I’m laying down the challenge: make 2008 the year of consecutivity.
What’s consecutivity, you ask? It’s a theory of freestyle that improves flow and radically increases difficulty by linking moves together rather than breaking up combinations with basic moves like a simple “THE” nail delay. You set under your leg, and instead of going to a delay, you go right into a restricted pull. Some of have described it as the difference between one person giving an elequent speech and another interrupting every other word with “um,” “uh,” and “you know.”
Why is consecutivity important? It’s one of the only ways to reach your freestyle potential. You can have a lifetime of fun without ever learning consecutivity, but to learn what you can really do, you need to play consecutive. It’s a risk because when you try consecutivity, you might feel like you’re learning freestyle all over again. You won’t be doing long combos anymore. You’ll be out of your comfort zone because the two-move combos you’re trying are much harder.
You might feel like a beginner, but once you figure out how to make the transition from move to move without interruption, your game will transform. To begin with, your difficulty level will go up dramatically. The difference between a double spin to a THE delay and a double spin to an under the leg pull is huge. It’s massive. You’ll see new possibilities to link moves together as only you can do. The flow of your game will improve. Flowing from a pass directly into a pull, brush or roll is a universe of difference from pausing to get control of the disc, and then doing your move.
The biggest plus of consecutivity is the upside. With consecutivity, you can push your game every day, every month, every year as far as your body and mind can take it.
So the challenge begins today. Next time you do a move, take the risk. Go directly into your next move without a THE delay, without a THE tip. Imagine the biggest move you can do and go for it. So what if you miss? No problem. You’ll hit it eventually or think of a better idea.
When you watch freestyle, notice consecutivity. Which players are linking moves? Which players are pausing with setups and gaining control before moving on? Realize that in 99% of the cases, there is a huge difference in difficulty between the two.
Think about your own moves. Which two can you link together? Which three? Maybe even four. Then try it. Make 2008 the year of consecutivity.
