Brad Moss Parkour and Movement - Living Through Practice.

27th November '11

2011-11-26T17:22:00.001-08:00

This is NOT about blurting all over to gain anything from anyone.

I believe sharing is useful, that's always been the purpose of this blog, to share, in hope that others can understand themselves through someone else's open thoughts and feelings.

Writing is one of the few ways I can actually express myself and get my thoughts out.

I don't know how to deal with this. It's always been the case, but I've had stuff to get on with which, perhaps, preoccupied my mind. Who really knows.

I've been finding recently, dad just pops into mind and sets me off. Mainly at night, when things wind down, bang, tears stream. Don't know where it comes from or how to avoid, but it hits.

The main feeling is regret.

Why wasn't I with him more when I could have been? Christmas is going to be weird. He was such a good, talented, skilled, inspiring, loved person. He'd been through so much. Why couldn't I accept how ill he really was? Did I really know? Such a waste of a beautifully creative mind.

The worst part, and it feels selfish for thinking it, but I've lost the one person that I feel understood me. I could be talking about anything, and things just trail off, because I didn't really need to say it because he understood. Like I pick a subject and he'd be like telepathically "Don't get me started boy". heh.

When I think about things, I have this one, main, lingering and consuming thought, that he'd have been there, at my side non-stop if roles were reversed. As much as I was, I should have done and been there more. I'm sorry.

All I can really do at the moment it try to be brutally honest in hope to make some sense of things.

21st November 2011 - I really need to update more frequently!

2011-11-21T08:03:00.001-08:00

Flying post to share some stuff that's been going on.

PRETTY EVENTFUL AND BUSY REALLY - Read on!!

BELOW ARE. Links, Pics, People, Events, Stuff, VIDEO! etc:

Hoops , Juggling and bands - 30th October

Went up to London to see Ri-flower, Rae and others, to hoop, juggle and play in the park like awesome people. It was much fun, got a few hours of juggling practice in, which is a rarity nowadays but it was fun. When we'd finished in the park Ri and I went to Camden to our favourite little eatery "My Village".

PICS AND CLIPS TO FOLLOW!

Upon leaving, I did a double take and realised Matt and Chris from Funeral For a Friend were in there eating also. I left them be but figured they must be playing a show, so managed to wangle tickets and saw them that night. Escape the fate were supporting, which was an unexpected bonus. Funeral STOLE the night though with an AMAZING set, playing lots of songs from their kick ass new album, "Welcome Home Armageddon".

Here's a video of what I captured of the Night, Funeral for a friend opening up! Watch in HD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0yR5ToisaU

Coincidentally, this day last year I was seeing Avenged Sevenfold and Stone Sour! Apparently this date is yearly gig day.

Sopio! - 12th November

Certifimication

I ventured to LONDON for the 2nd London Sopio Tournament, celebrating the creation and release of the 3rd Deck in the Sopio series! ((It's a killer deck))

The Tournament was run by none other than Mr Danny Hooper and Alex Day, was great to see them again and have a good old chat about my favourite card game.

This time round only deck 3 was being played the whole day, which, took time but was much fun being thrown into the deep end. I managed to get through to the final of this tournament with "Epic subby Rowan' Brad Smith from World of the Orange (TEAM WOTO) and Laura Maxwell.

Laura won in the end, but nonetheless I'm now ranked.... 6th in the world and Sopio! WOOP! www.sopiocards.com/rankings

Thanks for everyone for being so awesome and lovely (and geeky enough to attend and make it happen!

Respective links for this part:

Danny Hooper (Sopio King) - https://twitter.com/themanofdan

Alex Day (Twilight reader sensation) - http://www.youtube.com/user/nerimon

Sopio (The greatest card game to exist ever) - www.sopiocards.com

Brad (Makes all epic) http://www.youtube.com/user/worldoftheorange

Longboarding and pursuits - 15th November.


Playing while it was SLIGHTLY dry in Wales.

Well, winter and the wetness has set in which is making boarding difficult BUT managed to get a decent day in last week, and filmed, and edited in the same day. So, enjoy the video below!
Big thanks to Newton's Shred for adding me to the Team and for the support over the year!

Need Longboard stuff? Get over to www.newtons-shred.co.uk

There will be MUCH more video stuff coming in the very near future, so if you aren't please subscribe to my channel on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/Xpedite

Since last post, The Southend Longboarding Gravity Research Division and Newtons Shred Team, went to WALES to play on a VERY WET hill mid September, Hog Hill in the beginning of October and skating loads since.

If you could swing by www.facebook.com/slgrd and like the page, would be super awesome! Same for www.facebook.com/newtonsshred for all your longboarding needs and fixes :).

Last Little Bit - Legacy XS ESSEX - Oct/Nov.

Recently Legacy has had funding for a Laser Gun Combat space to be created.

ITS EPIC.

Legacy says:

"Our Realistic state of the art laser game equipment immerses you in a world of combat scenarios for extreme excitement and entertainment.Using military grade, Red dot targeting scopes and weapon based programming, You can enjoy paint ball type games without the paint or the pain!"

If you're looking for some fun times to be had over the cold wet winter months, then book yourself in on a friday! I've spent hours in this place playing so far!!

THATS ALL

That it for now, gonna try to share little stories and things I find interesting more regularly, and less via twitter and facebook :)

THANKS! Once again, any thoughts, please share, would love to hear from you!!

26th to 30th August 2011

2011-08-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Blog update:

I always say there'll be more frequent updates, but it never seems to turn out that way, nonetheless, here's me, now, and what's happening in what I see.

Quick catch up -

The year seems to have gone really fast, end of July and it's mad. Over the past months, I've been working lots, still with the Youth Service, helping out at Legacy and have been doing lots more hours with the Vocational college as the students have been finishing up their year. The last 3 weeks I've had genuine work on every single weekday and weekend. Feel the tiredness now, but got some more free time over the six weeks holiday, which is welcome relief.

Apart from that I've been boarding all over, as ever, had the opportunity to skate in France at a killer event, and won at a very wet race day at Hog Hill, in London, was very tight and a very very awesome weekend on fun with some very cool people.

I've started moving and training a little more again due to a little bit more free time, so have been playing on my training rings, slickline and moving around some old Parkour haunts.

- 'Now' and the near vicinity of time.

Been very up and down over the past months, again looking at my life and reflecting on how I'm doing things and how I'm spending my time etc; I've been not happy with it at all to be honest. The sheer amount of work I've had on, has allowed me to focus on it as a challenge and keep my energy going into useful things. I've been told by a few people I need to relax and take some time out, which,may have been true, but still, I feel and 'know' to the best I can that I am 'lazy' in many areas, and should be working harder, so that's what I've been exploring and challenging practically.

Been feeling fairly in limbo in most areas, be that work, thoughts, faith etc, but again, and as seems to be continually the case. I hit this plataeu type place, a wall in myself. Often what happens is I run away from the good things in my life, the good people, faith, diet, movement etc and seek whatever comforts, short term, and for sure, most of these I believe to be detremental etc..... But this doesn't seem to be the case now.

My dad's very ill.

He's worked, from a young age, done all sorts, created great things, made things I wouldn't know where to start, worked all over the UK, helped me and others more times than I can count, he faced lung cancer around 13 Years ago, had half his lung removed and '"BEAT" that. He's just hitting retirement age this year. Before Christmas, he had a chest infection type things, because of the operation to remove half his lung from cancer, any kind of cold can and often does takes him out. He got a bit more ill as time went on hit a stage where he got very confused, started hallucinating, forgetting things, unable to read, or write etc. It was a possibility that the medication he was given was contributing to this. After scans in January and results, it wwas found that he had a grade 4 Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer located near the area of the brain that affects vision and motor skills.

He was admitted and had to have an operation at Queen Hospital in Romford, aiming to remove as much of the tumor as possible and to then use radio and chemotherapy to treat and shrink the rest of the tumor. After reviews he was recomended to only have radiotherapy. He's finished that, and on verious meds to help try and reduce/manage swelling and what have you. Its been a few weeks since radiotherapy ended, and he's not particularly able or willing to leave bed and feels incredibally weak, and although this was expected afterwards, the doctor has said he needs to be readmitted to hospital.

And here I am, got here from Benfleet, waiting for him to be picked up and brought here in an apparently currently, non-existant ambulance.

That's the context both in what I'm doing, right now, what I'm thinking about, and what's important at the moment.

Been thinking alot about the why's regarding everything again.

Why this now? Why cancer again? Hasn't he been through enough in his life?

How am I supposed to react to all of this?

For a while and to be honest, since this all began, I've been the same old me, sticking with what's comfortable, whats easiest to do to keep myself feeling little better, because afterwall, 'if this is all we have to look forward to, why bother or worry?'.

Right?

As ever, I don't claim to have cracked anything, but I've come some realisations and some, re-realisations as, in my humanness, I've forgotten or ignored certain elements that I believe may in fact BE, and exist, and aid me.

Heading back to Southend and off to home after seeing my mum, sister and dad, and thinking about my being, looking at the rubbish along the train lines etc, and had the consuming thought of the 'dirtiness' with us all.

Our brokenness, our messed up parts, our shut off areas, our pasts.

Watching some people head to the high street while I was waiting for my bus, there were a few girls, fake tan, piercings in all the fashionable places, 'current' clothing etc. Even those who look so, what the world calls 'beautiful' have our crap, even when we, or some of us, go to GREAT lengths to cover it up.

We can all can relate to that, the little things to try to hide who we really are, be that in our personality and how we behave or act.... Interesting how we call how we behave how we 'act'. Or in the physical, going to extreme measures to fill our lives with beauty... tattoos' dyes, clothing, implants, extensions, cutting.... This one girl then decided to 'light up' and smoke. It's interesting how we go from going to these extremes to fill urselves with beauty, when they are so foreign to our being; and how quick we go to destroy it through our countless deconstructive habits, (Again I'm not criticising, sharing thoughts).

We ALL have them. We ALL have these shortcomings, these dirty areas of our lives, which, if aren't voiced, will always be our present, and our reality. We can be consumed and trapped by it.

In these thoughts, I remembered the passage in Phillipians where Paul discusses boasting all the more of his failures and weaknesses so as to show how strong God is.

The more we are ourselves, the more open we become, more what we perceive as vulnerable, yet, when we show it, when we stop hiding from ourselves and our nature, God can enter and we can become something else.

- 30th August -

Its been a while since I started writing this..., Dad died a few weeks ago. Things have blured into one busy week after another. I dont kbnow how to cope with this or how to approach this but God has been showing His strength through this all.
Soul Survivor Week C, was MUCH better than I expected to be honest. Really challenging and I went to lots of talks, in particular by Danielle Strickland (CHECK HER OUT ON YOUTUBE), she has some amazing powerful stories of her living out her faith.
Dad's funeral was on the 22^nd August. The weeks have really flown, I've started heading back to work.

It's hard to comprehend that the world is without him, but I'm glad he is in no more pain and no more suffering, I'm going to miss the laughing, the jokes, the dinners, the general sitting around and sharing stories, but I'll always remember the “Hello boy” and so much more. I hope I do you proud.

Shortened and posted just to get this up, otherwise I'll be sitting on it for another month.

Love to all, as ever, I hope my writings hit your hearts and lives and please share your thoughts and perspectives, I'll reply to all who I can.

21st May '11 - Change

2011-05-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

So, again, time has got away from me on this whole online thought sharing idea. I feel a personal disappointment in relation to losing a public, ongoing record for my own development and journey.

Regardless... here I am, I'm changing things to the best I can, and this will change too, in more ways than one.

Been a tough start to the year. February, I think I was seeing things in a positive light due to the new living environment, but it has been tough and started to take it's toll.

I had to reapply for my job due to the council and governments new way of raping the public services... got the job back, but now figuring out new work patterns, and the process was a little bit of a disorganised headache.

The move and travelling into and out of town has taken a lot of acclimatisation. I've been Longboarding a lot as a way to commute to and from home to the station and then onto work from Southend. Been co-establishing and developing Southend Longboarding, a group developed to promoting safe, fun Longboarding in and around Southend. Good exercise and its all I've been able and willing to do given the sheer amount of work I've been doing, as well as recovering from my wrist injury since January which has ruled Parkour/upper body work out of the window.

My family is going through some serious stuff, my dad has a brain tumour and so we're going through his treatment and what have you, lots to go into, that I won't here. Coming to terms with much and questioning more.

---

Been feeling in an odd place. Lots of ups and downs, in thoughts and feelings, in longings and doings. Periods of community and belonging, contrasted by feelings of separation and being lost.

It's been odd.

It's funny, the more I go through things, and come to reflect upon what's happening with me and those around me, more it seems life is a cycle of fresh starts, new beginnings and seasons of maturing. That being said, I'm gonna share a little about my spiritual thoughts and (What I hope to be) 'development'. I hope and pray that it will reiterate/reaffirm my own thoughts, but also that you can share in them, on your journey, and be reminded that we are all fighting a hard fight, and that you, are not Alone.

I've been a lot more reflective over the months, really thinking about 'where I am' now, compared to where I 'was', and where I could be or, at least want to be heading. I'm realising my own being lodged here. There's so much to pay attention to, and to put real, conscious energy into. As such it's been hard to focus, decide, or comprehend where the future's could take me.

Maybe that's the point of this whole part of my life, all the reason for these events and circumstances; there to get me focused, back in the here, and now....

The only thing I feel fairly certain about at the moment, is that a few years back, when I was following some books and ways of approaching life and thoughts, seemed to help, so I'm trying to reaffirm those truths in my life be rereading, re-challenging and regaining drive, motivation and a capacity to see and accept the bigger picture of my life.

We're always on a path.

It's not about trying to find one, but gaining vision and awareness to see that we're already on it.

With acceptance of our ignorance, comes a clearer view. Humility

It breaks through the clouds on the path in front of us, allowing us to see further afield when the path is flat and straight.

The challenges we face come in different forms.

Some seem like violent gusts, pushing us over, narrowing our choices into a specific area.

We often find them uncomfortable and we dislike our circumstances, but in reality, they show us areas of weakness and a means to improve them, bringing us into a balance with our skill, experience, resilience and life path.

We must relax into them.

At other times, the winds of the world whisper words into the thick mist. Sometimes we lack the sensitivity or want to hear them, and we listen to our arrogant selves, taking detours and rocky routes. Sometimes the winds raise doubts in ourselves and we choose to hide from the choices needed to be made, keeping us from truth and progression.

We must quiet ourselves and listen to the voice 'within'.

Either way, our path is paved through action. Through doing

It allows us to learn and grow, though whichever choice we make if we have the senses, balanced and open.

In the paradox of our unknowing, we have the drive to seek. Maybe we keep looking in the wrong places and maybe the true place to look for answers isn't in the field tangible things that can be measured and extracted, but within ourselves, asking the questions so many run away from and create addictions and destructions to avoid.

We are made to be ourselves, making sense of who you are allows you to impact yourself and your world, and will encourage others to do the same as you share and grow together through the qualities that I can only see as a means to improve and move for the greatest good.

Love, Trust, Truth, Connection, Action, Change, Faith and Hope.

Change is the constant state our our existence. If you see the need to change or create and change, make it happen, pave your path so that others may steadily tread and find you.

Small updates in the near future..

--------------

Feb 1st 2011 - Here and Now.

2011-01-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

So, hey peeps! Happy 2011, February already... wow!

November was my last post, as as my good friend Zak will jest... "THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"

So basically, as a part of my resolve and ongoing journey and life practice, I will do my best to share my thoughts quicker, as and when they happen, and get them up here...

Often my writings get started and they stay half finished in the blog admin area here... (grrr)

As a part of my life and spiritual clear out, I'll share them out of respect for our collective oneness and the fact that so many times I've seen and heard people thankful for sharing my thoughts, I'll add old parts that haven't been finished to future pieces/updates.

So, Lets get some past out... This was written in relation to beliefs and getting stuff done... unsure where it was going, but at the time, I'm sure it needed restating.

"Thoughts and beliefs"

-Only way to succeed in anything is to try.

-With conscious trying/learning, we CAN improve.

-The world/life is full of problems

-The world is desperate for people to solve problems.

-You CAN do it.

Yes it's easier said with done... but again, put small challenges in your way, that gradually progress... you get used to discomfort... so when it comes, bang! You smash through!

29th of December 2010 saw my hit 2 years of dreadlocks... epic journey of growth and patience...

My dad's been rather ill throughout Nov/December, but been on the 'mend' steadily. Been quite scary as it goes, just gotta keep the love going.

-- Where am I? --

Here and Now... I've moved to Benfleet, to live in a more focused household, closer to one of my jobs and yeah, to basically give myself and real and physical fresh start, and to be fair, it has helped, a lot.

Here I am, in my room :D >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I was baptised on the 16th of January, but I really feel the move was my new start, and my entrusting into the big man. Moved in New Years eve, and as with any change, there's the period of discomfort, getting into new timings, routines, new jobs, getting rid of old stuff etc, but yeah, really feel I belong here for now.

Certain habitual behaviours and areas of improvement, have been really developed and for the better and getting on top of things.

Still working 3 jobs and volunteering with odd jobs and projects, however I'm rethinking my priorities and what I need to be doing and where my time needs to be spent now. been very tired. More meditating/prayer/thoughts/questioning needed.

Working on organisation and how to fit everything in, linked to what's been said above.

Heading away to Amsterdam this week for a week which should help some thoughts and time to relax.

Really feel like I have been getting on top of certain aspects of my life, just gotta keep pushing onwards, not get complacent.

Might change the layout of the blog, what do you think?

This was just a quick one to update and add a current goings on.... Bare with me, working on time management and living in general, made mistakes with this blog posting jazz, forgive me.

Going to reshare a facebook update that I think better explains where I'm at, so here's me regular "2 Cents" You'd usually see in a metre long ramble put into a paragraph. Looking forward to further developing and journeying on through life with you.

- At the moment, I'm just trying to learn what it is to live as I was made to be, at the moment that includes my lateness, weakness, tiredness & struggling self. I'm working on it, we all can, but not if we're faking it, wanting to be that guy or that girl. Don't be afraid to admit where and when you fall short, confronting our inadequacies, helps us confront and overcome them, moving us closer to our true being.

Like it or lump it, I'm trying, working on living in light, faith, hope, truth and love. It's a tough one, lets do it together I can't do it on my own.

If there is anything you want to questions and explore, please post and as long as it's a genuine question/comment I'll be on it. (damn net trolls nowadays), or along the same lines, if there's anything poignant you enjoy, please share and link back to this blog. I'm not here for money, or recognition, lets just figure it out together.

In a world surrounded in celebrity and fakeness, lets throw some radical, ordinary honesty and PEOPLE back in the works.

Peace.

November 7th- 2th 2010: Leap

2010-11-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

Well, this has been a mad Oct/Nov, so much happening and moving, I'm just astounded to be honest.

There have been some real ups and downs in the continuing development of my life and faith and combining the two harmoniously; but yet again, the undergoing realisations and events have lead me to learn, challenge and grow. I have noticed through my walk, choices that are made for me and of me, be it on a whim or consciously, results in being late, and generally getting myself in a real mess. But then, refocussing my attention to truth, and love through the word of Jesus, things click into place, and enriches the situations I find myself and others within.

I can't argue against it any-more.

To do so, given the evidential months, revealing events and general ongoing experiences, would require a larger leap faith or belief than to actually believe in the truth of Jesus, and live my life accordingly.

I have been blessed and shown some amazing strength through areas of my own weakness' and opportunities opening up within them. Over the next months, there is an option of moving onwards, to a new town and to drastically start over, in terms or organisation, location, possessions and focus of work. I need to decide by the end of November and moving in, by January.

I have had enough of letting my past dictate my actions and choices here, now and ongoing.

I have to move forward with that which I believe to be truth and my life needs to reflect these beliefs.

I need to learn to trust my changing eyes.

I am still feeling a calling to remain in and work within Southend, and the move would allow this, although being outside of Southend, it is probably a better location, coupled with being in a Christian household, creating immediate and focused accountability through my living environment, which I believe is needed in order for me to fully work out what it means to live more effectively, learning to love and share.

I've been after a 'drastic change' for some months now... seems I've got an opportunity to be practically, 'baptised' by location and living environments, lets see where I am wanted and what's given to me by the end of the month.

I believe all options and experiences are lessons for us to learn from, let us all trust in the process of our lives, love, learn and share, to further ourselves in the world and lives we've been gifted with. Let us have the eyes to see these lessons, and humility enough to let our hearts be changed by them for the better.

15th September 2010: Progress and Apologies

2010-09-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

The lack of updates has not been from having nothing to say, but more actually doing and acting upon things.

Perhaps it would be useful to list some events and experiences I’ve been through on my ongoing exploration and development since my last post at least, as best as I can.

April/May

- Interest and development in Longboarding as a FUNctional mode of transport, other than running or cycling.
- Ongoing work with the Southend Youth Service/Connexions and Summer programs, using movement/life work focused on fun and useful movement out within the community.
- More reading, various non-fiction subject and topics, mostly regarding constructive living, perspectives and world views.

June/July

- Nigeria trip with New Foundations, assisting in work and experiencing some of the issues faced to the people of remote areas of Nigeria. (SEE PICS HERE) >>
- Started a 2 month trial of Veganism.
- Finishing up some Parkour coaching projects in Benfleet at Legacy XS.
- Researching volunteering options/projects all over the country.
- Joined a few people who go out into Southend on Tuesday nights, to be with the hungry, homeless and those in need of assistance one way or another.
- Work and volunteering at a few festivals.
- Southend YMCA taking me on a working as a Youth Worker for various projects. 3 Week long film projects through Southend, Hullbridge and Rayleigh.
- Camping with friends in the Peak District. >>

August/September

- Coaching Parkour at Soul Survivor Week C. >>
- Lots of planning for work at the Youth Centres across Southend.
- Started a new job with the YMCA as Southchurch College as a learning support worker.

And…. as of Friday I will be starting my PTLLS course, which is, effectively an intensive course with teaching methods etc.

I really didn’t feel like I’ve been up to much sometimes but it’s nice seeing it listed there. Good for recording it in a visual way.

So, last post was a mixture of frustration and motivation, and from it, if I’m honest, things went well but then through ups and downs, as vague as that expression is.

Regardless, over the last few weeks, I’ve been feeling a lot more on top of things, resulting from having enough of the way things are (yet again) and living what I know and believe to be real, good and true.

Once again, this [life] is a large area, but the search for truth has lead to me feeling happier with where I am, what I’m doing and my place within it. I feel like I am impacting upon some of the negativity present around our local areas, and somehow, it’s resulted in paid work, a happy, honest, working relationship, motivation for work and having the confidence and drive to be the change we need in our spaces. The money being earned is mostly going back into certain community programs and ideas to help others join in within helping those around us, love and share with one another..(not that money is needed for it, but it can help)

Ongoing goals include moving into a house with 3 or 4 others who have a passion for serving Southend, living love through sharing between ourselves and spreading that out around us. This would mean I’m nearer to work and the friends I have made; nearer to a town that’s given me so much and is in desperate need.

In Reflection: After re-reading my last blog post, I think my search has been making progress… I mean, it’s taken me to a ‘mad’ part of the world, and put me in contact with some amazing people, I just thought it would turn out differently, maybe more Parkour related or something etc, but, nonetheless, work ethic has improved and things are moving forward and opportunities have been presenting themselves in areas I believe in.

The main aim over this period of change and challenge has just been to curb the poor behaviours that can and may lead harm to myself and others. To DO what needs to be done, whatever it takes in order to live as one should, blessing others with gifts we all too often overlook or miss out altogether in our “business” of daily life. As mentioned in the previous post, this has come from the search for truth, what it is, and how to live it.

- Through the way I’ve trained through Parkour, I look at problems and attempt to work out solutions. This lead to me seeing the problems around, I believe, stemming from our behaviours and in turn, actions, interwoven with pessimism, hopelessness, apathy, deceit, and fear.

These things I believe to be reasons for our poor choices which lead to negative issues for ourselves and for others. So I am avoiding these things, they have no place in my life. Yes I may and will slip up in areas, but by MY choices, I am working on it, and I must improve. Our poor choices lead and impact others, good choices, minimize these risks.

The last few weeks have been an eye opener, certain challenges in my behaviour and actions have been easier that I would have thought and lead to an increase in knowledge or instinct of what needs to be done in certain situations. I’ve just been putting faith in the process of life and hoping it’ll all shape up one way or another.

I’m done for now, just needed to update, hopefully there was something useful for you this time round. I need to admit some hypocrisy of late; some advice I’d given that I hadn’t taken myself. I recomended to a few friends to post up and share their ongoing thoughts, tracking their development and to allow for others who share in their story, for the reader to gain experience and show that we all struggle. Helping one another move towards the goodness we all long for. I’m sorry for this, and I will do my best to rectify this.

Had this thought earlier in relation to Parkour and life…

- As the practice gifts us worldly things, it results in the world impacting us and our take on something transcendent; making us selfish over giving; complacent instead of sensitive to the true needs of the environments and importantly the people within it. The practice should allow us to impact everything else, not just for it to change us.

Now I'm in better work patterns, I should be able to fit more training and exercise back in, which I’m looking forward to, especially as the challenge of winter approaches.

Peace.

23rd April 2010 - Desperate times.

2010-04-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

So!

I've decided to get a bit more proactive in my aspirations and goals currently, I've had enough of "where" I am in my living and how I'm doing it. That may sound glum but it's not meant that way.

I'm happy enough, but I still feel so far away from reality and truth in relation to my nature and what needs to be done in life. Happiness from comfort isn't enough.

I want truth....

I need truth.

Our wants generally are so far away from what we truly need. I've had enough of obligation, give me necessity.

I am posting to kick start a change, or, to get the ball rolling a bit faster.

Piece by piece I want to de-construct my life. break it down, go to real basics, and then rebuild, being true to myself and the the environments I am in.

I believe our society and general culture to be losing grasp of what is important to us, as human beings and as children of the earth. I can no longer be a part of this by how I'm living.

We are born to grow, learn, live, love and share.

I've made a start on things over the past few years but in essence it's not enough, or fast enough for my liking/needs and I am going to get it sorted.

I've been learning so much over the past year, searching for truth, trying to love those around me, trying to shake the fear away, and doing what I can, with my limited experience, to help others to do the same.

We are all on a journey, we are all learning, we are all in essence, children of this life, this world and the Universal Power that fills and unites us.

I have learned to be less hard on myself, and to trust the process of life. I have become much more reflective in order to make the most out of my experiences, so I can share them with others, to help themselves. It was a part of why I started this blog back in 2006 although back then, perhaps I didn't see it's use.

So, over the next few posts, I'm going to share where I feel I've come, where I'm at, where I need to go etc; I hope, sharing these things with you can help. Feel free to challenge me and my thoughts, adding to our collective experience, learning to live and love in this life, a little better.

Give me only what I need, and let me shed the rest. Time to trim the fat, and get comfortable the freedom, living the truth gives us.

I'm far to used to this prison and the shackles of my greed.

It's got to start with what I have, and my attachments to these things, I believe myself to have little right to have these things while there are others on their life journey lacking.

Love does not look like my life right now.

I'll leave you with two quotes which were shared through love to help us help each other.

"Most good things have been said far too many times and just need to be lived." Shane Claiborne

"My life is my message." Mahatma Gandhi

We can all be so much more.

I will keep this blog updated and relevant to this cause/ journey. I am doing this because I believe living what we believe in to be right, not for my own gain, not for my own feeling of worth, or because I'm blindly following some thought or any other excuse you can think of.

I am trying to do and live what I believe is right.

Peace and Love.

Brad

11th -29th Jan 2010: "We're sending you back, to the future!!"

2010-01-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

What a great film!?? (In case you don't know, the quote is from all time awesomest film trilogy, "Back to the Future")

In the film; 2015 sees flying cars, sleep algorithm generators and hover-boards; we could get there is 5 years right? ;p

So it's now January 2010 (albeit at the end), a time where everyone talks about diets, training, plans, goals, 'last year was rubbish', and the list goes on with the changes they wish to make, commonly being making this year, ‘different from last year'.

But what does 2010 hold for you?

Wouldn't it be great if I could tell you, or, if someone could tell you what your future holds?

Maybe I can...... I'll get to this a little bit later.

Regarding this blog post: I usually have some experience in my living and movement that awakens something deep within and so I write to share it. But tonight, I am writing to write and update, and funnily enough, it's just shooting out of my fingertips, so lets see where this is going ;p. (started on the 11th Jan, finished today and funnily enough experiences over the past two weeks have contributed to the content of this post. Providence!)

--- Quick Life Update---

Christmas has lost it's childhood charm without a doubt, I have over the past years asked for nothing pareticular as effectively, there is little I need or even want, and I'd rather we give to others who are in need. This year was obviously different, as for me, Jesus and family have been a real focus and really trying to remember and understand the reason for the time. On the 28th I did a "panto in a day", in which we are given the scripts etc; and have to organise and do everything to host a pantomime for that same evening; this of course was great fun. (Few pics are up on facebook.)

29th December Saw me reach 1 Year of Dreadlocks. (Thank you Kate and Amy <3)

New years was excellent, with Church friends and newer friends, got to see some amazing views of fireworks across the Southend night sky from their high up flat and just in general have a good time getting to know people and chatting about all sorts!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Had the first week off of work off as I have holiday to use up so was nice to chill out and think about where I'm heading and what I'm doing and try to work it out... little progression there, heh.

Saturday 9th saw the BPCA AGM which went amazingly, covered the surprisingly large amount we did in 2009 and created many very promising plans for 2010, progressing and making a positive impact in the Parkour community, so on that front... keep an eye on the BPCA site and check your in-boxes over the next few months.

Work’s been going very well since heading back getting much more organised and in turn, more useful for Young People’s development. My Youth Work NVQ is being assessed currently, resulting in me being a qualified youth worker. Might have more Youth Work to do in the near future working for another Youth Service; might be moving out soon, coaching opportunities on the way, travelling options, and God showing me so much in life by putting faith and trust in Him.

-----

So that's me updated, back to the topic, what does 2010 hold?

I once again wish to express, I do not consider, nor do I claim to know and have all the answers to everything in life and world, I’m still figuring so much out, myself! However, my experiences have and do appeal to, and help others, so in the words of a favourite author, “life and it’s lessons are only made useful if shared”, so again I wish to share with you, my brothers and sisters.

Do with my words as You, feel is right.

I don't know all the ins and out's of your specific year. But there are some things I do know, almost with a certainty. If you listen (or read) and test what I’m sharing, I'm sure it will help you become a more rounded, understanding and happier person in 2010 and beyond.

So what are you going to face? Let me tell you...

Uncomfortable situations, fear, uncertainty, hardships, loss, gain, good times, change, undeserving feelings, pain, love, happiness, getting older (can't avoid this one), being hated, being loved, heartbreak, adoration, misunderstanding, bliss, confusion, anxiety, grief.... and hugs. (End this incomplete list on a good note ;p)

Life is full of these things, 2009 was probably held of these things, and this year will probably be the same, it will be good, and then it will knock you off of your feet, in ways mentioned above and more.

But what are these things really to us?….. Good or bad? Wanted or avoided? Put simply....They are the challenges present in our lives.

Now in response to what’s been said so far, you might say, "I could've told you that"…. I hope you can, it's a good indicator of the statements' truth. Time and time again however, You and I forget, or simply do not see the importance of these things, the necessity of them all, whether we feel or believe it at the time or not.

Let me tell you my thoughts and tested beliefs as to how to approach these issues in order for us to live a happier 2010 and onwards. These are ways I have tested and been living. I believe them to be worthwhile practices and approaches to start to explore and live more of your life, I pray they can do the same for you.

--First Step--

Awareness and Attention

How many times have you likened a bad situation you've had to one a friend is going through, in order to show them how it's all worked out, one way or another?

This is a simple example I know, but it's a common situation where your 'mishaps' have helped another.

Of any "resolutions" or changes you're thinking of making this year, I think the biggest one would be to think and pay attention to what is happening, both the 'good and bad'. At least pay attention to them, if you can write them down. (One habit I have gotten into is keeping a notepad handy for any thoughts that I feel may have future use or any thoughts in general, they are put there for a reason and there’s no real harm in writing them down, “all knowledge ultimately leads to self knowledge”, even if you don’t use what’s written to much use, you can at least compare it to you now and see how far you’ve come.)

It sounds simple and it is.

Why do I need to pay attention to what is happening??

Whether it is now, or 10 years from now, if we have paid attention to what is happening, often the lessons materialise, enabling us to help ourselves and others in the future.

Sometimes we may learn a lesson instantly, in which case, we have some instant gratification and justification from this way of thinking. Sometimes, however, they do not happen at that exact moment, but that’s fine too. Often this is because we aren't ready for that knowledge or lesson yet, we've not experienced enough for us to safely learn and live out that lesson. Accepting this strengthens our character and spirit and teaches us faith in the process of life. (This I have learnt through my life experiences both before and more so after finding my faith in Christ. Believing in God’s plan for me in life, putting my faith in Him for process of my life)

We have God-given emotions and feelings, we should accept and celebrate them, but I believe balance is key. Sometimes we rush into emotional responses and forget the important factors involved. Thinking of the situation in a third person’s context is useful to see how emotion may be clouding your judgement. - On the other hand, emotion is there for a reason, so listen, question and weigh up each side; practice balance.

By all means express your emotions, but sometimes taking some time out and looking at a situation objectively can help you assess the situation a little more clearly, and help others in a much more fulfilling way.

--Second Step--

Reality

There are lessons and things of use that come out of all that is and all that happens, however, we often don't have the eyes to see them. This, I believe, comes from lack of attention, as has been explained above. We remedy this by hearing, not just listening; seeing, not just looking, and feeling with our hearts. The next problem is that when we see what is, often we shut off, resist and hide....

Why do I hide from problems by avoidance or covering them up with other problems?

Why's it so hard?

Why do I give up and let the bad things consume me and long only for the 'good things'?

I'm going to tell it as it is.

Because we are afraid, tired, faithless and weak (not just physically).
Often, we are equally afraid of failure, and afraid of success.
We actively resist change.

The need to overcome a problem forces change, which requires effort, and energy.

The first issue is that in our lives, we tend to waste our energy on self destructive habit’s and behaviours. We waste it and live in fear of needing to change ourselves, and use some of that energy. (Habits and addictions such as need of refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, talking, being afraid, poor posture, lack of sleep, too much sleep, lack of exercise, over-exercise, junk food consumption; etc. These habits use our energy to carry out and repair from the damages they cause.)

It is easier to let problems take us down than it is to confront and learn.

Here’s a quote I believe explains it well:

“Most people live, whether physically, intellectually, or morally, in a very restricted circle of their being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul's resources in general, much like a man who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into the habit of using and moving only his little finger. Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater our vital resources are than we had supposed.”

It's easy for us to say "I'm tired", "I can't", "I don't believe".

Aren't these choices? Aren't these things that we say to ourselves, because deep down, we're afraid that if we try we might fail, or possibly more likely and crazily, afraid that we’ll succeed and have to change ourselves and our, currently comfortable situation.

Our choice, to let 'the bad things' take us down, gives it greater power over us.

I have learnt over my life so far, that should we ignore the problems and avoid it at all costs, we do not equip ourselves with the skills needed in order to overcome our future problems.

“He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity”

Some of the more challenging obstacles in life such as death and loss are not easy things to deal with, I know, and I am not saying don't grieve or pretend it didn't happen, but acceptance of what it is, for what it is, is the first step to overcoming. Resisting change will only prolong the pain and difficulty, we must develop courage to push through.

When we see the situation realistically, you can effectively overcome the problem, otherwise it's like fighting an illusion or ghost, it's not really there.

We tend not to see the real obstacles and challenges in life.

The physical obstacles I face within my Parkour training are only obstacles if I allow them to be I put them in my way to develop my strength. Money is only an obstacle if I say it is... We need to break down the walls around/ between you and the real obstacle. (This is something further backed up by words spoken at church over the previous weeks, many people seeing many thoughts and visions of walls needing to be broken down)

Our attachments to objects and our beliefs on success, failure and change are often the biggest barrier. Dig deep, explore the terrain find the real issue.

--Third Step--

Action

We have established that paying attention allows us to immediately or in the future, learn a lesson from our problems. By looking deeply into a problem and exploring where the real problems lie, we can create a game-plan to overcome the problem. And this is where the third step, action, falls in.

The solution to future happiness is not easy, but if you want happiness, you have to work through it, and spend a little energy. Surely happiness is worth the effort? You have to see the challenge through, and take the lesson from it.

Use your own experiences in testing this one… Who wanted to do work when they were at school? Very few I’m sure, but looking back I’m sure you wish you’d have done so, or could go back and try harder etc..? Why aren’t we applying that same lesson to every part of our lives?

Lets bring this back to a real life situation...one I experienced at the weekend.

Situation: (I felt God needing me and me needing to ask God to guide me in a gap that needs to be filled at my cousin’s wedding). After discussing faith with my aunt as she decided to ask about it all to which I did openly and honestly (Steps one and two). I then felt the need to head outside for some air. There was a group of young people out drinking and throwing glass bottles around so I decided to walk and head in their general direction. I was listening and working out if I should talk to them or not (Steps one and two), when I remembered a quote by Martin Luther King Jr,

"You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say."

I then went over to talk, not to lecture, not to tell them off… but to talk. We discussed goals in life, choices in life, society, why we do what we do and what we can do to solve issues, for a good 30-50 minutes. (Step three, action)

Outcome: If they listen and change, then great I succeed, if they don't change and laugh of all I said and we discussed I still succeed. I faced a challenge, and did what is right, strengthening my confidence and faith in self and in God.

The first two steps allow you to see more in what you do, and aid you in finding the real success’ and failure’s from the choices you make with the third. Even if we try and 'fail' in situation in life, we can turn it into success, we've successfully found a way that doesn't work right now and strengthened through trying.

Why do we struggle to speak with those who we may be able to help? It is not our lack of ability, because we can do these things... it's our attachment to the illusion of failure and fear of change, etc, mentioned in the first 2 steps. To not do something in a situation that requires action, will result in failure. Whereas to do something, to act... has a chance of changing things (no matter how small a chance do it anyway, Mother Theresa said “We can do no great things, just small things with great love”, by all means aim for heights, but do the small things you can do right now and your efforts will spark others into action and to growth) ... it is our choices that decide how we move onwards, choose to do it, and put all your love and energy and heart behind it.

We will also be developing our situational understanding, problem solving skills, perseverance and courage should we make the choice to continue onwards with other situations. But in order to do this we must act, we must do, we must choose to live.

Life is a practice of action.

This then enables you to keep moving onwards, allowing you to keep grasp of where you are, strengthening your mind, body and spirit to deal with these problems in the future.

As we explored earlier, things happen, good and bad, on and off, continuously, the problems we face through action gives us the strength to get us through other problems in the future.

Life is a training ground, either suffer it or learn from it to/ and move towards happiness.

-Last Step… (before another first step)-

So we've acted and after a while, we've overcome a problem, what now? Do we blindly repeat the same action for many different situation? Sometimes we may be able to, but the greatest strength and realisation comes from weakness, and acceptance that you have more to learn.

To recap and adapt what you have achieved, enables you to move forward, and gain strength, to work with the forces of life and to not stagnate. This of course requires your to act, to test and accept this as a truth and to use it to continue to benefit your life.

As new situations arise, new problems approach and new obstacles challenge you revisit the steps above and gain a realistic grasp of where you are.

-----
So to recap, how do we have a happier 2010?

1. Attention: Look at what's happening, take it in, the good and the bad, write it down if needs be.

2. Be realistic: See issues for what they are, we need to knock down the fake walls around the issue and see what the real problem is.

3. Action: Do something about it when you feel ready, if you are not, make small steps/goals to achieve each day, working to overcome the issue, and eventually you'll get there.

4. Reflection: Be humble, enjoy the work and what you have achieved, but understand that it was for that situation. Reflect and improve, and move back to your very first step, and a very unique and life strengthening situation.

----What does 2010 hold for you?----

You will face some sort of challenge this year, some loss of form of upset, (Ironically this can come from not getting what you want, or getting exactly what you want).

The question is how you're going to face it. Blindly and randomly, or by taking a simple, adaptable approach to make the best out of a difficult situation.

Are you going to suffer the challenge at hand, or have faith, charge through with eyes wide open, and believe you’ll come through stronger?

This is what works and has worked for me for some time, so I wished to share. By all means test what I’ve given you above, and improve it, make it your own, I’d love to hear your thoughts and testing.

(The more observant among you may well notice that Buddhism contains ‘4 Noble Truths’, which are very similar to the process’ mentioned above. There are truths and methods for life in the world, I have come to realise the above points through my life experience and exploration within my life and faith. God teaches us to love and grow together. Anything that can be used to glorify God and His word belong to Him.)

Much love and I pray for success for you in 2010.

Hope to see, train and learn with many of you this year.

13th Oct '09:: Parkour Practice Application

2009-10-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hey all, thanks for reading previous entries, seems to have got people thinking which is great!

This post is in relation to my previous post and the 2 comments by my friend, Elliot, This can be found by clicking here and by scrolling to the bottom of the page.

I'm going to 'bold' Elliots points for reference, I do urge you to read my previous post, and the comments, as this won't make all that sense without the reference.

Parkour's Practical Application.

Thanks for the response Elliot as I said throughout, these are my thoughts and I don't expect everyone to conform and agree, they won't even if I was 100% "Right". People choose what they wish ultimately. The purpose of this post is to be a perspective for others, to test against their own views currently, to take what's useful and to challenge (and if needs be, leave) what they perceived as not.

We've spoken about much of this before and it's great that it's still being challenged.

My "Parkour" training consists of learning things for the benefit of self and others. Of those things, some are essentially useful to me so I can be of use (Strength, general knowledge about how I work etc), and some things are with a more direct approach to others, not just in the physical 'doing and moving' realm, but within my communication and other interpersonal skills, and also in knowledge, ie, within learning and training First Aid for example, which can be very useful day to day within my environments at least.

The physical aspect of my training focuses on practicing what others may struggle with, so I can help, day to day, increasing strength and general adaptability in any skill. I am to be a ‘Jack of all trades’ so to speak. There are many needs in the world and to people, and Parkours idea is to be able in any situation, using the medium of movement as an essential part of life: to learn. I feel it is an open enough area for all to agree it's a good life 'ground-rule' to practice overcoming given obstacles. I understand that we may well, and probably will never, have ALL skills, but what’s wrong with aspiring towards that? All knowledge ultimately leads to self knowledge. Parkours approach keeps yourself and others' needs in the picture, which would indeed keep the things practiced relevant and useful.

In relation to your comment on working, I do volunteer and work for others in my time, so I'm not saying one thing and doing another for the record. In my 'free time' I'm training and learning things which I feel may be of use to others. I am still developing this and doing what I can to give to others, and finding more effective ways of carrying out my goal/aspiration.

Regarding Belle, why not agree? The methodology is the practice of overcoming obstacles, which would indeed benefit self and others. How is it a bad thing to be a bit more thoughtful towards other peoples needs? Parkours ideal is a natural one, (self and human continuation) but we've been brought so far from our real environments of life by society, we don't see what’s 'useful' (I understand the term itself is indeed open to interpretation and is personal, but 'Realistic', should be coupled with all terms in my opinion, using experience). Parkours approach can be used to test its own methodology and it will overcome those challenges one way or another. Parkour works. An example being, ‘We’ see money as THE means to live, not the means to get food to live etc… the approach we take makes a huge difference and Parkour helps you more accurately assess the problems faced, which is a large early stage to overcoming. We no longer question and explore enough to impact the situations. We accept, resist and do little about the situation, through lack of confidence, experience and practice overcoming problems.

Regarding ‘the founders’, I feel that initially and maybe still a little now, there was little understanding of why or how it works, but we as a community and friends have been working to understand this. The issue is that the physical took over the spirit and mentality of Parkours practice, and as such, they did not become effective memorable examples of what Parkour is, only what it can achieve (through showing success and ‘end-result movements’). This is without the understanding of how, or the thought processes needed to instigate and learn from the movement, or of the other intricacies the journey/practice. I’m not saying this is the ‘wrongs and rights’, or if it’s 100% true, I don’t know, but I’m using what I’ve seen and learnt. The methods and ideas we’ve been developing are proving themselves, and being agreed by practitioners from their experiences and approaches. This should have been done form the start, but physicality was seen and overused, out of proportion to other required areas.

The methodology and mentality of Parkour, by its nature, is set, to firstly give focus, (learning to overcome obstacles for self and others) and yet open enough to interpret (Into your life-environment). Everyone’s obstacles will be different, that is accepted and a given, and Parkour allows this. It's not DO THIS DO THIS, it's one method, Practice solving problems to solve other problems, in movement and life.

HMMMMMM?!

The point I'm getting across on this tangent is that, yes, I am saying the Parkour approach is healthy for all, as all experience obstacles and challenges, and as such the practice of overcoming challenges will be beneficial to self and others. Yes we are all different, but the same basic Parkour approach will benefit all, and communication of personal beliefs contribute to a challenging and developing, learning environment. Parkours approach develops its practice. This in turn challenges the individuals' thought processes and the 'solutions' can be better assessed from having external perspectives from others, to better understand realistic usefulness to a given challenging situation/environment.

As you were pointing out throughout, Correctness and acceptance of people’s differences are important but I feel there are bigger truths for the world, society has caged us, too much, driving fear into us to not try and find any kind of universal solutions; be they full or partial guidelines for life, bringing us away form the ideas of closeness and community; we are all children of God, we are all the one and the same, we are not our nationalities or religions, we are human beings. Parkour is itself 'incomplete', and that’s why it works, there is no absolute right and wrong, only the ideal of learning to overcome obstacles, to help solve other obstacles/challenges. The idea stimulates practice, and develops areas which in most societies now are lacking, as we have many things to do things for us, or we expect someone else to do it for us. Your exploration of my thought continues this.

“"If we have an alternative that we know would be beneficial to them and others, surely we should at least try to share, or help them find the answers?" The thing is that often in our attempts to try and make some sort of change we actually become part of the problem, with our attitude that we know best, whether or not it is verbally communicated overtly as such. You cannot teach or help someone who isn't ready, or open and receptive to that help.”

As true as this may be in terms of readiness, leaving it be may and probably will not actually solve any of their problems, sometimes you have to experience that discomfort of 'another way' to find a better conclusion or at least to see that there is another way, we should and are there to 'plant a seed' or share an idea. Indeed people's choices and actions are their own, that’s how we were created, but if something is worth sharing and a truth, I still see nothing particularly wrong in sharing so that they may help themselves. Again, for many, we needed the irony of being told to “find your own way” before we can see it. Was it for the better or worse? For me and I think all who explore movement it’s at least for the better, all information is inherently that, take what’s useful. The practice of useful things will generally be useful to all for life. Why are most practitioners starting in their teens? At a time where they are understanding their choices are their own and things they believe are different to others...? Parkour encourages this and welcomes people to try their way.

"If you step back and imagine that not everyone trains or lives for the same reasons as you, then perhaps you will not judge other people's actions so harshly or with the same set of ideals you judge yourself. That way maybe you can accept that there are many practitioners who don't do as you do, and there are even more people in the general population who choose to live differently, and perhaps maybe not care about the same causes or things as you."

I do reflect and can accept this, it is the case currently and as such it has to be accepted, it doesn't mean it's right, or the best way, nor does it mean there aren't other ways that could benefit them. To resist what is, is to create undesired stress, which will make you less effective to act. I can however, as can you, continue to give opinions or suggestions if they so wish, if they don't, then, help those who do want help; but, within reason; I'd still do what I know deep down is right.

Look at climate change or the conflicts in the world, I'm sure there are many people who would say that they "don't need help" and that "there are no issues here". But you deep down know otherwise, I'd do what I feel was right for the given situation, for it's better to have lived and risked with love than to die safely and without love. Yet there are those dying for their love for one another and breaking law to help people see what they need to for future generations to live. (Greenpeace current actions comes to mind)

"The best things to do, with the best things in life are to give them away". It's their choice to accept what you have to offer or not. Should we share and it benefit, then great.

Should they not acknowledge it or listen, they've lost nothing and only gained in information, which leads to self knowledge.

This I feel here IS wherein a ‘problem’ lies. As you pointed out, some situations require a decision to be made and a problem to be solved in that situation; which may well mean you doing it for someone. But the key as a coach or as someone to share Parkour itself, is to give incomplete solutions and assist others in trying for themselves and finding their own solutions. This is ironic of course that you have to be told that “you can do it for yourselves” but it is the case, whether we are told it be parents, friends, books, films, documentaries, teachers or coaches. Again, we’ve been brought up in a way of complete answers, and commonly there are none. Parkour is a ‘complete’ idea/mentality to develop personal solving of problems or further developing incomplete solutions. A discipline, a practice, and an art, in that, solving problems IS personal and expression is outputting in solving problems.

A agree you need a foundation before you can do something for others, this (In my opinion should) come through general upbringing and learning from the environment; we then need to be challenged and encouraged to overcome the challenges presented, not always given the answers but guided to help solve them ourselves. This is happening more rarely in today’s society because of a lack of practice in challenges and well, lots of reasons from my experiences and discussions! A big part of it as mentioned earlier, is that this society is brought away from life and doing what needs to be done, there’s a covering over the 'real stuff' we need and need to develop, bringing us away form the ‘living' and learning environment.

You said, "If people have fun 'moving' and experimenting, then that is what is of most value to them. The bigger picture isn't some universal truth, but rather your own very personal ideas."

– I Agree, I’m not trying to tell anyone what not to do, I’m putting a perspective out there. Should anyone never have some experience or influence to develop greater understanding, there’s little reference point for their life journey, we are social and we live with people so it is inevitable. The main things I feel it IS important is that we become ‘good’ examples for people to maybe aspire towards, aspiring towards use, first, then aesthetics if desired, but use can and will always be bettered with realistic and useful training applications, scenarios and environments. There are plenty examples of selfishness and doing things for self in the world, but not enough for others and for love.

“"Time spent in preparation should be realistic to your situations and life." In most people's lives Parkour training will not make it any easier for you to benefit someone in your daily life”

-- With this I strongly disagree. Well I agree that most people's IDEA of Parkour training does not help them.

The Parkour practice, is the practice of overcoming obstacles, solving problems, learning from the mistakes made and bettering oneself for others. If ‘practitioners’ are not doing this then they are not practicing Parkour, not completely at least. Parkour will in fact help in other unpractised/new obstacles being faced as you should then be prepared for doing so. The real practice of Parkour will make it easier for you to benefit others and to do so safely, after all it's been practiced. I have seen many examples of how Parkour has done this, one such being, communication skills improving due to an improvement in confidence and analysing the issues/obstacles stopping them from doing so. In other areas I've seen and heard, of physicality improvement due to Parkours application; people being better at Piano playing or various martial arts styles, skateboarding, juggling, roller-blading, or football coaching, without practicing them specifically. Facing and solving problems, using the Application of Parkour, allows the body to better cope with challenges, improves the mental capacity for overcoming obstacles and strengthens the spirit for doing so too.

The Approach makes the mind and spirit stronger and adaptable, through useful training. The processes from the approach achieves this, not just the practice of some movements and hanging out with friends. I understand the examples I used in the original blog post were a little extreme,(7 Guys attacking your/family etc) but they are things that can and may happen, realistically. The amount of fights that break out in and around my area is silly, again it’s environmental, but you can use realistic predictions using past experience, how you previously overcome other similar obstacles for the future. Should you not have any, one should take small steps and stages to develop a movement and experience repertoire.

“The goal is really the bi product of the journey itself, and in comparison any goal reached will constitute such a minor part of your life it's almost insignificant.” –

True, we are all tiny in relation to God and the Universe, but we are here nonetheless, this idea fails at its own test as without some sort of goal why bother moving or doing anything at all, and if it is all insignificant, why not just end it now? We ARE here, and so we should do something with ourselves, we have the means to do so for a reason, it is a goal to move towards. What do do and what your personal goals are, then falls into personal beliefs and what have you, but for me, I think it’s not only worthwhile for life and afterlife, but to actually do something to help another, is good practice as 99% of the time, people would want the same help if they needed it. (Do unto others, as you mentioned earlier).

Parkour teaches us to face and overcome; the way of action, to do something rather than avoid and/or do nothing. The rest of what you said about goals, yes, we should have them, but should we be too heavily focused we are missing what’s going on, our journey needs to be continually tested to make sure we heading towards our goal and to learn the lessons to achieve future goals. I agree with that aspect at least. The bi-product is the friendships made, fun in other aspects of life/challenges, confidence, goals, desire, physcial development (In skill, looks, muscle growth, flexibility, toughness); and the list can go on. Parkour and it's application, overcoming obstacles is the goal, and the above, which most seem to think are the reason for, are a plus....

“It seems like you are taking helping others to an extreme where it overrules your own happiness.”

I mentioned this earlier above, but yes, I am to an extent. Of some things I may do, I might not enjoy them directly but this comes down to the Parkour ideals again, if I do and practice, achieving my goal of being useful to others, it justifies the practice of that which I enjoy less. This is a very useful skill as some/many obstacles and problems, in training and life, may well require things that are very difficult to enjoy, but most happiness comes form the idea of success over failure, and the absence of problems. Should the practice of that which you don’t enjoy, aid you in the future to succeed, using past goals and experiences to back this up; Parkour works and you’ll have a motivation at least to battle through.

In this context, should we be living examples, embodying what we have learnt and showing that Parkour is the fundamental method used, it is encouragement for others to practice Parkour, understand its use, and use Parkour to make a HUGE impact in the world and within people's lives, there's so much more to the practice than just going out and moving. Movement is just the means to learn how to overcome obstacles as it impact everyone's lives in one way or another.

Thanks for reading, any questions or ideas please get in touch!

October 8th '09: "22 Years!"

2009-10-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday was my Birthday! Didn't do all that much during the day and had work/coaching in the evening, then spent the night witching a film with the family which was nice. Whenever birthdays come around it, for me at least, seems like a good time to reflect about who you are, where you've come from, what's been achieved and where to go form here.

So, now I am in the Third Year after my Second Decade and it sounds like a long old time! I'm not going to go into details and rants about life, but yeah, reflection is good, and should be done regularly, keeping yourself on track.

On a blog and personal development front, I'm going to try to post smaller and regular blog updates with my thoughts as hopefully they will benefit others. So please subscribe to RSS feeds and post your thoughts, I'd love to read and respond.

-Last Post in September-

"This post's been long enough, but the next one within the next week will be my message about Parkour, what I and others have been seeing, and what needs to be said and done so we can start changing the world, one step at a time."

Well right now. I don't have the time to go into all the details but, I was at a BPCA meeting a week or so ago with the committee members, and the outcome was very productive, and we're working towards getting a united message across and showing those inside and out of the Parkour community, real examples of Parkour training, methods and spirit, and sharing via various mediums and medias.

I've been chatting to many people about this project and it is encouraging that we are all seeing the same thing, so stay tuned, and if you really are interested in helping set a good example of Parkour through your actions, we'd love to hear form you and love for you to be involved. (Drop me a message here, Facebook, on msn or call me!)

Of course the meeting discussed and started planning for getting more BPCA Coaching Courses and Assessments arranged in the near future.

**Disclaimer**
-(I am aware some of what I'm saying below may well be generalisations and as such I include myself in them, we are all a part of this, and probably all a little guilty)-

-Below are my thoughts on Parkour as a practice currently, today, starting to talk about where we need to go as practitioners. Some may well disagree but this is what I believe and what I think will make an impact in local communities and possibly, progressively, regions and even countries, and not particularly that of the BPCA and it's members.-

We as a community/members of society (I'm not saying all) have been lazy. The discipline of Parkour has come very far away from it's original motives and methods; the underlining, neglected factor being, Usefulness and learning for the benefit of self and others.

Parkours' origin and history derives from this goal and aspiration. There are other contributing factors I agree, but I feel Parkour has a real chance to help and touch so many live by focusing a little more on the factor above, what we can do, here and now, for others. Parkour is useful.

There's a much bigger picture than having fun and 'doing movements', which seemingly Parkour, through media, misconception and practice of, is being conveyed largely as as.

The mentality, spirit and physicality need to be progressed and developed together for safe progression and development of self. Typing this, it sounds like common sense, but it seems many of us have been missing this through our "training" and time out moving and learning. Parkour is for Ourselves.

I'm not saying "lets not have fun" and that "we are all wrong to be getting out and moving", but I feel we need to balance our lives and training a little more effectively, and usefully, for more than just ourselves. For me, fun is a bi-product of enjoying the challenges presented and achieving our goals. Fun can be a useful reason and motivation to move, but then again, depending on your thought processes and how you chose to think, you can find almost anything you do fun, but Parkours' focus on achieving goals allows this fun through achievement regularly. Parkour is Fun.

We need to know our goals in life and make sure our actions will contribute along the journey, and get us to the goal. Otherwise surely it's a waste of time?? A waste of a minute you'll never get back... and of course over years and decades, minutes add up to hours and days. On the other hand, maybe we need to make that detour for our development, very true, but, effectiveness isn't always the fastest way but the best route for an individual so Parkour covers that base. Parkour is goal setting.

If you have no goal, how do you know where your path is leading, or if what you are doing is useful to you?? We must have our awareness on our goal and the journey, as after all, we don't want to crash and take a nose dive on the way because we're too busy looking at signposts. The journey is as important as the goal, because in Parkour and life, the journey is the learning process; it is the mentality we need to develop safely and progress towards our goals so that we may help others to gain the confidence and ability to do the same. Parkour is learning.

The film, "Coach Carter" and the "Deepest fear" speech, which originally comes form a book by Mirrianne Williamson seems to have a lot of peoples attention so I want to explore that.

"As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

(Full Quote excerpt can be found HERE)

Some people may not be interested in our movements, or cannot understand the reasons for practicing the movement. How can we help them if we are lacking in situations applicable to them? What if their needed liberation is from choking or being attacked by 7 strong men? Or we lack in the ability to communicate with them to assist in their understanding and development? What use is all that time spent moving and doing stuff for the fun of it, for when, in a time of NEED, we can do nothing? This of course is a very personal area, dependant on experience, perception and environment. Time spent in preparation should be realistic to your situations and life. Parkour is adaptable.

Where are we?

'Parkour' and it's 'practitioners' have a huge potential to do great things in this world, we are able to do so much from just our practice in movement. Maybe take a moment to reflect and think about hat you've achieved through your practice so far, celebrate it, list what you've learnt, add to it. Some of us go deeper, acquiring and developing good knowledge and ability in many areas of life too, consciously and subconsciously learning through our mistakes, and developing our weaknesses as humans and individuals.

In a society controlled by fear, we have at least contributed to other people's experimentation in movement, and hopefully helping them get a little fitter and healthier and set them on the path to overcoming obstacles, which is a good start given the lack of movement in our 21st century vocations.

We've also, through various practitioners and events, raised money for charities and gained exposure for issues in the world which are positive actions indeed. The issue here however, is that there are so many other facets of human suffering and improvement that need to be addressed and fixed, many of which are right on our doorsteps, and yet we spend a good factor of our time moving past those obstacles and playing games with our friends in a friendly and welcoming, non-inhabited environment or space, being just like everyone else and opting for ignorance or at least an easier option. This to me just seems like a reversal of what we teach and say and train for.

Nonetheless, we are young as practitioners. It's a start, but I really feel we can do more; we should be doing more, and living by example for what we need to see in the world as Traceurs (People who desire to overcome challenges) and/or as humans.

Do we really just want people to "go out and have fun"? What if their perception of fun is hurting others, or ignoring those in need? Kicking small animals? -- Allowing people to do 'whatever they feel is right' is passivity and lazy, and does not help those who need a perspective for their benefit and for possibly the safety of others. - Again, for those who like to pick holes, I am not saying everyone must prescribe to MY thoughts or yours, I am pointing out the weakness in complete/absolute acceptance and allowance of other's actions, of which I have heard this way of thinking from people and wanted to challenge. If we have an alternative that we know would be beneficial to them and others, surely we should at least try to share, or help them find the answers? I just hope this post challenges your beliefs and thoughts.-

One person is an exception, groups are a rule. If all who call themselves practitioners spent their time thinking, living and contributing to the overcoming of the local, personal, family, friends', town, county/country and even worlds' problems/challenges/obstacles; I think so many would see what Parkour has to offer and the gift it has to give to the world.

Have a think, you don't always have to CREATE problems to develop yourself for others, there are plenty out there yet we don't have the eyes for them or miss because we are so focused on 'movement problems' or our goals and aspirations, because "that's what everyone else does".

Peace and love.

15th September 2009: "Piecing It Together"

2009-08-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Well, here goes once more! Again it's been a while since I've written anything but here's an update and some thoughts. [[**Edit**- It was going to be a post regarding my faith and it's relation now to what I;m seeing with parkour, but it's long enough as it is, so next post will be more related to Parkour.]]

Since my last blog...

- Continuing Youth Work, Now Two Years and working towards NVQ's.
- A Few Coaching Jobs Around and About.
- Developing myself through training, First Aid, Volunteering, and trying to start local projects for the community, with the Police and Council
- BPCA Work and Writin, beginners guide coming soon!
- Training Focus on reality.
- Crawley Juggling Convention '09.
- Became Christian.**

**So yeah, the last point is obviously the biggest deal in many ways and undoubtedly one of the biggest changes to impact my life, so I'm going to write about it all, where it's lead me and allowed me to see.

So yeah Summer's been grand, training with and helping the SouthendParkour Community grow and develop, myself included within that. Pushing the community aspect, we are growing and making small differences within the Southend Area, continually clearing rubbish and litter from our training spaces and others, as well as obviously, training ourselves for the benefit of others.

We've incorporated a lot more swimming into our training of late. Considering we are on the Thames Estuary and by beaches, it would make sense to practice swimming and use the sea to our advantage, especially for helping others and thinking about REAL LIFE scenarios people might need help, sea and water issues is likely. Useful for immune system, and cold training also!

SO we are running more, and a few of us spending more time in the gym and working on carrying and lifting weight and each other. This is NOT a fitness first gym or overpriced rubbish like that... it's an old school free weights gym, the owner Roy Perrot was Mr Universe in 1968 Medium Class!

GO ROY GO.... Awesome!

Anyways, the main focus of training, as ever, is sticking with being strong and useful within the realistic environments or situations we will or may be in. Erwan's MovNat work as an example, is all well and good and opened most people's eyes to things that should have been incorperated into peoples Parkour training, such as lifting and carrying.

But the thing is, he had to move to a place like that (middle of nowhere) to train. His methods work for where he is, but where we are, where society is developed and materials aren't Natural such as the towns and cities most of us live in, barefoot and other methods like that become, in my opinion, ill-practiced, especially with the fact that todays towns are the places that people really need help. There's then another extreme in the oppositte direction with the WFRC and stuff like that, it's all about balance. Both have relevance to life, messages, lessons and use, BUT IN BALANCE. It is important, but yeah, I'll discuss why Parkour is so important in relation to this in my next blog.

This kind in relation to function and real use, has lead us to move running, climbing, carrying and lifting work, as well as continuing to train these and increasing aerobic and anaerobic strength capacities.

My Beliefs and Ideals Within Life.

Background: I've been exploring faiths, religions, and lifestyles with a real interest over the past 2 to 2 and a half years. Having practiced Parkour and been opened to finding new ways of approaching obstacles and life, Dan Millman's novel, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior , gave me a happy living ground for a good few years; accepting what is; and doing what I can to help others, to be of use to others, staying here and now. When it came to faith and religion, I felt like, I could go sit in a cave and be myself and spend my time reading and working out if God was real or not; but it wouldn't be much use to others there and then, so left it be and stuck with immediately what I could do for others, and with what I did know.

Parkour, as a discipline and living practice, gives you some great perspectives on life, and can make you more perceptive to the subtle changes around you, seeing the lessons in the smallest of mistakes, firstly in movement, and later on within life. I've seen so many doors close and others open, so many little 'coincidences' in life, like not doing something which I thought I needed to, which lead to something much better, or things of this fashion.

I just accepted that it was just the "energy of the world", and how it works. Having faith in the 'Process of Life'.

After training sometimes, looking at the world around and wherever we are, feelings of amazement and awe take over, how beautiful and perfect everything is, how we can learn from everything that's infront of us, how it's possible that we can communicate with one another, the sights we can see and the things we are blessed to do.
I don't live in cuckoo land, I know there are issues in the world that people would disagree with my "perfect" statement, yet still, there are people who love enough to get out and work to make a difference to those people, it is interesting.... it balances and can do.

I had problems believing that all of this, life and the world, is a mistake, but I also had issue believing there was a God that created it all. I approached this issue thinking I'll never know for sure, so just do what I can, with what I do and can know, here and now.

Over the past year in particular, Christianity has had a significant pull on me, went to a church event with a speaker who was talking about his life, through homelessness, drug abuse, army and finding God and Jesus. As well as, towards the beginning of this year listening to a lot of Shane Claiborne talks, and asking my friends questions (thanks to Caz, Whitney and Danny in particular) answering any questions and issues I may have and giving me other perspectives.

So that's the background, on with Soul Survivor.

Soul Survivor 2009: Week C: Bear with me. =]

I was asked to help and Coach at Soul Survivor Week C, months ago, so I thought it sounded like great fun, and nice time away and a good chance for my to persue exploring Christianity further. (If you don't know it's a Young People's Christian event "Soul Survivor runs events to help people get to know and follow Jesus better.")

It's a rather nice event, travelled for a looong way and many hours to get to Somerset and the Bath and West Showground, (as it happens where a large part of my Parkour Journey began, I met Seb Foucan and Co there in 2004). Max picked me up form the station and I was reaquainted with the Ilabacas, friends, Kie and later on Tariq, Yeays! Monday was getting used to things so a nice chance for us to play and train with each other before coaching started on Tuesday.

In the evenings I went to the 'evening meetings' where there were teaching and speakers as well as worship. Was pretty cool to see that many people in a huuuuge tent singing and there for what they believe. We had coaching sessions late afternoon and after the evening meetings.

The Meeting Tent

As the week progressed and having chats with people from around camp and the site, it was great ot hear other perspectives from new and different people. One guy Ben, who was with a Group of Young People I was talking with into the early hours, after hearing my thoughts on the world and God, said "Maybe if you believe there's some power in what you call a Universal Spirit, it might be wise to invest a bit more time looking into it?".

Those words really stuck with me that night.

If you've not been to the Showground it's an awesome open space, and you really feel connected with the energies around you. I was feeling things so much more and Come Thursday I was quite open to the idea of God. During the day and coing into the meeting in the evening, was chatting and from what I'd seen during the week, of people and their actions, I was feeling like there were many missing the point of what I've learnt through my own research, what Jesus' teachings really are, of love, embodying, and living teachings, being THE example and guide for others.

All were 'united' in the tent, then when finished, back out to normal, sticking to their own friend circles, afraid to try new things, and boxing themselves into catagories. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this was everyone, and I am by no means perfect, but they were my thoughts, that's what I was meant to see. During coaching Thursday evening I felt energy pulsing and I let whatever was needing to be said out, some of the words I don't think were my own...

Come Friday I was feeling like, "what was I thinking yesterday", and feeling a bit silly about possibly believing in God, I mean "how could He and it all be real". Friday went on through coaching during the day, and went to the evening meeting. The Holy Spirit was 'introduced' to the tent and some weird old stuff was happening as people were getting touched and filled; people laughing, shaking, screaming and what have you. I'd never seen anything like that, really had a magic and mysterious quality to it all. I walked around and was remembering things I've heard during the week, that some are thrown in to the deep end and just have to believe, taking the first step to believe in something more than what you can see and feel at times, and having faith in that. My upbringing and teachings from the school and society had definatly made that hard!

Either way I thought I needed to give it a try, I prayed to a God I didn't know if I believed in or not for guidance to find him, somethign to help me believe. I then left the meeting.

I went up to the coaching area feeling lousy and confused, I asked if Kie, Danny and Tariq and co' could take the session that night. It was a free session for those who had been in to train during the week and to move. It isn't the type of session or training I work with and as such I didn't particularly want anything to do with it, if something happens it was my neck, so I sat in the corner and let things happen. It was selfish. I was really feeling whats the point of it all, and in turn asking if what I'd done that week actually helped anyone?

A guy came up looking for me, Ethan, he was in one of our classes during the week and being the last night, he wanted to come up and say thanks for the session, and that the things I were saying made a lot of sense and were helping him clarify his throughts of late, the things I were saying about movement and life, helped him and he wanted to say thank you.

Now, that was great enough, I felt better about coaching and I could have gone back out and helped, but it didn't stop there... He asked me "Are you a Christian", to which I replied with a brief laugh of confusion, "Not really, I don't know, I'm still figuring that out". He sat with me and we sat started talking and practically all the questions I had in my mind where being answered by what he was saying, which was frankly baffling. I asked a few questions as we went along but as we were talking I was in disbelief at yet another "life coincidence" cropping up, in particular when I asked for help and needed it.

After almost an hour of chatting I had to get some food and let some things sink in... And so there I was, with my own proof and experience of God in Action, of Jesus' love living through others and helping those in need those who open themselves up and ask for help and forgiveness.

That night was a long and great night. I spoke to people who I'd got to know through the week and they said they were praying for me, without a real sureness of why, they just felt they had to.

I've made the choice to give myself to Jesus. I realise the experiences over the past few years, in particular relation to Parkour and the community, has lead to a stage where I could let Jesus in, guided by God's wisdom and power to then and now. Since then, I've had some great people brought into my life and things are slowly piecing together to really work for others and do what we must do the change the world with love.

It may sound like a trivial event but so much has happened in life and I've now been pushed into believing, by God, to now live and live my life for His glory.

For those of you unsure of your faith or beliefs, Pray and mean it and answers will come, keep praying, keep loving and a whole new world will open up to you when it's right.

This posts been long enough, but the next one within the next week will be my message about Parkour, what I and others have been seeing, and what needs to be said and done so we can start changing the world, one step at a time.

Thnaks for reading people, love to all.

In the most unlikely of places: 28th April '09

2009-04-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Update:

Hey all again, well few things have changed, few things have happened and a few things to come so I thought I'd update this old blog of mine =].

Well since my last update, I had a long hard thing and decided to stay in the UK as opposed to going back to America to work this year. I have a lot going on here, such as my Youth Work Qualifications, The British Parkour Coaching Association, my local Parkour community and much I feel I want to be involved with within my community as a whole, so I am staying put.

I'm planning on getting away to Lisses sometime as well as continue to travel, meet and train with people around the UK.

I've starting doing more climbing of late as a continual challenge, but unfortunately, since March/April I've had a few problems within motivation and direction within life, for a while I just felt very, very lost, and, although generally I am an underlying 'happy', feeling a little low/depressed from not knowing what do do or what I'm doing, or even what I want to do. It was all very odd.

Blog Entry--- Anyways, with the need for direction, a series of unfortunate events gave me new eyes and direction. And so this blog is for those who are having or have momentary lapses in motivation. ---

Getting off the tube at Loughton, a woman tripped up a curb and hit her chin on the floor, she started bleeding a little, myself and two other men ran over to help and then a woman arrived saying she was a trainee paramedic and took over the situation. -

An hour or two later, I was helping out at a coaching session, and a freak slip resulted in a young man breaking his wrist. I was with him and was doing what I could until the ambulance and paramedics arrived.

A few hours later and on the way home from this, the realism of what we do struck me again, we cheat odds and do 'extraordinary' things when you really look at it, because we or should, be paying extreme and absolute attention to them, but sometimes it still isn't good enough, at any time; a lack of attention, a momentary lapse of faith, depleted belief or perhaps, 'an act of God', can flip us upside down and turn us away from where we were, by injury, obstacle or any other similar factor etc.

No matter how hard we try, train, or practice, these things CAN (or) MAY happen, although we reduce the likelihood of these be doing the above. I'd a big cycle of irony AND a good motivation to keep moving, keep learning, keep working hard to avoid what could happen. This is where the practicing Parkour religiously, ideal may stem from, the faith you must maintain in self in order to live effectively, safely and to do what you must do to better yourself, for the benefit of others.

So after having motivation issues and needing something to help me find direction and focus, this experience, seen as a lesson, helped me re-see the realism of what we do, and WHY we need to keep training, WHY things are never good enough, and WHAT I need to do currently.

On Wednesday, helping out at a different local workshop, and training a little bit afterwards til sunset, I visited a friend, left hers at 11ish to walk/jog home. I turned the corner and saw a man and a bike on the floor, I ran over and assessed the situation. The man was conscious, some possessions were over the floor and he was crawling and trying to get up. I aided him and he stumbled back down, I helped him out of the road and over to a wall to support him, and asked what happened, he said he hadn't been hit by a car or anything and didn't want an ambulance. By this time I smelt a fair bit of alcohol on his breath and proceeded cautiously; as he was a big guy and could have easily turned on me, fueled by alcohol. I collected his things, and handed him his bike, and when I was happy he was safe (as he could be for now) I started walking home, calling the police, to check on the guy as he had a cut on his head from the fall. They arrived as I was leaving the area and did whatever they needed to with him.

This week opened my eyes to the need for further knowledge in emergency aid and common factors that can and do affect people. My experiences have helped me realise I need to be prepared to help others, and so enrolling in some further emergency aid courses and doing further reading into these areas, would benefit me and in tern others, greatly.

I also need to be ready to defend myself if needs be, alongside my physical ability to move and overcome the challenges in movement and life. To be honest I 'knew' these things and did little with that knowledge. "Wisdom is doing" so we must work proactively toward the knowledge gained, when gained, to adapt, and grow mentally, spiritually and physically.

In Summary:
Pay attention, our experiences are there to learn from. Question and always ask what can be learnt from this. Could be coincidence and life itself, or, what seems to be a little more realistic at times, 'God' or the energy of the universe, guiding us and allowing us to work through life, and help acquire the knowledge we need to live, happy, wholesome lives.

26th February 2009 - What's going on.

2009-02-26T04:05:00.000-08:00

Moi...

Not a particularly substantial post intended here, merely to share some information and what I'm up to at the moment, to note it to myself, and for any followers of my blog.

So 2009's been pretty busy and great so far, I'm training loads in many different areas of life/Parkour, I'm also undergoing training, which will result in becoming a Qualified Youth Support Worker (Level 2), which will help out in general, very interesting course so far.

Pushing onwards will physical fitness, lot's of repetition, running, and challenges, feeling in really good shape. Had a little ankle niggling which I'm resting over the next few weeks to get it a bit more healed up.

The BPCA is progressing well, Coaching Assessment next week, of which hopefully they'll pass and we'll have some more BPCA Qualified Coaches.

I've been saving money to go towards flights back to the US, with the intention of heading back to my Summer Camp, Island Lake of which I can't wait, to back in the environment and back with my kids!

Writing, I'm currently doing a piece on Communication and Inforamtion within Parkour, which I'm loving to write, think about and develop, so, keep posted for a big old article :-)

I'm back wearing Feiyues, (The cheap fake ones), they are soooo comfy, and I'm bringing shoes down a notch to head back out training/running barefoot.

--Inspiration--

Few links to pieces that may benifit you from watching and continue growing and developing within life.

The Nature of Challenge - Parkour Documentay: Possibly the most accurate and beneificial explaination and documentation of Parkour.

Onii - Other Ways: A great Parkour video, some real effective and interesting ways of moving.

"Jangerary" - Teige's January training: Fast Effective movement.

Movnat: Erwan's progression on his training, closely akinned to Hebert's Natural Method.

"Law of Averages" - Chris Rowat's Blog/article: Little bit dramatised (imo) but a good read and something that should be considered within training.

"The Human Machine" - Video: An Awesome video about David Goggins, Ultra Marathon Runner

Parkour - The Nature Of Challenge (1/4)

2009-02-02T11:56:00.001-08:00

A true representation and explanation of Parkour and developing the spirit of the discipline, within.

Parkour, Free Running, Guidance, Progression, Safety.

2009-01-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, so this is gonna be a big old post I fear but I feel it needs to be said. Many of you may agree, may disagree, but, if your going to argue your points, please do so in a backed up fashion. I know I do not know all of the ins and out's of the foundations of the discipline, few do, but I feel I have an informed enough knowledge to write the below and voice my opinions on the matter.

(For the recored I use italics and "quotations" to mean, something others may call it, the words for the disciplines of expressions may be interchangable with other words [in your opinion], or for general understanding, i'm using them.)

So here goes....

The Thought

Today I Picked up Sebastien Foucan's "Free Running" Book, Find Your Way. It seems so odd now to be finding books in High Street Stores about the kind of things you do, when originally there was nothing but a few hard to find articles on the internet. The Cover, a rooftop skyline and a man jumping it, once again, in my opinion, doesn't seem an appropriate choice for promoting a safe development of the/his discipline, my mind jumped with assumptions on it's contents..... But.... It shouldn't have.

With a glance of the introduction he states his origins within the movement, his seperation from Parkour, in developing his own 'more expressive' means of movement and living. The words throughout this mostly pictoral book, do in fact, ring true to ideals I personally hold, even though I do not say I 'do freerunning'. His words are similar to what many practicitoners of "our kinds of movement" will say nowadays, who generally will steer clear of the "conflict" and arguements, and just doing what they personally believe they must, which I will agree is an honourble and justified cause.

However, as noble as the philosophy may be, I did not see any guidence within the training, strengthening, etc. Which is both good and bad. Hear me out.

"Free running" as a name, has been I feel, created and enforced more by general public and ignorance rather than by Foucan or it's practitioners, examples being, commonly known as "Parkour" or "that crazy roof jumping". Foucan and individuals came over and brought the movement to the general public with little guidance to those interested and wishing to teach. So A group formed, misinformed for the most part, who led others in that basically understood way. ((YES we have to start somewhere, I understand that and this is the point I'm getting to)).

We have a real opprtunity to be making a difference here, it's time for us to work harder on the understanding, on the communication, on the discussing, and then the DOING. "Wisdom is doing".

It is all very well saying, "whatever you want to call it, it doesn't matter it's the same thing", I do agree, we should do what we need to, But Parkour IS Parkour, [i]Free Running[/i], is [i]Free Running[/i], L'art du deplacement, is what it is. We can continue to go with the flow, let others take control of what it is we do, let our names/ disciplines sink into a big lyrical blur and just do what WE love, but, for how hard it was to start, how misinformed I was, how much I had to learn, how much I insisted I was right, when I first started (and of course still do). Surely, we owe it to what we believe and practice within, to promote, teach and spread the true word of what it is we do, what we spend hours, days, money and friendships on; to teach and preserve what is, so that we can continue "Parkour/movement", safely, so that others can learn safely, so we don't have councils banning something they are sure is right, because it's what they've learned and found out through the mass of misinformation.

The Book, promotes, moving and learning through movement, which is, I agree a VERY large foundation, and should definatly not be discouraged, it is essential for personal growth; nor should we create structured exercises "essential" for practicing Parkour etc. There is no one way, only following your discipline's ideals, through what you need to DO. For example, I say I practice Parkour and movement, I enjoy creating movement and movining in general, however I feel the morals of Parkour, training for usefulness, working safely, effectivly and efficiently, when getting from A to B and back are a "noble" and more effective means to move along. Aren't we all trying to get somewhere in life, not just in our physcial journeys?

Saftey as Participants grow in Numbers

For me to BE safe, and to move effectivly and efficiently in a given situation, I practice movement, falling in lines with the ideals of Parkour; in order to be safe I need to understand and develop body wisdom within unconventional positions and movements, so should they arise within my physcal life, I can act. And most importantly, I feel the morals of Parkour are a good way to live towards my life, practicing that which I need to do on a daily basis, thinking about saftey and usefulness to others.

Without our care or action, we will be stuck in a big and probably spiral of mass miscommunication. We must maintain the foundations of the movement, but also begin and incorperate the ideals of respect through movements, on a much larger scale, Parkour, tricking, Free running, karate, judo, or dancing. "Parkour", and our chosen fields of discipline, need to be nurtured and kept as they are, following the 'guidelines' placed by it's "creators", and nutured by those who have developed the understanding, the passion, respect and observation for safe progression of the discipline.

We are united through movement, through a passion for movement, but I fear that will amount to little should we not make an impact of teaching those who understand less.

So many now, "do" without a why or without an understanding of what they are doing. Again we can argue that's how we all began and look at us now, but they can do so much better with our guidence and inlfuence, helping them to learn and move and understand why. The names and their definitions are the why.

Too many move without understanding for the training required, so many people I see those who are not built correctly for what they do, I stand the same, I know I have LOTS of work to do, and a long way to go, I feel only a few can gain that insight alone and the majority will continue to move withought the understanding, teach without understanding, and give up when they feel they've "made it".

I feel the general message I'm trying to get accross is safety, I highly doubt anyone, wishes to be doing something deemed anti-social, dangerous, and banned from practice within the very places we bring alive through our communities, gatherings and trainings.

Obviously there are groups working towards maintaining this such as PKG and The BPCA, but we need to be doing what we can on a personal level, reaching out and doing what we can to help others see what they are missing, and guiding them onto the paths of our respective movements. Allowing them to progress faster (most importantly on the understanding), and so they can truly become the future of our respective disciplines.

http://www.parkourgenerations.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=379&p=2350#p2350

This was oposted on the above link and forum, to read replies, click above.

19th November '08 - Experience within Parkour

2008-11-19T02:51:00.000-08:00

"Experience within Parkour" [or other movement areas]

[[ This was taken from one of my "journal" type books where I write down realisations within Training and life to them be written up and worked on for my blog/hopefully a book of sorts in the near future, I've reblogged this as it was added to the end of an old blog and difficult to find, so, for reference and easy viewing I've re-added it here.]] ENJOY

Experience is important and starts from birth, and is a process of life, learning from what is around us, and inside us, through conscious and subconscious thought, and through the natural process of the mind, remembering and creating memories of lived experiences.

Through conscious thought and effort we can understand these experiences, and use them to benefit us on many different levels; spiritually, morally, practically and on other aspects of training within ones' life.

Parkour and life adopts these principles as a part of everyday life, using these experiences within our lives as lessons, in which we can learn and grow from, bettering ourselves and moving onwards 'up the mountain path' (I love the mountain analogy if you didn't notice :-p).

In specific relation to Parkour, experience plays a large role on the conscious and subconscious actions we have, are, and may take while practicing and moving. For example, a new arm jump situation to you, roughly a 6ft gap, and standing at the edge of the wall take off, the landing ledge comes up to around chest height.--The Arm jump movement is within your ability. How do you know this? (Obviously, if at that ability currently).

Past experiences flash into our minds, thinking of Arm Jumps previously practiced or seen, many at first are in our mind from our (hopefully) vast experience practicing, then our minds eliminate those which do not match the criteria, of distance and height, or perhaps making the whole environment up in our minds.- Past experience allows us to make calculated decisions based on past decisions, choices, events, and their outcomes, whether they were productive or unproductive, or; of course, the shades of grey in between those two factors.

Again, using the example of the above described Arm Jump. This may have been practiced 2 minutes, 2 weeks or 2 years ago, in [insert location here]. When practicing the movement we take conscious and subconscious information about the movement, both small and large lessons being learnt singularly or at the same time, this could include, as an example, how the [landing] wall looked and felt, how the shoe type you are wearing (if any) reacted, did it slip, grip too much?, what kind of strain the size of the Arm Jump put on your arms and body.... The list goes on...

The important lesson to take from this is understanding and focusing your attention on certain areas of the movement in order to take in as much detailed information through the whole movement, feeling through all senses and taking in as much useful information as possible to make a more informed; safe, and effective decisions on future practices, and disregarding the information which, in all probability, will not make a difference to your movement. Of course, to be aware is a vital skill when practicing in the uncontrollable world around us. Yes, the bird sitting nearby could fly up and get in your way while executing a movement, so be aware and ready if that should happen, but the woman 50 meters away watching you, smoking a cigarette during her lunch break, with blonde hair and pink shoes etc; probably won't make that much difference in the movement which may happen in only a few moments.

Use selective attention to enable what you should be aware of and what can be put aside in your field of awareness (this is discussed in the Process of movement in an earlier blog [LINK HERE]).

As someone who aims to be useful, what we take in should enrich and benefit us, leading to future benefits and progression. Different amounts of focus and areas of attention should be employed for whatever areas you personally wish to improve and learn on, maybe landings, take offs, or any vast variables of the movement or within life.For beginners you should repeat many times and take in as much information as possible, with time and practice you can eliminate areas you find not to be useful in your individual training. All of this contributes to aid possible future situations and movements.A Warning: Please Bear in mind that although past experience CAN be a valuable tool in your training, do not solely rely on it. To do so is complacent and may lead to serious injury or a poor decision in life.

In Summary:

Use the movements in everyday life to learn from and grow from, whether it be walking up the stairs, or making a new precision jump. The information we can consciously take in, through selective attention, and subconsciously attain through the senses, and kineasthesis, can and will naturally be used to judge and react to future situations through practice and life. With conscious thought on these natural processes, we can make great leaps forward (no pun intended) in the areas or sensitivity, mental, physical and spatial awareness, posture and general understanding of who we are and what the important factors around us are, to incorporate and improve on to make us better people, Traceurs or whatever you call yourself.

8th of November 2008 - The underlying practice.

2008-11-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

Below is a post I posted on Parkour Generation's forums, however, I wanted to share it with my friend's and to all who are wanting to better themselves in life. Reading it I hope you realise it's simplicity but truth and can use it to open your eyes to knowing yourself, and lviing life more effectivly and fully. It touches on points raised before, but I feel this post was written more conssicely and has batter carry through to all, as oposed to those who practice sports and Parkour:

---

Movement is essential for life, our hearts move and pump by their nature in order to displace blood to our muscles and enable a larger movement.

My goals change with realisations I encounter in life and it's practice; so, this in an ongoing "statement" or whatever you'd like to call it.

I practice to be strong and useful in order to be able to act and help others when in need. I believe in practicing all aspects of life in order to gain a better understanding of self to better help and relate my experiences to others to benefit them within their lives should they desire my help.Without a good personal understanding of ability, knowledge and experience, I feel you can help people only on a minimal level.

"Time" - We will never get any time we 'spend' back, nor can we predict the future. Sure we can make realistic assumptions based on current situations and using the experience we have gathered to make an realistic guess. However, we do not know for sure and that fact should always be remembered. No matter how many times we practice that cat pass and climb up on that same wall, no matter how many times we ask a stranger for a time or go to sleep.

NEVER will these event/situations be the same.

Every moment is unique and so, we should be paying attention to all aspects of the moment in hand, if we open out awareness up to the NOW, understanding how you can be using that time constructivly and living it as safely, effectivly and efficiently as possible, then you are LIVING, in my opinion. Here and Now.

I aim to practice everything I need to do in life, whether it be vault a rail to get to work, or spend my time "socialising", it is all practice.We each have to ask and answer, our own individual "Why?"-questions to gain a decent understaning of where we are, who we are, and what we wish to do.

In relation to Parkour and movement, I understand, the Potential importance of Parkours movements, to run, hunt chase, and help; but in essence.. how often will these skills be used and employed for a real need? True we do not know, but in my life, I feel it more important to practice the things, currently I am needing to be able to do to progress in everyday life; As a Youth Worker, it's important for me to recall my experiences and apply them to things Young people are going through to benefit them, through that I also need to make sure my body language is open and firendly, coupled with being able to talk concisely and efficiently.

Regarding sport specific practice, for an athlete who's JOB it is to be better at their practice they shoud, but for Traceurs, to LIVE effectivly, surely we should practice life, to get better at it?

Find what you need to do, and practice it, get better everyday.... to which I recall Martin Lauther King Jr's great quote,

"If a man is to be called a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry, He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."

I practice Parkour within my life, and I practice life with the morals of Parkour in mind, Safety, effectiveness, effeciency, to devote my time to others, as to me, that's the most amazing thing you can do with your life, and with the time you will never reclaim.Brad

24th October '08 - Changing Winds.

2008-10-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back home and back into my old job and old routines... well, some. :-)

Coming back home to an old lifestyle is dificult when you've been spending months adapting to a new one in a different country, with different people, different cultures, different locations. I was happy to be back and seeing people I missed but it was hard getting back into the swing of 'training', as free time was allocated to other things and getting settled. Only over the past week have I been getting out, but I've been questioning what I'm doing both 'out training' and training in life; and so, this blog is a little bit about that and how our mentalities and relationships to training differs.

I was out training with Oli on Friday, I'd been out a few times before hand with numerous people getting back to grips with my terrain and movement training within it. Friday however was a real conundrum, before I went out with Oli, I was training solo; I went out to regular spots, had a fun little play and gentle movement warm up, working on movements in some spaces that I'd not thought of or practiced before, but still unable to gain a decent level of awareness, noticing I'm more conscious of those around me and how they are perceiving what I'm doing, which was very unusual. I dis care in the past and had other in mind at all times, but now I was worried what they thought Even though I was doing nothing wrong. Maybe it was a matter of not training alone much recently, maybe it's being back in a country that is more opinionated and vocal about it... I'm unsure, however my feelings are an uncertainty in what I'm doing and the areas I'm training, but movements, ideals and locations.

I was planning to go back to Rochford from Southend in order to work there and get used to training 'at home' before venturing to Southend, but Oli called and we met up and started training down by the seafront.

(I'm aware there's a lot of "I"'s in this part, please bear with me, we're getting there!)

We were talking about our training and "Parkour" as a practice, Oli mentioned he feels he's learnt more beneficial things in Judo than Parkour, I disagreed on my training and the time I've spent in Parkour has been the most beneficial guide in my life and I truly believe I'd be in a dark place without it. My movements, and ideals for training has changed an awful lot this year, from setting challenges such as cold showers, no meat, no eating, and things, I was asking the question how have these things truly benefitted me? What have I learned? I HAVE indeed learnt things, but the process is in vain when I change my diet, but the rest of it is lacking.... lack of concentration or awareness to catch myself while doing it. However I feel that time has changed.

Further on, we were talking about books and nutrition, areas that we needed to discuss and figure out, so I'm going to list the key points and rules I've laid down for myself and my training that I feel are important to my well being and development in life, working with Parkour and practicing functional movement within my own personal practices.

1. Fixing the excuses.

I've noticed in life, we all make excuses for all sorts of things in life, not doing homework, not tidying up after ourselves, not training today, not going that extra yard, not putting in that extra little bit of training, having a break and eating that chocolate bar... But what good are they? If you really want to better yourself or do something, just do it, know the actions and consequences but do what you need to be doing. In (parkour) training I notice myself making up excuses, I'm too tired, not today, I want to act and become a master of action rather than words, and to do that, put your words and mind aside and do what needs to be done. Last night out training with Mike and Ant, I was working on the sitting bar, drop-back leg swing, hands to bar (the last thing on my new york video), first of all I didn't want to becuase it was scary, but I know I can, so I did, in the setting sun, made a few mistakes but got up and practiced what I needed to. Our excuses are no good and I finally see that lesson from my reading and now, own life experiences.

There's always the but it seems, I now aim to see why, see it, and then fix it.

2. Diet and Nutrition.

Okay, March this year I decided to stop eating meat, I realised I've never been through a period in my life where I've not eaten meat so I stopped, my diet around that definatly improved and all so from reading my body type is more acustomed to vegetenarianism, I still eat fish on occasion, not regularly though. Point being although diet had improved, it still wasn't good enough... If I can take meat away surely I can cut out the rest of the non beneficial foods and keep eating natural foods, and only that which will benefit me. Eat what I need, eat small amounts regulalry through the day, eat only that which will benefit my body, for growth, repair, and sustaining energy.

3. Areas of Training.

I am looking into 'simple' natural and practical ways of testing my body, mind and spirit, in the eonvironemnts, I've done this in the past with fasting, cold water, etc, but I'm going to continue this at a regular occurance with things like swimming in the sea regulalrly over winter,d ealing with cold water and practicing swimming, only my own means of transport (foot or bike) and as of 2009, I am beginning my "Year of Barefoot". I spent a fair bit of time being barefoot and I noticed a lack in knee/ankle problems, along with greater jumping, sensitivity (OBV). I've got a slackline on the way which I'll be exercising on and conditioning my legs and hopefully the balance training will generally lead to great sensitivity and balance. I'll also be continuing decent, varied and difficult exercises strengthening upper and lower body along with my will through cardio in both running and swimming (When I can get in the sea with all the tattoos I keep adding).

The Past few days has opened up my awareness and I'm catching myself as my actions and movements and actions are becoming too routine and controlled by instinct rather than within my control, in the choices I make and how I relate to the changing world around me, I'm working on keeping this through fully immersing myself in continual progression in my behaviours and actions.

A reminder, again from the one book which has made the biggest difference in my life "WISDOM IS DOING"

So yeah really, again this blog took ages to write, been busy with the British Parkour Coaching Association had a meeting in Crawley and got some really excited stuff sorted with Jason Matten, Liv Rowlands and David Sedgley, including a real first in the community which will be on the way early 2009!

Having read Eliot's and jin's blog posts, found (HERE FOR JIN'S) and (HERE FOR ELIOT'S) and it seems to me that we are going through one and the same thing, it's really interesting, that although we keep in moderate contact, go our own ways, do our own training in our personal areas, we are all one and the same and generally united through beliefs and mentalities.

Next post, I'll try to include some more of my writings about Parkour and my takes on training, and hopefully I'll be able to get it written and posted in one day not a week or two!

Happy training, and yes Jin, we do need to meet up! Always welcome to stay down here.

August 26th 08': Flying Forward

2008-08-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

Well it HAS been a while since I've posted anything, and I feel it's for a valid reason, practically no Internet access and working my ass off at camp! So yeah, gonna post up my thoughts, history and realisations over the past few months.

Island Lake Sports and Arts Camp 2008

So, the time came around after working hard in the UK, for just over a month, working every single day doing 3 different jobs in order to make sure I had enough money to pay for fees and travel America, June 12th 2008 came around and it was time to fly to JFK Airport in New York City and start almost 3 months of a new job, experience, and opportunity to learn. June 13th I arrived at camp to some who had been before, some newbies and some who arrived the same day as me.

Generally the whole story of camp is a long one, best explained within the pictures I've collected as the days have gone by, you can see these photos here:

Counselor Orientation

Island Lake 2008 Folder 1

Island Lake 2008 Folder 2

Island Lake 2008 Folder 3

I would like to say thanks to all of my friends from camp, as well a Doug, Kim, Nate and Darren from Circus for helping me learn so much and to the kids for making me laugh even when I was down on a rare occasion. The camp truly had an amazing atmosphere about it, it was said at the start of camp and I truly felt it at the end. Saying goodbye to the friends I had made and spent so many good times was very hard and I could not hold back my tears as we said goodbye. Thank you for everything! See you again next year!

Realisations at Camp; Parkour, Circus, Movement and Life.

Well, at camp I was fully immersed within the Circus environment. Parkour and the movements that contribute to the practice, were still practiced and used on occasion, but I felt it important to work on the areas of movement I needed to develop for work and to teach others while at camp. I worked with focus on Flying Trapeze, Catching, Russian swing, Teeter Board, Quartet and Mini Tramp as well as pulling safety lines for all those which need them.

Parkour as I practice it at home wasn't applicable to camp life due to the sheer amount of work with the department and campers. So I learnt many BRAND NEW things and I have no doubt in my mind that the Parkour and years of training I've put in have helped me learn these movements much quicker through understanding of my body and abilities.

While at camp I've been reading "Body Mind Mastery" by Dan Millman, which is a spiritual/sports psychology book, discussing life and sport, coupled with "Eat Right For Your Type" by Dr Peter J. D'Adamo. While practicing circus and movement, along with (since February) my non meat trainings, many of the realisations I was experiencing were being reiterated within the books.

In body and movement terms, lessons included:

Stages of practice and learning while learning new areas of movement;

Realisations of improvement and demanding higher performance from self

Confidence and faith within my individual abilities

The importance and beauty in increased flexibility

In diet:

Our body is it's own teacher, and Will naturally choose what it needs if you listen to the natural urges.

Taking what's natural and as much as possible, untouched by chemicals, additives etc.

Things that you'd think are good for you, may not be in relation to blood type and how your body reacts to parts within the foods.

(Regarding diet and blood type, it is something I will be trying out and I will post more about it in a few months once it has been followed strictly and update you on my process).

Camp also allowed me to develop the area of life I feel that needs the most of my attention, service to others. Camp is a difficult environment to work in, when you are at camp, generally you are always on duty, rest is minimal apart from on a day off, however the work I've been doing before camp has definatly helped me push through the tiredness, problems, difficulties faced when putting others before yourself. Yes there were times when I didn't want to do things, but that's the time you need to work harder through it. It's the same in our training within Parkour, should we feel tired and achy, train as much as you can, as the days you are feeling better and happier you're going to enjoy it more and have improved from the "off day".

Camp has helped me see many strengths, and many weaknesses to improve on, Traceurs and those who wish to gain a better understanding about themselves and what they can do to improve themselves and possibly work harder than they've ever worked before, check out doing a summer camp.

Also at camp I managed to get Parkour to be taught by myself. I had a good and large group of young people who enjoyed working hard for the 2nd Session, working on conditioning, and gradually a few vaults. 3rd Session was a smaller but generally older group, we worked on running first, and creating an understanding of the body through 'warming up' and fun challenges to test themselves, which involved a dodgeball game variation. I'm beginning to ask more questions on my methods for training the body in relation to Parkour, I mean the movements are important, but as has been said before, the 'being chased' scenario is, in fact, rare, and currently I'm creating the conclusion that learning more about yourself is paramount, learning in a fun, challenging, and active way, building things up VERY slowly and allowing the room for personal, albeit supervised and guided, development. Of course before, my thoughts being solely for Parkour, conditioning and understanding before movement but this is slightly different, the Parkour 'techniques' Incorporated within a broader range of skills.

Post Camp Travelling: NEW YORK CITY.

Wednesday 20th August, saw my arrival to New York City from camp. First night I was staying with Alec and his family in his apartment. BIG THANKS TO YOU ALL. Next day I was training with the local New York Parkour practitioners. It was a great day in both weather and training and thanks to everyone for coming. That evening I got all my bags taken down to Jamaica in queens where I would spend a week training and living with Mike (pyro). We had a great day in Long Island, training with more locals as well as numerous times in NYC and with varying people and numerous locations.

Personally, this week has been a chance to get used to 'civilization' and getting into a more regualr pattern in regards to training, as at camp it was haphazard and many outside factors affecting my training. I'm now beginning to get my head around what areas need real improvement, all of which are about balancing my body. Now it's just a matter of motivation and carrying through on this difficult and frankly, 'make or break' part of my training in life. Let's see how it goes. Last day of training in NY tomorrow and it's far too late! time to sleep!

Til next time! Safe journeys

Brad

25th May '08: "Brad In a Box."

2008-05-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Had to write a statement for the www.tracehq.com overhaul which will be up and live VERY shortly, I've had many people asking where I;m from and how long I've been practicing so here's a very short version of my Parkour journey.

"The beginning on my journey through Parkour nd movement began in early 2005 where after watching Jump Britain, was convinced to work on Parkour a little more thoroughly, from a background of skateboarding. I loved skateboarding but found myself being very aggressive while practicing, Parkour gave me peace and a competition free 'arena' to move within. I thought Parkour was about jumping and doing big things, and for around a year and a half I continued in this way, training semi regularly and just doing things for the sake of doing them. After the beginning of meeting people who had been training for longer I realised the importance of physical training and acquiring and surpassing the strength for the movements I was working on, and so physical conditioning and new training methods were Incorporated.

I say I started and discovered Parkour Late 2006, Training around London on my own and movement took a hold of me, everything I was doing flowed and difficult and 'unconventional' movements felt normal and flowed through me. So from Around Nov 2006 I say I started practicing Parkour. Through this acquired albeit limited understanding of movement and training, I searched for methods and guidance for living more constructively through life. Through reading and training physically I developed a mentality of training through everything, be it walking, sitting or interacting with others. We can all learn so much from the adversity in our lives, and opening our awareness enables us to do this. So my thoughts are life and 'Parkour' are interchangeable, I live by learning, to better myself so I can better help other people. The time we have is precious and we will never get another second back, nor will we relive any moment exactly the same, so to spend our time on helping others is the most amazing thing we can do with our time and lives."

Anyways, only a short update as I;'ve been and still am pretty busy, working my ass off for America of which I leave to in about...... 18 days now! CANNOT WAIT! For those who do not know, heading to Island Lake Sports and Arts Camp to teach Parkour and learn/work on the circus program! I;ve been working 3 part time jobs in order to get cash for the trip and possible travelling and living afterwards for a month.

Anyways gonna leave it as that. Will try to write something up before I go away!

Happy training enjoy your summer!

Bradley

11th April: Another perspective.

2008-04-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

After a few weeks break from intensive training, I got moving again and working hard around Rochford and Southend, going with the movement and concentrating on climbing, and alternative movements for given situations to learn more about moving through/in an environment.

On Wednesday 2nd April I headed off down to Maidstone in Kent to stay and train with John Bartlett ('Serious'). Just got back today. I spent the week learning more about diet and foods, along with basic yoga methods towards stretching.

Waking up at a good time in the morning and stretching for 30-60 minutes. Over the past days I've already seen a good improvement and areas that need improving so I shall continue to stretch with what I have learnt and practiced. Also, on the nutrition front, John seems to know his stuff, he had me drinking spinach, broccoli and carrot smoothies, as I and most people in general don;t eat enough vegetables. I really struggled the first time around but, by yesterday and today, it was getting a lot easier.

Polyjuice Potion :-p

Again, it's funny how we adapt through our practices.

The training: Well John lives on the edge of a VERY big park, Mote Park, which is full of Trees, an AWESOME kids park, and plenty of rails for balancing and moving on. One of the highlights however has to be, the affectionately named, "Awesome Tree". It's huge and with so many prospects. In general I have issues with working above ground so I used the opportunity to train in a more "off ground" scenario, working with large laches, swinging laches to precisions, along with balancing and movement in an unstable setting.

Once strength and a good technical ability are obtains through years worth of smaller training, I believe the mind is often neglected, fears hinder our progression and psychological processes slow down our progression through Parkour. However, with the correct attitude and applications of training we can overcome them as we overcome the walls, ledges and gaps around us physically. Having faith in our ability when you are ready to do so is a gift beyond all others, and allows greater freedom through movement and within life. So after a few solid hours, I was moving through the tree quite easily (in my opinion) and doing things I've not even tried before in my normal environments let alone in trees.

We also spent a fair amount of time at the play park where there was a disused swing set, and it was the most amount of fun I've had in a very long time on such a simple structure.

Working on gapped jumps to the "uprights", swinging, spinning, hanging, balancing, to set positions on both the floor and the set, there's SO much to do in such a basic area as this. Two killer days with John, Kevin, and Alex, made my shoulders and Delts Die!!

Myself and John discussed an awful lot about Parkour and training methods which I wont go into as you had to be there really, but I believe for our intellectual development, we should allocate time to discuss our beliefs and reasons for training and again asking the question. WHY?

Below is a little form some of my writings on Parkour.

What really matters...
Parkour as a discipline.

To those who try to live by Parkour. We devote the way we live to effective movement, helping other people, physical training, problem solving, mental training (in terms of state of mind and constant conscious thought of bettering ourselves through progressive conscious decisions), and to enjoy these principles as much as possible.

Parkour or the art I practice, seems to be a continually growing mountain, with areas you can rest or take shelter if you desire, but the individuals mentality should push us onwards and remind us not to rest and stay still for too long.

Taking the Way of Action is vital.

As far as I can tell from my training and life through parkour/movement so far, there is no summit or peak to reach, no final destination.

Does this matter? Do we need a final destination or goal? I feel my goal in life is to be happy. Happiness is all any of us should be aiming for, practicing what makes us happy. How great does it feel when you've created something new, tried something new, or succeeded in something you previously thought wasn't possible? I find amazement, bliss and happiness form progressing and learning through life, learning our way up the mountain path.

Have a direction and general heading, leading towards achieving your goals progressively, leading onwards to a higher please towards happiness, and fulfilling the challenges you set yourself to achieve.

To Feel complete, to feel that we have reached the best we can be is to stagnate, and spiritually to die, we can ALWAYS learn, and always create, and as Traceurs or people who strive on the challenges around us, we must continue to head upward and onwards within the mountain of life.

People are different, as mentioned in earlier posts, your goals may be different to mine and with respect, others who do not share mine, yours our our goals, may believe Money and material possessions are more important and may be the focus of their journey. We should try to teach and help others see our way, but some people will not see as you or I see, and so we must respect their decisions and choices and remain hopeful, that one day, they will say, "I understand what you were talking about now". As David Belle stated at the end of his request to Traceurs at the end of Duncans', Lisses and Parkour documentary "Pilgimage". (Thanks to Duncan for his reiteration of David's words and these remain property of him).

"Teach these people,

If you understand Parkour - then pass that knowledge on to others - to children, to friends, to those whose knowledge is twisted or incomplete. If you are uncertain then open your eyes and ears and learn.

There is only one Parkour and it is the method that was passed to David by his father - all other disciplines are to be respected, but they are OTHER disciplines, yet the true parkour is out there. It is known and the number of people who understand it is growing."

"If you Wish to help - if you are a true Traceur at heart - then you will not simply run forward alone, but you will reach back and help another forward with you."

For me, in this passage, the word Parkour can easily be interchanged with "life", and I believe if we all took this stance on life, a stance and outlook which is prevalent with the serious parkour community, our world will truly be a better place.

Brad

18th March 2008: Why control our movements?

2008-03-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

This is continued from the posted version so still worth reading if you have on Jam!!

For those that have not seen the thread or read worldwidejam.tv Parkour Forums.

Link to the thread HERE

This was posted:

"well ive just been thinking about this and if parkour is used to escape then would be point in stopping still on a object you just jumped to? i always try and stick precisions/jumps lols but i just wonder whats point. Yes i no precision is jumping to a specific place before someone says ."

To which I replied....

"You are absolutely right.....

However it is completely dependant on YOUR personal situation and motivation for training.

If you are practicing Parkour purely to escape then don't practice them if you so wish. However, what if you had to cat pass to a point and then had to double back.... think of the IMAX Cat pass precision, you need to control and "stick" that precision or fall several metres onto stairs....

I practice Parkour to know myself so I can help others. I believe, because of how changing the world can be, and situations within it, that can occur, one should be incredibly able in all, or as many realistic situations as possible. For my training and passion for movement, I believe it is important to continue movement as well as CONTROL them. Why?

In the world around us, we are VERY regulated.... we are controlled in our diets as we can only eat what a shop stocks, we are told to walk and not run, we are regulated on the underground by escalators, dictating the speed in which we should move, we are regulated by our desires for money to clock in and out at work, and by our conditioning to buy things, we quite possibly and (probably) do not need;... and almost everyone abides.

In this world of control it is incredibly difficult to TRULY BE YOURSELF, there are things however, that I can control... my diet, how often I eat, how I shower, what I do with my time (for the most part), and of course, how I CHOOSE to move. I wish to have a great deal of control over my body, that is my passion and quest, and that is what I train for in life. Without OUR control we lose who we are, and who we could be."

The world is a very scary place in that respect, as TESCO globalises the UK, were' becoming even more so captivated to our options, yet nature still provides all we need to survive. Many people believe 'food' is only substances compacted into a burger or sausage, or bought from a shop....

I wander off to a place where there are pine trees locally, I take some pines and wash them lightly, boil them up for 10 minutes and drink the tea left behind. ( http://www.textfiles.com/survival/pinesoup.txt )

We truly don't need half of the things we own and I believe we can be an awful lot richer but losing some of our money and options in life, BY CHOICE. If we choose simpler ways, chose to avoid things, or what have you. Systematic under eating, regular fasting, training what YOU need to do to be fast and efficient in life. Yes we should be able, but to the extent of wrecking our bodies or practicing things we will never use?

There's a period of time, I believe those who search form something more form a practice, be it Parkour, Judo, cooking, birdwatching.... whatever, there is a period where you need to search inside yourself and find the why, and develop yourself fully as a true human being, as free as you can be, as powerful as you can by allowing yourself to truly make the choices you need to in life.

I've decided not to eat meat, which I have succeeded in for the past month plus, in the past I have had only cold water to wash and use... these simpler challenges we can create for ourselves allows us to search for who we are, who we want to be and what we need to do to get to where we want to be. I believe this at least...

Conditioning for example, many do not enjoy it because it is difficult, possibly painful, etc etc; but doing those things, will make them stronger and more able to move through increased strength. Compared to just moving and training through that, you, almost likely, will develop muscular imbalances which can lead to injuries.

This is an incredibly personal subject for sure and I'm not saying everyone has to aggree with me, or agree with you, there ARE shades of grey, life isnt black and white.

I'm just trying to see your takes on working and training all aspects, in order to develop yourself as a person, as a human being, as a Traceur, or whatever you wisht o call yourself if it matters to you.

For example, eating is something I do a lot of, I think most traceur does, however, I've decided not to eat for at least one day, because it is difficult, because it is unknown territory, on top of detoxifying my body, testing my will and determaination.

Currently I will not be eating for at least one day. I have not gone without food by choice before, and frankly it's hard for me, however, my diet has been far from what it should be, so I shall not eat, to allow myself to understand going without food for a day or two is not that big a deal and hopefully afterwards, it allows me to understand I do not need to eat as much as I have been, and perhaps my body will seek out what it truly needs.

If we chose to purely do the simple, easy and comfortable things in life, we restrict our development and opportunities of learning new things.

I would not encourage anyone to fast without doing some necessary reading and research first!.

Sometimes, the simplest of things, require the biggest effort and truly tests our skill and courage.

Here's to an unknown place!!

Brad

3rd March 2008: Variance

2008-03-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

Haha, I was going to post "A new start" or something but it seems there are so many "fresh starts" within people's training as one develops within Parkour, perhaps a change of direction is a better way of putting it.

I've had a week out of any movement training, been out skateboarding etc for a sort of break. Went out for a few hours today experimenting with some light movement and it felt great. To move in a play for again. The big old London gathering which happened not long ago was great to see and gave me an opportunity to help some others in thinking differently towards their movements and training.
[ Picture above, the Big London Gathering 17/2/2008 ]

Few weeks prior to that I'd been working for a on thinking and working on more practical movement. Lots of climbing and finger work a long with making movements more awkward, or rather working on movements/areas of the body which arent used much, the hips, ass back of knees, shins, sides etc. We will not always have the opportunity in life, or the luxury to be on our feet, facing forwards at an obstacle, have our eyes open, have our breathing slow and controlled.

Again as was said before, finding whats uncomfortable and making it comfortable. The movements I were playing with today weren't so much as difficult or uncomfortable, just neglected, and thats how it all feeling in general now, things are starting to come within my stride so to speak, just negelected or not tried before. Once you develop and FIND how to use and train movement in all/any forms, be it skateboarding, Juggling, Acrobatics, Parkour etc, the thought processes carry over deeply and influence all form of movement, by analysing the movements, understanding your body's requirements for the given movement, and using your training to then make the movement a reality. Below are some very small clips of a few movements, again these aren't about showing the extent of an ability merely using spaces practically for situational training.

As I've been saying to a few people recently, Parkour is not about perfection, we won't always have the luxury of being on our feet, vary you're training for what YOU (personally) train for, maybe concentrate on staying low, move effectively sitting, sliding, blind (Kie), all things we can do to benefit ourselves (within moderation) and benefit our relationship to the environment around us and how react to the obstacles in our daily life.

look up Luke Sims' Movement vid (sliding) and Kie's Blind Training Video, or any of my vids with movement tags.

Clips from today.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cWLG-916PN8 - Rolling variations.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=S1Z5qsefCtQ - Keeping low.

happy training,

Brad

5th Febuary: My thoughts and my story.

2008-02-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

Posted this on .net after Elliots awesome post found here

I'd urge you to read Elliots post, to anyone who takes what they do seriously and wishes to open themselves up to that in life/Parkour/(insert what you live by here).

I know it's a long post, sorry, but I feel it's the most important I've written in general and personally for my reflection also.
____

Hey Elliot, awesome vid man, great to see.

I agree with most of what you say. My story is fairly alike in views.

I've seen a lot of transformations due to what I call Parkour (again using life and parkour interchangably at times).

The first two years were me jumping around having fun, getting better at things I thought were important because I felt for some reason it was just important to get better, I practiced for fun soley.

A year and ten or so month later I was in London with a few people, when they had to go and I was alone in London, not feeling particularly great or 'up for' 'training'. I went ot the Play Park at Jubliee Gardens, working with a few movements playing, learning, moving, and without realising it, the movements were just happening, I was moving without thinking, feeling my way through the movement and moments. I stopped; breathing heavily and and feeling alive.

I say that from those moments I started practicing Parkour, a few months after, learning how others trained physically, and other's perspective's of training and movement, my physcial training increased in intensity and type, seeing the importance of being physcially strong to exist in life, and to continue to exist in longtivity in something I love. I felt Parkour was important to BE strong, to help others, to be able in any situation, working on movements to cope for hypothetical situations, what if I needed to double back, what if it's raining, the movements and bettering them were the be all and end all.

The almost a year ago (I feels like a lot closer, this year has gone SOOOO VERY QUICKLY!). I started reading, bit and pieces, and something clicked, my eyes were opened to more. It's hard to explina, but things started to be put into perspective, learning that LIFE is the true training ground, shifting perspectives for the better, recovering from an ankle injury it was opening my eyes up to the world, practicing "Parkour" was incredibly limiting and confining. I started to enjoy the world more, finding the happiness in everything around us. Months developed as did my view on things. Aiming to improve my diet, to live fully our world can provide what we need to survive in foods etc so why shouldnt we only or generally eating that which is given, that which we have survived and evolved on for thousands of years? Also analysing my movements and the reasons behind them, what's more effective, what good is this movement when my posture is poor afterwards. What good is me being able to run away in my hypothetical situation, or achieve that Cat pass precision , when I go home and argue etc.

I developed a wrist probelm around August last year, after a period of my handbalancing being the best it ever had been, I was doing work in Portugal came home and it got worse, couldn't put any pressure on it, no press ups, dips or handstands. You could get angry at this, upset, scared, whatever, the key is to allow our perspectives and our reactions to the given situations we are presented with, to change, to adapt, to overcome, to see the humour in the seemingly serious, to allow the changes to happen like the weather changes around us, and to trust in the process of life, somethings don't need explaining, I have faith the answers may or may not come on my journey or after death, but I have faith that whatever happens is a part of what is supposed to happen for my development. My wrist injury allowed me to take a step back, there may well come a time when I cannot practice 'Parkour', when I cannot physcially move as I wish, I hope I can til the day I die, but it could happen. My training shifted to a new ground, "finding whats comfortable and making it uncomfortable". Only cold baths and showers, saying yes to things I would usually say no to, finding the challenges, lessons and teachings in life around me.

If you look through my blog, certain changes and lessons I've learnt are described in more detail, in particular my posts in January.
http://parkourbrad.blogspot.com/2008/01/4th-january-2008-3-years-of-practice.html ----4th Jan - 3 Years of 'Practice'
http://parkourbrad.blogspot.com/2008/01/7th-january-2008-mountain-path-of.html ----7th Jan - The Mountain Path of parkour
http://parkourbrad.blogspot.com/2008/01/26th-jan-small-step-can-make-big.html ----27th Jan - A Small step can make a big difference

Just something I've myself realised, I thought I wrote these three pieces AGES ago. Our time is precious, and as Elliot said you could stop 'Parkour' and do volunteer work and it would still be training, and help more people. The moments we live can never be replicated exaclty, every moment is unique, to lend our time to another is one of the highest thing you can do with your life, to serve and help others. There's a few developments possibly coming up that may allow me to write more on this subject, but life is your training ground.

Just talking to Luke on MSN,

Luke: "Reading won't help me"
Me: "Why"
Luke "Because reading and doing something scare, are different things"
Me: "Do you read much?"
Luke: "honestly. not really"
Me: "haha! heres my point and your FIRST lesson
'Does the scary thing' need to be Parkour? does it need to be a 'movement'? Reading books that can benefit you IS YOUR PRACTICE, it IS your scary thing....
we reject change and scary things because they are hard, why? because a period of discomfort is found when changing from one train of thought to another,
have the courage and faith to fight through that practice steadilty, and the change is there and a new part of you.
same in parkour, in life, in cooking, in talking...
Parkour is what you are currently using to make those changes with a set outcome and result....
it hit me and i wrote it one of my blogs
i made that cat pass precision ive been building up to for YEARS
once i did it, it didnt mean anything...
ive learnt HOW to overcome the fears in parkour, now i need to do so in life.
because my lifes muscles are weak.
what good is my cat pass when I eat poorly,
[b]what good am i being open to TRYING new movement, when I will not try to talk to a new person...[/b]

I'm going to leave it there, I know I've written much but those are my thoughts, I'm happy to try to help anyone who asks. Thanks for those who've taken the time to read it.

Take care all.

Brad
____

What we can do to help other people is a gift beyond all others.