Henry's Physical Education

Ddakji is part of a family of games that include Milk Caps, Menko, Tazos, and POGs. In all these games the idea is to flip one item over using another. It must flip only once, so it would flip from side A to side B. It doesn’t count if it flips twice, or multiple times, and lands on A, it only counts if it lands on the other side to what it started on.

Ddakji are fairly easy to make and in theory the game is easy to play. But in reality in order to make the Ddakji flip you need to hit the one on the ground in just the right place with the right amount of power.

To make Ddakji you need 2 squares of paper. You can use printer paper, cardstock, origami paper, cardboard etc. I used construction paper for the examples here. Ddakji can be of various sizes, but I find the 3×3 inch Ddakji I end up with when starting with a 12×9 inch piece of construction paper works well for kids and those with smaller hands. If you want to make larger ones  a 12×12 inch square would make a 4×4 inch finished Ddakji.

Construction paper is a rectangle so first you have to make a square. Take the bottom right corner and fold it so that the bottom edge lies against the left side of the paper. Press down on the fold to get a nice crease. Cut the remnant piece of paper off the top and you are left with a square. You will need 2 squares to make 1 Ddakji.

Fold each square into thirds. You might have to use a ruler, or you can just eyeball it, but the more even all your folds are the stronger and neater your final Ddakji will be. Once it is folded into 3, fold the bottom right corner over so the bottom edge lies neatly against the left edge. Make a similar fold at the top like in the photo. The paper clips are just to help show what it should look like at this stage.

Place one on top of the other as shown in the photo. Then fold the left one in.

Do the same with the others. The last one is a little tricky.

Tuck the last one under, and then push all of it together a little to make it tight. Now you’re ready to make at least one more and then a game of Ddakji can begin. It is a nice idea to make a few in different colors so a few people can play. You can also put a sticker, or draw something, on the other side. Be inventive and have fun.

Jegi Chagi is a traditional Korean game in the hackysack/shuttlecock family. 

Traditionally the construction of the jegi would have been much more basic. Originally slightly flattened cloth balls were filled with clay, ashes, or even horse dung. A feather, typically a long tail feather from a pheasant, would be stuck into the flattened ball.

In order to get a playable result there has to be a balance between weight, because you need it to fall, and drag, because you want a slow fall so you have time to kick it back up into the air. The drag also somewhat lessens the effect of something falling and hitting your foot, so while you could play with just a large pebble or small rock, it wouldn’t be much fun. When coins with holes in the middle became easily available jegi started to be made with said coins being wrapped with cloth or korean paper.

The game was once associated with winter and the Lunar New year in particular. Nowadays it is mostly played by children, with Korean schools teaching it in third or fourth grade. Jegi Chagi provides many health benefits as well as increasing strength, agility, concentration, patience, and stamina. It also shows up in K variety shows as a challenge, mission, or just for laughs. It looks like an easy game but it is actually much harder than it looks and takes practice to become good at it.

The basic idea is to use the side of your foot to keep the jegi in the air.

If you put your foot down to the ground between each kick it is a version called Ddangganghji, but if you keep kicking the jegi up into the air without letting your kicking foot touch the ground it is called Hullangyi. You can also alternate feet, play with a partner or group, or even play using your heel instead of the side of your foot. It is also a game which is open for you to invent house rules or methods of play; maybe you have to kick it through a hoop or into a bucket after a certain number of kicks. You lose if the jegi touches the ground or your hand.

It is quite easy to make your own jegi, the simplest way is to use some coins, a plastic grocery bag, and a twist tie. Cut a large square from the grocery bag and place 4 or 5 coins in the center.

Then gather up the plastic bag and twist the plastic to enclose the coins. Wrap the twist tie firmly around the twisted plastic just above the coins. Cut the plastic bag off at about 4 to 6 inches above the coins.

Now carefully cut the bag down towards the coins. The goal is to make strips that flutter and help add drag.

It is that easy. You can change things up by using paper or cloth instead of the plastic, or you can change the number and size of the coins you use.

This is great traditional game that is lots of fun and is good for you too. I was told that to help beginners tie the jegi to a piece of string and hang it from a branch, that way while you are practicing you don’t have to bend down to the ground to pick it up each time you miss. Let me know if you play Jegi Chagi or have any hints or other methods of play in the comments below.

(5 min) Warm up 

(40 min) Skill Pre-Test

(5 min) Closure 

Two Weeks Later - Retention Tests

Clear Shot Cues

1. Move and get behind the shuttle.

2. Raise your Racquet Arm and Non-Racquet Arm.

3. Body face sideways with your feet pointing slightly sideways.

4. Stretch your Racquet Arm to as far back as possible. Stretch out your Non-racquet Arm. 

5. Take the shuttle at the Highest Point possible.

6. Full Arm Swing. Follow through with your swing after hitting the shuttle.

7. Shuffle your Racquet Foot forward as you swing your racquet forward.

8. After hitting your stroke, your body should face forward.

Poole Forehand Overhead Clear Test (French, Werner, Rink, Taylor, & Hussey, 1996). The performer stands on the X spot with his/her foot (right-handed - right foot, left-handed – left foot) and will receive a shuttle from a trained tester to hit it back over the net to the deepest corner of the court. When the performer hit shuttles, the tester will stand at point ‘X’ with holding a racquet overhead. The performer will hit a shuttle with an overhead forehand clear over the tester’s racquet. The tester will call out if the shuttle does not pass over the tester’s racquet. The performer will hit shuttles twenty times and the scores will be totaled for the clear test score. The maximum score will be 60 points.

https://youtu.be/O1xrZ8zSUN4

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher

(30 min) Team Practice and Formal Competitions 

(5 min) Closure 

(5 min) Warm up 

(5 - 10 min) Initial Information by a teacher

(30 min) Team Practice and Formal Competitions 

(5 min) Closure