Weekly Progress Report: 2012-12-19
Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand
So first thing, as you’ll see below I successfully went straight into a straddle hand balance without having to touch the wall!
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Two things that come to mind as I’m practicing this:
- I’ll be able to practice the transition from Straddle to Straight, which is part of the whole movement
- Varying body positions during the balance seems to be a great way to develop the actual balance.
As I’m practicing a lot of parallettes these days though, it makes my wrists and hands be frequently fatigued, so it feels appropriate less often to practice balance. I guess it’s a choice I have to make, since the strength part is where I’m lacking the most at this moment. However, I will experiment practicing balance first before doing my parallettes sessions.
About the parallettes. I am now practicing the higher level on both workouts, and will be (finally!) moving on to the 2nd phase very soon. New moves, WOO!
Challenge #11: Origami Read more
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-12-09
Challenge #2: The Finger Whistle
I noticed I’m able to get the “right angle” to the whistling sound more often than before. Still not mastered, but definitely quite better.
Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand
Aside from the Parallettes progressions, I also started experimented on different little exercises to improve my balance. While I’m still pretty much in the same time range, I noticed the quality of my stance improved quite a bit.
Also, I started working this thing here.
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If you can’t see the video: click here.Whatever you call it, it’s basically helping me slowly tame the motion of transferring my hips over my shoulders. It’s also helping me try out the hand balance in a straddled position, which I must say I hadn’t tried much yet, before. Pretty cool stuff, as it also makes me feel closer to my goal. Heh, it also makes me feel where I have yet to develop more strength. :D
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-11-29
Challenge #2: The Finger Whistle
Here’s the latest on the whistle!
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I’ve been able to get actual sounds more and more often. I still have to work on being stable enough in my ah, tongue position, to be able to blow a loud sound. It shall come, so to speak.
Also, nevermind the third eyebrow there. It’s temporary.
Challenge #11: Origami
Look at this craziness of a pile. 44 origamis. As far as I can, tell, didn’t miss even one day since I resolved to make it a daily thing!
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-11-22
Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand
Ryan Hurst on the P-Bars
So! I’ve been working on GMB’s Parallettes 1 program for a bit more than 1½ month. I figured it would be a good time to start showing you what these trainings look like, so here you go.
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[If you can't see the video, here's the link]
Again, filming oneself proves very valuable, as I can already see some details I’d like to correct on my movements.
Within the program so far, the 2 movements that I’ve found the most challenging to work on are Read more
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-11-13
Challenge #11: Origami
Moar cranes!
12 more, bringing the total count to 30!
Challenge #13: The Hunt
Doesn’t she look adorable?
So a friend of mine notified me that they had encountered a lost dog. She’s been staying at their hours for over a week now, never going back out. But they can’t keep it. Read more
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-11-05
New challenge!
Challenge #17: The Fire Breath
Source: Dancecircus.com
This weekend, I received this comment from Catherine:
Hey Matt,
Here’s my challenge for you! You will have to spit fire! But for a complete challenge you have to accept my rules. First, for a safety reason I think it is better to do it during spring or summer (don’t want that this challenge backfired and and burn more than expected). Second, it has to be in a public space (such as a park or a outdoor party… need a crowd!!). Thrid, has to put this on a video. And last rule, has to be done with me, because I’ve always wanted to try it (and oders if they are game to do so!). Extra point if you got a costume for the «show».So what do you think of this one? Challenge accepted?
Well I’ll be! Always amazed by these human dragons, it’ll be even more exciting to become one! And as a duo at that!
I foresee a pleasant beginning to this next summer.
Current challenges
Challenge #3: The Picture Puzzle
I went to St-Joseph’s Oratory for the first time in my life. Read more
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-11-02
Challenge #11: Origami!
Look at that! One-crane-a-day strategy is working out quite well, and that’s despite the pretty hectic schedule I’ve had lately.
11 More Cranes
I effectively more than doubled my previous number! 18 done, only 982 to go!
1000 doesn’t seem that bad now. I wonder if the make-a-wish thing is actually true.
Challenge #13: The Hunt + Challenge #3: The Picture Puzzle
Next saturday was free in my schedule. Was. Read more
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-10-21
Challenge #11: Origami!
Crane #7
Crane #7 done!
Thinking over the best way to match my schedule with this challenge, I’ve devised a new strategy: From here on, I will make 1 crane every day. Each day I miss, I have to make up for it on a day I have the chance to.
That should at least get me a base ground of 365 cranes per year – not too bad to get started!
Varia
Ever since I achieved the PicLetters challenge, I’ve been mulling over the next challenges to focus on.
I figure the training-related challenges will always be in the background, since in any case they simply can’t be done overnight and I’ll just be keeping a focus on progressing on them as part of my training.
I’d like to get a few more challenges checked off the list before the end of the year. So let’s have a look at the challenges that can be achieved as a one shot, and those that can be achieved fairly quickly with some increased focus:
One-shot:
- Challenge #13: The Hunt
- Challenge #15: The Naked Draw
Fairly quickly, with some preparation / focus
- Challenge #3: The Picture Puzzle
- Challenge #14: The Choir
That makes 4 more challenges I can get done, and I have 2 months to make it happen. Plan of action : BEGIN
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-10-08
Challenge #2: The Whistle
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Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand
Latest take on the Frog Stand Press Handstand. A wee bit better alignment, although Read more
Weekly Progress Report: 2012-09-19
Challenge #6: Straddle Press to Handstand
Here’s a look at my first attempts at an actual Press to Handstand, from the Frog Stand!
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So obviously, the first thing to improve here is alignment; I should probably Read more
