When you first start bocking, there are a lot of unknowns. Since the sport is relatively young, it can be difficult to find answers to even the most basic of questions. Being a new bocker can sometimes feel like a bit of an uphill battle. This article is meant to provide some basic tips to reduce the learning curve and to help you get up and bocking faster. It also assumes that you’ve already reached the point where you can stand on your bocks unaided.
Mind your form.
The most important, and most often overlooked, aspect of any sport is learning proper form. Take a look at the accompanying image. When on your bocks, you should keep a nice, relaxed posture. Keep your shoulders down and slightly back. Your back should be straight, and you should be able to draw a straight line from the ground through the top of your head. Your head should be roughly parallel to the ground (perpendicular to your vertical alignment).
Make sure to pay special attention to this last point, especially as you start learning to jump. There’s a strong drive as a beginner to look down to see where you’re going to land. The problem is that doing so pitches your whole body forward, moving your center off of the vertical line in the image. The end result is an increased likelihood of falling forward. Instead of looking down, try to focus your gaze approximately 10-20 feet ahead of you. Doing so will allow you to anticipate the terrain without throwing off your center of balance.
The last point on form is that you want to be mindful of your knee and foot alignment as well. Try to keep your toes pointing forward to help avoid hitting your springs against one another. If you notice that you’re starting to bang your springs together with any frequency, that’s a sure sign you’re starting to tire and that your form is suffering.
Keep Moving
Once you can get up on your bocks without the assistance of another person or object, you will need to stay in motion in order to maintain your balance. Small amounts of ongoing fidgeting are perfectly normal. As you gain more experience, you will be able to increase the amount of time between each weight shift. However, simply due to the nature of the hoof design itself, you will almost certainly not eliminate it.
Ease into it.
Finally, one of the bigest mistakes all beginners make is trying to do too much, too soon. When it comes to bocking, your body will be adjusting to a different set of rules than those under which it normally operates. I say this knowing full well that you’ll probably ignore me (Heck, I would’ve): Start slow! Don’t push yourself to run or jump on your very first time out, or even your second. Take your time and let your body adjust to this new way of moving.
You should pay attention to how your body feels as you’re out there. Remember, bocking is great fun but it’s also a lot of work. Keeping your balance on two tiny hooves requires a lot of core strength. At first you won’t realize just how much work you’re asking your body to do but, if you stay up too long, you’ll definitely realize it the next day.
So, as you go out there your first few times, remember to mind your form, keep moving, and ease into it. Follow these tips, and I can guarantee you’ll have an easier go of things than I did.
Still need more tips? Check out some other bocking articles. Or consider reading a random article from TimWoodbury.com.
