Epic DiscDog Flash Jam #2 Reloaded | Tuning the Jam

Ron & Epic revisit a Disc Dog Flash Jam from a couple weeks ago to tweak a few things and polish up the performance by changing out a throw and adding some expressive handler movement.

Changing Out the Throw

As the Jam was drawn, there was an Overhand Wrist Flip (counter clock) happening after a FakieAn athletic Set Up Move, the Fakie is a flip off of the handler's body (normally the chest) with no disc in flight or intended to be caught. It is usually named by More Spin (clockwise) that I was trying to resolve with a simple clockwise release. It worked and could be cool, but I thought it would be more interesting and efficient with a Jazz Throw.

The idea here is to make this throw not from a Go AroundAn Around, or a Go Around is the traditional disc dog set up move. The dog goes around the handler’s body in a clockwise or counter clockwise fashion allowing dog and handler to More behavior, but in a much more flowing fashion via a natural release. In the first few reps you can see that this is obviously a Go Around behavior, which isn’t super smooth. Notice the smooth release in the last rep, facilitated by some thoughtful handler movement.

I like this movement.

Spinning for the Front Cross

This idea came to me well after the original Jam in a Flash session. It is the main reason I revisited this particular sequence.

Spinning in the opposite direction that a dog is moving will, naturally, result in a Front CrossOn a Front Cross, your dog switches Flanks in with you in front of them. From Clock to Counter Clockwise Flank or vice versa. Taken directly from the canine agility world, the Front More. Doing this while the dog is busy naturally results in a super-smooth, flowy, and creative FrontFront is a stable position directly in front of the handler. Front is an traditional obedience skill. Usually your dog sits in this position, but standing is often acceptable as well, especially in More CrossA Cross is an canine agility term that describes a change of working sides. Your dog moves from your left to your right (Heel to Side) or from Clock to Counter. Crosses are More.

I am super excited about this move.

The Lesson and the Jam

This sequence wound up delivering both a lesson and a jam. It doesn’t always happen that way… The jam is fresh, flowy, and fun, but it is the lesson of the spinning Front Cross that makes this a valuable training session.

This spinning Front Cross has many applications and can be used all over the place. It made the transition from the Clockwise Working FlankThe Working Flank is a moving position. On a Working Flank the dog is out to your side some distance and holds position, moving with you as you move around the field. The More to the JakieThe Jakie is a trick where the dog intercepts the disc on the way to the handler's body and then uses the handler's body to safely and stylishly flip to land the trick. More work and look much better.

Needed Improvements

I will need to clean up the Jazz throw a bit and ensure that I throw it to create and maintain that Clockwise FlankOut to the side of the handler is the Flank. If the dog is out to the handler's right or left the dog is on Flank. If the dog is moving with the More that is necessary for the back vault finish.

I also need to move more aggressively towards the dog after that throw so I can limit Eppie’s speed and get more control over the initiation of the vault process.

Hope you dug it. Questions and comments below…