Skating the Circle is Where the Fun's At
Students of the Jammin' skate style are known for what
is called "skating the circle," whether solo, in pairs, trios or in a larger
train of skaters. The circle can be very small or it can be expanded
to cover an entire skate floor. Any way about it, Bill says, "the
circle's where it's at," especially at many of the skate events that are
held throughout the year in various cities. Some of them are held
at rinks which are filled to capacity with little skating room to
be found. In the middle of the skate floor, however, the excitement,
thrill and motion are endless when 15 or more skaters congregate and skate
within a small, circular area. Many of these skaters are not students
of the Jammin' skate method but are participating in something that is
part of the overall Jammin' Technique. RST spoke with Bill (BB) and
Michael Johnson (MJ) about what crosses their minds when they witness these
circular skater showcases which are greatly inspired by principles of Bill's
skating Technique.
(RST) - Bill, your skaters are known for skating that circle.
People would be surprised at how much fun they can have in that circle
as opposed to trying to find some skate room in an over-crowded rink at
some of today's skate events. What things cross your mind when you
see 20+ people skating within a circle in a small area on the skate floor?
It's not your Technique but it's a style you developed. What kinds
of things go through your mind?
(BB) - First, I'm very flattered that they're even in
there doing whatever they do. I think it's wonderful, I love the
exchange. I think what's going through all of our heads is to stay
out of one another's way, that's the big deal. Moving around swiftly
in all directions where most other styles don't allow that to happen.
Also, I would like to point out, this Technique is not just limited
to circles, [it] can take you anywhere in the rink at any given time.
We just go in a circle because we have more fun there and it's not so crowded.
It's crowded, but not to us. We can just maneuver. It's kind of like
a rabbit in a briar patch. To other animals, it's dangerous in there
but not to the rabbit. He knows how to get around in there and that's
the same concept of The Technique: it allows you to go in all different
directions and it's a learning process. Sometimes you do have a tendency
to rub against someone and it's such a cool thing because everybody just
keeps going, they bump and keep going. It's a perfect example of
The Technique being so viable, so usable, so skater friendly and all you
have to do is be aware of [it] and use it to its full extent.
At the same time, you can skate in the rink the same way but when it
becomes so congested and people are not as much up on it, if you will,
as those being in the circle, you would find the danger much less in the
circle as opposed to out on the main floor because there's so many people
who just skate fast but they don't have real control. That's why
we have these accidents from time to time because skaters are just not
aware that it is so important to know how to control the skates and that
would include knowing how to stop.
(RST) - Michael, Bill's skaters are known for skating
the circle and doing all kinds of steps and moves within a circle.
What do you think of when you see – it's not The Technique- but it's people
imitating a part of it and it's so much fun. What do you think when you
see that happening in the middle of a packed skate floor at some of the
skate events?
(MJ) - I think it's great. It lends itself to everyone
just having a great time showing their skill, their style of skating and
just combining together as one big party circle. I think it's great.
For the most part, people that get in the circle have skills because it's
so compact and tight so you need some skills to get in there and skate
around with everybody else. You don't find too many people that don't
have skills get in there unless it's a different kind of night. It takes some skills to get in there and do your thing.
[At the Atlanta Skate/Sk8-a-thon], it was great to see different styles
and that showcase in the circle. It kinda reminds me of back in the
day at Empire [Roller Skating Rink in New York] and everybody used to
get in the middle, not a circle but in the middle section and just do their
thing as opposed to forming a circle.
(RST) - Bill, as far as skating the circle, you can
expand the size of it depending on the crowd size?
(BB) - You can expand the circle, you can shrink the circle,
you can go in all these different directions. Say you had a circle
that was 20 feet by 20 feet you can make it 60 feet by 60 feet by skating in all
these different directions, that's what makes you expand the size of a
circle by skating the circle in all these physical patterns.
Circles, little circles within circles, triangles, you can skate half circles,
quarter circles, straight lines, tangents, all these various things within
the circle and that's what makes it so unique.
I know I have something that's really cool for people to learn and enhance
their skating ability and if they don't choose to do it because they would
allow anything outside of good, clear understanding get in their way, then
they'll keep skating like they do. I say, learn this technique and
everybody will skate better. It doesn't matter who you are, you'll
skate better. It's that simple. This is something I'm trying
to get people to understand. You just have to understand it, get
to do it and it's beautiful because you can mix and match any other style
you wish by having the knowledge of the Jammin' technique which encompasses
any style anyone would want to skate at any given time. You don't
have to skate the same way all the time, you can change it up and that's
what makes it beautiful. The Jammin' style of skating, teaches you to do
that because I do it myself. I skate five different styles at any
given time. I'm just trying to share the wealth because the more
people get it, the more fun we're all going to have.
(RST) - Thank you both.
- Posted 09/29/06 -
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