Jianzi: Chinese Hacky
By Rose Salas

‘There is nothing new under the sun’ as the old biblical saying goes. It is complaining about something that will not happen or no new things coming up. Jianzi is the same when you throw them up; you won’t expect them to land smoothly on your feet. It may fall on the ground, or you may kick it freely in the air.
 

As we all know, Jianzi is the Chinese version of Hacky-Sack. However, Jianzi already exists during the Han Dynasty. And up until now, it is still being played by the youngsters of China. It also became sports since most or everyone has been playing it ever since. The shops that sell Jianzi have become commonplace for everyone, young and old, since they don’t need to make their own shuttlecocks.
 

In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the formal competition of shuttlecock kicking was held. Across Chinese history, the game continues to develop and prevail. The enduring success is partially due to its spontaneity. It was formally declared as a national sport in 1933 at the fifth National Sports meeting held in Nanjing, China. The competition eventually made its way to Germany around the 1930s and has been slowly gaining popularity across the continent since then. While the International Shuttlecock Federation was founded in 1999, it recurrently holds World Shuttlecock Championship in different countries all around the world.

Jianzi is a traditional game in Asia, with players primarily using their feet and another part of the body, except the hands, to maintain a weighted tight shuttlecock. It is small and compact; you can bring it anywhere you go. You can play it in a tiny space with your friends or when you are alone, anytime. The distinctions between methods and techniques are countless. Your health can also benefit from playing this game, as it is also an excellent way to exercise the body and mind.
 

Jianzi is usually just a knock-out with buddies. But as the years go by, a more formal, organized game has evolved involving the state, with set rules, prizes, local teams, tournaments, and so on. And that is also becoming more common to play not just in China, but also in other countries. Of course, this development involves money!

There are three characteristics that can be developed if you love playing Jianzi:
 

Being Focused

To keep the shuttlecock away from touching the ground, you must focus on it, while playing using the different parts of your body. A skillful play cannot happen if you are out of focus. If you want to initiate that powerful overhead kick, you have to learn to be on top of distractions and put in mind those techniques to keep the game going in your favor.
 

Stay Disciplined

No one wins a game triumphantly without training himself to become disciplined. Learning various kicks, mastering the art of “delays” and other dexterities of the game entail self-discipline. You have to learn how to build the eye and hand coordination.
 

Live a healthy lifestyle

Just like any active sports, Jianzi players are expected to be healthy and physically fit. Your mind and body work together when you are into this game. Living a healthy lifestyle can keep your body and brain’s coordination in perfect state.
 

This sport is still a craze up to this day. A netizen said that playing Jianzi in the office can give anyone a great boost of energy! It is a simple and yet, effective exercise that you can do if you spend all your work-hours sitting in your office chair. If you are a workaholic type and you want to build your health even during work hours, try this sport on your quick breaks. For sure, you’ll get a daily dose of physical and mental exercise!

毽子又叫毽球，毽子多为鸡毛做的，尤其是公鸡的羽毛做的毽子精巧非常，所以踢毽子这种运动在某些地方又被称作为"打鸡"。踢毽子是我国特有的，而且也是一种古老的而且一直延续至今的体育运动，这项运动源于汉朝时期，在隋唐时期得到发展和兴盛，这个运动在清代的时候达到了火热的巅峰。
 

我国民间踢毽起源于汉代，盛于六朝、隋朝，至今已有2000多年的历史。到明清时，我国民间的踢毽活动更为普遍，河北承德还有了“踢毽之乡”的美誉。据史料记载，清代妇女的踢毽子活动极为普遍，光绪皇帝的瑾妃就非常喜欢踢毽子。到了近代，民间更是涌现出了很多踢毽高手，并根据踢、跳、接、旋、触等各种动作、方法交织串编成不同的套路表演，这就是我国传统的踢花毽。新中国成立之后，国家提倡我国传统运动的发展，踢毽子就是其中一项重点鼓励宣传的传统体育活动，随着这项运动的发展不断出现新的花样、比赛规则也逐渐完善，至今踢毽子比赛也是男女老少都钟爱的一种运动。
 

毽子制作简单，而且活动易于展开，有个5-6平方的空间就可以玩，室内室外都可以，这也是毽子盛行的一个原因。踢毽子在一直是在民间很风行的一种活动，尤其是很受女孩子的青睐。一个原因是女孩身体柔软、灵活可以做出更多的花样，在一个在古代，女性不宜抛头露面，而且没有嫁人的姑娘更是做到要大门不出、二门不迈，踢毽子也就成为了一种消遣的方式。
 

踢毽子就是一个人也可以玩的不亦乐乎，如果一帮人玩更是其乐融融，甚至小学的时候下课的时候十来个小朋友共同踢一个毽子也是常有的事情。而且古代军队为了练习士兵的配合也会有踢毽子的比赛。在20年代初期这项运动逐步传入欧美等国家，也被很多外国人喜欢。
 

一般踢毽子的动作分为盘、绷、拐、背、磕、抹、勾、踹等八个大动作，而且踢毽子可以用到脚、腿、头、胸、肩、膝等不同的身体部位，不同的部位可以做出不同的花样。
 

经常踢毽子的人在各种花样中不断变化反应力来应对，能够有效提高身体的灵敏度，也能让大脑得到充分的锻炼。另外，踢毽子还可以让人更加放松，全身都能运动起来，更加有利于人们的健康，而且一家人踢毽子还可以增进感情，何乐而不为呢。