Life

Halloween has come at last! I had thought I was going to be V from V for Vendetta most of the previous year. A month or so before, I decided I was going to be a Ninja. Well, that was all fine and dandy, but then I discovered that most of my friends were going to do different costumes for different Halloween events. I didn’t want to be left behind.

The first event, I didn’t have my Ninja costume, and so literally 30 minutes before closing time of a party store, I rushed over and bought some make up as I decided to become a vampire. A friend did my makeup, and voila! I scared people to the point people couldn’t look at me in the face! This was a week prior to Halloween.

The night before, I wore my Ninja outfit dancing. It was great, I looked like a real ninja, with a Bokken and rubber shurikan. Many people had trouble knowing who I was and had to peer into my eyes to see. I also grabbed a friend and ran off with her.

I was trying to decide what I would do for actual Halloween, whether I would just be Ninja again or be something else. I remember my friend went emo a few years back, and I thought, why not?

So, I started contacting friends and asking what information they had if I wanted to go for an emo/scene look. One of my friends said “oh, emo/scene/goth?” And so I started adding that in. Finally, one friend of mine told me she had a lot of information on goths. She gave me a whole bunch of information, and what I planned on being a really cheap costume turned out to be pretty expensive.

I borrowed many of my friend’s clothes, including pants, shoes, gloves and some makeup. The pants were a bit tight (which could be expected, being a girl’s) but they did fit. I bought several things from Hot Topic, borrowed my mother’s trench coat, and became what is my all-time favorite costume.

I had what looked like two piercings, black eyeliner, a slightly paler face, arm fishnets, boots, checkered gloves, it was absolutely amazing.

So, I went to a friend’s house for a party. Lots of drinks as well as a dance floor, and while I don’t drink it definitely provided some entertainment. I had friends not even recognize me as they walked by. Many of my old friends freaked out when they saw the pictures, and go sooo many compliments on the costume.

As for the actual Halloween party, it was mainly just our friends hanging out and chatting. Though, a friend of ours nearly got into a fight, which would not have been fun, but was a little exciting. We did dance for a bit, but it was right next to the fog machine and bally hot, so we decided to stop.

And that was Halloween!

I decided I was going to be a ninja for Halloween. But I’m sick of all the people who are like “Yeah! It’s so cool to be a ninja! They’re cool and stuff.”

I wanted to be the real deal. So, I ordered a ninja uniform (thick material, actual hidden pockets for shurikans and weapons, and so on), that come with tabi boots and socks (ninja boots and socks), and a bokken (a type of wooden training sword).

Ok, well that’s pretty good for the look, also taken that I already own ninja climbing claws for the hands and feet, and an actual shurikan, wakazashi, tanto, etc. I am also partially trained in martial arts, but I wanted to really look cool. I wanted to do a wall flip. You know, the type where they run up a wall and flip.

So, I started researching. I found videos everywhere. How to spot, how to start learning, but the one they nearly all of them briefly mentioned was, “Once you have got your back flip down…”

I couldn’t do a backflip. I thought a wall flip would be easier. This was a little bit discouraging, but I decided I would learn a backflip and THEN a wall flip. Unfortunately it was a little over a week until Halloween. That’s not much time.

I started doing a few exercises to prepare myself for them. I then posted a status mentioning that I was trying to learn.

I got many responses very fast. One of them from a friend of mine who is a tumbler. He is also a swing aerials instructor, and so I thought he would be a good person to learn from.

We were talking and he decided to help me on Sunday. That brings us to yesterday.

Here are the basics of a backflip that I learned BEFORE meeting up with him:

1. Jump straight UP. Not backwards.
2. Raise your hand above your head and swing back in preparation to a jump, and swing them back when you go into it.
3. At the peak of your jump, tuck your legs to your chest.
4. Do NOT back out of it once you jump, you have to keep going.
5. Keep your head neutral, not looking back or looking forward.

So, once I was there, this was all great to know, but I had a few more things to learn.

1. When tucking your chest you’re using your abs to rotate yourself.
2. You should keep your head on something above a 90 degree angle and look for that on your way around.
3. The main thing it requires is GUTS to COMPLETELY throw yourself and HOPE you get back around. I’d say the hardest part is getting yourself to fully commit to your jump. The way I finally did it was by giving up any hope that I might be able to protect myself jumping, and just to jump and rotate as hard and fast as I can.

By the end of it, I could NEARLY do a backflip. I made it around, and hit my feet, but didn’t quite rotate enough for me to land it.

Oh, and if anyone is trying it. Get TWO spotters, one on each side. They should hold your back and rotate your legs until you can do it yourself.

Here is a good video on how to do a backflip:

Enjoy!