Earlier this year (during last year's EPL season), I was in London to watch the Chelsea versus Manchester United match at an authentic pub with true fans and while I was there I thought I would pick up a few DVDs. One of the DVDs that was on my list was In the Hands of the Gods, a film about five British Football Freestylers who set out on a journey across the Americas to meet Argentine superstar and Soccer Legend, Diego Maradona, the Godfather of Freestyle Football. The freestylers in the movie are Jeremy Lynch, Mikey Fisher, Sami Hall Bassam, Paul "Woody" Wood and Danny Robinson.
I really liked the movie, but it is not really a freestyle football film. The film has more to do with friendship, sticking together during hard times and realizing your dreamsthan it has to do with freestyling. There are a few freestyle scenes in the movie and the one that stands out is when the group is freestyling in New York City, but for the most part its about the journey. The plot of the film is interesting because so many people want to meet that one special person that has inspired their life mission, but so few actually venture out to meet that person.
Each freestyler is as unique in personality as in style. Woody, the best known freestyler out of the group, is the brains of the bunch and manages the finances of the bunch while they travel to Argentina. Sami provides inspiration to anyone trying to turn their life around and make something of themself. Jeremy is a novelty in the world of alternative sports culture. He is probably the best freestyler out of the group and he is a Christian. This is something that is brought up in the film. Mikey, stands out because he is from Liverpool and because he is somewhat the black sheep when it comes to making things work. Finally, Danny plays a major role in showing off his skills, but also being the support of the group.
All in all, the film is a great movie to watch and should part of any freestyler or aspire freestyler's film collection, not because of the skills seen, but to make sure your dreams are always on your mind. This film is a must see. Unfortunately, people in North America are going to need to get a PAL to NTSC converter or a multi-regional DVD player. You can also watch it on your computer by changing the region, but whatever you do check it out.
Holland! Before, I explain why, let me say this. I am a Brazil junkie. I love Brazil, have been there many times, have played soccer with some great players there and seen some amazing street soccer, but the Dutchmen are holding the title for crazy street soccer skills and freestyle football tricks. I have never been to Holland which is another reason that I want to go, but from what friends have told me, the level of street soccer and freestyle is bonkers. Yes bonkers. Crews/Teams like Masters of the Game just take the street soccer to a whole new level, kind of like the guys that were in the And1 Mixtapes (Basketball) a few years ago. Players like Edward Van Gil aka Edje, Issy aka Hitman, Wassinho and Nam the Man are living the street soccer and freestyle lifestyle while in Brazil, it would be appreciated by many, but not a way to make a living.Don't believe me? That's fine...click here to see some mind blowing Dutch street soccer. Even though, Holland might have the title in street soccer...let's keep it real and remember that Brazil still produces the best players in the world on the professional level and also the most entertaining. I think Portuguese speakers have the FIFA player of the year and the Ballon d'Or awards on lock...who is going to win this year? My money is on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yup! I think so and from what I have seen around the world other people find a connection whether consciously or not. I didn't say RAP, but HIP-HOP. Like KRS One said, "Rap is something you do, Hip-Hop is something you are." Hip-hop's penetration into soccer is obvious. Look at some of the tricks done by top freestyler Nam the Man, they have Bboy (breakdancing) written all over them. And its not just a few freestylers. Look at the footwork that so many freestylers use for their groundmoves and compare them to the six step that all Bboys must learn. Very similar if you ask me. Sure, the overlap is not as obvious as Capoeira and Bboying, but there is certainly some connection.
Over the past few years, hip-hop has branched out beyond just breaking (bboying), emceeing, DJing and graffiti. More and more you see people who are skateboarders (Lupe Fiasco!) snowboarders and basketball players who are into hip-hop. Freestyle Football is just the next child of hip-hop. I suspect that many of the world's best freestylers and street soccer players grew up spending hours outside with all kinds of people and many of those were Bboys, DJs, Emcees and Graffiti artists. Especially in the world's major cities (Don't sleep on french hip hop). Look at the clothing that most freestylers wear. Yeah, everything is comfortable and similar to soccer gear, but it usually has a hip-hop twist. Fitted hats, baggy sweat pants, doo-rags, Nike gear, maybe its a coincidence, but I do not think so. Like many of the other children of hip-hop, freestylers might have been aspiring professional footballers who had an unforeseen change of plans and decided to make it their own way while at the same time creating a beautiful art out of the beautiful game. Whatever the case, freestyle football and hip-hop are connected - 'Fo Shizzle'!
If you want to get you Freestyle Football Moves up check out some of our tutorials and get nice with the ball...PAUSE!
I love to hear about Football Freestyle Tricks entering into the mainstream. The other day, my friend told me about the new Amstel Light commercial that shows scenes of Amsterdam. About half way through the commercial, there is a guy hanging on a light post doing some great ground moves. This is great for the art, especially in North America where it is still in its infancy. Click here to check out the video.
For those that don't know, Holland (where Amsterdam is located) is one of the strongest countries for learning freestyle football and street soccer. So its only fitting that Amstel Light would show one of the strongest things coming out of its home country.
Brazil holds a special place in my heart and life and Street Soccer is synonymous with Brazil. Brazil in the street is a raw documentary/highlight film showing some of Brazil's best street soccer talent. It is not a documentary like In the Hands of the Gods, but more like a film made by a group of friends playing against each other who all happen to have some pretty amazing street soccer skills.
The film gives each player a few minutes to show their highlights a moves against one another. Although all of the players have a ton of skill, some of the players in the video really stand out like Tuca Ribeiro and Fernando Pitt. Fernando Pitt had a brief role in the British film, In the Hands of the Gods when he was freestyling with Woody on Copacabana Beach.
This is NOT a video about freestyling, but more about insane street soccer moves. There are some elements of freestyle in the film, but that is not the major focus. Its just raw street soccer, Brazilian style. The film reminds me of And1 Mixtape DVDs that exhibited crazy street basketballs skills across the United States. Similar to the skills seen in the And1 video series, the skills seen in Brazil in The Street are just amazing.
Would I recommend this video? Absolutely! This is the type of video that young kids throughout the world should be watching. Most of the scenes are shot on the Quadra (Court) where most Brazilian kids learn to play soccer. This is where players like Robinho, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and many others learn their skills. Brazil like most soccer loving nations has a quadra de futebol (soccer court) everywhere there is available space and people are usually playing all the time. These courts are the origin of the Beautiful Game.
Click here to buy Brazil in the Street.