Ello all,
Been doing a lot of Parkour training recently with my host brother, he is getting into it which is good, forces me to train more!
Today went out, been working reallllly hard on my landings, and they ahve improved amazingly, much much better, more accurate, softer, more control. Way better. Also been doing a fair bit of tree climbing which is fun, and working on my rolls, so thats all good. Want to concentrate more on my climbups though, they are well shit.
So anyway, been training parkour at least three days a week for at least an hour, hour and a half.
Today went out and was approached by one guy who asked if we were doing Parkour, and hey presto I am back to teaching! Taking him out tomorrow morning for a relaxed session, teach the basics to him, but he seems really keen, and is into the real parkour, not the flips. Which is really refreshing to hear and see.
Really good for me as well because it means more practice to get qualified as an instructor when I get home. Also it means I will get out training more if I know I am meeting someone, more incentive to keep pushing. And I'll get us doing some hardcore conditioning drills as well.
I'm excited about the possiblities arising!
If I can do one thing in this country, and that thing is to set up a new Parkour community that understands the true Parkour. Then every time I have felt home sick, every time I have missed my family, or my girlfriend, every time I have felt pain or sadness here, it will all be WELL worth it.
Anyway, enough written wanking.
Afterwards we went to work on our climbups...or atleast I did a few, they sat down, one had a smoke (lol), anyway, me and this other guy started having a bit of fun fighting. The guy isnt the best fighter, he thinks he is way better than he actually is, which is where he fails badly, trys stuff he really shouldnt (like back spinning kicks lolollol), so we started fighting, pretty hardcore at some times, I took a fair amount of hits, but none of them were strong, none of them made me think twice about them. This was either because I managed to either block or move with them enough to stop the full impact, or the guy just isnt strong and has no power behind them...
I didnt get that many hits on him, but when I did, I hit him hard, got a few good kicks in there, few good punches, unfortunately all my punches to the head were pretty bad. But I learnt a lot, I repeatedly kicked him in the shins and thighs a lot (something I learnt from watching Muy Thai, Thai kick boxing) while we werent in a scuffle, wore him down, it really pissed him off and yet he never learned!
I am slowley getting rid of my bad taekwondo habits, Im getting in there, closer, using my hands more. But the main thing I learnt today, is that I have to take more risks, I am too scared of getting hit, which restricts me. I don't move in, so I can't get close enough for a hit to the head. I've got to get rid of that fear, but I have to remember to pick my entrances, go at the right time.
Anyway, I learnt a lot, I tried a lot of different techniques, different methods, found many very useful.
One thing that was nice, is I was constantly dodging his hits without even thinking about it, I don't know whether this was just luck, or whether it was me...But I hope it was me! He had a lot of big hooks, big and slow! They were easy to dodge. I was using mainly straight punches, the technique I learned from reading a little bit about Wushu theory and methods from an interesting man.
Anyway, I'm done. Looking forward to training this guy tomorrow.
Chao chamos!
Saturday 21 March 2009
Thursday 19 March 2009
The time is NOW....approximately
Reading some of Thomas' blog again, looking at the photos he took while in Asia...I had a revelation.
I'm sick of thinking up grand things to do, grand adventures. It is time to actually take a step to do them! I'm not going to say now something like "therefore, I will ride my bike from Madrid to Jerusalem" or anything like that...I'm gonna wait and see how we go, see what I want to do when I return to Australia.
Some things I would LIKE to do (in terms of adventure)...
- One day I want to ride to Sydney
- I would like to ride to Melbourne
- I would like to ride from Canberra to Perth
- I would like to ride through Tibet and rural china
- I would like to ride through Europe.
Those are just some ideas, I think Canberra to Sydney would be a pretty good one, and not too difficult, one to train with. Then move up to Melbourne, and of course Perth last!
The main difficulty with Perth would be carrying water during the dry stretches. But amazing country sides.
Anyway, we will see how long this lasts eh, hopefully I keep this frame of mind, lots of adventures to be had!
I'm sick of thinking up grand things to do, grand adventures. It is time to actually take a step to do them! I'm not going to say now something like "therefore, I will ride my bike from Madrid to Jerusalem" or anything like that...I'm gonna wait and see how we go, see what I want to do when I return to Australia.
Some things I would LIKE to do (in terms of adventure)...
- One day I want to ride to Sydney
- I would like to ride to Melbourne
- I would like to ride from Canberra to Perth
- I would like to ride through Tibet and rural china
- I would like to ride through Europe.
Those are just some ideas, I think Canberra to Sydney would be a pretty good one, and not too difficult, one to train with. Then move up to Melbourne, and of course Perth last!
The main difficulty with Perth would be carrying water during the dry stretches. But amazing country sides.
Anyway, we will see how long this lasts eh, hopefully I keep this frame of mind, lots of adventures to be had!
Friday 13 March 2009
MovNat, Methode Naturelle, y Erwan Le Corre
Ok well some interesting training advancements this week, yesterday me and David (my host brother) went out for some parkour training, which I enjoyed so much, it was so good to get out training again.
That night I read an article about Erwan Le Corre's new training system, MovNat, the article was very inspiring, and I decided to try some old Methode Naturelle techniques (different to MovNat). Don't get me wrong, what I was doing was NOT Methode Naturelle, I just took one principle from it, which is continuous work. Not stopping at all for the duration of the session.
So today, David and I went for some more training, but this time using the above technique. We set off to the park, and once we started we didnt stop. We sorta did our own things though. Started with a jog around the block, and got to some courts, basketball and Soccer. Surrounded by Big stair-like seats. So we did some balance work, running up and down the seats, climing over the fence, Jumping through holes in the fence, climbing around the soccer goals, etc. etc. Really good workout. I moved on to some trees, lots of tree climbing, dropping down out of them, climbing up, running between branches, that sorta stuff.
Kept following the path, playing in trees as we went. Jogged back down to the main park and did some more parkour-like movements, sprints with jumping, vaulting, precisions, balance, etc. etc.
We then finished up with some fighting drills, starting with 10 forehand jabs, then 10 forehand jab followed by backhand jab, then we added a different attack each time and repeated 5 times. Great fun. We then ran back towards the house, first while runnign doing some quick play fighting, defending myself while running backwards, him attacking running forwards. Good fun! Umm yeah, got to the house, was buggered.
Went up to a wall did some climbups. Then we just sat at the top of the wall, watched the sky become as dark as the sillhoueted (spelling?) mountains. Very relaxing, then stretched out before heading home. All up, over an hour and a half of continuous exercise.
I'm now exceptionally tired.
I think I will continue training sessoins like this, but perhaps I will mix these sessions with less intense technical sessions. I am beginning to move away from parkour specifically, and more to well rounded approaches. Like MovNat. I wish to talk to Erwan more, but it is difficult. I must go to Brasil :)
MN names ten different forms of movement: running, walking, moving on all fours, balance, climbing, swimming, defending, jumping, lifting and throwing.
In this session I trained: running, walking, moving on all fours, balance, climbing, jumping and defending. A fair effort I think :)
That night I read an article about Erwan Le Corre's new training system, MovNat, the article was very inspiring, and I decided to try some old Methode Naturelle techniques (different to MovNat). Don't get me wrong, what I was doing was NOT Methode Naturelle, I just took one principle from it, which is continuous work. Not stopping at all for the duration of the session.
So today, David and I went for some more training, but this time using the above technique. We set off to the park, and once we started we didnt stop. We sorta did our own things though. Started with a jog around the block, and got to some courts, basketball and Soccer. Surrounded by Big stair-like seats. So we did some balance work, running up and down the seats, climing over the fence, Jumping through holes in the fence, climbing around the soccer goals, etc. etc. Really good workout. I moved on to some trees, lots of tree climbing, dropping down out of them, climbing up, running between branches, that sorta stuff.
Kept following the path, playing in trees as we went. Jogged back down to the main park and did some more parkour-like movements, sprints with jumping, vaulting, precisions, balance, etc. etc.
We then finished up with some fighting drills, starting with 10 forehand jabs, then 10 forehand jab followed by backhand jab, then we added a different attack each time and repeated 5 times. Great fun. We then ran back towards the house, first while runnign doing some quick play fighting, defending myself while running backwards, him attacking running forwards. Good fun! Umm yeah, got to the house, was buggered.
Went up to a wall did some climbups. Then we just sat at the top of the wall, watched the sky become as dark as the sillhoueted (spelling?) mountains. Very relaxing, then stretched out before heading home. All up, over an hour and a half of continuous exercise.
I'm now exceptionally tired.
I think I will continue training sessoins like this, but perhaps I will mix these sessions with less intense technical sessions. I am beginning to move away from parkour specifically, and more to well rounded approaches. Like MovNat. I wish to talk to Erwan more, but it is difficult. I must go to Brasil :)
MN names ten different forms of movement: running, walking, moving on all fours, balance, climbing, swimming, defending, jumping, lifting and throwing.
In this session I trained: running, walking, moving on all fours, balance, climbing, jumping and defending. A fair effort I think :)
Saturday 7 March 2009
Love that spirt! - Day ¿? +2
I love the spirit of this Venezuela,
The happpiness, the passion for life,
I love the carnavals held afuera,
Street dancing without call for strife.
I love the Australian spirit of mates,
Chilling out, surfing, and beer,
There is nothing about the bush that I hate,
The wild is always near.
When I look out my window I see mountains and jungle,
The city weaved into el bosque,
But the trees arent the same, they just dont compare,
To the wonders of my own homeland country.
I can drive on the the coast for an infinite time,
Lay on the beach and breathe the sea air,
But the partying culture, and musical rhyme,
Is nothing compared to what's here.
People cringe and contrast, try decide which is better,
But I could not think of each one as lone
They both have their ups, they both have their downs,
But to me I just call them home.
The happpiness, the passion for life,
I love the carnavals held afuera,
Street dancing without call for strife.
I love the Australian spirit of mates,
Chilling out, surfing, and beer,
There is nothing about the bush that I hate,
The wild is always near.
When I look out my window I see mountains and jungle,
The city weaved into el bosque,
But the trees arent the same, they just dont compare,
To the wonders of my own homeland country.
I can drive on the the coast for an infinite time,
Lay on the beach and breathe the sea air,
But the partying culture, and musical rhyme,
Is nothing compared to what's here.
People cringe and contrast, try decide which is better,
But I could not think of each one as lone
They both have their ups, they both have their downs,
But to me I just call them home.
Thursday 5 March 2009
The Long and Winding Road - Day ¿?
Well it has been a long time since I updated...not through lack of activity, but I have been keeping a hand written journal instead. I am going to make another post about Parkour and training, and in this post about everything else.
Some interesting progressions with the exchange experience, I have chosen to shorten my program to 6 months, which means I will be returning late June. This is for a few reasons, the main reason is to concrete my place in University, there is always the chance that I won’t be given my Year 12 certificate while I am here, and returning 6 months early gives me flexibility to do a few classes if I need to, or if University is completely out of the question, I can look into doing a CIT course to link in to University, or another option. Some of the other reasons include; I hopefully will be able to stand for State Representative for ACT parkour, I will be able to save some money for my University fees, build up to restarting parkour classes, and generally just prepare for the next few years. I mean, if I remain here for the full 12 months, I arrive home in Late December, then I have to prepare for uni, get a job or two, get back into the Parkour classes, and generally get back into the swing of things, and I would have next to know time for that, and that is assuming I get into University.
Anyway, long story short, I have decided to return early, I have my reasons, and I believe it is a much better option.Something I hear a lot here, demasiado, is that I should go out more. Perhaps...I should...I DO spend a lot of time in the house, or just in the suburb. For many, perhaps most, being an exchange student is all about getting out, partying, having fun, making new friends, etc. etc. That is the primary focus.But I have found it a much more internal journey, of course I don’t mind partying, fun and friends, of course, and of course it is an inner journey for all exchange students on some level. But they are in the backseat, for me this is a mental and spiritual journey. And the amount of progress I have made already...Well If I was to return tomorrow I would be happy with my experience. However, the extra time will concrete the things I have (and still am) learning.
The time I spend in the house is spent studying my interests, learning, discovering things about myself. It’s all bettering me, and broadening my knowledge and understanding of myself and the world around me.So, no matter what the people say, my exchange experience is being lived to the fullest, just in a less obvious way, a way that many around me cannot see.
Anyway, I am done with writing here, on to Parkour (in the following post).
Some interesting progressions with the exchange experience, I have chosen to shorten my program to 6 months, which means I will be returning late June. This is for a few reasons, the main reason is to concrete my place in University, there is always the chance that I won’t be given my Year 12 certificate while I am here, and returning 6 months early gives me flexibility to do a few classes if I need to, or if University is completely out of the question, I can look into doing a CIT course to link in to University, or another option. Some of the other reasons include; I hopefully will be able to stand for State Representative for ACT parkour, I will be able to save some money for my University fees, build up to restarting parkour classes, and generally just prepare for the next few years. I mean, if I remain here for the full 12 months, I arrive home in Late December, then I have to prepare for uni, get a job or two, get back into the Parkour classes, and generally get back into the swing of things, and I would have next to know time for that, and that is assuming I get into University.
Anyway, long story short, I have decided to return early, I have my reasons, and I believe it is a much better option.Something I hear a lot here, demasiado, is that I should go out more. Perhaps...I should...I DO spend a lot of time in the house, or just in the suburb. For many, perhaps most, being an exchange student is all about getting out, partying, having fun, making new friends, etc. etc. That is the primary focus.But I have found it a much more internal journey, of course I don’t mind partying, fun and friends, of course, and of course it is an inner journey for all exchange students on some level. But they are in the backseat, for me this is a mental and spiritual journey. And the amount of progress I have made already...Well If I was to return tomorrow I would be happy with my experience. However, the extra time will concrete the things I have (and still am) learning.
The time I spend in the house is spent studying my interests, learning, discovering things about myself. It’s all bettering me, and broadening my knowledge and understanding of myself and the world around me.So, no matter what the people say, my exchange experience is being lived to the fullest, just in a less obvious way, a way that many around me cannot see.
Anyway, I am done with writing here, on to Parkour (in the following post).
God I love Parkour
I really do.
Anyway, recent training: I spend monday, wednesday, friday conditioning, tuesday and thursday I rest, but I jog on those days. Saturday complete rest, Sunday I test myself with various methods including the beep test.
I have written out a few goals, currently my physical goals are:
1. 5 muscle ups one after the other, (without rest).
2. 5km jog minimum consistently with ease.
3. 10 pistols each leg with GOOD TECHNIQUE.
4. 20 landings 3 times per week.
These are fairly modest goals, and so very achievable.
But after having a conversation with Chippa, I went away with a new, big, priority goal, which entails lots of different components: By 2010 I will be a fully qualified APA instructor.
This added a lot of goals relating to Parkour both mental and physical, my new goals are based on old instructor requirements that I am aware of, when more information is available, I will change my goals as neededPhysically;
1. 5 muscle ups
2. 20 rolls (10 both side, concrete)
3. 10 arm jump to climbup
4. beep test lvl 13
Knowledge:
1. Parkour history, influences, development
2. What is Parkour?
3. What is FR and LDD?
4. What is the purpose of the APA?
5. How dangerous is parkour? Is there a likelihood of injury?
6. How does the principle of volume vs. intensity work?
7. Why do we warm up dynamically?
8. Why do we stretch after training?
9. What different methods can we use to train ourselves?
And I have to be able to explain each point orally and on paper.
The next part is just another part I think is important to know, and you must know it if you want to teach:
I must be able to orally describe each technique found on the Parkourpedia and describe them on paper.
This goal also includes the necessity to travel to Melbourne when I return, probably for a week or so to get qualified and also to see how their classes run, train with those guys who have a lot more knowledge than me, learn.
I will also probably try to head to Sydney more often, specifically to their instructor trainings.
So yes, that is what I will be and have been working on here. I have pages and pages of notes in my book about techniques, how to perform them, etc.
So today’s training: Headed out training PARKOUR solo for the first time. Usually I just condition. I was out for about 2 hours, and worked only on landings and rolls.
Found a good little precision, the landings being concrete walls no more than 4 cms wide, and the two walls being about 7 feet apart. So not big, but not so small I can step between them. I stood there and said I will land on the balls of my feet 10 times in a row. Off I went, bang, landed balls of feet, bang, landed balls of feet, whoops missed. Restart. I finally got to ten in a row, that was all good. But I wasnt worrying whether I was sticking the jump or not. So this time I said to myself, "10 more, MUST stick the landing." And just before I went, I thought "fuck it, why not make it 20." And off I went.
I would jump, land, turn, and think for a while, then go. I couldn’t make it past 3 or 4 in a row before I would not stick it, or not land on the balls of my feet.Until I just stopped caring about the numbers. It stopped being BANG wait wait wait, 2 BANG wait wait wait 3 etc., I just jumped, turned, jumped, turned, jumped. I was over thinking it. It wasn’t long before I hit the 20 with ease. And my landings improved tenfold. Next time I go out I will do that again.
So finished my landing work, moved on to rolls. I was only there to do 10 rolls each side. But that took me a long time....I would roll...then take 5 minutes to overcome the pain. Rolls have always been my weak spot, and I stupidly avoided training them. When push comes to shove and I need one, it is fine. But to drill them, I just cant do it! But enough of that, time to perfect them.
By the end of it, one shoulder was much much better, the other....Much much...more swollen. More practice. Hoorah more pain! But, the more I practice, the less pain in the future, so, I gotta get through it.
Anyway, hopefully I will get out training there more often. I have conditioning to go to soon, so Eliot OUT.
Anyway, recent training: I spend monday, wednesday, friday conditioning, tuesday and thursday I rest, but I jog on those days. Saturday complete rest, Sunday I test myself with various methods including the beep test.
I have written out a few goals, currently my physical goals are:
1. 5 muscle ups one after the other, (without rest).
2. 5km jog minimum consistently with ease.
3. 10 pistols each leg with GOOD TECHNIQUE.
4. 20 landings 3 times per week.
These are fairly modest goals, and so very achievable.
But after having a conversation with Chippa, I went away with a new, big, priority goal, which entails lots of different components: By 2010 I will be a fully qualified APA instructor.
This added a lot of goals relating to Parkour both mental and physical, my new goals are based on old instructor requirements that I am aware of, when more information is available, I will change my goals as neededPhysically;
1. 5 muscle ups
2. 20 rolls (10 both side, concrete)
3. 10 arm jump to climbup
4. beep test lvl 13
Knowledge:
1. Parkour history, influences, development
2. What is Parkour?
3. What is FR and LDD?
4. What is the purpose of the APA?
5. How dangerous is parkour? Is there a likelihood of injury?
6. How does the principle of volume vs. intensity work?
7. Why do we warm up dynamically?
8. Why do we stretch after training?
9. What different methods can we use to train ourselves?
And I have to be able to explain each point orally and on paper.
The next part is just another part I think is important to know, and you must know it if you want to teach:
I must be able to orally describe each technique found on the Parkourpedia and describe them on paper.
This goal also includes the necessity to travel to Melbourne when I return, probably for a week or so to get qualified and also to see how their classes run, train with those guys who have a lot more knowledge than me, learn.
I will also probably try to head to Sydney more often, specifically to their instructor trainings.
So yes, that is what I will be and have been working on here. I have pages and pages of notes in my book about techniques, how to perform them, etc.
So today’s training: Headed out training PARKOUR solo for the first time. Usually I just condition. I was out for about 2 hours, and worked only on landings and rolls.
Found a good little precision, the landings being concrete walls no more than 4 cms wide, and the two walls being about 7 feet apart. So not big, but not so small I can step between them. I stood there and said I will land on the balls of my feet 10 times in a row. Off I went, bang, landed balls of feet, bang, landed balls of feet, whoops missed. Restart. I finally got to ten in a row, that was all good. But I wasnt worrying whether I was sticking the jump or not. So this time I said to myself, "10 more, MUST stick the landing." And just before I went, I thought "fuck it, why not make it 20." And off I went.
I would jump, land, turn, and think for a while, then go. I couldn’t make it past 3 or 4 in a row before I would not stick it, or not land on the balls of my feet.Until I just stopped caring about the numbers. It stopped being BANG wait wait wait, 2 BANG wait wait wait 3 etc., I just jumped, turned, jumped, turned, jumped. I was over thinking it. It wasn’t long before I hit the 20 with ease. And my landings improved tenfold. Next time I go out I will do that again.
So finished my landing work, moved on to rolls. I was only there to do 10 rolls each side. But that took me a long time....I would roll...then take 5 minutes to overcome the pain. Rolls have always been my weak spot, and I stupidly avoided training them. When push comes to shove and I need one, it is fine. But to drill them, I just cant do it! But enough of that, time to perfect them.
By the end of it, one shoulder was much much better, the other....Much much...more swollen. More practice. Hoorah more pain! But, the more I practice, the less pain in the future, so, I gotta get through it.
Anyway, hopefully I will get out training there more often. I have conditioning to go to soon, so Eliot OUT.
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