RollToronto, Blading Wellness: Mike ‘Murda’ Johnson
In the past year or so, blading wellness has been getting more and more attention. It may be due to the fact that I’m more personally aware of it (being in my mid 20’s) or maybe it’s because a lot of older bladers are in the limelight these days. Whatever the case, it is important to take care of your body.
As rollerbladers, we put a lot of stress on our joints, muscles, and our overall physical well being. Most of us start blading at a young age and don’t think about stretching, or eating well, or even taking care of injuries. The fact of the matter is, you don’t really notice your injuries that much when you’re young. You can recover faster, and you are more interested in learning the newest grind, or lacing the big handrail in a session, than preparing your body for the torment you put it through.
This Blading Wellness series is dedicated to bringing awareness to taking care of your body. We were lucky enough to have Corey Grantham take the initiative, and seek out some pro’s at the Montreal Classic this year. First up is Mike ‘Murda’ Johnson and his take on blading wellness. Corey and I got to sit down and have a chat with him, and see what an experienced pro has to say. Watch the video, and form your own conclusions. This will be a 5 part series; we also have perspectives from Rob G, Brandon Smith, Erik Bailey, and Jon Julio. Be sure to check back for more interviews.
- Dave
Tags: mike murda johnson
September 12th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
ever heard of the invention of shotgun microphones?? use them!! its hard to understand anything
September 12th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
This is a big issue that almost all bladers ignore, if only it was cool to stretch out before a sesh, wear pads and a helm, to do exercises to strengthen legs and condition joints, actually act like a pro athlete rather than a punk.. Not only would this sport would be further evolved, but I bet a lot of old pros would still be ripping it up instead of being ‘scared’
September 12th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Awesome initiative guys. real positive article. Would just sugget to use more professional equipment though rather then a Photo Camera.
Keep up the good work. and remember to wear your protective equipment.
Personally I still wear wrist guards, Shin guards and Knee pads when I skate. I swear by them, and they do improve my skills.
JC
September 12th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
…I´m 24 now and I swear without the gym I wouldn´t be able to skate at all…I think it´s really important to train your back-especially the lower area cuz that´s where I had the biggest problems when I turned like 20 due to a history of intense gap-afinity….
September 12th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
very very import post, but no sound here
September 12th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
correction, has sound, but very very low… need to turn up at max to hear
September 12th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
meh sound schmound. you can hear what he’s saying just fine. interesting interview – can’t wait to hear the next ones.
September 13th, 2009 at 3:07 am
WOW, WAY TO DANCE AROUND THE QUESTIONS AND ASK THEM COMPLETELY OUT OF ORDER. SOUNDS LIKE YOU TRIED TO WING IT…AND DIDN’T DO SO WELL. 1/10. WELCOME TO 3RD GRADE… AND HERE’S YOUR HOST! 1 DUMB CANUCK!
September 13th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I like this idea, its cool and different. Good info and very important as I have learned thru out my 14 years of skating. I hope to see more of these and you young kids out there should watch em and take note.
September 13th, 2009 at 6:49 am
cant hear alot. sounds like rennovations are going on in the background or demolition or something
September 13th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Definitely looking forward to Guererro and Julio, those guys seem to have stuck around the longest to me, and still ripping. As someone who’s coming close to 20, I’m definitely starting to think more about body preservation, so this is a great segment, although Murda probably wasn’t the best older blader to interview. He’s an incredible skater, but he’s known for his perfect style and switch ups more so than massive gaps and drop rails. I’d like to see if Pianowski, Perkett, Haffey, and Chase do any body conditioning, or if they’re just naturally indestructible.
September 13th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I have been skating since 1990 and am one of the few 37 year olds still doing handrails. You will stretch religiously when you get older or you will not be skating. Keeping your core strong is key and staying away from gaps to flat. Gaps to decline or tranny are fine. Remember, Nobody in the general public cares whether you do a sweatstance down a handrail or 540 kind, only you and your boys. Smoothness and style are paramount.
The soft and supple shall prevail, the hard and stiff shall be boken. Rollerblading is really healthy for your body, as long as you dont fall.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:13 am
“Rollerblading is really healthy for your body, as long as you dont fall.”
That quote made my day,haha.
Much respect to you man for skating rails at 37! I find its harder to get bottle for rails as you get older unless you skate them often.
Looking forward to hearing from Rob G & Julio about bladeabuse.
Can anyone find any decent wristguards? I can’t find Triple 8 Hired hands or any decent ones like that anymore. I want to be able to save myself while wearing wrist guards instead skidding out of control.
September 14th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Thanks everyone for your feedback, the next in the series will be up on the blog in the next couple of days and personally its my favourite. Rob G!
September 14th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
this is great, very interesting to hear from these guys about “getting old”. im 27, dont skate much as before obviously, and it’s really important to warmup, stretch, eat good, etc etc
i plan skating as long as i can, and i admire scott wilcoxson, 37 and still skating :)
September 14th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Good to see you’ll paying attention to us OG’s (i hate that saying). It meant” Original Ganster” before you make up your own words lil shits were born.
Anyway it’s me a 43 year old gromet. You youngsters are soft, that means weak for you make up your own words gen. Am I the only one out here thats not scared to fall after 30? I am supose to be interveiwed soon and I will try to answer all questions about rolling over 35 or more.
I can’t wait to see what I got after 13 years in this game. That would make me a 56 year old OG, and I don’t mean old guy either.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:17 am
I’m also anticipating the Rob G and Julio interviews. I’m surprised Murda really downplayed his stretching. I’m approaching 26 and I stretch at least twice a day while working, and always before and after skating.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
‘Oh and don’t smoke, I smoke but dont smoke’
September 15th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
this post may be interesting, but the sound sucks… I have to pay many attention to undersatand english leanguage, so i dont understand it very well, cause of the sound.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:34 am
[...] is the second part of a series we’re doing to promote blading wellness (check the Murda Interview here), and encourage rollerbladers to take care of their bodies. After the first interview with Murda at [...]
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Yep very good interview, I’ve been militing for those kind of things in my park and not taken seriously as I’m lame at skating. A good wrist guard is hard to find and fore sure the cheapest one aren’t good at all, somethime dangerous. I twist my elbow landing after a UFO down a ledge because of them, my hand it the floor but insteand of sliding this badquality wrist guard stuck himself on the concrete and all the power of the impact went to my elbow. The lesson to remember is that if wear a wrist guard be sure there is a big slider on it, so when you it the concrete you don’t stuck on it.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’m 32 and still rolling. I didn’t do anything special to last except to let my body time to recover after the few injuries I had. With time I stopped doing very bad position tricks like true top soul for ex but I’m not afraid of 360 souls but I guess it depends of every one body. Smooth movement is everything and starting young is a plus because you learn to fall. I’d say the main difference between today and back in the day is that, strangely, I’m less afraid to fall because falling smoothly has become a reflex in case it’s needed. I’m still street skating, maybe in a near future I’ll do more park. I guess with good health condition you can skate parks at 40 without much trouble.