SHUTTLECOCK DIPLOMACY along the MIGHTY MEKONG

The mighty Mekong is may only the 7th longest river in Asiaand the 12th longest in the world but it is still 12 times longer than the ricer (slip of the tongue given the staple diet here) Shannon. Anyway we were along side its Phnom Penh banks with some of my new colleagues

when a funny semi familiar object dropped at my feet

What is it ?????


Looks like a shuttlecock but it amazing and graceful what the asians can do with it






Well as those well travelled people in your midst know its called JIANZA.

Check out this video on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b56BlEBvFtg


During play, various parts of the body (except for the hands) are used to keep the shuttlecock from touching the ground. It is primarily balanced and propelled upwards using parts of the leg, especially the feet. Skilled players may employ powerful and spectacular overhead kicks. In China, the sport usually has two playing forms: Circle Kick among 5-10 people, and Duel Kick between two kickers. Circle Kick uses upward kicks only for keeping the shuttlecock from not touching ground. Duel Kick is very popular recently among Chinese young players, using "Flat Kick" techniques like Shooting Goal techniques in soccer sports