Eugene Parkour?

Well everyone... Tim has finally driven me to such a point of fervor that only some attempt at forming a Parkour group will satisfy. Yeah, so we are going to take a swing at this.
Rules; yes we must have some. 1-no one cares what you do at home, but you have to show up SOBER. I have zero interest or tolerance for dealing with the impaired in such a situation. 2- Must be over 18 years old. I don't care if your mom is cool with it, she would still sue me if it all go's south.
So everyone get your light kicks on, we'll be running soon...
E.P.K.

Protein Price

Protein is arguably the second most important factor to reasonable health, and great fitness. The very word "PROTEIN" ; means most-important. Now aside from quite expensive Hydrolyzed Whey Protein, how do we get the good stuff we need? Beef is expensive, chicken can get boring fast... So having seen this cool article in Men's Fitness-June/July '09 I thought this would be awesome to share with all of you. Mind you, I think there is only 3... So save money and introduce some variety in to your diet, all while getting the protein you need!

Average Cost of 10gm.s of Protein;

Black Beans $.13

Turkey $.14

Chicken Breast $.24

Eggs $.26

Whole milk $.30

Ground Beef $.34

Ham, Boneless $.40

Cheddar Cheese $.43

Peanuts $.44

Sirloin Steak $.69

Cottage Cheese $.96

Soy Milk $1.26

By; Sara Vigneri

From one of the Masters

"A Traceur wants himself to be an imagination, a constant invention"
-Sebastion Foucan

A.C.E.-C.P.T.

Having long helped others with their fitness & nutrition questions; I have decided to achieve a Personal Trainer Certification. Although I am currently unsure of my desire to continue with Fitness Training as a long term career choice, maintaining the skills to do so is embraced-
So I've chosen A.C.E. as my certification of choice. They have over 20 years of training fitness pros and a almost unblemished record. Secondly, they are recognized as gold standard worldwide, behind only the A.C.S.M...
So everyone keep they're hopes up for me as I enter these last couple months of study before testing and certification.

Ground Work

As I continue to make my way in Parkour, and general fitness as a whole- one thing continues to be a priority for me. Ground work; running is the general idea here. But so much more is contained within this definition for me. Quadrupedal movement in parkour is essential and a difficult work out. Most anyone looks at it and thinks "that's nothing, I can do that easy!" This occurs because it should be easy. Yet it is not... The strain and C/R challenge is surprising and more. The idea that it is easy, comes from the fact that moving on all fours is primal- you did it a lot as a child. So why can't you do it anymore? Simply because you no longer do it. Kinda sad huh?
I do not run as often a I could. I have my own forms of laziness, just like anyone else. I have the best legs in my circles, but bicycling would be tough for me over long distances. Simply cause I rarely do it.
Try these simple ones, and get on with moving. Maintaining simple Ground Work will pay dividends through the course of your life and relationships.
http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/3428/386/
http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/3415/386/

Thanks and Keep Jumping!

Parkour Group?

I have been considering starting a parkour group. So my question at this point is there anyone out there who would actually show up to practice once a week? This may seem simple but most folks don't really have much drive to make this happen-
Anyone out there?
Plus I'm supposed to have a name for this group... Any ideas?

Parkour Attemps

So after many long days of only running by myself- I finally got a day to do some parkour drills. Although I would not say we went for a "Parkour Run." We certainly had fun. My good friend Timothy and I took a good stab at Rolling and Speed Vaults, with a little Tic-Tac to Cat Leap impromptu throw in at the end. Which was entirely thanks to Tim's creative eye.
The rolls went slowly at first. Due mostly to an initial fear, attached to anything new. As the practice wore on and my courage to commit to the move improved, the next real issue was flipping myself and landing flat on my back. I could still complete the roll, but it hurt. So more round and less pressing forward. Just let them momentum take me through... Eventually I got one really good set of about 6 in a row. Timothy got 2-3 great ones; when I was not looking of course:( It is worthy of note that I injured my left ankle; pushing off from the wrong foot out of a roll... Doing OK- still walking.
On to to speed vaults. Talk about failing to commit to the moves. The big problem was evenly spacing & timing my steps on the approach to the vault. Being strong enough and clearing the obstacle was no issue. Just really going with good speed and evenly launching; then landing on the same launch leg smoothly to keep up the run. Wow the is tough stuff- Not physically, just getting my head really committed. Grrr... I get a way smoother vault on my left arm. Being right handed...? Eventually we got some smooth vaults over our chosen obstacle; which may have been too tall for our first attempt.
I chose to purchase A.P.K.'s instructional video on Parkour. Enlightening and Clear. But they chose to show many of the moves in big situations. Not in small controlled ways. So looking for smaller ground to practice on is a lens one will have to cultivate to make safe use of the instruction. Let it be said that APK is doing stellar stuff, and I regularly use their site.
Lastly on our walk back Tim spotted a cool spot and we decided to give some Wall-Runs a chance. After a few good shots we decided to add a tic-tac into this and now we were really feeling like we were doing this shit! A guy came out and joined us for a few runs. Good times. Having this guy show up and have a bit of fun with us showed me how cool all this can be. The first words out of his mouth "That looks fun." Yes my man it is! We had a great time and I'll be giving it another shot on Friday. Hopefully next time we can get some pics of all this. Showing me look not so cool:)

Minerals Everyday

The established medical field has erroneously believed, and endorsed, that mineral supplements are not required for optimal health. Extensive research over the last 30 years has shown such idea's to be false and worse- detrimental.
The soil has long since been vastly depleted of minerals and we cannot possibly hope to get all the nutrients we need from the foods grown there. Anyone has the option to re-mineralize their soil, but this article will assume they have not yet. Depleted soil and the "four food groups" will not allow us to live long healthy lives. Sorry- Santa Clause is not real. When your body is assaulted by drugs, disease, pollutants and even exercise; you risk decreased vitality, increase of illness and an early unnecessary demise. Because of excessive pollutants in our air, water and food/soils we require additional minerals to safely process the toxins from our bodies. Excessive cravings for "junk food" or alcohol or drugs indicate the body is not getting all of the essential nutrients. So you'll consume extraordinary amounts of your poison of choice; drugs, alcohol, fats, sugar, caffeine... It's your bodies way of trying to get the missing nutrients.
What about those 30 years of research? No need. The U.S. government knew in 1936. Yes really- look it up.-Senate Document No. 264,74th session,1936-google it
"No man today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to require his stomach with the mineral salts he requires for perfect health... Do you know that most of us today are suffering from certain dangerous diet defeiencies which cannot be remedied until depleated soils from which our food comes our brought back into proper mineral balence?"
"The alarming fact is that foods now being raised on millions of acres of land that that no longer contain enough minerals(and trace min.) are starving us- no matter how much of them we eat."
You should be alarmed. That is normal, if you're not then you really need some better food. I bring all this up to simply share and hopefully show us that we need better food and soil. Not drugs, not surgery, maybe therapy. Mostly good soil, clean water and healthy plants and animals- these simple realities will carry us and our grandchildren into the next century.
Be good to yourself and each other. Buy some rock dust...

Consideratios on Joint Health part 1

So few of us truly appreciate the health of our bodies. Let alone specific sections. The long term function and durability of the joints is arguably paramount. Long term function becomes vastly more important if you enjoy engaging in any physical activity. All the efforts one puts forth, let alone the long hours endured; if only to lose the function of our joints when reach a mastery of our chosen skill. Time and energy need not be wasted by age and wear. You can, and hopefully will, maintain healthy joint function through the course of your life.

First and foremost is the hardest to accomplish. Minimizing the impact… This is done through caution, preparation, controlled movement, and skilled effort. Do not drop your feet when you walk. Learn how to move, i.e. Alexander Technique, Moshe Feldenkras. Look where you are going, look before you leap, and generally avoiding the stupid things we all do. One must remain eternally vigilant to remain mentally alert.

Secondly is muscle development and maintenance. Work out with good form, within your appropriate weight limits. Push yourself but do not go beyond current limits. Do different types of exercise. If you weight lift; try yoga, Tracuers; try dance. Tango or ballet will be surprisingly challenging for most of us. Stretch. Every day. Do not let go of this type of work out, keeping the muscles and tendons long and alive will pay great dividends in the course of your life. A variety of exercise styles and routines will keep your nervous systems challenged and your muscles growing. Many of you may be familiar with the bodybuilding principle of “muscle shock”. The same principles affect your nerve and sinew tissues as well.

Thirdly, and the primary point of this article, is Supplementation. Intelligent use of supplements of good quality will pay high yields as you age. One of the first questions to address regarding any supplement is bio-availability. Quite simply, most products are just such low quality that they pass without being absorbed in any viable quantity. First and foremost is beef-sterates in tablets. The way that almost all supplement tablets are bound is with ground up beef tissue. Sounds good enough, may even have calcium, magnesium, and glucosamine. The big catch that manufactures ignore, or choose not to reveal, is that all this happens at 150 degrees F. It never gets that hot in you, no matter what your lover thinks. The body can barely break that into smaller pieces, let alone make good use of such materials. This is done due to cost choices, and yes you pay more for well designed and manufactured products. Your body deserves a Ferrari, cough up the cash. It will respond how you treat it… Secondly on bio-availability is source. Plant derived is best. No question, put rock dust in your garden and grow your own. A very few companies do this exclusively. Standard Process being the best. Youngevity is another great source for plant derived minerals/vitamins. After plant derived, is animal processed. Good stuff can come from shells, and bones. You take a risk in the form of chemicals, hormones and antibiotics being given to the animal in question. Little solid evidence concludes either way

Body Politic/ World Health

One of my most recent concerns, regarding total health for ones self, is the international health of every human. I am, however, a firm believer in disease being extremely important for humanity as a whole. The concept is a bit harsh but we need to thin the herd- and we are too emotional to do it ourselves. No, I could not do it my self...
That being said- we have a serious problem with our health perceptions and actions relating to global health. So frequently we fail to notice how extraordinarily divergent many of resource allocations for health care are. Not just the suppression of people of color, but of sexual definitions. At this point I wish relate as a male speaking about woman's body politic issues- at least as I am aware of and perceive them to be... Forgive me in advance.
The deep inconsistencies in health care between the sex's is extreme in many sections of the globe. The simple reality that we will invade nations for the purpose of greater freedoms(claimed at least). To simply free persons from perversion, sexual abuse, genital, mutilation/ circumcision, total seclusion from mental/emotion counseling, and a almost totally accepted reality that they are the whole problem.... Simply due to the fact that they are not men. Not so much that they are women, but that are NOT MEN. So strange to disavow based entirely on a simple difference. For one person it is insane, for an entire society? That is a disease. I have strong feelings that it is an unrecognized Pandemic. Could that really be possible? Is this as prevalent as T.B. or H.I.V.? Are so many men and women so entrenched in established beliefs that they are not able to recognize it as an illness?
More importantly are US citizens, as myself, so completely divorced from an attentive reality that we have failed to realize this? The many reasons why we would ignore it will not be discussed because they are known. Yet I fully do not think that my fellow citizenry recognize this type of severe and prevalent body politic as the disease it is. US pharma companies spend and make billions on mental illnesses, yet with all our enlightened perceptions an entire society is unable to see this. So conclusions and question is- Are US citizens and residents also suffering from this illness?
My only conclusion- without question we are suffering from this disease.
--Please comment on this topic or feel free to communicate directly with me at; longhardt at gmail dot com

This one is poorly wrote, I geuss. My main point; we have invaded in the name of freedom a number of times. Yet even today we have failed to address female genital mutilation or the major divide in the way medical resources are distributed. Females frequently go untreated for illness/disease based on the thought that it would be a waste. Not because a woman is female, but entirely because only men deserve care. This is simply maddness! Although these thought patterns are primarily related Muslim dominated cultures- such is not exclusive to Islam, or such nations. Nor a result of Islam. Shinto in japan practiced genital mutilation up until the 70's. Some sources say it go's on to this day there. Many portions of Asia proper and Africa continue unabashedly to to this hour. Except for a handful of small organizations, no one is fighting this! Secondly- medicine is still male dominated in the westernized world to this day. Women are still living in a world where it is socially exspected of them to put themselves last. Many partners/mothers hide or ignore their illnesses because there is unspoke social mores that they do not deserve the resources. Again -- Maddness!

As I said- for one person this would be insane; i.e. mental illness. But for major portions of the world to be accepting, and there embracing, this- it can only represent a Pandemic of mental illness. My point of view may seem extreme, and of course there are male and female exceptions, but there is six billion of us... I have no partner or children, but this issue still gets me... Strong emotions. Try looking up womens body politic, and read a book called Infidel; Ayan Hirsslii Ali. Not sure about the spelling of her middle name?

I hope this has clarified my thoughts on this matter for you. Please let me know what you think.. And thank you for the feedback :)

Benjamin

On Apr 14, 2009, at 4:55 PM, Danielle Cunningham <dmc914@gmail.com> wrote:

I love that you updated your blog. I read everything and really enjoyed it all. But I need you to do explain. So I don't know weather to agree or disagree. Please explain this to me in another way. Sorry!! :)


The deep inconsistencies in health care between the sex's is extreme in many sections of the globe. The simple reality that we will invade nations for the purpose of greater freedoms(claimed at least). To simply free persons from perversion, sexual abuse, genital, mutilation/ circumcision, total seclusion from mental/emotion counseling, and a almost totally accepted reality that they are the whole problem.... Simply due to the fact that they are not men. Not so much that they are women, but that are NOT MEN. So strange to disavow based entirely on a simple difference. For one person it is insane, for an entire society? That is a disease. I have strong feelings that it is an unrecognized Pandemic. Could that really be possible? Is this as prevalent as T.B. or H.I.V.? Are so many men and women so entrenched in established beliefs that they are not able to recognize it as an illness?



--
Danielle Marie