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gravityizsexy

From box-man to mantis...

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Would anyone who knows recommend a set amount
of experience before modifying the basics of freefall
style?(Box-man) When I go up by myself I like to
experiement with alot of different things, I've
recently been playing with the "mantis" style, and
I travel alot so I really can't get a instructor who
really knows my flying. But I would like to know,
is it traditional to master box-man before working
on other aspects of flight? I see people that use
this and when executed properly it makes for
superior response time and heightened stability and control,
thats my opinion anyway, but should I keep practicing
box-man until I know it's perfect or could I start
looking for other training and work it into my
style. I personally don't think it is all that dangerous
see'ing as how I could revert to a stable box position
when its necessary, I just wanted to know what everyone
else thinks about it.

"'Someday is not a day in my week'"

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The sooner you learn it, the easier it'll be to change. Watch someone with 1000 boxman jumps get in a wind tunnel and try the mantis. Then watch someone with 20 jumps do the same thing. The guy with 20 jumps will pick it right up, but the guy with 1000 will struggle for a long time and constantly revert back to the boxman.

I wish I'd learned it right off AFF.

Dave

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Did a 2 way recently with a ~200 jump novice without a lot of RW experience trying to use the mantis position. The constant correcting and overcorrecting with hands/arms made me have to orbit around to get the first dock.

It was very irritating having my target doing unnecessary adjustments. maybe having the hands in front of you is likely to make a novice 'twitchy'.
People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

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I'm curious. I've never been taught anything that was called "mantis" but I've heard the term on here before.

Does anyone have a good pic of this body position so I can see it?




I believe that there was a picture of it in this months parachutists.
-Fish


Blue skies, Soft landings

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I have taught people mantis before they did AFF.

It is nothing more than a way to maximise effect with minimal input....you can learn that at anytime.

Also, it is not a magical position anymore than there is a magical freefly position.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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Who said anything about being "locked in" to one position? :S




JP did ;)

Just don't be using that mantis on big ways, out on a loop somewhere. It's not good for those docking on you, having to fish for your wrist, rather than having out in their face. When the tension gets high, you won't be able to maintain the position, and the transition can add to problems.

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Just don't be using that mantis on big ways, out on a loop somewhere



See this is what I am talking about...The mantis is NOT a stationary position. Watch Airspeed, they are taking grips, flashing...ect yet most would say they are flying in the mantis.

I fly the "mantis" all the time. If you want to call it that. But I still take grips, present grips and flash.

I know folks on the 300 way that were flying mantis.

People think this is a solid position...Its not. Its taught that way just like the boxman was taught that way. Once you get the basic idea, then it is a very fluid position that has a few basic ideas:

1. Head up so you can look around.
2. Puting preasure on the air with your upper body so that your legs are more effective.
3. Use of legs as a primary input to move.

It is a concept, not a stationary position.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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