Comments on: Vertigo Stick

By: Yoga Fire

Yoga Fire — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:55:46 +0000

I was forbidden from playing sports as a child by my parents and was berated for competing in high school. I wanted to scream at my parents, "WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!??"

Your mileage may vary. In high school I was an officer in 3 different clubs while also playing tennis for school and competitively as well as doing tae-kwon-do all on top of normal schoolwork and my parents would still say that I wasn't involved in enough athletic/cultural activities.

By: boston_mahesh

boston_mahesh — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:15:39 +0000

Guys,

This video has become the laughing stock of the world. It was featured on Tosh.0 , and the whole audience had a field day heckling this video. This video is much less remarkable - and slightly barbaric - when compared to watching the Chinese demo their ping-pong talents.

By: Nikhil

Nikhil — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:48:29 +0000

Therefore, no excuse why Indians cannot/do not compete in more traditionally accepted (and highly rewarded) gymnastic styles such as those in the Olympics. Come on India, what are you waiting for!

I must say I love your attitude. Unfortunately, no way, it's not gonna happen! It's partly because Indians generally aren't athletically predisposed, but the big thing is that the culture just completely goes against athletics, doesn't it??

I remember an interesting interview with Sushil Kumar (A rare Indian medalist in '08 Olympics. I wish I could find the link right now). He said Indian pehlwans are some of the toughest guys in the world. But they have so few luxuries and such poor support compared to athletes from other nations that it makes it very difficult to be successful in international freestyle wrestling competition. The same is even more true with other sports.

I was forbidden from playing sports as a child by my parents and was berated for competing in high school. I wanted to scream at my parents, "WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!??" I've met a lot of 2nd generation Indians whose experience was similar. I bet even in Maharashtra, indigenous sports like mallakhamb are very much frowned upon by many. I don't know, maybe things are changing. But how can a culture that hates sports and has a defeatist attitude towards sports produce athletes that are good at sports??

By: deepa

deepa — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:17:05 +0000

I second what a few people said- these guys are ATHLETES. Therefore, no excuse why Indians cannot/do not compete in more traditionally accepted (and highly rewarded) gymnastic styles such as those in the Olympics. Come on India, what are you waiting for! ~the â€œIndia-can-do-better-Auntieâ€

By: Akash

Akash — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:56:33 +0000

Malkhamb – I dont know whether Wiki states this or not – my info is from current practitioners, was popularized by Shivajis commanders to keep their fighters physically fit. If you have to be a warrior, you need to be extremely fit. And these guys were fighting on foot, on cavalry, as guerillas, as conventional troops against the best Central Asian Muslim troops the Mughal empire could throw against the Marathas.

Todays, Maratha Light Infantry of the Indian Army, follows Malkhamb.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/05/07/stories/2005050703730100.htm

They had an exercise with the Marines (US) a year or so back. Where the US Marines looked at these guys doing Malkhamb and were ??!!! and also noted that the MLI had amazing training and discipline.

The Martial heritage of the Marathas lives on.

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:19:37 +0000

I was going to comment on the apparent attraction from members of the opposite (and same?) gender for these incredibly flexible and strong atheletes. Many a young boy has seen a gymnast or acrobat and pondered the bedroom possibilities. As you get older you realise that arcane positions aren’t everything, but a healthy heart and strong limbs do count. I doubt the top Mallakhamb competitors have any problems getting dates.

By: m

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:35:52 +0000

that second guy was super hairy!! but still v. impressive… no shaving to improve aerodynamics i guess?

By: Rahul

Rahul — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:58:36 +0000

If only he’d stuck the landing, he would have replaced Mohini Bharadwaj as the gymnast of my dreams.

By: daycruz

daycruz — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:30:42 +0000

I clicked the video prepared to start giggling but within a few seconds my jaw dropped. This guy is shockingly good!

Soo.. how about we grab this guy, his friends, and whoever coached him and start training him for the Indian gymnastics team? He obviously can handle the pummelhorse and such?

By: bess

bess — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:59:11 +0000

Lindsey, I’m thinking the speedos are the latest thing in nano technology.