Just News: End of January

February 7th is the annual African American Heritage Celebration.

203 will be performing their first fusion routine. Fusion is comprised of jump rope tricks and choreography set to mixed music.

As a pure enthusiast for all things jump rope, we try and remember that children are attracted to skipping because it's fun. To be precise, consistent, and have stamina it takes hard work and many, many, hours of practice.

With a wink and a nod, let's just say we have the fun part worked out. It has been a pure joy watching these children who range in ages 7 to 9 take to jump rope irregardless of skill, culture, or gender. When a cultural pool of 20 kids ranges from Southeast Asian, African American, Mexican, South American, Chinese, European American, German, Tibetan, British/Latino, this kind of diversity is simply worth mentioning. And the academic productivity is equally varied.

Even still, smiles light up at the very mention of Double Dutch.
And performing in front of 500 people for the first time is not a problem.

3D Double Dutch Jump Rope Arts Morning Summer Sessions!

3D is in the process of setting up a schedule for Summer Classes 2008 in Berkeley.
Classes will be in beginning and intermediate jump rope skills. Summer sessions will begin June 23rd and continue through July 31st.
Subjects of focus for kids 7-13 include:

• leadership
• problem solving
• rope skipping and turning techniques
• musicianship and jump rope arts
• health & nutrition
  
• skipping routines

3D actively combines the rhythmical arts of rope skipping with interdisciplinary studies to build ambassadors for a better tomorrow!
Contact doubledutchdelco@gmail.com for further information.

Other Details in the News...because nutrition is key...

January 14 Alice Waters Honored for Edible Schoolyard Project

Help Raise Healthy Children benefit special guest performers was a squad from the Bouncing Bulldogs International Jumprope Club from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. BTW the Bulldogs will be participating in the next Olympics. Event honoree was the Chez Panisse Foundation for it's creation of the Edible Schoolyards project in Berkeley schools.

The key idea behind the Edible Schoolyard project is to educate children about healthy food so as to offset the 'fast food nation' phenomenon where the culture of processed food with high fat and calorie content is contributing to childhood obesity.

It is interesting to note that Alice Waters happened upon sustainable farming in her quest to find the best tasting food. It just so happened that the ingredients that tasted the best came from organic farmers. It was not long after these times (circa 1970's) that the effects of our current eras 'fast food nation' began an alarming trend of childhood obesity.

video interview of Alice Waters on abc7 news from January 11, 2008 can be accessed at...
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/health_fitness&id=5884184

Nutrition Comes First

Okay. The not so glamorous aspect of jump rope is the subject of food. There are so many misconceptions with young people about what's good for them to eat or why and what it does to their bodies, that it's time to be open.

In addition to our fabulous children, Chef Ann Cooper is currently one of Berkeley's treasures.

When it comes to knowledge of nutrition, sustainable food culture, and getting good grub to kids, to see her work is to see the REAL DEAL.

During my quest to connect with as many local resources for 3D as possible, I had a conversation with Chef Cooper. But before I get into that, you've gotta be aware and pick up what she's putting down:

http://www.lunchlessons.org/html_v2/lunch_lessons.html

At 3D we play but we don't joke.
We have tools and information to change a new generation of people by putting KNOWLEDGE IN ACTION.

So as we routinely work refining our rope skills, we educate our young people about food too.

But let's get back to the discussion I had with Ann.

I asked Chef Cooper:

"What do you think is the greatest obstacle for getting people of African American and Latino communities in touch with organic food culture and healthy eating?"

I pointed this question to her because...

1) I am intimately familiar with common culturally relevant foods and the culture surrounding food in this community.

2) Having worked from Harlem to Berkeley California, I strongly suspected that African American and Latino inner city culture would be nothing new to her.

And finally...

3) She is an extraordinarily knowledgeable and socially-conscious chef who is as unpretentious and 'can-do' as you will ever meet. Oh, and she was hand-picked by the Alice Water's Foundation to bring organic food culture to the Berkeley Unified School District.
Yes, she is ALL THAT and HOLD the chips.

In short, she hipped me to the fact that to begin to even answer this question, you need to look at food histories of people. You have to look at each community's diaspora- generations of people and their migration to where they are today. In looking at those migrations, you need to observe what people have regularly eaten with regards to what was available to them. Accessible foods, methods of preparation, and means of consumption have everything to do with peoples physiology- particularly over generations with prevalent practices.

In a nutshell, her answer was: access has to do with changing peoples mindset about eating by taking into account their cultural beliefs and practices regarding food. Equally important is to consider the physical activity in one's life. If you're going to ask a question about a culture of a people or their practices and you're talking food, it is necessary to observe what takes place around the tenets of a healthy and balanced lifestyle: sufficient rest, moderated food consumption, and sufficient physical activity.

We discussed how we have a history in this country where many African American's biological makeup can be traced to ancestors who did extreme physical labor and consumed certain kinds of foods available thus prepared those foods in specific ways. Over time, generationally, bodies adapt to being able to process foods BASED ON THEIR ACTIVITY among many, many, other factors outside of our control by birth.

But activity and eating habits ARE within our realm of control.

A key word is 'activity'. Now rather than tread into waters that got 'Jimmy the Greek' into so much hot water, let's be clear that:
we're talking about eating habits
we're talking about exercise
we're talking about paying attention to the biology that you were given
we're talking about taking into account your food culture and being aware

In a way we're even talking about talking to your doctor.

Because each and every one of us is different. Any information we can get about our body and what keeps it healthy is critical.

It's a shame that our California Governor, Arnold, is not so keen on making information accessible to those who need it most: public school kids!
See DEEP CUTS IN EDUCTION SPENDING,...
(see 1/11/08 SF Chronicle article...) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2008/01/11/MNVIUD5V8.DTL&type=politics

people in African American and Latino communities are overwhelmingly impacted when costs are cut in education. And education is directly connected to health awareness. And poverty is directly connected to inaccessible health care.

So, as we are what we eat- we think about it. And do things about it. Hopefully more kids will too, with our efforts. And your efforts. Hey, Ann's doing her part!

3D can no longer leave our children without daily active advocacy. We do it with Double Dutch.
Think about what you eat. Chef Ann makes it easy with her Meal Wheel

http://www.lunchlessons.org/html_v2/meal_wheel.html

We're bringing what we know, as conscientious stewards of children's learning and well-being, to the 'table'.

And when it comes to nutritional awareness, we're glad to say that Ann Cooper is someone who is seated right along with us!

Ready your ropes...

-B

We Are Currently Skipping To...

At 3D we focus on Double Dutch Fusion. And yes, it is important to master basic single jump rope skills, but we emphasize 'fusion'-style Double Dutch skipping...for all sorts of reasons that are forthcoming in future postings.

What really contributes to our routines and practices is the music. In addition to over 25 years of choreography and education experience, we SURE ARE LUCKY to have a music producer in our crew. Their name is b.p. d'oiseaux and they make 'nu-skool' jazz and hip hop instrumentals.


You can check out a few tracks they have 'whipped up' for us in 07' at
http://www.musicv2.com/artist/b__p__d_oiseaux

More to come in 08' you'd better believe.

With new documentaries like Jump! and Doubletime, jump rope is experiencing a huge underground current at the moment. But what we at 3D will never forget are the musical roots for our sport. In the 1950's with the proliferation of radio and blues inspired rock & roll, the inner city youth of New York took to the streets and put the heat under their feet to tunes of the day. And there are too many to mention here. 3D will celebrate rhythm & blues' music rich past to provide an ongoing education of soulful music that compounds the rhythm of the street. This is where so much Double Dutch flavor comes from. 'Fusion' is really a reinterpretation of what jump rope has always been in the streets. Jump rope is becoming increasingly gymnastic and athletically 'extreme' but we aren't about to forget the 'soul' in the steps!

But even before music was allowed in competition, rope skipping teams exhumed the rhythm of the ropes in their style. So much so, that as good as teams have gotten in the recent decade, 1970's routines continue to inspire. Just regard the teams featured in the documentary of the 1979 Lincoln Center NYC Double Dutch competition , "Pick Up Your Feet" put out by the National Double Dutch League. Wow. Check it out for yourself by ordering a copy at: http://www.nationaldoubledutchleague.com/Store/products.htm

The viewing might inspire you to retool your entire idea of what is possible with jump rope skill.

Room 203 at the big 'C' in Berkeley is working on a routine. The music include a jump rope classic from Aretha Frankin's 70's classic titled,...

...well we'll just have to leave you wondering until performance time February 7th. That's when we'll unveil the fun at the African American Heritage celebration!

If you so happen to guess the song for our routine - go out and get it and start bouncing yourselves!

-Mr. D

3D Double Dutch Jump Rope Arts, Berkeley California

We usher in a new year with great anticipation to celebrate Double Dutch Jump Rope Arts right here in Berkeley, CA!

For 2008, it's now time
to be present, active, and celebratory in a fresh vision where fitness and education are one. This year's theme is: Keeping it simple. And just how might that be possible?

Everything happens one step at a time.
The key is to be aware of what's going on at the moment and participating fully in the task at hand. Attention to detail is essential. What's the rush?

Mind Body Connection in Parallel Spheres: Brain, Rope, Left, Right.
Right?

If anything was ever on our side, it would be time.
Proper form, patience, and an elevated quality of life is now the order of the day.
When you're at your best, everything and anything is possible. Trust me. It's possible.
In September of 2007, 3D Fitness & Education was born from passion and dreams. If it sounds a lot like love, its' because it is. Love of learning. Love of sport. Love of community. Loving knowing that the world will be a better place after love has been given. And if this smacks of retro Bay Area 'hippy',...nope.

This is the real deal where connections in 08' are coming together for a brighter future for youth.

And just think, all one need do is to stop and listen...
to the ropes.

Finite details on 3D's 2008 schedule of events coming by mid-January.

As an aside, I have been compiling an ongoing time line of significant jump rope arts events that begins in 1973 with the NYCPAL/ David A. Walker collaboration in sponsoring the first Double Dutch jump rope competition outside Lincoln Center. If you are interested in details or have any information to contribute, feel free to email doubledutchdelco@gmail.com!

Thanks.
3d Wishes Everyone A Fantastic New Year of Health, Awareness, And Fun Beyond Imagination!