in trade. This lesson is not designed to cover the extent of what he taught them, but I would like to point two of those principles I consider vital to success. “PRINCIPLES ARE THE RUDDERS THAT GUIDE OUR SHIPS THROUGH CALM AND STORMY SEAS, METHODS ARE SECONDARY. “ It is for this reason I am passionate about and teach fundamental principles of success and without being prideful in any way, I believe every business person would do well to seek to learn and implement success principles – many of which I teach. One of the key principles Deming taught. I call it “SID. So what is SID? It’s an acronym for “Small Improvements Daily”. What Deming taught the Japanese to do is simply this. 1. Find a product or service that interests you. 2. See who is making the best product or offering the best service in the world in that area – 3. Work daily on finding ways to improve on it. The Japanese soon became criticized for “copying” the American, British and German manufacturers, but that did not last long. Once they were able to duplicate them, they went about applying SID which they in fact called “Kaizen”, and a revolution soon took hold in Japan. Instead of greedily focusing on how to cut costs and make more profit, the Japanese focused on how to produce the best product and services in the world... period. Years ago I had started a greeting card company and when I went to print my cards I learned something very interesting. Most printers in North America do a 10% over-run which is to cover off any mistakes or poor product – it happens in all manufacturing in North America. They then pass it on to us and we have to sort out the bad from the good. The Japanese however do not do this. They sort the quality and do not permit anything inferior to leave their plant to a buyer. Their commitment to quality and improvement to this day still sets them apart from many. However, today successful companies around the globe are finally implementing this very basic yet profound principle. So where are you at today with your business? Are you in as bad a shape as Japan was? Do you have as little resources at your disposal as they had? Zimbabwe, where I was born and raised currently has a 90% unemployment rate. They lack resources as badly as Japan did excepting one – people. This country can become a powerhouse just as easily as Japan did, if the government were to wake up there and bring in business teachers to teach these principles of success to their people instead of greedily bleeding every last penny they can for themselves and their friends. In fact many countries in Africa today suffer from the same ailment. But what about you? Why not commit yourself today to make “SID” a way of life for your business. Why not teach this to your staff and hold them accountable to look for ways they can improve what they do in your business daily. A plant in nature does not grow overnight. It takes time, water and sun. By feeding your mind and the minds of your staff daily with positive and exciting stuff, you will cause yourself to grow and along with it you will grow your business – one small thing every day. The Bible says, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings” It’s usually the small things done consistently that either make or break a great business. HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT? – ONE MOUTHFUL AT A TIME. Sometimes we become so overwhelmed at the huge job ahead of us. The goal seems so far away and so far out of reach. But if you will learn the lesson the Japanese did, making small improvements Daily (SID), in time you will find that you have risen to greatness and will remain a leader in the years to come. Make a difference and learn what the Japanese learned – commit to excellence through Small Improvements Daily. Focus on one thing at a time (each day) and consider how you might improve it - today. The second principle Dr. Deming taught is equally as important. – “Perfection is NOT optional” For years I have observed what I always considered to be a very strange behaviour in education. That behaviour is how arbitrarily, passing marks are set for considering someone to pass a test or exam. Of particular concern to me is the fact that a doctor only has to get 70% right on his or her exams to pass. Would you really want to be treated by someone who could be wrong 30% of the time? When I took my training as a commercial helicopter pilot I was subjected to the same passing percentage. Yet, what it meant is that 30% of my knowledge or ability as a pilot could be wrong. Would you seriously want to fly with someone who could make a mistake as a pilot 30% of the time? Okay I got 81% so I could be wrong only 19% of the time. PEOPLE WILL RISE TO WHATEVER STANDARD IS EXPECTED OF THEM When South Africa changed to a black government, one of the things that they did was immediately lower the passing grade in all professions to allow more black people to pass and qualify as professionals. They did not even believe in themselves or that they could do as well or better than the whites did. Pretty sad isn’t it? From what I have learned they are not the only ones who have done this. LOWERING STANDARDS OR “GOOD ENOUGH” IS A SURE PATH TO FAILURE AND DISASTER Deming was a quality control expert and as such had taught manufacturers and other business people that if they wanted to succeed it was critical that they adopted immediately the attitude that the only acceptable standard is “perfect”; No defects whatsoever, no short cuts, no “good enough”. Today a new phrase has taken root to motivate people to a higher standard. This started with the publication of a book entitled “Pursuit of Excellence” by Terry Orlick, a sports phsycologist. There is a saying, “the devil is in the details”. Over the years I have observed that the difference between mediocre and excellence is the attention to details. The difference between the person who finishes first and the one who comes second is in the details. This is why SID – Small Improvements Daily is fundamental to attaining perfection and why without the application of both these principles you will simply never rise to greatness or success. Walt Disney was a classical example of this. He paid so much attention to every detail of his productions that he was the best in all key elements of his productions – music, volume, color, speed transitions, story, characters, lesson etc. etc. In order to pursue perfection it is a matter of attention to the details. So what is “good enough” for you? When you buy a product are you okay with less than perfect? The truth is we all want the perfect “whatever” but we are not prepared ourselves to make the perfect “whatever”. The focus of many business failures has been money or profit rather than a commitment to make the best or do the best. I wonder how much better a standard we could achieve – especially in areas like professions where a mistake could spell death or injury to someone else. What would happen if our schools or universities raised the bar or standard for passing? Is our goal to pass as many people as possible or is it to train the best to be the best? I challenge everyone reading this to raise the bar or standards in your personal life and especially in your business. Your staff will rise to the level you expect of them. There have been teachers who have gone into schools where kids were failing miserably, raised the standard and inspired the students and seen their classes filled with 100% grade “A” students. It’s all a matter of what we accept as “good enough” and how committed we are to perfection. Failure as we grow does happen, but we should never quit, only strive to do better next time. PERFECTION IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO NOT TRY, IT IS THE GOALPOST WHICH WE STRIVE TO REACH. Failure is only our aid to show us we need to improve. It is not an indicator that you are by nature useless or a failure. On the contrary the most successful people in life have usually failed more than anyone else. Failure means you are striving to be better and have successfully learned what does not work, so by all means embrace failure as a friend on your path to perfection. Ken Crause – Business Transformation Coach Email: [email protected]

#perfection #japanese #principles #improvement #business

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talabib · 3 years

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Become A Master Of Your Chosen Pursuit.

In a world constantly offering us quick fixes and easy, step-by-step programs to achieve goals in no time with little effort, it can be easy to forget that to become not just good, but truly great at something takes time. This is where the concept of mastery becomes especially relevant.

True mastery isn’t just about reaching goals; it’s just as much about internalizing a philosophy that will keep you learning even after you’ve reached your goals. In short, true mastery is a lifelong journey.

But what constitutes true mastery? How can you find it in yourself and what can you do to make sure you stay on your path, even when the going gets tough?

Most of the time, we take on new activities with a singular aim – to master them. Be it tennis, chess or a new job, new pursuits can go from exciting to frustrating once we reach the point where our lack of talent seems to be staring us in the face. It’s tempting to give up, but you shouldn’t; you might still have a shot at mastery if you change the way you think.

The first step here is to rethink your motivations for learning a new skill. Many of us are seeking simple recognition from others and the gratification that comes with it. But if you practice tennis until you can do a handful of impressive shots, beat a few of your friends and be congratulated by spectators, you’ll only have the motivation to improve up to a point.

Once you’ve reached a level of skill that’s sufficient to earn you a bit of recognition, you’ll find yourself stuck in your comfort zone. Attempting new shots or competing against more challenging opponents becomes daunting, as you fear you won’t look as good while playing. A true master develops her talents by pushing forward for the sake of it, rather than chasing praise and encouragement.

Another key to mastery is your approach to learning itself, namely by cultivating a certain respect for the process. If you want to master tennis, you’ve got to accept that it’ll take time, patience and perseverance to perfect your forehand. Learning isn’t something you do for a while until you’re good enough – it’s an ongoing journey.

By shifting your mindset, you’ll find that you’re capable of mastering whatever you set your mind to. After all, you were a baby once! Babies enter the world incredibly vulnerable, with very few of the skills adults need to survive.

And yet, they learn at their own pace to crawl, walk, communicate, understand and think for themselves. Some infants learn to walk between nine and ten months of age, while others don’t master it until much later. Children are capable of learning motor skills despite their lack of physique and often slow learning speed.

In this way, learning isn’t about how fast you acquire new skills or how talented or fit you are when you start out; rather, it has much more to do with the journey you take along the way. So, the student who shows the most promise during the first few tennis lessons might not be the one who excels, while an initially clumsier player with a mastery mindset is far more likely to go on to be a pro.

But while a mastery mindset offers us a clear path to excellence, our society seems to reject it at every turn.

American society, like most Western societies, seems to be waging war upon mindful mastery. We’re bombarded with slogans like “Get fit in two weeks!” or “Hit the jackpot!” as advertisers try to convince us that buying their products will allow us to “master” something instantly. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Mastery is built on long periods of practice without tangible results, which lead to bursts of improvement, which then give way to steady, deliberate practice once again. The journey toward mastery isn’t shaped like a steep incline, but rather a series of plateaus punctuated by spurts of progress. Learning to love these plateaus is essential to achieving mastery.

For example, George decided to attend Aikido school. He soon began to enjoy the ritual of classes and the seemingly endless repetition of exercises. While his classmates dropped out, he stuck around through the plateaus and worked his way toward mastery.

Why do many of us find these plateaus so hard to bear? Well, typically because we’re one of three personality types that struggle with mastery – dabblers, obsessives and hackers. Which one are you?

Dabblers tend to approach new hobbies with a lot of enthusiasm. They might pick up an expensive tennis racket, dress like their favorite pro and pat themselves on the back after their first improvements. But they aren’t able to handle the plateaus and end up dropping out, justifying their decision with excuses along the lines of “It just wasn’t the right sport for me . . .”

The obsessive is determined to master his forehand in just one tennis lesson. The learning journey doesn’t matter to him, it’s results that matter. Most of the time, the plateaus after the first small spurts of progress will discourage obsessives enough for them to quit.

Finally, hackers are perfectly comfortable spending the rest of their time in the plateau. They’re happy just to hit the tennis ball over the net a few times when playing against a superior opponent, and aren’t particularly motivated to push themselves to improve any further.

If, to your dismay, you’ve identified yourself as a dabbler, obsessive or hacker, don’t fret! Recognizing the behaviors that prevent you from mastering the skills you’ve always wanted to have is the first step to overcoming them. So what’s the next step?

Of course, there are many skills you can teach yourself without too much help. But on the road to mastery, finding great instruction is a must. Instruction can come in many forms, from video tutorials, computer programs, real-life experiences or even a good old-fashioned book. They’re all valid, but social contact is particularly crucial to great learning experiences. For this reason, one-on-one or group instruction is definitely worth pursuing.

But how can you know if your instructor is worth sticking with? The best way is to observe how they treat their students. Take UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, otherwise known as the “Wizard of Westwood” and one of the best basketball mentors in history.

Wooden’s respect for his players is what made his coaching stand out, as did his balanced focus on the team’s strengths and weaknesses. He would split training sessions fifty-fifty between correcting problems and reinforcing what the team already did well.

Practice, like instruction, is vital in your journey to mastery – but not practice as you know it. While most of us think of practice as repeating a task until we’re good at it, mastery requires us to think of practice as more than a simple action. Instead, think of practice as a noun, as a synonym for “path” or “journey.”

To illustrate this, consider why a martial arts master would continue to train even after receiving his black belt, the highest qualification. The answer is simple: the black belt is just another milestone along the journey, and a license to continue practicing for as long as you wish. Here, the black belt doesn’t represent practice as the act of repetition, but the notion of practice as a noun that captures the joy of ongoing learning.

Now that we’ve explored the roles of instruction and practice in mastery, let’s explore three more key elements that’ll help you on your way to excellence: surrender, intentionality and edge control. These terms are a little less familiar than instruction and practice, so let’s take a closer look.

What does surrender have to do with mastery? Well, it refers to the need to surrender to your teacher and the demands of your discipline. Sometimes this means sacrificing your pride, too.

Say your top-notch tennis instructor, who you respect and trust, asks you to stand on one foot and hold the other foot against your back with one hand, while your other hand rotates in the air above your head. You’ll have to do this for five minutes at the start of every class for your entire first month.

You could, of course, refuse and complain that you’d look ridiculous. But by doing so, you’ll miss out on what the exercise teaches you – improved balance, for instance. Though your instructor might sometimes ask you to do things that you don’t understand, if you trust their wisdom and want to benefit from it, you’ll need to put your pride aside and surrender to them.

Let’s turn now to intentionality. This element focuses on the power of the mind in mastery. Intentionality is the ability to visualize yourself succeeding, and is a technique that golf professionals, for example, rely on heavily. Take international golf legend Jack Nicklaus; he believes that a successful shot consists of 50 percent visualization, 40 percent set-up and just 10 percent swing!

Finally, edges are those moments when you’re confronted with a challenge and, therefore, the opportunity to exceed your own expectations. Masters recognize an edge as a chance to grow, and they’ll concentrate their efforts to make sure they make the most of it.

How do you know when you’re facing an edge? It’s a pretty familiar feeling. For dabblers, the plateau is an edge. For the obsessive, it’s their inability to understand their own limits, while hackers rarely stay on a path long enough to reach an edge in the first place.

The next time you feel you’re facing a task that you simply can’t complete, you’ll need to choose between giving up or focusing hard to overcoming the obstacle. The master will always choose the latter.

Say you decide to follow the path of the master. You’ve told your friends, have gotten into the rhythm of practice and feel great. But then, all of a sudden, it happens: a backslide.

Let’s imagine, for instance, that you’ve decided to run five kilometers every morning as part of your practice routine. But after a little while, beyond the first successful mornings, breathing becomes difficult and your heart races like never before.

This is your body sending you a clear signal – you’ve pushed yourself too far out of your regular state and your body can no longer keep homeostasis going. Homeostasis is a process by which organisms regulate their internal systems, ensuring they function in balanced conditions and avoid drastic changes.

Despite all the well-intentioned resolutions you made, your body wins and interrupts your practice. This will happen for almost anyone learning a new physical skill. So how can you prevent your resolutions from falling apart?

Well, there are three steps you can take.

The first is to surround yourself with people who have already made it through the same challenges you are currently facing. They’ll understand exactly what’s going on when you push up against your body’s natural limits, and can offer advice on how to overcome these limits in your practice sessions.

The next step to take is to ensure you have the right approach to your goals. Remember how our desire for instant success and recognition is counterproductive to mastery? The master finds joy in practice itself, and that should be your focus too. In other words, if you reach the top of the mountain, keep on climbing!

Finally, work hard to stay consistent in your practice and learning. You can even make routines more engaging by turning them into rituals that give you time to reflect on the task at hand. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi observed that this is what master surgeons do when they wash their hands the exact same way prior to every operation – they create a ritual for themselves to focus their minds more deeply.

The last thing you’ll need to ensure a successful journey toward mastery is energy to sustain yourself. Humans are considered to be like machines, full of energy. Unfortunately, troublesome behavior and social mores prevent us from using this energy to its full potential.

This inhibition of natural human energy begins when we’re kids. Think of how curious young children are – they won’t rest until they’ve explored and experienced everything for themselves. But parents, keen to ensure their children’s safety, quickly limit this exploration with rules; from “Don’t touch that!” to “Be quiet!” to “Not until you eat your vegetables”, we grow up listening to negative commands that curtail our natural curiosity and drain our energy.

Luckily, we’re all capable of reclaiming this childlike energy through a few simple practices.

One of these is maintaining physical fitness. By making sure we walk or cycle instead of driving, for instance, we can remind ourselves of the strength our bodies possess and put it to good use.

Another step is to set your priorities well. Focusing our energy toward one main goal means we may have to let go of other goals, but this is by no means a disadvantage; rather, prioritization gives us a better understanding of our energy levels and helps us learn to work within our limits. And priorities can always be shifted according to how you perceive your needs.

Finally, learning to accept your commitment to a goal, rather than fighting it, can give you an unparalleled energy boost. By diving into a new endeavor wholeheartedly, and by recognizing and welcoming the work that comes along with mastery, you’ll give yourself plenty of fuel for the entire journey.

Mastering a new skill isn’t about the results you achieve, the recognition you get from your peers or even repetitive practice that helps you get there. Instead, mastery is a path that you can follow to ensure your new endeavors are shaped by ongoing learning, passionate and patient practice and a rediscovery of your own human potential.

#mastery

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transformationalleadership · 3 years

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The Strength and Weaknesses of Transformational Leadership Style

Why is the transformative leadership style becoming popular – and to some extent, necessary? One of the main benefits of the transformational leadership style is that it treats people as individuals. Transformational leaders regard their followers as equals, each with his own skills and experience, and seek to bring out the best in them through coaching and encouragement instead of barking orders. Employees feel supported, so they work hard and stay.

It isn't all good news, however. This particular way of leading can elevate the company to new highs, or drop it to new lows, depending how the leader exercises her power. As with any management style, there are pros and cons of transformational leadership you need to consider before deciding if it is right for your organization.

Strength: United in a Common Cause

Transformational leaders stand out in their ability to quickly analyze a company's current situation and create a righteous vision for its improvement and growth. Through passion and influence, the leader communicates her vision to employees to get everyone on board. Employees are motivated to do what is asked of them because the whole work experience is perceived as a purposeful and enjoyable adventure.

In terms of bottom-line results, the organization should see productivity gains when a transformational leader comes on board. It's much easier to optimize performance when everyone is pulling in the same direction, as all people can see the big picture and feel united in a common cause.

Weakness: It's Too Big-Picture

It's one thing to rally support for the big-picture vision, but quite another to actualize that vision with clear operational strategies on the ground. One of the main weaknesses of transformational leadership is that it's too conceptual and is missing the task focus that some employees need to guide them as they go about their duties. Transformational leaders don't like to get bogged down with details, but every organization needs operational planning to help it achieve its vision.

Strength: Reduces Turnover Costs

Employees come and go – and when someone goes, it can cost the organization dearly in terms of finding and training a replacement. Transformational leadership seeks to lower staff turnover by making people feel more engaged and included in the organization.

United behind the leader's vision, employees are more likely to feel like they fit in, like they're sharing the same goals with co-workers, and that they are not lonely. People who match the culture and behaviors of the business tend to stick around, which decreases turnover.

Weakness: Can Lead to Employee Burnout

While some will feel inspired by a transformational leader, others feel their presence as a constant pressure. Transformational leaders put a lot of emphasis on authenticity – living and breathing the company culture and values. This constant push to achieve the grand vision and to continually take pride in the company's achievements can lead to demotivation and burnout in some employees. It sends the message that much more is required than simply turning up, doing a great job, and then going home.

Strength: Creates and Manages Change

For companies to evolve, they must be willing to embrace change. However, change is notoriously tricky to implement because many people are resistant to it. Usually, it's because they are scared of the unknown or feel suspicious that the new situation will be worse than the old way of doing things.

What's special about transformational leaders is their ability to sell the benefits – and the morality – of the change by creating an inspiring new vision and getting people to buy into it. This style of leadership focuses on the positive impact of the change "for the greater good" and tells people how they can contribute to it. This makes it much easier for employees to embrace the change – and even enjoy it.

Weakness: Can Be Risky and Disruptive

The problem with change is that it becomes disruptive if it happens too frequently, and detrimental if the leader takes excessive or unnecessary risks. Companies often hire a transformational leader with the specific goal of creating change within the organization. But danger comes when the transformational leader fixates on change as the end game, instead of something positive for the organization.

If the leader fails to objectively assess whether this particular change at this time and for this organization is the appropriate response, it is more likely to produce negative outcomes.

Strength: Keeps the Company Open and Ethical

Integrity is a core value of transformational leaders: Their entire sphere of influence is based upon them being transparent and openly living the values they've established for the organization. For this reason, a transformational leader is going to be laser-focused on doing the right thing. They tend to be values-driven and ethics-focused, which encourages the company's employees to stick to the straight and narrow and act in the best interest of the company and its wider communities.

Weakness: Carries a High Potential for Abuse

But what if the transformational leader's version of "doing things the right way" is actually the wrong way for the organization and the people within it? Sometimes, a charismatic leader will stridently follow a vision that is not a force for good. Experts often cite Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden as examples of transformational leaders, so there can be a dark side to this style of leadership.

Strenghth: Promotes Morale Through Better Communication

One of the biggest issues businesses face is low morale, which usually occurs when the work environment grows stale, people are unclear of their job role or duties, or there's a lot of intra-group conflict. More often than not, the root cause of these problems is poor communication.

Transformational leaders are, by definition, excellent communicators. They must provide clear and consistent messages to rally people behind their vision of the future. When a company has a communication problem, it often brings in a transformational leader to articulate the corporate message clearly, reminding people of why they're doing what they're doing and breaking them out of the old routine.

Weakness: Requires a Continuous Feedback Loop

The other side of communication is that it really only works if there's continuous communication available. Transformational leaders rely on keeping enthusiasm levels high, and that takes a lot of work and a lot of meetings and feedback – week in, week out – to be successful. The second that communication breaks down, and an employee feels left out of the loop, then there's a risk that he will lose commitment to the vision.

Strength: Gives Employees a Lot of Freedom

Unlike the transactional style of leadership, which uses clear chains of command, rewards and punishments to motivate workers, the transformational style of leadership gives workers a lot of personal freedom. Workers are valued for their skills and experience and are trusted to perform tasks to the best of their ability.

In other words, transformational leaders do not use their position to control others, but to inspire them. The entire system is based on motivation coming from within instead of through the carrot-and-stick approach.

Weakness: Leaders Lose Power If People Disagree With Them

What if employees do not agree with the leader's vision? Transformational leadership relies on employees being intrinsically motivated to work hard, but if those employees are not hearing, feeling and connecting with the vision, then intrinsically motivation will be lacking. Worse, there may be insufficient transactional motivators in place (rewards and punishments) to encourage any type of response, and that imbalance is the reason why transformational initiatives can fail.

Fundamentally, a transformational leader's power is his influence. If someone disagrees with the leader's vision for the organization, then he loses the ability to influence them, and he loses all his power.

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gokul2181 · 4 years

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Kings XI Punjab: IPL 2020: KL Rahul's calm approach has rubbed off on KXIP, says Jonty Rhodes | Cricket News

New Post has been published on https://jordarnews.in/kings-xi-punjab-ipl-2020-kl-rahuls-calm-approach-has-rubbed-off-on-kxip-says-jonty-rhodes-cricket-news/

Kings XI Punjab: IPL 2020: KL Rahul's calm approach has rubbed off on KXIP, says Jonty Rhodes | Cricket News

DUBAI: The quality of fielding in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been brilliant. But two performances that stand out are efforts at the boundary from Kings XI Punjab‘s (KXIP) Nicholas Pooran and Mayank Agarwal. And the man behind KXIP’s impressive show is none other than fielding coach Jonty Rhodes. POINTS TABLE| FIXTURES Talking to ANI, Rhodes spoke about working hard on fielding drills in training, skipper KL Rahul‘s influence on the KXIP unit and most importantly how fielders need to adapt when playing in a semi-closed stadium like the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. KXIP’s fielding has been top-class, to say the least. But Rhodes says it is all the hard work of the boys during training that reflects on the field of play. The pride, though, is evident in his voice.

“As a fielding coach, there is great pride when you see the players performing on the field because all you are asking them is to give is their 100 per cent and go for every opportunity. I am not worried about the end result. With Pooran and Mayank’s efforts, we work with players in pairs saving the ball and returning it to the in-field, and completing catches which is a big ask sometimes. “For Pooran, to complete the catch and release it, he was mid-air and parallel to the ground when he took it and then to time the release. Even Glenn Maxwell was there in the frame. He just wasn’t sure which side Pooran would release it. “Similarly, when Mayank saved that six from Kieron Pollard in the Super Over. It is a massive result off the last ball. If that ball had gone for six, momentum would have been with Mumbai Indians. The fact that he pulled that back in and almost got it to Arshdeep (Singh) was incredible. (To) Save a four off the last ball was huge. Completing that under pressure is good. We work on specifics with the in-field fielders as well as those on the boundary,” he smiled.

While there have been some brilliant efforts, there have also been some sitters dropped as well. But Rhodes says it isn’t easy fielding in a ground like the one in Dubai. “Don’t forget the stadium in Dubai is totally closed in…It has been a little less for the last few days, but in the first month, there was a strong wind blowing in the evening. When the stadium is open like in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi, it doesn’t impact much because you know which way the ball will swing. But when the stadium is closed as in Dubai, the wind swirls and that makes it very difficult. “Then, there is a rim of lights at the top of the stadium and that makes it difficult. The ball, when it goes straight up, it is a lot easier when there is no wind. When the guys are fielding at the boundary, the ball sometimes goes through the line of the lights and it is quite difficult,” he said. Coming back to KXIP, the team started well, but had been failing to close games. Rhodes says the idea was to keep calm and not panic looking at the points table. “The first half of the tournament, we had discussed about disregarding the table position. When you play seven matches, there is a long way to go. But after seven matches, we sat down and while we were sitting at the bottom, considering the results and looking at the table, Mumbai and Delhi were at the top and RCB at the third position. We obviously had comfortably beaten RCB and a thriller against Delhi.

“We said there is no need to panic. We had patches of good cricket and we were generally winning 36 overs of the game and it was just the last couple of overs which we couldn’t complete successfully. T20s are going to be about the last over or last ball. We have enough experience in our team to know that is how T20 cricket is played. “It wasn’t about panicking and looked to be consistent with the personnel. We were looking to introduce Chris Gayle earlier, but he was sick for a week. We knew all it required was finishing the batting and bowling. Needed just one game to turn it around,” he pointed. And Rhodes says the skipper played a huge role in ensuring that the boys felt comfortable despite the results not always going KXIP’s way. “KL played a massive role. It is easy for a captain, especially someone who is performing so well, to say ‘ come on everyone, pull your socks up’. But he has a calm presence and is not a fiery temperament. Even when he is batting, he doesn’t work up a sweat, even though he is hitting the ball over covers for a six. He is a calm personality and it is very important as a captain that you give yourself the space to be yourself. “Being calm doesn’t mean you are not concerned or you are taking things slowly. He is very hard-working and very competitive but doesn’t get upset or influenced by circumstances around him. For the first time Rahul got fired up was in the last game against Delhi Capitals after the first six overs, when we didn’t put up a good display and they were looking like scoring 180-190. “He just said guys we need to pull up our socks. And the guys responded well to him because he has been calm and consistent through the wins and losses. Players feel he has got their back. His consistency through wins and losses allows him to ask for a bigger and better performance,” the former South Africa player explained.

Rahul has been in brilliant form and has amassed 540 runs from the 10 games with a century and five fifties. Rhodes feels that it is amazing how the KXIP skipper seems suited for all formats of the game. “It is incredible and is an indication of the strength of Indian cricket, which is also detrimental sometimes for some young cricketers. Think of Rohit Sharma, how long he took to break into the Indian team. Guys like Mayank have shown he is more than just a Test player. But KL has just been so consistent. He is multi-dimensional and that is important because as a cricketer you need to adapt to every scenario. The players who are able to adapt are the ones who are successful. “Someone like KL, wherever he has batted he has scored runs — top or at number four. And the reason he fields so well is because as a wicketkeeper you move your feet. People talk about great hands, soft hands. But I feel you can have the best hands but if you can’t get to the ball, you are never going to catch it. So I focus on athletic ability, mobility and quick feet and that is why KL is good behind the stumps and in the outfield. He moves to get into position very well. “Some teams have different players for Tests and then different for even 50-overs and T20s. A lot of the countries have very different Test teams as compared to their limited-overs teams, and that is where KL has such a big advantage that he can adjust and has a sound technique. He plays spin and pace well and hits the ball really late and it gives him an advantage in any of the formats and in any position,” he said. Asked if keeping wickets has helped Rahul further, Rhodes said: “It certainly gives you an understanding of how the ball is coming off the surface and is an advantage. But for the first month (temperature-wise), if you saw MS Dhoni, I have never seen him look stressed at the crease as he is such a fit and strong player. KL had to give the gloves to Pooran for a few games as he was really having to battle. We weren’t winning many tosses, so we were fielding first and to field for 20 overs in that heat and to then go straight out to bat was becoming tough for KL. “If you are batting at four or six or seven, then it is a different picture. Being behind the stumps with the spin bowlers up close, it does give you an indication of how the ball is coming onto the bat. AB de Villiers bats two down or three down for RCB, so he has the time for a shower or sit and relax, but KL literally has 10 minutes to change, and then he is back on the field again. An advantage yes, but in the heat sometimes, a disadvantage.”

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recentanimenews · 4 years

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A Lifetime of Competition: Growing Up in Chihayafuru

While watching some sports and competition dramas, I often get the strange impression that nothing in these universes exists apart from the sport or competition they’re pursuing. Every single person in Tennisworld is obsessed with tennis, everyone in Cookingworld frames all of their conflicts in terms of cooking challenges, etcetera. When the meat of your story’s drama and appeal is found in how dedicated competitors clash through some specific mode of competition, it makes some sense for your story’s world to feel a little insular, and for the central mode of conflict to bleed into other aspects of characters’ lives. But in real life, our lives are never all one thing—we balance our competitive passions against our personal and professional lives, and ultimately are forced to make compromises in how the sports we love fit into our larger world.

It’s understandable that a medium and genre so focused on the trials of adolescence would maintain such an all-or-nothing focus—but not all sports shows ignore the wider world. Chihayafuru’s third season has been directly grappling with these questions, as half of its cast start to approach the end of high school, and the other half are already struggling with the trials of adult, or even senior living. The sport of karuta doesn’t discriminate based on age, so long as you’re still able to compete. The most recent arc focused on characters ranging from teens to competitors in their late fifties, all fighting to claim the titles of Master and Queen.

These characters are not single-minded instruments of karuta glory; they are individual people, each with their own life circumstances, yet each united by their passion for the sport they love. Their trials go beyond their efforts to simply be the best, or to work together with some particular group of teammates. As it turns out, when you expand the scope of your characters’ life circumstances, you expand the scope of your story’s overall drama, as well as the poignant questions it can ask. And in Chihayafuru’s case, that expansion of scope has refocused the show on questions that are crucial to any athlete: how do you find healthy joy in competition, and how do you grow up alongside a beloved sport?

The recent Master and Queen tournament arcs have explored that directly, through the contrasting circumstances of the reigning karuta champions and their new challenges. Master Suo, who has reigned as Master for several years straight, is considered an unimpeachable demon of karuta. Yet as we explore his narrative, we find his dedication to the sport comes from a place of deep loneliness and self-doubt. Taken in as a child by a much wealthier household, Suo is guided by the words “be sure to make something of yourself”—to make some value out of himself, rather than pursue his genuine passions. Karuta was simply something he could prove his value through; but as his college education drags on and his vision deteriorates, Suo is finding himself within an increasingly narrow world, and unable to see the person he will be once karuta is gone.

Shinobu, the teenage karuta Queen, seems even more isolated than Suo. Shinobu has never had genuine friends; instead, the karuta cards became her friends, and eventually her source of strength. Shinobu drew strength from karuta, but eventually, her sole focus on karuta led to a rejection of all else, and a disdain for the “emotional weaknesses” tying down other players. But Shinobu’s route has only led to fragility and despair; she might say she doesn’t need attachments, but when she feels abandoned by her grandmother or her few friends, she has no one to fall back on at all.

In contrast, Suo and Shinobu’s challengers seem to both embody a healthier spirit of karuta, while also demonstrating our ability to age alongside the activities we love. Coach Harada missed his chance to become Master back in his youth, and was only able to return to the sport in his middle age, with weak knees and failing stamina. But Harada does not let his physical age get him down; in contrast, he actually embraces the scrappy tactics he’s absorbed over a long lifetime of karuta play, and takes pride in facing off with much younger opponents.

Queen challenger Haruka is actually a former Queen herself, who took off time from the sport in order to raise her children. Now playing with two children and a supportive husband in tow, Haruka lacks the acuity of game sense she possessed as a young challenger. She’s also plagued by doubts regarding her theoretical “selfishness” in returning to karuta, rather than focusing on her new life and demanding children. And yet, when the time for Haruka and Shinobu’s match approaches, Haruka is actually cheered on by her children; rather than distracting her from her passion, they become a source of strength, the bedrock of her competitive spirit.

As we grow older, we gain attachments and obligations that limit our ability to live entirely for ourselves. As teenagers, we’re able to compete entirely on our own terms—but as adults, our time is rationed, and we become responsible to others. But as Chihayafuru sees it, attachments are not weakness—and being groundless is certainly not a strength. Lacking in strong personal bonds, Suo’s motivation is tainted by his obligation to be a “productive adult”—he plays because he has nothing else. Shinobu, as well, is treated as a useless child with one potentially marketable talent; and when the flimsiness of her bonds is revealed, she crumbles into despair.

In contrast, characters like Harada have a support structure that embraces them even in defeat. Whether Harada wins or loses, he has proven to himself that he can still compete—and more importantly, he’s offered inspiration to the hundreds of students he’s trained along the way. Rather than tying him down, Harada’s age and attachments have given him both emotional strength and a vital sense of community. And as one karuta reader tells the nostalgic Haruka, we’re all young from a certain perspective; embrace all the fruits of life you can, because you’re never too old to return to your passion.

Both Harada and Haruka represent a happy vision of aging alongside the sports you love, while embracing all the rambling paths life will take you on. Embracing other passions need not diminish your love for the game; your relationship with a sport may change, but change in all things is inevitable. Harada and Haruka both found communities in the larger world that they brought back to their passion, and their experiences were richer for it. If you make your victory larger than yourself, you can find great strength and comfort in the support of others, and joyous discoveries even in defeat.

Unfortunately, while Chihayafuru’s adult characters have largely graduated into a healthy, emotionally fulfilling relationship with karuta, its teenage leads are still bound by limitless anxieties regarding their karuta performances and personal futures. But that’s how life is, and either way, I appreciate Chihayafuru’s efforts to illustrate the full experience of growing alongside a sport, and the profound vitality of its adult characters. Here’s hoping Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata grow up as gracefully as their karuta seniors!

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Nick Creamer has been writing about cartoons for too many years now, and is always ready to cry about Madoka. You can find more of his work at his blog Wrong Every Time, or follow him on Twitter.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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thisdaynews · 4 years

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Super Bowl 2020: The NFL Academy & its first students on new path to US game

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/super-bowl-2020-the-nfl-academy-its-first-students-on-new-path-to-us-game/

Super Bowl 2020: The NFL Academy & its first students on new path to US game

The first intake of students started at the academy in September

It’s 5am and an alarm clock goes off in Milton Keynes. Fraser Holden has to get up and out in time to catch the 05:53 to London Euston.

From there he takes the tube to Southgate, north London, and is down to work by 7.30am. He might not leave until five in the afternoon.

Unlike the other commuters, Fraser travels kitted out in sportswear. He’s 16 and is going to college to learn how to play American football. Today. the aspiring linebacker will meet Jerry Rice, one of the greatest players of all time.

Yet this is not a one-off, it’s a regular day at the NFL Academy. Backed by the NFL, Nike and some superstar mentors, the programme is the first of its kind in Britain.

The aim? To transform the perception of American football in the UK and Europe.

The NFL said nothing until a surprise social media campaign announced the details last May. Within two weeks, over 1,500 had applied for the 90 places on offer.

In September, the first intake started at Barnet & Southgate College. Here, 16-to-18-year-olds study for regular qualifications alongside elite American football training.

Fraser was one of those who applied. He grew up playing rugby but had started playing small-sided American football games too. He was lured by the ‘We Can, We Do’ campaign, aimed at British youngsters dreaming of following Efe Obada and Jay Ajayi into the NFL.

The first try-outs were held in June. Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr was there – as well as BBC pundits Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell.

From the outset, the message was clear. Academy hopefuls would be judged on their attitude and character as much as their athletic ability. And the programme would be very demanding.

Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history

“It’s dedication, it’s commitment,” says Will Bryce, NFL UK’s head of player development. “It’s prioritising studying, managing your time, getting to bed early, getting off social media when you don’t need to be on it. It gives the kids structure, they’re part of a team, plus there are some pretty cool opportunities too.”

Selfies with OBJ was just the start. After the try-outs, 150 hopefuls were called back to a stadium showcase in the first NFL event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July. There they met Obada himself and did drills with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster.

Fraser was among the 90 eventually accepted. He admits the first few weeks of the programme were “a big shake-up – especially after going to school five minutes away”. Now he is proud to wear his NFL-branded kit, to be one of those who stands out on campus.

In pride of place is the academy gym, which was converted from the college’s theatre and now features NFL branding inside and out. Jerry Rice came for the official opening.

The 57-year-old, who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, tells students that at their age he was a “diamond in the rough”, that he never thought he would play professional football, that he wasn’t the greatest athlete and didn’t have the best skills but refused to let anybody “out-work him”.

The legendary receiver speaks with the ‘inspiration wall’ as backdrop. It features quotes from NFL players, each one almost always featuring the same word – work. Three more are prominent too: Responsibility, integrity, respect.

The students are often here lifting weights at 7.30am. For linebacker Fraser and defensive end Tyrese Peters-Tovey, 19, the strength and conditioning work has been the toughest part. But the shared experience quickly saw the group bond.

“You kind of have to when you’re running 110-yard sprints together and running into each other for three hours a day!” Fraser says.

Each week they have three field sessions, four classroom sessions and four weightlifting sessions. On Wednesdays, the focus is on character development. Staff and external speakers talk about life skills, wellbeing, and issues such as social media safety and domestic violence.

They have 10 hours of classes in their chosen subjects – the same as all the college’s students – plus 15 hours of training on top. And if anybody wants extra video footage to review in their own time – an essential part of life in the NFL – staff are happy to oblige.

“If they’re willing to put the work in, we’ll match it and then some,” says Bryce. “It’s going to produce a type of American football player which this country has not produced before. They’re going to be much better prepared to compete in the NFL, mentally and physically.”

Only 90 could be accepted for the academy’s first intake in September

Head coach is Tony Allen – the long-serving London Warriors coach. He and his staff have had to tailor sessions to accommodate a range of skillsets.

Some signed up having already broken into Great Britain’s Under-19s, some had never played a snap. Many have come across from rugby, others have switched from sports like athletics, tennis, judo and swimming. In total, 32 of the 90 students are considered ‘crossover athletes’.

While American youngsters grow up with the game, British players like Umenyiora and Obada have proved you can pick it up late and still succeed.

Umenyiora was born in London and hadn’t even heard of American football until he moved to Alabama at the age of 14. He went on to win two Super Bowls. Obada didn’t play until he was 22 and, five years on, has just signed for a third year with the Carolina Panthers.

“We always said that if we’re going to help develop European talent we need to get them earlier and here we are working with 16-year-olds,” says Allen.

Students come from very different backgrounds, too. Three are involved with the Big Kid Foundationwhich seeks to help “young people at risk of social exclusion and youth violence”. Another is a former pupil at Charterhouse boarding school in Surrey.

Thirty-five have left home to be here – 30 from further afield in the UK, five from Europe. Because they’re under 18 they aren’t permitted to live on their own, so the college has partnered with a homestay programme to place them with local families, with extra pastoral and welfare staff on hand to support them.

The dream for many is to earn a scholarship and join the American collegiate system, from which NFL players are drafted. The academy has therefore had to find centres in London where they can sit the SAT test, for college admissions in the US.

That’s true of George Reynolds. He wants to be the NFL’s first British quarterback and has just been out in Florida. He was one of eight from the academy, selected by fellow students, to take part in a High School skills showdownbefore Sunday’s Pro Bowl all-star game in Orlando.

Fraser has recently joined George in the British U19 squad, and although he also hopes to play in the US too, he feels his academic choices could help him pursue an alternative career in politics.

Tyrese chose to put off university for a year, moving from Hackney to his dad’s in Enfield so he could be closer to campus. While his parents backed the decision, he initially faced opposition from his grandparents, who are lawyers and dentists in Trinidad.

“They made it sound like I wasn’t being productive,” Tyrese says. “But I’m not just getting better at football, I have a chance to get a qualification and get something in life.

“Whatever happens after this, I’ll be a better player and a better person. I think I made the right choice.”

Fraser Holden grew up playing rugby but switched over to American Football

With the NFL’s regular season already over, British players Christian Scotland-Williamson and Jamie Gillan recently dropped by. Obada is also set to pay another visit.

He and Scotland-Williamson are products of the International Player Pathway, which started in 2017. And the success of that programme, for over-20s, gave Alistair Kirkwood the inspiration to revisit an idea he first presented early in his 20-year tenure as NFL UK’s managing director.

Back then, things were focused solely on producing more elite, international players. But after helping bring regular season games to London, Kirkwood realised an academy could do much more.

“We wanted something from a community perspective in north London that was more year-round and impactful than just playing the London Games,” he says.

“Now education is as important in the academy as the athletic side, if not more so. An elite few will go to the States but success for us is 100% of kids having some form of defined success, be it going on to further education, becoming more employable or being role models who can influence younger kids.

“We’ve had lots of little landmarks where we’ve confounded ourselves and gone on to greater things but of all of these, I’d say the academy has the potential to be truly transformational. It could be something we look back on and say it changed the shape of the sport.”

As the students watch Super Bowl 54 this Sunday, it will be with a clear path of how one day they could get there too. Realistically, few will make it. Only 1.6% of US college players were drafted in 2018.

But even if they don’t, the experience will last a lifetime, wherever their future lies.

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