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| June 25th marked the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunisolar calendar, the day of theDragon Boat Festival. Also called the Duanwu Festival , in China this is one of four major annual festivals and warrants a three day holiday. |
Video Review
by Coach Anita
Yes there are ways to make these in your insta-pot without all the soaking. But I am not the person to consult. Take a look here for some pointers : https://whattocooktoday.com/glutinous-rice-cones-zong-zi.html
Video review is a fantastic tool for learning about a paddler’s strengths and their areas for growth. But, it’s not just beneficial for coaches when compiling rosters. If a paddler embraces what can be learned in video review, she can experience development in several areas.
It can be nerve wracking for some people to think about having their performance displayed with a subsequent critique. The important thing to do is assess how you are feeling in anticipation of the review. Are you anxious, excited, terrified? If you’re anything other than excited to hear feedback, then ask yourself what’s causing the feeling? Is it the idea of comparison to other paddlers, and not feeling like you will measure up? This is a very common feeling. But you know what? If I asked a group of people who sat through a video review if they remembered anyone else’s review, the resounding response would be no. Their memory is of any critique that was offered, and once in a while they might remember that they received some praise (though most don’t remember this part).
Personal story - I attended a clinic put on by a national coach from Philadelphia that was hosted by Wasabi. The majority of the attendants were members of Wasabi, and I didn’t really know anyone. I was in my fourth year of paddling. When we got down to load the boats, all of the seats were taken except the front. I tried to explain I didn’t know the stroke that this club used, so I shouldn’t sit up there. No one seemed to care or, more importantly, move. The coach had us use a paddle that gathered data when each paddler used it, so the point wasn’t a type of stroke but how effective was the stroke. We did the water portion of the clinic and then gathered for video review. He showed how the information from the paddle was going to be graphed, what different numbers indicated, how the curve should look, etc. It seemed very technical. And then he looked down at his clipboard of the paddlers names and where they sat, and said he was going to be starting with me. I thought I was going to die! My stomach felt like a rock, and I just wanted to crawl under something. I didn’t want all of the attention from these people I had internalized as being better paddlers than me (Wasabi always beat the team I paddled on so I equated that as meaning all of them were better paddlers than me). My graph appeared on the screen and it definitely didn’t look like the ideal he had shown. He pointed out where I showed good power, where the power dropped in my stroke, and what to do to reduce that drop. Then he asked how long I’d been paddling and then said, “Keep at it, and you’re really going to be a good paddler.” I finally exhaled when it was done. But I still didn’t feel great because I expected the rest of the reviews of the graphs of the Wasabi paddlers would look much better than mine. Know what? They didn’t. The graphs were all over the board. Some had more to work on than others, but every one of us had something good pointed out and was given a critique with something to do to improve it. I don’t remember a single thing about anyone else’s review except for a paddler who disagreed with the coach’s assessment and walked out. That scene was the most memorable part of the clinic!
Mindset is the key to having a good video review. You need to believe that the review is being conducted to help you improve. Conducting video reviews takes a lot of energy, so it’s not something your coaches take lightly. We want every one of you to have the benefit of seeing yourself, and know that anything we’re pointing out is to help you become a better paddler. A growth mindset is believing that you can always improve.
If you give someone a compliment followed by a critique, the compliment is often forgotten. So listen carefully to what is said. Take notes. Write down the strengths identified so you can internalize that strength. Write down the areas pointed out for further development, and what specifically you’re being told to DO to improve in those areas. For example, if you are pulling up with your lower arm to get your blade out of the water (choo-choo train), you’re likely going to be told you need to move your inside hip more while you pull up with your top arm. Focus on what you’re being told to do to help you address what was identified.
Every practice plan has a focus but there is always time when you can be emphasizing work particular to you. Think about what you learned and allocate time to focusing on what you were told. Ask a coach to see if you are showing improvement in the area you’re focusing. Set a goal before getting on the boat to work on what you were told. For example, using the above choo-choo train situation, you could set a goal to be mindful of your inside hip movement connected to your top arm during the warm up. You could focus on the movement during speed drills. Do something to help you give focus to what you want to improve.
When you view feedback as opportunity, you’re taking a positive approach to a situation. When you view feedback as criticism, you’re assuming disapproval and judgment. Video reviews are conducted for the benefit of the paddler, so it's up to you to decide what your mindset is going to be. Learning to identify and internalize your strengths helps develop confidence, and it takes confidence to undertake improvement.
How do you prepare for video review?
It can be nerve wracking for some people to think about having their performance displayed with a subsequent critique. The important thing to do is assess how you are feeling in anticipation of the review. Are you anxious, excited, terrified? If you’re anything other than excited to hear feedback, then ask yourself what’s causing the feeling? Is it the idea of comparison to other paddlers, and not feeling like you will measure up? This is a very common feeling. But you know what? If I asked a group of people who sat through a video review if they remembered anyone else’s review, the resounding response would be no. Their memory is of any critique that was offered, and once in a while they might remember that they received some praise (though most don’t remember this part).
Personal story - I attended a clinic put on by a national coach from Philadelphia that was hosted by Wasabi. The majority of the attendants were members of Wasabi, and I didn’t really know anyone. I was in my fourth year of paddling. When we got down to load the boats, all of the seats were taken except the front. I tried to explain I didn’t know the stroke that this club used, so I shouldn’t sit up there. No one seemed to care or, more importantly, move. The coach had us use a paddle that gathered data when each paddler used it, so the point wasn’t a type of stroke but how effective was the stroke. We did the water portion of the clinic and then gathered for video review. He showed how the information from the paddle was going to be graphed, what different numbers indicated, how the curve should look, etc. It seemed very technical. And then he looked down at his clipboard of the paddlers names and where they sat, and said he was going to be starting with me. I thought I was going to die! My stomach felt like a rock, and I just wanted to crawl under something. I didn’t want all of the attention from these people I had internalized as being better paddlers than me (Wasabi always beat the team I paddled on so I equated that as meaning all of them were better paddlers than me). My graph appeared on the screen and it definitely didn’t look like the ideal he had shown. He pointed out where I showed good power, where the power dropped in my stroke, and what to do to reduce that drop. Then he asked how long I’d been paddling and then said, “Keep at it, and you’re really going to be a good paddler.” I finally exhaled when it was done. But I still didn’t feel great because I expected the rest of the reviews of the graphs of the Wasabi paddlers would look much better than mine. Know what? They didn’t. The graphs were all over the board. Some had more to work on than others, but every one of us had something good pointed out and was given a critique with something to do to improve it. I don’t remember a single thing about anyone else’s review except for a paddler who disagreed with the coach’s assessment and walked out. That scene was the most memorable part of the clinic!
How do you embrace what is being said in video review?
Mindset is the key to having a good video review. You need to believe that the review is being conducted to help you improve. Conducting video reviews takes a lot of energy, so it’s not something your coaches take lightly. We want every one of you to have the benefit of seeing yourself, and know that anything we’re pointing out is to help you become a better paddler. A growth mindset is believing that you can always improve.
If you give someone a compliment followed by a critique, the compliment is often forgotten. So listen carefully to what is said. Take notes. Write down the strengths identified so you can internalize that strength. Write down the areas pointed out for further development, and what specifically you’re being told to DO to improve in those areas. For example, if you are pulling up with your lower arm to get your blade out of the water (choo-choo train), you’re likely going to be told you need to move your inside hip more while you pull up with your top arm. Focus on what you’re being told to do to help you address what was identified.
How do you use what you learned in video review?
Every practice plan has a focus but there is always time when you can be emphasizing work particular to you. Think about what you learned and allocate time to focusing on what you were told. Ask a coach to see if you are showing improvement in the area you’re focusing. Set a goal before getting on the boat to work on what you were told. For example, using the above choo-choo train situation, you could set a goal to be mindful of your inside hip movement connected to your top arm during the warm up. You could focus on the movement during speed drills. Do something to help you give focus to what you want to improve.
When you view feedback as opportunity, you’re taking a positive approach to a situation. When you view feedback as criticism, you’re assuming disapproval and judgment. Video reviews are conducted for the benefit of the paddler, so it's up to you to decide what your mindset is going to be. Learning to identify and internalize your strengths helps develop confidence, and it takes confidence to undertake improvement.
Zongzi - Traditional Food of Dragon Boat Festival
by Coach Pat
I am still celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival. This year it landed on June 25th. I love traditions, and I love food and cooking new things. This week it's Zongzi.
These excerpts are from the China Travel Guide.
"If you ask Chinese “What do you eat on the Dragon Boat Festival”, the answer must include Zongzi. Sticky rice dumplings are the traditional and Dragon Boat Festival Food. That's why the festival is also called the Zongzi Festival or Rice Dumplings Festival. Zongzi is mainly made of glutinous rice with various fillings, wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and cooked for a few hours by steaming or boiling. Most commonly seen Zongzi are in tetrahedron, elongated cylinder or cone shapes.
It is said that Zongzi, with a history of more than 2,000 years, was invented in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), which was used to worship the ancestors and divinities. However, what made the food popular till present days was the Zongzi story attached to the Dragon Boat Festival in the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC) to commemorate the patriotic poet, Qu Yuan. After Quyuan drowned himself on a 5th day of the 5th lunar month, people would throw Zongzi into the river every year on that day to protect his body from fish’s bite. Later, Zongzi gradually turned to be the festival food. Nowadays, apart from the festival day, people can also eat this snack anytime."
The Dragon Boat Festival is certainly Chinese in origin and we also know it has Taiwanese roots because we paddle the big Taiwanese boats as well as the Hong Kong style boats. But this festival is important in Vietnam, Japan, Singapore and Korea as well. Each has regional Zongzi or equivalents. Chinese cultural influence is not restricted to what we know as China today. You might enjoy this article https://www.goldthread2.com/food/guide-zongzi-and-all-its-asian-cousins/article/2151510
I like savory, so I picked a savory recipe to share with you. You can make these rice dumplings sweet as well , using bean paste. Since making these is all in the packing and wrapping, I am linking to a video which I found really helpful. The filling is really 'of your choice'. Assembly is important just like wrapping a tamale or a dolma. Have fun and enjoy something new.
Pinks Stay Strong Workout
with Coach Oden
