Hello friends. My name is Dogentricks.com, and this is the end of chapter one.
I am not a child, youth, or teen. I am 21 years old and months away from college graduation. I am waiting to hear back from a serious position in the real world. I am thinking about and planning my future.
Everyday, I wake up aching. I look down at the figure I’ve created and consider accumulated damage. My right big toe is swollen and restricted from a fracture in high school. My left small toe is nearly immobile and discolored due to a simple gym mistake. My ankles are gnarled and tight. My tibia are lined with veins after two years of battling major shin splints with rigid conditioning. My right knee cap is pulled taught against my meniscus from a torn MCL and several years of patellar tendonitis. My left quadriceps are large and disproportionate from almost half a decade of unilateral moonkicks. My hamstrings lay relaxed after another recovery from more strains, sprains, and tears than I can count. My femur jostles my inflamed hip with every movement. My back aches; it wakes me in my sleep and keeps me paralyzed in fear of a future doubled over in pain. My abdominals are completely asymmetrical from four years of constant twisting to the left. My shoulder is rigid and pinches into the socket suddenly and without warning. My elbows are tight with tendonitis and my wrists are weak from landing on them with multiple times the weight of my body. My pale skin is scarred and worn from countless burns after hours in the sun, trying to land that one, last trick. I’ve been to the doctor a dozen times, gone through thirty-six sessions of physical therapy, and had six X-rays and four MRIs.
I have nothing left to break.
My name is Dogentricks.com and this is the end of chapter one. It kills me to say, but upon graduating from college this June, I will quit tricking. My eyes are literally filling with tears as I write these words – this is something I have no want to do, but know it must be done. I cannot justify a lifetime of chronic, full-body pain. Tricking is without any doubt the source of my injuries and the reason I ache every waking minute. I have to quit if I want to walk in my thirties, I have to quit if I want to swim in my late twenties, and I have to quit if I want to regain the ability to run, now. This is the inevitability I have blocked out for years.
I’ve known for a long time when I would quit tricking, but recently the reality of abandoning quite literally my heart and soul has become very tangible. The idea of a life without tricking has given me anxiety attacks and a need to release the constantly building pressure in my chest.
So today, I want to write an entry about tricking, and its place in my life.
My name is Dogentricks.com, because of tricking.
I discovered tricking some time toward the end of junior high. I was searching around the internet, looking up cheat codes for Tenchu 2. By accident, I stumbled across a website known as Trick Busters. The first link I clicked brought me to a 6 second clip of a short Asian girl named Alyssa performing a ‘butterfly.’ Alyssa glided across the floor, gracefully dipped her body, then leaped into the air. There, she floated, slowly and beautifully wrapping around her center of gravity. Landing without a sound, Alyssa turned toward the camera and smiled.
Something twisted in my stomach, hard. How did she do that? In an curious, almost frantic state I began clicking every link on the website. Within an hour I watched all the videos on Trick Busters and subsequently overrode their daily bandwidth. When I went to watch the last clip and “error 401, exceeded bandwidth” came up, I nearly threw my mouse. I had to have more! What was this? Why could seemingly normal people do things like this? This isn’t real; this can’t be real. This is what people do in movies with wires. Why could Alyssa trick? How long had she been training? What is going on?!
In that state of troubled confusion, I seemed to subconsciously evaluate my existence. “Each day I count down the hours until I get home to instant message my friends about things I won’t remember one week from now. Meanwhile, there is this group of ‘trick busters’ who are living among the clouds. These guys are so cool! There is no one who wouldn’t think these guys are cool! I mean, they ARE cool! They are literally flipping around like it is a completely normal thing; they are effortlessly performing physical acts which people pay to see in a movie, and for fun!” Trick busters: We are a group of kids in the bay area. We love training tricks! We are trick busters! Thanks for visiting our site!
I had been caught red handed. I was looking up cheat codes for a technique in a video game – a technique that any of the trick busters, real humans, could perform with ease. I felt embarrassed and worthless. I felt I had nothing to prove in life. A trick buster wouldn’t waste their time laughing at me. It was the most frustrating and upsetting moment of my life.
For that, I am thankful. Tricking became part of me from that day forward.
I woke up the next day and immediately did as many pushups as I could. I had a banana for breakfast and did calf raises while brushing my teeth. I got on the bus, put on my headphones, and thought about nothing but tricking until I arrived at school.
I told everyone about it. “Have you ever heard of tricking? It’s so sick!” Of course, nobody was interested. What did it matter if a group of kids, hundreds of miles away, were apparently capable of performing some flips? “No, it’s not like that, these guys are insane! You have to see the way they move! These guys are different!” Nobody at my school could understand my enthusiasm, and for good reason – nobody at my school had ever seen or heard of tricking. This was 8 years ago, well before myspace, youtube, or Ong Bak, for that matter. This was well before even I knew what tricking truly is. But, I was already hooked.
I had to learn. Everyday tricking was the only thing on my mind. I was in my backyard constantly doing cartwheels and in my play room burning my back trying to windmill on old, faded carpet. My frail, stiff body quickly tired and absolutely shut out the idea of any aerial techniques. I don’t care! I need to learn this! I continued everyday for over a year, slowly but surely developing my body and confidence.
It’s time. I need to learn this tricking; I need to learn the butterfly. I devoted everything I had to the technique. I fell on my side countless times; i looked like a fool stumbling over at the park, over and over again. Regardless of that, I became more familiar with the technique and gradually sharpened my form. Cleaner, cleaner, cleaner.
Hey Dad. I know what I want for my birthday: a digital camera. With this, I’ll be able to see myself, and analyze my technique. Sure son, what model do you want? This one’s nice.
Jesus, my technique was far from clean! It wasn’t even close to a butterfly; it was more like a fat caterpillar. I had to fix this. I had to practice more. So I practiced, all the time. I practiced flinging my body from high to low to high again and again, and again. Was it impressive? No, not really. Was it something that everyone could do? Probably, but it would take them practice. Oh wait, oh my god!
I just landed my first butterfly! I just landed my first trick!
I was 15 years old and had spent more than a year and a half on mindless training. I did innumerable pushups, loads of crunches, and countless cartwheels. I had trained in an ignorant almost counter productive fashion, but it finally produced results. I could do a butterfly, and it was clean. My friends approved. “Hey, that’s actually pretty cool, do you think you could teach me?” Yes, I thought to myself, I could teach you – BECAUSE I CAN DO IT!!
With the passing of time came knowledge about tricking. I learned about the origins of the sport, current practitioners, and various techniques. I had a copy of the infamous ‘wushu’ video, and became an active visitor to bilang and tricks tutorials. I spent every free second watching tricking videos or training. Tricking was, more than ever, the center of my life. I began to learn about proper training habits from my older, close friend Nic Nichols, who was an active body builder. I cleaned up my diet and refined my training. I began to see change, but it was too slow for me. I wanted to be better, now.
I joined my school’s all girl gymnastics team. Yes, I was laughed at by everyone and it was hard. But, tricking was everything to me and I was willing to sacrifice my social life for it. I sat in the cafeteria everyday after school for two and a half hours, patiently waiting for wrestling practice to end and gymnastics practice to start. I was surrounded by girls and told to do split leaps and pirouettes, often in the presence of the wrestling team. Whatever, I was improving. In my first season of gymnastics I significantly developed my strength, flexibility, and coordination. Even if no one knew it, I was no longer a nerd. I had become an athlete, and I was proud of it.
I became more intwined in the online tricking community and befriended the likes of Turkeyman, Empire, Waterboy, Spike, Crazy Asian, Furious Angle, and Ceopopeye. I even got Steve Terada’s screen name, but didn’t dare send a god like him a message. I often got into tricking chat rooms and became an active member on the then very young, very small Tricks Tutorials forums. I read every article I could find on anything related to resistance training, flexibility, and nutrition. I scolded my parents’ lax eating habits and rid my diet of anything artificial. I was learning the essence of dedication.
Jeff Shearer, one of my closest friends, got a trampoline during my junior year of high school. I was well conditioned and highly motivated, and spent literally days and nights at Jeff’s house on the trampoline. After weeks of visualization, I finally sacked up and went for my first backflip, ever. My training paid off; the move came quick and naturally. My body had learned how to invert itself and hang in suspension. An indescribable ecstasy took over – I was making real progress. Some of the warmest moments of my youth were spent on that trampoline. Thanks, Jeff.
No, I don’t want to stop here. Everything I’ve done so far has only made me happier. I don’t care about looking cool anymore, this is about being the best I can be. I want to advance like all the other tricksters. I want to flip like Waterboy and kick like Turkeyman. I need to learn the backflip on ground. Dad, come here. Ryan, stand there. Ok, just flip me, ok? 1…2..3!!
I could do standing backflips on the grass within two months. Kevin, the same skinny guy doing cartwheels from one year before, was now the only guy at school who could backflip. Off of benches, in the cafeteria, in my backyard – I did them everywhere. My close knit group of friends became hooked. Day after day, Rob, Ryan, Jeff, Wilson, Hunter, Sasha, and myself would gather in my backyard and practice tricking. We jumped over trash cans, flipped onto Rob’s lawn chair cushions, and crashed on our backs. We had the time of our lives and escaped from the stress of school, work, and family.
When gymnastics began next year, a group of guys showed up to practice. Nic, Rob, and Ryan all came to practice on a regular basis. Hunter and I joined a new fitness gym only minutes from my house. My progress began to accelerate from the presence and encouragement of friends. Wall flips, aerials, side flips, gainers, websters, front flips, and 540s all became part of my rapidly expanding tricking repertoire. Every school dance, I owned the floor after tearing things up with a flash kick or gainer. I became the authority for flips at Redmond High School and was approached by many students eager to learn. The social highlight came when an article was published in the newspaper about tricking and its place in my life.
During my last year of high school I began commuting to Emerald City Gymnastics twice a week. Mondays and Wednesdays were nights for tricking and the only thing on my mind every other day. Each cent from my part time job went into the twenty-five dollar, ninety minute gym sessions. Here, I met Aaron, the best coach and mentor I have ever had. Aaron was an olympic skier and inhumanly fit. The man could jump onto a swiss ball half his height and balance as if it was nothing. He performed double jumps, in real life. Moreover, he taught me to be confident in myself and follow my dreams. Aaron pushed me to my mental limits and convinced me it was possible to do anything if only I believed in it. His coaching brought me into a world of tricking beyond that of the trick busters.
My senior year, I learned gainer fulls, the technique of my dreams. It was a move I literally thought to be impossible only a few years earlier. I became so confident in my gainer fulls I threw them on concrete, at school, and even at a rave under a field of flashing lights. I had support, ability, and potential. College applications were done and classes were easy; training became my only focus. Larry Chen, (now known as Rizzice) a local guy interested in tricking, contacted me through the tricks tutorials forum and quickly assimilated into our group. Tricking was everything. I began making video tutorials and trying moves few people had ever landed. The only memory from my fourth year school is a blur of sensations: the bass from Rob’s decked out Focus, the sweet, tangy smell of a fresh Monster soda, and the incredible high of training with friends. That summer, I spent almost everyday with Larry at the beautiful waterfront in Kirkland. They were the best days of my life. Thanks, Larry.
Just before moving out for college I got a mail from a young, talented man named Jonathan Pierce. “Hey Dogen, I’m going to be moving up to Seattle for a while. We should get together and train.” Larry and I met Jon in August at the University of Washington. It was the first time I met someone who was better than me at tricking, and it completely floored me.
My motivation sky rocketed. I upped my training and swore to myself – I’m going to catch up with Jon. I need to get this good. The sampler Jon released later that year became my favorite tricking video of all time; to this day, it continues to motivate me. Jon, Larry, Nathan and I formed Team BT late that summer and tricked all the time, everywhere.
I entered UW September, 2005. Within weeks I befriended the ever amiable Ben Friedman, Bobby Nguyen, Tylee Chen, and Nathan Ma, a group of break dancers and the best guys I know. We trained 3 times a week together in Mat Room A, polishing our skills to the undeniably catchy thump of a break beat. In spring, I tricked in the quad under the beautiful cherry blossoms and made sampler after sampler, day after day. Visitors began to come from other schools and cities to train with me and Larry. My tricks were clean, fast, and powerful. Everyday I felt fantastic.
Everyday I woke up and thought, “I love the world I live in. I love training. I would not trade my life for anything – not anything.” I felt I was becoming a little bit better than the person I was the day before. Many of my fraternity brothers partied night after night, bellowing and bragging about the high number of women they were able to fondle in a drunken stupor. I laughed from a distance and continued to train; my world was completely locked. The thought of drinking or partying, the mere idea of tainting my structured lifestyle, was absolutely out of the question. My concentration, love for training, and will for progress created an invisible, and yet almost tangible wall of determination. I loved every minute of it.
My fraternity brother and great friend Austin Wang suggested I create a tricking website at the end of my freshman year. I loved the idea and we began working on it immediately. If you’re reading this now, there’s a high possibility you know about the website and what it has become. So, if you’re reading this now, then I have to say thank you for your support. The website has flourished into a popular tricking/Japan interest community and a means of self expression for myself and hundreds of others. Thanks Austin, means a lot.
Taimatsu surprised me with a quick visit from Alaska during my first summer at college. Despite being sore from work (now teaching kids at Emerald City Gymnastics), we had two incredible, high energy sessions. His aggressive tumbling abilities and bright outlook provided two days of non-stop adrenaline and laughs. Thanks, Taimatsu.
My second year of college followed suit with more relentless training. Before my 8:30 classes I biked to gym with Scott Winges and performed endless water-based dynamic training. In the afternoon we lifted together and went to Cascade Elite Gymnastics with Jake for rings training, group stretching, and full body workouts. The results were absolutely tremendous. I quickly flattened my front splits and developed immense upper body strength. I could perform ten handstand pushups without any form of support, climb a full rope twice without my legs, and do twenty pull ups without breaking a sweat. Most of all, my tricks were the best they have ever been. Larry and I were called from Canada to attend a small gathering.
The BC gathering was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Larry and I drove up to Vancouver BC and tricked with Reim, Reza, Leim, Daryl, and Ryan, for three days. Our gym session was out of this world – it was unquestionably the most pumped I have ever been. I landed several new moves and combos, and met a bunch of new tricksters who shared my passion for development. Despite abrupt introductions, we were best friends within minutes, rattling off tricking lingo like a second language. This is where I belong. This is who I am. I love this.
Just before my study abroad, I compiled a sampler from all my best college footage. It was the second major sampler I ever made and the first I was truly proud of.
Though my focus was shifted to study, I continued to trick in Japan and maintain training. I met guys from all over, including the country’s best, Kambe Yukata and Andy Koji.
I tricked under the blooming Sakura in Shinjuku, alone in a quiet park next to a castle, and in front of my favorite band. Even halfway around the world, tricking was the best thing I could show for myself, and the best thing I could show for America. “This is tricking, it’s a new sport born in America. Why not train together?” I became actively involved with the Keio dance team, Jade, and taught many of their members. Tricking provided me a free pass through the traditionally closed doors of Japan’s tight knit culture.
I came back to the states early August 2008 and resumed all my efforts on tricking. Since then, DK, Kaden L, Justin G, and a handful of others have honored me with several out of states visits to Seattle. Thank you guys, you truly cannot imagine what it means to me.
Tricking with Dan and Larry
In the Quad with Justin
After tricking with Kaden
Even without the tricking, the fact I was able to meet these guys makes me truly proud to have this website. I had the time of my life with all of you. Thank you.
I can’t count how many times I cried while writing this. My life for nearly a decade now has been dedicated almost exclusively to tricking. All of my best memories, everything I have to be proud of, it is all a direct result of tricking. Tricking gave me confidence, a respectable body, the ability to focus my will, and absolutely above all, the most amazing friends I could ever ask for.
Regardless of the fact that I am not a talented trickster, the reality I spent my entire college life completely and utterly dedicated to athleticism, and the notion I may have ruined up to decades of my later life due to injuries, I love tricking. No matter what job I land or who I meet – no matter what happens to me for the rest of my life, I will never forget, regret, or bemoan one second I spent tricking. Tricking is the core of my character and absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me.
My final countdown ends this June. Until then,
Train hard.
