This blog is embarrassing. Not only does it document my weaknesses for anyone (although currently no one but my mum who misses me) to read, there is also something disquietingly exhibitionist about it. Is it the right way to do things?*
Are you on the right path?! Another ultimate question!.... and its only day 3:.).
In general the actual question is often is there a quicker way to do things, or maybe is there a less painful way to do things or even is there a more appropriate, more beautiful, more intelligent way to do things. By things I mean anything; get over railing, give advice, pack up stuff to go to Italy, do tax return, realise your dreams.
But Parkour is about moving forwards, moving onwards, getting over obstacles in the most efficient and fluid way possible. The key thing being 'possible'. My current loud, clumsy and slightly theatrical personal style may not be efficient or fluid.
But its a hell of a lot more efficient than standing on the spot analysing the pro's and con's of various courses of action.
So I will stick with it, moving forward, the best way I know how.
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Stephane's 5 types of monkey walks warm up. (For Shi: I say Stephane because that what we sometimes do with him. I called it 5 types of monkey walk but I guess they are more accurately described as monkey walk forward and back, bunny hop forward and back, bunny hop straight arms and legs forward and back, sideways monkey straight legs and crab shuffle (hips up forward and back. Its over a set distance which is hard to visualise so I did between 2 trees that where 70 of my feet apart.)
20 min skip around Greenwich Park. (much better than running, less impact, raises more eyebrows)
45mins of round rail balancing. DONE
*'Things' more specifically meaning ensure I live up to the commitment to Parkour which I love by training hard, challenging myself everyday, achieving a level of skill and finding a way for it to occupy an increasingly proportion of my life in a fun way that documents and encourages my progress and that puts me outside of my comfort zone.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Dare me to do something, witnesses needed!!!
I realise that part of the point of yesterdays missive was to 'go public'. In which case I need witnesses ( in the form of readers!). So if you read the previous blog you could help out me out by posting a comment of acknowledgment, however brief.
Why should anyone care about my blog? I have no expectation that anyone should:.). My intention is to work on a Betham's Panopticon principle that the pressure of external surveillance will serve to discipline the subject internally which in my case means sticking to my training commitments, doing what I say and finishing what I start. All Parkour mantras that are easier said than done.
It might also be fun if someone could post a challenge that I must complete once I consent to it (and I must have a very good reason not to consent, no matter how off the wall it is). It doesn't have to be physical either.:.)
Todays training.
Aspect - Mental Weakness - Turn vaults.
Working on mental blocks is a key issue for me; understanding them, learning ways to deal with them and reducing the time it takes to overcome them. I was hesitant to say today I MUST TURN VAULT BOB THE RAILING. (Its necessary to name them to keep track) as I understood what it would take to do this as it was up to my tummy button. I freak at railings much lower so I left with the intention to do 3 turn vaults on a rail that scared me (with Bob in mind).
N.B dear readers this was not ever going to be a epic blog of death defying leaps... I am openly and easily terrified of physical challenges that other people would breeze over.
Nearly 3 hours later I returned back from the series of railing (Bob, slightly lower Betty and twin brother Billy and the smallest railing Bertie). It was quite a hideous 2 + hrs.
Here is an abbreviated version of what happened, and what I learnt.
Warm up, look at rail, "no way, no way, not possible" etc.
Psych self up for it.
Freak out, feel a invisible brick wall of improbability freezing you to the spot.
Get interrupted by dog walkers, pretend to stretch.
Get interrupted by cars passing, pretend to stretch.
Start getting angry. "Do it, do it do it" ...
Start swearing at Bob. Get interrupted by joggers. Pretend to be sane. Smile.
Tell yourself to stay focused. Count down from 10. Get to 1 and shout arrgggggggggh.
Drape self dejectedly over railing. Spot lichen. Start picking at lichen. Smile at family out for a walk.
Tell yourself to get serious. Think of what is at stake. Failure is not an option.
Try Betty instead. No better. Try Bertie. Immobilised. Swear.
Why can't you do it? whats wrong with you? you're useless.
Get moving, motion creates emotion, stillness is the fast track to nowhere.
Run jump, wriggle etc. Get a twig lay it on Bob so it hangs over the edge. If I jump and the twig breaks my legs aren't high enough so i won't make.
Get interrupted arranging twigs on a railing by a passing dog walker. My finest hour. You deserve to be judged, your behaviour is irrational and surely bruises or cuts are less trouble than this.
Jump.Twig snaps. I snap. Decide to give up, reach for my water bottle realise what this means.
Cry (yes really ). Crouch down and cry.
I'm not feeling Bob at all. Bob is a bitch. I can visualise Betty. 3 turn vaults each side on Betty or I'm not allowed to go home. I'm starving and need a wee.
Change your state. Don't beat yourself up. You are very good at that. An expert. You are also a drama queen. Don't cry hoping the world will take pity on you "poor me I'm suffering this is SOOOO harrrrddd". Get resourceful. Take a walk. Breath. Chill. Focus. Visualise it. Feel light. Walk like you had done it. Ask my body to take over as my mind is clearly out of its depth. Imagine enjoying it. Think of the buzz etc.
Return to Betty. Get that sinking feeling. Pull woolly hat over eyes rest head on railing. Listen to a bicycle passing. Listen to their silent judgement. Decide to stop caring about what people in passing cars or walking their dogs think. You are not that important. They probably don't notice or care. Don't use them as an excuse. It starts to rain. Don't use that as an excuse. Return to state. Stick with it. Remember you aren't going home until its done.
SUCCSESS. I kept returning to this process until it was done. It took another hour and the family that passed me one way came back the other way to see me in the exact same spot. But Betty was conquered.
WHAT I LEARNT.
Arguing with your doubts is a slippery slope. Don't even give them the time of day because they are persistent little F**kers.
What you focus on grows. Focus on your failure and things go downhill. Focus on the good stuff and things look up.
Eat more breakfast before mental training.
Mental training is about training your mind through positive repition. Not actually being mental.
OTHER TRAINING
30+ silent fluid step vaults on a railing on each side. Done.
Why should anyone care about my blog? I have no expectation that anyone should:.). My intention is to work on a Betham's Panopticon principle that the pressure of external surveillance will serve to discipline the subject internally which in my case means sticking to my training commitments, doing what I say and finishing what I start. All Parkour mantras that are easier said than done.
It might also be fun if someone could post a challenge that I must complete once I consent to it (and I must have a very good reason not to consent, no matter how off the wall it is). It doesn't have to be physical either.:.)
Todays training.
Aspect - Mental Weakness - Turn vaults.
Working on mental blocks is a key issue for me; understanding them, learning ways to deal with them and reducing the time it takes to overcome them. I was hesitant to say today I MUST TURN VAULT BOB THE RAILING. (Its necessary to name them to keep track) as I understood what it would take to do this as it was up to my tummy button. I freak at railings much lower so I left with the intention to do 3 turn vaults on a rail that scared me (with Bob in mind).
N.B dear readers this was not ever going to be a epic blog of death defying leaps... I am openly and easily terrified of physical challenges that other people would breeze over.
Nearly 3 hours later I returned back from the series of railing (Bob, slightly lower Betty and twin brother Billy and the smallest railing Bertie). It was quite a hideous 2 + hrs.
Here is an abbreviated version of what happened, and what I learnt.
Warm up, look at rail, "no way, no way, not possible" etc.
Psych self up for it.
Freak out, feel a invisible brick wall of improbability freezing you to the spot.
Get interrupted by dog walkers, pretend to stretch.
Get interrupted by cars passing, pretend to stretch.
Start getting angry. "Do it, do it do it" ...
Start swearing at Bob. Get interrupted by joggers. Pretend to be sane. Smile.
Tell yourself to stay focused. Count down from 10. Get to 1 and shout arrgggggggggh.
Drape self dejectedly over railing. Spot lichen. Start picking at lichen. Smile at family out for a walk.
Tell yourself to get serious. Think of what is at stake. Failure is not an option.
Try Betty instead. No better. Try Bertie. Immobilised. Swear.
Why can't you do it? whats wrong with you? you're useless.
Get moving, motion creates emotion, stillness is the fast track to nowhere.
Run jump, wriggle etc. Get a twig lay it on Bob so it hangs over the edge. If I jump and the twig breaks my legs aren't high enough so i won't make.
Get interrupted arranging twigs on a railing by a passing dog walker. My finest hour. You deserve to be judged, your behaviour is irrational and surely bruises or cuts are less trouble than this.
Jump.Twig snaps. I snap. Decide to give up, reach for my water bottle realise what this means.
Cry (yes really ). Crouch down and cry.
I'm not feeling Bob at all. Bob is a bitch. I can visualise Betty. 3 turn vaults each side on Betty or I'm not allowed to go home. I'm starving and need a wee.
Change your state. Don't beat yourself up. You are very good at that. An expert. You are also a drama queen. Don't cry hoping the world will take pity on you "poor me I'm suffering this is SOOOO harrrrddd". Get resourceful. Take a walk. Breath. Chill. Focus. Visualise it. Feel light. Walk like you had done it. Ask my body to take over as my mind is clearly out of its depth. Imagine enjoying it. Think of the buzz etc.
Return to Betty. Get that sinking feeling. Pull woolly hat over eyes rest head on railing. Listen to a bicycle passing. Listen to their silent judgement. Decide to stop caring about what people in passing cars or walking their dogs think. You are not that important. They probably don't notice or care. Don't use them as an excuse. It starts to rain. Don't use that as an excuse. Return to state. Stick with it. Remember you aren't going home until its done.
SUCCSESS. I kept returning to this process until it was done. It took another hour and the family that passed me one way came back the other way to see me in the exact same spot. But Betty was conquered.
WHAT I LEARNT.
Arguing with your doubts is a slippery slope. Don't even give them the time of day because they are persistent little F**kers.
What you focus on grows. Focus on your failure and things go downhill. Focus on the good stuff and things look up.
Eat more breakfast before mental training.
Mental training is about training your mind through positive repition. Not actually being mental.
OTHER TRAINING
30+ silent fluid step vaults on a railing on each side. Done.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
THE PURPOSE AND NATURE OF THIS BLOG. Making a Commitment: Marriage and Parkour
Parkour and everything Parkour related is an endless source of metaphors it seems.
Making leaps of faith, going with the flow, overcoming obstacles.......fair enough they sound like cliches but a life of cliches is the last thing Parkour training leads to. Having just come back from very lovely wedding of a very lovely friend and her very lovely now husband, the topic of life and where (on earth!) it is leading are forefront in my cakefilled being. After sleeping with the traditional piece of wedding cake under my pillow (which is supposed to make you dream of the man you are going to marry) I awoke to the realisation i had dreamt about; walls. To be clear, i'm not obsessed with getting married, far from it, but I am with dreams and the future. Dreams and my Parkour future.
Commitment to making a jump has been a key training issue for me. Finding a way to stick to a descision you have made and not try and turn back mid air has been difficult (ouch ouch groins + railings, shins + walls; the bruises tell the tale). In truth commitment has been a key theme in life in general in the last year. Ever since my arrival back from The Greatest Trip Ever Taken In My Whole Life (catchy title no?), more sedately described as New York and South America 2007, i haven't been able to settle. Again, it could seem another cliched gringo trail abroad but it changed my world so beautifully that I haven't been able to commit to a person, place, or even bedroom since September 2007 as i wanted to feel I could keep moving. Keep moving I have and around a deeply picturesque procession of council flats in Londons most salubrious areas. However, ironically Council Estates have almost brought me the most joys this year. Lying on concrete, on my raindrenced back and looking up at the clouds in after some Parkour agony/ecstacy in some urban jungle has been delicious. In such an unlikely environment as this I was even more suprised that I have never felt so lovely. Or so in love.
And so it seems that love leads to commitment and more suprisingly commitment keeps you moving. Not commiting is like standing in a room with all the doors open but not walking through any of them. So i'm making a commitment to Parkour training and to this blog itself. In some ways it might not seem as important as the act of marriage itself but I reckon if I can't commit to jumping from one bollard to another then i am certainly not ready for anything else! The location of the blog might also not seem as important as if I was in some far off paradise but again I remind myself that the landscape inside is what really matters. And so.....
For better or for worse, in sickest and in health, forsaking all others I going to get stuck in. In this way it seems fitting to add another layer of metaphor to my training by recording it using this blog and by doing so marking a route and leaving a paper trail/virtual trace of my Parkour discoveries on this new course of action.
So as I wish the newlyweds good luck for their journey ahead I also hope for a little for myself. And now im going for a run because just talking about stuff it not the same as doing it.:.)
Making leaps of faith, going with the flow, overcoming obstacles.......fair enough they sound like cliches but a life of cliches is the last thing Parkour training leads to. Having just come back from very lovely wedding of a very lovely friend and her very lovely now husband, the topic of life and where (on earth!) it is leading are forefront in my cakefilled being. After sleeping with the traditional piece of wedding cake under my pillow (which is supposed to make you dream of the man you are going to marry) I awoke to the realisation i had dreamt about; walls. To be clear, i'm not obsessed with getting married, far from it, but I am with dreams and the future. Dreams and my Parkour future.
Commitment to making a jump has been a key training issue for me. Finding a way to stick to a descision you have made and not try and turn back mid air has been difficult (ouch ouch groins + railings, shins + walls; the bruises tell the tale). In truth commitment has been a key theme in life in general in the last year. Ever since my arrival back from The Greatest Trip Ever Taken In My Whole Life (catchy title no?), more sedately described as New York and South America 2007, i haven't been able to settle. Again, it could seem another cliched gringo trail abroad but it changed my world so beautifully that I haven't been able to commit to a person, place, or even bedroom since September 2007 as i wanted to feel I could keep moving. Keep moving I have and around a deeply picturesque procession of council flats in Londons most salubrious areas. However, ironically Council Estates have almost brought me the most joys this year. Lying on concrete, on my raindrenced back and looking up at the clouds in after some Parkour agony/ecstacy in some urban jungle has been delicious. In such an unlikely environment as this I was even more suprised that I have never felt so lovely. Or so in love.
And so it seems that love leads to commitment and more suprisingly commitment keeps you moving. Not commiting is like standing in a room with all the doors open but not walking through any of them. So i'm making a commitment to Parkour training and to this blog itself. In some ways it might not seem as important as the act of marriage itself but I reckon if I can't commit to jumping from one bollard to another then i am certainly not ready for anything else! The location of the blog might also not seem as important as if I was in some far off paradise but again I remind myself that the landscape inside is what really matters. And so.....
For better or for worse, in sickest and in health, forsaking all others I going to get stuck in. In this way it seems fitting to add another layer of metaphor to my training by recording it using this blog and by doing so marking a route and leaving a paper trail/virtual trace of my Parkour discoveries on this new course of action.
So as I wish the newlyweds good luck for their journey ahead I also hope for a little for myself. And now im going for a run because just talking about stuff it not the same as doing it.:.)
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