Many of us go through life wondering, why are we here, what is the purpose? We miss out on the opportunities to remember our happy state and choose to focus on things to keep us unhappy about our lives. Discovering our PlayFlowState and awakening our original purpose, play, can reignite our joy of life, reminding us that this world could be our Playground. How? By reminding ourselves every day that it is safe to play, everything we do can come from this state of self-entertainment. The Path of Play is yours to walk, the journey is your own awakening.
What is HACKiDO™?
HACKiDO |hakēdō|
noun: the self-made Ultimate Play Tool that can be utilized in infinite ways to proliferate jollification
verb: the Path of Play
Endless ways to explore your Playfilled self
• Footbag
• Juggling
• Throwing and catching
•Target practice
• Bocci
• Bowling
• Hoop shots
• Use your imagination!
I have even heard reports of couples “beaning” each other, replacing therapy sessions*.
Run around and throw HACKiDOs at each other with a group of friends and feel your adrenaline rush, primal fun!
Even solo, a HACKiDO squeezed in the hand is an amazing stress release.
By creating your own, you are not attached to something you had to buy in a store or that was made in another part of the world.
Gift them with others and spread the joy of Play.
Follow the instructions to create your own Ultimate Play Tool and let the games begin!
* When miscommunication happens, the non-hurtfilled hemp seed HACKiDO is grabbed and the challenge, “Let’s go bean this out!”, “It’s bean time!”, “Bean On!”, or your own custom battle cry is vocalized and space is made. The couple will stand approximately 10-15 feet, 3-5 meters from each other and face off. They will then start take turns throwing the HACKiDO at each other with 100% effort and enthusiasm (be aware of surroundings to not loose you UPT). The recipient may catch the bean, flinching is HIGHLY discouraged! The results? Quickly the frustrations turn to Play… “Amazing Catch!”, “Wow! Nice Throw!!!”, you recognize that you are, and always have been, on the same team. The recommunication happens... PLAY ON!!!
HACKing = the foundation
Kicking around a Footbag, Hacky Sack™, or a HACKiDO was a pivotal transformation on my Path of Play. Play is universal and kicking around something is just one of the entertaining things that people do; Native American's would use the scrotum of a buffalo! Mindja the buffalo was already dead or the second kick wouldn't be as fun as the first, maybe a bit more exciting? The gathering of people in a cooperative competition community circle is truly magically delicious. Whether it is Playing solo or in a group, kicking around a little ball is pretty darn extraordinary for your body, mind, spirit... all of that and more!
Without the need for special equipment, complicated rules, positions to remember, specific boundaries to be drawn, the playing field becomes limitless and the game becomes simplified, have fun!!!
Traditionally speaking, in the mainstream, competitive modern version of the game, people use shoes when kicking it around and practice doing what is referred to as a "stall". I prefer the martial arts style of movement that evolves from taking stalling out of the equation, also I have a firm belief that barefoot is the way to go. Activating all of the muscles from the tips of your toes, up through your spine and connecting the front of your head, going sans shoes activates your entire body. While shoes may help give a little bit of a flat surface to play with, the extra weight and immobilization of the foot are counter productive to experiencing the full benefits of this simplistically divine way of Play. I respect stalling, however, stopping the flow of the muscles and training them to lock into certain positions is also detrimental for a fluid exercise. Not only that, stalling can be incredibly frustrating, taking away from the pure joy of kicking around the footbag, or in this case, the HACKiDO! If you remove stalling as an objective, people have a much easier time and have fun just going for it. I have many friends who are exceptional at stalling, however, they do recognize the benefits of barefoot and have switched to going without shoes whenever possible.
Practice makes progress!
If you want to do something, do it… grab a Footbag, or make your own HACKiDO, either way, just go and kick it around for a few moments, give it an honest 15 minutes. If you don’t do something in that time that impresses you and gives you that feeling of accomplishment, then maybe give it another 15 minutes… if not by that time, maybe another… you get my point. Eventually, and from my experience faster than most sports I have tried, you will get those endorphins flowing. Your brain is lite up, your blood is pumping and you are doing one of the most extraordinary exercises and core builder that is available. How much fun are you having now?
“There is no practicing in hack, only playing”
Three Commandments of HACKing
THE RULES OF PLAY...
When explaining that there are rules to HACKi, some people get pretty offended, surprisingly! I will sometimes get people who say, "I don't believe in rules", or "There are no rules to Hacky Sack™!" Well, I'm here to tell you that there are rules to Play here in the physical body, and even further, there are some rules to HACKi that most of the people around the world agree with; sometimes it does take some explaining. The Three Commandments of HACKing make sense, especially when you explain them in order. The first is universally understood. The second one is important for getting others involved with the Play, when someone new jumps in they usually get the first serve. The third rule should be a rule of life, take responsibility in the "now" and sorry's become obsolete. Of course there are situations where “sorry” is appropriate and necessary, just don’t make it a habit.
#1 NO HANDS
Once the HACKiDO is served and in Play, touching it with the hands is highly discouraged. Usually, any HACKi that can be touched by the arms can be playable by the feet or legs. The definition preferred by HACKiDO: the palms are red territory (not allowed), inside arms are orange (questionable), outside hands and outside arms are yellow (tolerable). It should be a pretty spectacular move to allow even a yellow touch to fly. When an unintentional violation occurs, the group will determine whether or not a foul was committed, it must be a unanimous decision.
#2 NO SELF-SERVES
If the HACKi is no longer in motion it is considered unplayable. It can then be picked up with the hand, however, the first throw is a serve to another player. Trick serves are permitted, where a HACKi is kicked into the circle, only if it is not dropped from the hand. If, however, the server is keeping the hack for a few kicks and not trying to serve it to another Playah they may be in violation of rule #2, group determination.
#3 NO "SORRY'S"
This is a big one! There is much controversy over this decree. For clarification; it is not the word that matters, it is the vibration. Slang or foreign words that have the same intention as “sorry” are included under this edict. If the meaning is an apology or an admittance of doing something “wrong”, you are guilty! – ahhh the paradox!
PUNISHMENT FOR AN INFRACTION
To put it simply, the punishment is a bean. The accuser who calls the offense is entitled to throw the hack at the offender. The guilty party must stand facing the punisher eyes open, hands down to the side and legs slightly spread apart, more ballsy! Flinching, turning, or running away is not permitted due to potential loss of hack or causing a misguided throw that flinching may instigate. On the surface this may seem an arbitrary punishment, however, training the brain to overcome the fight or flight instinct and find neutral is a rewarding experience in itself. If there is any question regarding the accusation, the circle must decide unanimously and with efficiency, keep the Play going! The receiver may state their case or merely explain that they are innocent and the bean is forgiven without prejudice; cowardice, however, is highly discouraged! You will be your final judge…
SCHOOL PUNISHMENT ADJUSTMENT
I recently talked over the punishment part of hack with a Playah who was sharing it in a school environment. The bean thing is just not tolerated in our current, over-protective, school system. I get it, but it also shows how disconnected we have come from compassion on one end and how silly we have become about preventing our children from exploring their limitations. I still am a firm believer in the rules of Play, but if the beaning part is too much, it is not necessary (a good scolding is sufficient), and does not detract from the Play.
DO UNTO OTHERS
Another slight punishment adjustment is not forcing it. In fairness, if someone does not want to experience the bean, they have the option of receiving three warnings. If they witness a beaning and recognize the benefits, they can request to receive their penance prior to the third warning. If corrections to the behavior have not adjusted after the third notice, however, the punishment must be received to balance out the spirit of Play.
SCORING IN A COOPERATIVE COMPETITION WAY
If HACKing is not an "us verses them" game, how do you keep score? Technically speaking, if you're having fun, you're winning... There is a way to keep count of how many "hacks” you do in a group, that is where everyone in the circle touch it. When there are 2 people, both players must control it twice. With 3 people, everyone must control it with one extra player having it. Four people, everyone controls the hack. Five people, everyone touches the hack solidly. Six or more, the last person just needs to touch it and it's good! Once you get one, go for two, three, four... how many can you do? If a circle gets to 7 or more players, typically, you can have one person jump in the center to get the slop, they are called "the savior". How very spiritual, yes???
Do you feel the calling? Help transform your world, follow the Path of Play...