Create Flashy Disc Dog Transitions & Sequencing with Aggressive Defense

This sequence was inspired by a fellow jammer’s fun video on FB. I thought the sequence was a Rear Cross to Fakie or Jakie, which I really liked, but it was simply her dog bum-rushing her. The whole situation is interesting, and inspired not only a super cool trick, but my coverage of this topic. I’ll lay it out below, but check out the lesson first:

When Inspiration Hits… Literally

So Chloe West shared this video with Pilot where Pilot smashed into her after a Rear Cross. I thought it was just a Fakie/Jakie mistake but as I learned later, it was just Pilot coming in hot and wild for a Hoop or Arms with a bit too much space, super funny.

The movement was really slick for a Fakie or a Jakie, something I had not really done from the Rear Cross. The video also brought to light the idea of playing Aggressive Defense because Chloe’s spinning away from her dog created a bit too much space, inviting a hot and wild approach. I figured I’d give it a shot with the Jakie and with spinning towards the dog using some Aggressive Defense movement.

Now here we are with a bevy of moves:

 Prevent Defense

A Prevent Defense seeks to simply allow the opponents to not score. It is about giving all kinds of space to the offense to stop them from making the long play.

In dog frisbee, that looks like standing around waiting for the dog to come to you, or moving away from the dog to create space for an interception or a coming together after some space has been given.

Most of the time it is the former, with the handler simply standing there waiting for the dog to get back for the move. This is boring and not an efficient nor creative use of your time and movement.

It’s cool and fine and whatnot, but it could be better and more interesting. It’s kind of whatnot…

Regular Defense

Regular Defense has the handler moving towards the dog but stopping far enough away to not get burned by the offense. Usually this is 1-2 strides away for the dog, maybe 2-5 yards or so.

This is much more appealing than the Prevent Defense, as it shows an active handler with Team Movement, but it is fairly standard, a bit loose, and could be much more.

Aggressive Defense

Aggressive Defense has the handler driving forward on the dog all the way up until the move is made. If we were playing defense in a team sport, the technique would risk the offense getting past us and if they did so, they’d score. In team sports terms it would be a tremendous gamble that would stop the offense in their tracks and give momentum to our team.

But in the case of disc dog freestyle, while we are utilizing the pressure and position of defense to intercept and meet the dog head on, we are ultimately on the same team and we both know the play. This means the fix is in and we can sell the fake defense while actually working together. We essentially fool the fans while play the odds in Vegas – it is no gamble at all, it’s a plan that surprises everyone.

One Step Over the Line

In simplest terms, you just take one, maybe two extra steps from where you would normally set up for Regular Defense. It is just a little bit more driving forward to close the gap between dog and handler.

Stop & Setting as Trigger

Once you cross the line the idea is to use an abrupt stoppage as negative pressure to suck the dog into the move. This is really well illustrated in the through and flip move in the 2nd video at 25 seconds.

This really makes moves POP! It’s surprising and exciting for the fans and generates tremendous momentum for the team.

Appear in Position

If the move you are doing does not have a Set Up Move the idea is to appear in position rather than get close and set up as you would with Regular Defense.

Essentially you stop and settle into the position using the movement and spacing while closing the gap as you would your standard set up for that move.

This is how I’m using the spin with Eppie in most all of these moves. My spinning is the set up.

Cue Clearly & Early

According to poetry, that rhymes. And if you cue clearly and early, Aggressive Defense will be poetic and beautiful. Give it a shot.

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Throwing With Intent

Throwing with Intent is throwing a disc to your dog with the intent to make them look good. Throwing the disc to promote a big leap, to hit the dog in stride on the run or throwing a disc that your dog is going to flip for 10 yards away, is the sign of a mature handler.

Epic’s Clever Set Up Moves | Volume 1 Part I | Scoots & Fakies

Disc Dog freestyle sequences have a starting position, often it is Front Position – dog standing in front of the handler. Set Up Moves are ways of getting set up in time and space. They get the team into position and in time.
Most players have a go-to Set Up Move, or 3, but it is important to have a variety of entries into the positions that start sequences to keep things interesting and to display and enhance flow.
In this epic video there are 13 different set up moves, some are fairly standard, and some are pretty clever. Below we’ll name and define them and talk about usage and pros and cons.

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