Challenge #11: Origami!

I bought some origami paper! Now I won’t have to cut a letter-size sheet every time.

2 more are done. It probably took me less time to do these 2 than to do my first one. That is of course a good thing, because as you know I got a friggin’ thousand to do. Just out of curiosity, maybe I should time myself doing one.

I would say the hardest part, especially with that small paper, is to fold the head while keeping the borders as clean as possible. I got the rest quite figured out.

997 to go!

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

Since last week, most of my physical training was turned away from my main goals. Thus I made progress, but nothing worth showing up here. In the meantime I will let my body rest more than usual and do stuff that is different for a bit.

Keep ya posted!

Challenge #11: Origami!

Add that to the fact that I currently got no imagination for new PicLetters, this progress report was not bound to go very well. No matter, I say! Let us start something else!

After all, I DO have a friggin’ THOUSAND pieces of paper to fold up and string together.

Before I can do 1000 of them, I had to learn to make one first. The first one. Yeah. Typically the very one that looks the most awful while taking you the most amount of time to complete.

Took me more than an hour. I wonder if it was 2.

Oops. A rip.

It wasn’t too bad, but some parts proved a bit challenging to understand. I had to go through 3 different tutorials for this origami to understand it completely.

The most “complex” part was this one. The first tutorial pictures I saw didn’t make it very clear how I could produce that central diamond from the original square-shaped flap.

The  most difficult part was trying to take it seriously. Maybe I shouldn’t. After all,

IT’S A PAPER CRANE.

Challenge #6 : Straddle Press to Handstand

Elbow Planche: I got it! 67 seconds max hold, effectively adding 9 seconds to my last record and blasting the goal away. On to the next step of learning hand balanding: trying it out as much as possible!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tuck Planche: 11 seconds! Steady progress. I’ve been experimenting with movements and variations based on Darryl’s work, but nothing to show off yet.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tuck Front Lever: 33 seconds. Steadily and easily going forward. That added with the other L-sit kind-of work I’ve been experimenting with lately, I’ll eventually get my friggin’ straddle position. I thought I had a strong core until I started considering all these positions and movements. Geez.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Challenge #10: PicLetters

I’m seriously stuck in a rut. I look everywhere and I can’t see one damn letter. Every time I think to do so, I bring my camera when I go out; still it comes back home empty.

SUCH AN ARTIST.

Varia

This is an AWESOME way to peel hard-boiled eggs. Gotta try it.

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

10 seconds on the Tuck Planche. I’m working on application of the latest hints Darryl has given me; one that’s proving tricky is attempting to bend more forward. I’ve also started trying out some of his own application of movement on planche holds. They’re ah, clumsy at my level of strength right now, but I think they’ll definitely help progress.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Elbow planche is 2 seconds closer to (and 2 seconds from) the goal at 58 seconds. And this time it was done directly on the floor, so I had to keep even better alignment.

Varia

If you don’t know, xmas holidays time is often for me the only vacation week of the year. To make up for the rest of it, I make sure to spend some very unproductive time. A good deal of it. Like, entire days of just hanging around in my apartment, watching episodes and movies and playing video games (!).

Today I’m going back to work, and so will be my general productivity.

Ciao!

Some people think it’s necessary. Others despise it. According to my observations, points of view are in great part related to the kind of physical discipline one is involved into. I’ve been into martial arts for many years, so following my theory, I guess my opinion of flexibility training is biased in favor of it.

In any case, it doesn’t matter: I love it. I love the feeling of freedom with oneself it provides. I love what it allows me to be able to do. They’re all the reasons I need to keep doing it.

The way I was taught flexibility is similar to most. Mostly static stretches, some minimal but present mobility movements; just go as far as you can.

Through the years I’ve learned to incorporate breathing and tension/relaxation, to recognize how my body reacts, how far is too far, etc. But basic methodology remained somewhat similar. I daresay I’ve had pretty nice results.

In the last few months, I’ve experimented with incorporating movement in my flexibility sessions. I’ve been looking for an inspiration on how to improve my flexibility practice ever since I oriented my training towards the Gym Movement concepts.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

My “lightbulb” inspiration came from Chaû Belle, during my Parkour seminar last Fall. His stretching sessions included routines that came from Indian roots, in which he transitioned from one stretching pose to another without necessarily turning on Yoga stuff. A compromise that really grew up on me.

My theory and impression is that exploring this approach will have a similar effect as Darryl’s very inspirational incorporation of movements in gymnastic holds.

Additionally, I think it may avoid Mike T‘s main bullet against static stretching (sorry, I can’t find the link I wanted to share with you), which basically says that its main problem is not teaching the body to be strong in these “flexible positions”.

So far, what I noticed about this practice is how I can make my body transition from a very tight state to a very nimble one, all the while following my body and having a very satisfying time. In the video shown above, I started my session with my joints feeling quite tight. I think the mobility progress over the span of time is definitely visible.

I haven’t tracked progress on a specific goal with it yet, simply because I haven’t put focus on that recently, except improving my approach.

Two goals I’ve had in mind for some time: Standing side split (looking forward, legs on the sides) in the air (e.g. on chairs), and effortlessly reaching/joining my hands behind my back. When I’ll focus again on flexibility goals, these will be my first in my list.

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

Elbow Planche made a crazy jump… 56 seconds! Almost there! It felt like a walk in the park.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tuck Planche is also getting much better. 10 seconds today. While before I was adding a second every 1 or 2 weeks, now it seems to be a second every session I practice it. Definitely awesome.

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

[Or Watch on Youtube]

Also, I started trying out some of the tips Darryl told me about. You’ve surely already noticed how I constantly move on my position; this is on purpose. Also, I tried leaning a bit forward on the Tuck Planche, though it proves a bit challenging for now. I got a start, but it’ll require practice.

Alright, that’s all the time I have today folks. End of term is near! Presenting a cool project tomorrow, which you will hear about in the coming weeks. Stay tuned

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

Elbow Planche for 38 seconds

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tuck Planche for 8 seconds

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Ciao!

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

Elbow Planche is now up to 33 seconds of maximum hold! On the tuck planche, I’m getting more consistently able to hold for close to my max.

Now here’s the newest part of the combination that I’ve been trying:

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Progress is usually best done by going from gross to fine. Well, this is currently gross, but it’ll be fine. Some time soon

Varia

This week’s schoolwork has been even crazier than the last. BUT we’re getting there. Two weeks left!

You might want to have a look at this guy’s skills.

Ciao!

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

Improvements everywhere!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Elbow Planche is getting some serious control and holding time is steadily improving.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Another second on the Tuck Planche!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Tuck Front Lever also improving steadily.

So far, the micro-movements I started applying on the supporting joints seem to be very effective. I shall continue on that path!

Challenge #10: PicLetters

New letter: Y.

Complete the sentence: “Y U no…”

This was taken in Montreal Downtown. Gotta love christmas decorations (or do we?). If you pay attention, you’ll actually see the letter twice in the same structure. Pretty neat, eh?

Varia

End of semester is getting crazy. BUT I am still alive and well.

Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand

A couple of things. First, it’s unfortunate as I was unable to catch it on video, but last Thursday I successfully stood my Tuck Planche for 5 seconds, thus adding another second to my latest max PR.

I’m at 15 seconds for the Tuck Front Lever;

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

And also 15 seconds for a satisfyingly straight Elbow Planche.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

You may notice that it seems I’m moving a bit; you might even call it “wobbling”. But make no mistake, this is done on purpose. I’m experimenting in new and different ways to incorporate micro-movements in holding stances. As I mentioned earlier, our bodies usually like movement more than they like immobility.

I had been experimenting, from Frankie’s cues, some movements with my legs while holding with the hands. Now these didn’t always test well, so I alternated between those and immobile stances. I think it’s been more beneficial than only doing the stances, which is good.

Now mainly from Darryl’s cues, I’m trying out micro-movements on the joints actively partaking on the stance. He has been experimenting them for a while after doing the “traditional” way of training gymnastic holds, and reports that not only it resolved the pain issues he’s been having with them, but he also got much faster progress from it.

Let’s see how it goes on my end!

Challenge #16: The Posting Challenge

In case you’ve missed it… Challenge Completed!

Varia

Have you seen this Break Dancer? He is amazing.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Cheers!