What is shuttlecock(Chinese jianzi)? What are they made of and how to make?

Good question! If the word “jianzi” sounds somehow just that unfamiliar to you…ok, let’s make it one of my hubs then.

Jianzi, perhaps better known as shuttlecock or Chinese hacky sack, which is named as Da Cau or Chapteh as well, is actually an ancient sport in China.

That’s right, though I did say it’s an ancient sport in China, it may also consider as a traditional popular free-time game however which enjoyed throughout Asia by all ages especially last recent 30 years. Hence, you won’t be surprised to see people practicing or playing jianzi on the street corners, in the courtyards, playgrounds and the parks.

Okay, I know you are getting curious and excited by now to know what exactly the jianzi is, right?

Well, shuttlecock, as some of us love to name it this way, it is not a high-drag projectile used in the sport of badminton though. Just that it looks like a badminton shuttle with a tail of feathers instead of plastic mesh.

Its tip is often made of weighted plastic disks covered by cloth or leather. It consists of 4 equal length feathers, normally goose or duck feathers (we prefer using chicken feathers though as it is much more easier to get) conjoint at a plastic base which the diameter is about 4cm. It weights approximately 15grams, the total length of it is about 15-18 cm, and the feathers vary in color, usually dyed red, yellow, blue or green. 5-7 paper or leather washers are placed at the rubber part so to ensure the flexibility.

It’s actually a game in which players aim to keep it in the air using their feet and may be other parts of the body except hands. Would it sound unbelievable to you?

Kicks are the primary method of moving the shuttlecock, while the chest is often used to stop high flying shots and cause it to fall in range of a kick.

I wonder if you have come to the sense that it’s mostly about kicking…there are however three main kicks (front kick, back kick, side kick) that are most frequently used in the game.

Front kick, the player extends their leg forward and uses the top part of their shoe to kick the shuttlecock.

Back kick, the player lets the shuttle cock pass over their head or to the side of them and uses the bottom of their shoe to hit it.

Side kick, the player uses the inner sole of their shoe to hit the shuttlecock.

Amazing huh? Let’s find out what’s the benefits that the shuttlecock, I mean jianzi can offer us.

As you might have already known that it is not only a fun and vigorous aerobic workout that suits all of us at all ages, but a high concentration of body and mind exercise the ingenuity of people to enhance response capabilities.

From the raising of legs, jumping, kicking, bouncing, bending and turning of the body, it makes almost every parts of our body take part in the exercise. Besides providing us the health benefits like other active sports do; it trains the hand-eye coordination in the meantime as well. So, don’t be surprised if you were to find out from the list below that how many benefits the “jianzi” has actually brought to us.

- It trains our brain to be more focus and quick response.

- It encourages the use of our weaker foot.

- It promotes our blood circulation.

- It increases our metabolism.

- It effectively improves our joint and body flexibility.

- It improves our heart and lung function.

- It enhances our physical fitness.

- It promotes and enhances our response capabilities.

- It builds up our confidence.

- It can enhance the cold resistance ability.

- It helps improve human intelligence.

- It helps losing weight.

Well, what do you think of all those benefits?

It's incredible, isn't it?

And hey, don’t you find it's an amazing game to all of us?

Try it yourself today, it’s simply the best when what you need is merely a shuttlecock, yes, a jianzi I mean, it can be played just about everywhere and anytime, no worries of weather, you can always play it indoors or outdoors, and the best part is that you don't even have to have any partner to start this amazing game, yes...just you alone can enjoy it much too.

Need a shuttlecock however, huh? Well, there are quite easy to buy at stores actually or you can always buy it online if it is not that popular in your area. Anyway, share with you my style of making shuttlecock when I was in my primary if it happens that you can’t find any in your area or you don’t feel like to buy it online.

Materials to be prepared:-

1. 4 feathers (get the chicken feathers if that’s the only feather you can get.)
2. Unused bicycle tube- cut 2-3 pieces of same round shape about a diameter of 4cm.
3. 1 nail.
4. 1 rubber band.
5. masking tape.

Method of doing:-

1. wash and dry the feathers.
2. use the rubber band to tie up the four feathers together from the bottom of the feathers.
3. Pile up together the 2-3 pieces of round shape tube which you have cut, use the nail to penetrate to the middle of the round shape tube.
4. Put the feathers that you have tied onto the nail which you have pierce through the round shape tube.
5. Use the masking tape to tape it up tightly.

There you go...this is what I enjoyed much in my childhood, hey hey!

Oh yes, before I forget, I have bought three beautiful and colorful shuttlecocks to enjoy back this fun and health game with my kids when I visited Vietnam last year.

I really enjoyed seeing them kicking the shuttlecock in the park with their laughter around, that reminded me the unforgettable childhood memories of mine...

I have promised my kids though to make them a DIY jianzi which I have showed you the method mentioned above, the simple making yet with full of my sweet childhood memories' jianzi.