Cavaliers Technique Question

[euponitone]

roffles.

So much for the topic. :P

The topic is useless. Everybody knows that the blue knights style is the best anyway....

[JayM]

can you link me to this video? I also know of an even better one made by certain people after th 04 season, it was kept pretty under wraps though. Ill see if i can find it.

I've seen one from '05 where some guys were making fun of the Spin Cycle screamer. I think someone named "Fetus" was involved.

[euponitone]

I've seen one from '05 where some guys were making fun of the Spin Cycle screamer. I think someone named "Fetus" was involved.

Was it in a parking lot, or in a hallway kinda thing? I personally had a blast once i figured out the little sit-n-spin section (and how to do it without hurting myself). I enjoyed doing it while playing the little 4 note F-D-Gb-Eb motif over and over again. :P

[cire]

its funny when people hurt themselves trying to do an imitation. one of my friends tried to do the bottledance in his living room.. it didnt turn out too good haha

[JayM]

Was it in a parking lot, or in a hallway kinda thing? I personally had a blast once i figured out the little sit-n-spin section (and how to do it without hurting myself). I enjoyed doing it while playing the little 4 note F-D-Gb-Eb motif over and over again. :P

I think it was a parking lot.

For what it's worth, I'm not sure how possible it is to do the sit 'n spin without hurting yourself somewhat..at least if you're not in shape. My knees thank me every day for being a part of that.

[Fincis]

Generally nice post. Thanks. I'm going to try to take a few stabs to clear things up for myself with the technique. I'm asking if they should be uniform and if I need some clarifications on how I'm describing it. Let me know what you think.

1) Motion begins on the & count before the first articulation, correct? Should this be uniform? Does this still happen are 200+ bpm? What about compound meter?

2) On the & count before you peel the left heel off the ground as high as you can while keeping the toes on the ground. Is it the entire part of the toe or just the tip? Does the heel arrive it's lifted position on the & count or does it begin it's initial motion on the & count? Yes, everyone will have a different height, but everyone is supposed to lift the heel all the way up as describe earlier correct?

3) Count 1 the heel touches with the weight still on the back foot. You're not supposed to stick your butt out right? The transfer of weight doesn't happen until going to 1 &?

4) On 1& the back foot comes in a straight line. The toe is pointing down and the foot is perpendicular to the ground. Shouldn't the knee angles be the same? The foot should be lined up with the other shin and the toe close to the ground. The front foot should roll to be flat and not get flat until the & count.

I left a decent chunk of the details out, but let me know of any corrections you may find. What I would like to point out to everyone arguing for and against is there are so many chances in their technique for variations. With straight leg you have timing of the feet and basically the angle of the knee. With a bent knee technique you have those plus more. Each one will have it's variations that will make it look dirty, but a technique like The Cavaliers has more opportunity to do so. I think that's one of the main reasons why they're considered to have dirty technique by some. I'll still have some concerns with timing of the feet as everyone is held under the same standards for that though.

Also, the detail is there but isn't there an emphasis on fluidity? To me the detail looks great when broken down, but once the 'fluidity' word is introduced it almost creates more variation between members. I understand that each "checkpoint" isn't actually a hit point, but rather something you pass through, but a lot of those seem to get lost.

One thing I've always liked about an exagerrated bent knee technique is the fluidity in the upper body that it allows. I find a lot of that comes from not transfering the weight until after the downbeat actually because your taking some of the impact off of the front heel wihle still maintaining your posture. Anyways, let me know what you think and give me any corrections you feel necessary. Thanks in advance.

Can anyone help clarify this for me? You don't have to answer everything. Hope it's not being blown off b/c it came across as negative. That's not what I intended at least.

[euponitone]

I think it was a parking lot.

For what it's worth, I'm not sure how possible it is to do the sit 'n spin without hurting yourself somewhat..at least if you're not in shape. My knees thank me every day for being a part of that.

Yeah...we used to make fun of you when you beat us in marching because you got to sit down in your show. After doing that - I think i'd rather stay standing....or even march at 208

[cire]

psh.. 208 is nothin! :P

add another 10 on top of that.. now we are gettin somewhere!

[euponitone]

psh.. 208 is nothin! :P

add another 10 on top of that.. now we are gettin somewhere!

It all depends on what you are doing at that point - another 10 clicks is no bg deal. Marching 220 at a 10 to 5 like bd does is no big deal ^0^

- just a joke in the original spirit of the thread.

[deftguy]

you can hate on me all you want.. i dont really care.

at least i know how to march. and if you ask me to "decode" BDs marching style.. posture, etc.. I can. Every BD member can.. down to the smallest subdivision you might want. including every part of the body... on every count. someone mentioned how the Cadets are broken down.. BDs are just as much, if not more.

the video i made was just a fun video i made while bored at practice. (and yes there will be a part 2 which will be even better, "feature" more corps.. and be a lot funnier). its funny how people like to talk crap "oh he made the video so he must not know what hes talking about"

in the end.. technique doesnt matter. as long as everyone does it the same. if everyone out on the field looks the same, then it works for them.

cavies have horrible marching compared to other top corps. but they hit their dots and visually from the box, it works. watch them march up close individually. compare it individually to other corps... Cadets, SCV, BD, Phantom, etc.. i think you will see what i mean. go watch BD individually. you will see a defined technique.. no matter the tempo.

there was a time in DCI when judging was more about individuals.. remember something called the tick system? but in todays DCI.. that is long gone only remembered by the "old timers". that individual excellence in marching performance is not needed as much now. today is more about GE and gimmicks.

and the comment about black pants and black shoes do help.. same with green.. it helps hide dirt. thats something that you have to give credit to the Cadets. especially for sticking to tradition and keeping those leg stripes. it shows dirt.. and it shows it well.

i agree with that 1000000000%

when you march every day during during summer (and winter) that technique and style should be ingrained into your head so once you are performing the show, you dont have to think about technique. it should come naturally. and if that technique has been properly taught, any member of that corps should be able to give you a detailed description of that technique.. without thinking about it.

why do i say what i say about the cavies style? because its true. is it bad? not necessarily.. its not the style i would choose or prefer.. but for them. it works. just the same as cadets with their rolling toes.. i dont like it (and yes ive had to do it before).. but i do know why they do it, and it works for them. the same with PC? and other corps who do weird things with their feet and knees like popping and kicking in/out.. (and yes ive had to teach it before).. i cant stand it.. but hey.. its their technique. it works for them.

[hate on]

I'm not really sure who the hater really is......