Comments on: Lightness and the Tactile Burden http://www.sportsbabel.net/2007/06/lightness-and-the-tactile-burden.htm disconnect in the sportocracy Mon, 21 May 2012 18:26:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: sportsBabel » Metamorphosus Interruptus http://www.sportsbabel.net/2007/06/lightness-and-the-tactile-burden.htm/comment-page-1#comment-234033 sportsBabel » Metamorphosus Interruptus Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:19:17 +0000 http://www.sportsbabel.net/2007/06/lightness-and-the-tactile-burden.htm#comment-234033 [...] itself. This movement in suspension sounds paradoxical if one assumes the fixed perspective of the medical gaze and its unitary subjectivity, though when understood as a renegotiation of the link between corpus [...] [...] itself. This movement in suspension sounds paradoxical if one assumes the fixed perspective of the medical gaze and its unitary subjectivity, though when understood as a renegotiation of the link between corpus [...]

]]> By: kim bauer http://www.sportsbabel.net/2007/06/lightness-and-the-tactile-burden.htm/comment-page-1#comment-33591 kim bauer Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:09:18 +0000 http://www.sportsbabel.net/2007/06/lightness-and-the-tactile-burden.htm#comment-33591 The wrestler and gymnast both struggle with the issue of weight and lightness. Although increased weight suggests more stability and grounded-ness, most wrestlers strive to play a match at the lowest weight category possible to be the best in their category. The gymnast understands the negative implications of weight from a very young age, and it is emphasized even more so by their coaches, teammates etc. This can be justified by the increased episodes of eating disorders; the desire to sacrifice years of life in order to maintain the ideal thinness or lightness, that is assumed to be associated with winning or performing well. Can not lightness and weight, although held in opposition here, be seen as both positive (rather than in a negative light or as a weighing burden - ha pun) and coinciding factors that contribute to/are necessary for sport to occur? How often in sport are these two factors actually seen separately? Surely the skater needs weight (in himself, in his board, in the curb he rides, in the effort of strategic-foot-positioning to create clearcut/definite tricks) AND lightness (the lighter the board; the easier it is to do tricks, allows one to soar through the air). Similarly, kicking a soccer ball or shooting a puck requires some weight, or force behind the motion in order send the object airborne into the desired area. So, I'm suggesting that instead of seeing lightness and weight through a dualistic lens, perhaps they should be considered firstly in unison, as both are required to accurately conduct any motion in sport. Perhaps viewing weight and lightness separately can be more detrimental to the participation in sport than we've previously thought. The wrestler and gymnast both struggle with the issue of weight and lightness. Although increased weight suggests more stability and grounded-ness, most wrestlers strive to play a match at the lowest weight category possible to be the best in their category. The gymnast understands the negative implications of weight from a very young age, and it is emphasized even more so by their coaches, teammates etc. This can be justified by the increased episodes of eating disorders; the desire to sacrifice years of life in order to maintain the ideal thinness or lightness, that is assumed to be associated with winning or performing well.

Can not lightness and weight, although held in opposition here, be seen as both positive (rather than in a negative light or as a weighing burden - ha pun) and coinciding factors that contribute to/are necessary for sport to occur? How often in sport are these two factors actually seen separately? Surely the skater needs weight (in himself, in his board, in the curb he rides, in the effort of strategic-foot-positioning to create clearcut/definite tricks) AND lightness (the lighter the board; the easier it is to do tricks, allows one to soar through the air). Similarly, kicking a soccer ball or shooting a puck requires some weight, or force behind the motion in order send the object airborne into the desired area.

So, I'm suggesting that instead of seeing lightness and weight through a dualistic lens, perhaps they should be considered firstly in unison, as both are required to accurately conduct any motion in sport. Perhaps viewing weight and lightness separately can be more detrimental to the participation in sport than we've previously thought.

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