Friday, December 18, 2009
Whoa, been a while since the last post. Lots has been happening. i've gone to trainer training, and I intend to keep that up. Classes have ended and page-by-page the comic is coming along. I've underestimated the December press, tons of birthdays, christmas shit and end-of-year work pressures. My training has been irregular but i've kept up. now i'm going away for a week, so proper catch-ups might have to wait. Buisy, buisy!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Beautiful, clear, mild, full-moon evening. Did the usual run with great pleasure. I have new shoes with very thin soles. They're great for improving technique as each dodgy landing results in immediate pain. That's what you call negative reinforcement.
I'm trying to get up the necessary strength to preform muscle-ups (starting from a chin-up position on a horizontal bar, lifting yourself up with a single push, up over the bar into a locked handstand). The conditioning exercises I learned at the trace jam are strenuous: a kind of chin up that you do with your whole body, lifting so quickly you spring up with a bit of air. Three quick reps leave my fore-arms in a knot of pain. Hopefully I'll build up the strength I need before i tear something. Wish me luck.
I'm trying to get up the necessary strength to preform muscle-ups (starting from a chin-up position on a horizontal bar, lifting yourself up with a single push, up over the bar into a locked handstand). The conditioning exercises I learned at the trace jam are strenuous: a kind of chin up that you do with your whole body, lifting so quickly you spring up with a bit of air. Three quick reps leave my fore-arms in a knot of pain. Hopefully I'll build up the strength I need before i tear something. Wish me luck.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Sunday went well. The faces are a little more familiar and the conversation flows just a little bit easier. Everyone was in good spirits, despite the wet conditions. It was the last lesson for the year, so I'll have to juggle things around to go to training mid-week. Also, find out if I can attend trainer training at some point next week.
The comic work is picking up pace. I'd like to get the first book out just before christmas, and that's a tight deadline. One page at a time is the way forward.
Interestingly, as time rolls on the value of attending the jam at the trace becomes more apparent. As the casual chats with people about method sink in, I'm finding myself revising my training and, surprisingly my attitude. Apparently, diligence is infectious. I'm looking to bring in more structure. More conditioning, more effort. I guess I was inspired to do better, that's gotta be a good thing, right?
Here's hoping.
The comic work is picking up pace. I'd like to get the first book out just before christmas, and that's a tight deadline. One page at a time is the way forward.
Interestingly, as time rolls on the value of attending the jam at the trace becomes more apparent. As the casual chats with people about method sink in, I'm finding myself revising my training and, surprisingly my attitude. Apparently, diligence is infectious. I'm looking to bring in more structure. More conditioning, more effort. I guess I was inspired to do better, that's gotta be a good thing, right?
Here's hoping.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Went to the Trace Facility on friday. The place was north of the city, on a train-line I never catch. The facility is a warehouse tucked into an plain of one-story suburbs, surrounded by other warehouses. I was surprised how well equipped the place was, considering they've only been open for a few months. Two structures made of steel piping hold up flat plywood roofs, one has an additional steel structure attached, no roof. Footholds, handholds are everywhere. The side has a makeshift wall with a platform in a variety of heights - for wallruns. A chill section is set up on a kind of balcony with magazines (new scientist, the economist, anyone?), tables, couches and water. The place is hella cool.
First thing I though when I saw the place was "this would be perfect for a game of off-ground tag". I even suggested it to the few kids who were there early, like myself, but, to my disappointment, was dismissed. Later, to my delight, I discovered that off-ground is a regular part of the training program. After the regulars poured in - at around 6 - and the catchups were done with and warmups completed the place was set up and the game began. I was slow, loud on the landings and unfit... yet treated very nicely, not singed out nor ignored. It was really fun, though I was sweating bullets and my arms hurt all the way through to sunday (today). Great workout. I'll definitely be back.
The guys were good company as always. The more I'm exposed to this crowd the more my respect for them grows. I wanna be friends, but still fell awkward. Plus any delusions I had about my physical appearance have been blown sky-high. They're all built like frikkin' superheroes! I'm a big guy, not overweight, with my share of muscle but these guys make me look like a flabby hippo. Both in physical form and in movement. I guess the bar is set high, something for me to aim for.
On the administrative front, I've been falling behind on my transcribing. Spending time on the sunday book takes away from other things, I'm still looking for a good balance. As long as i don't neglect this blog i should be largely alright.
Last sunday class for the year today. It's raining. It'll be four hours - should be fun. I'll be going to trainer training sometime in the next few weeks. Looking forward to it.
First thing I though when I saw the place was "this would be perfect for a game of off-ground tag". I even suggested it to the few kids who were there early, like myself, but, to my disappointment, was dismissed. Later, to my delight, I discovered that off-ground is a regular part of the training program. After the regulars poured in - at around 6 - and the catchups were done with and warmups completed the place was set up and the game began. I was slow, loud on the landings and unfit... yet treated very nicely, not singed out nor ignored. It was really fun, though I was sweating bullets and my arms hurt all the way through to sunday (today). Great workout. I'll definitely be back.
The guys were good company as always. The more I'm exposed to this crowd the more my respect for them grows. I wanna be friends, but still fell awkward. Plus any delusions I had about my physical appearance have been blown sky-high. They're all built like frikkin' superheroes! I'm a big guy, not overweight, with my share of muscle but these guys make me look like a flabby hippo. Both in physical form and in movement. I guess the bar is set high, something for me to aim for.
On the administrative front, I've been falling behind on my transcribing. Spending time on the sunday book takes away from other things, I'm still looking for a good balance. As long as i don't neglect this blog i should be largely alright.
Last sunday class for the year today. It's raining. It'll be four hours - should be fun. I'll be going to trainer training sometime in the next few weeks. Looking forward to it.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Well, yesterday was a depressing write-off. Hopefully today will be better.
There's a curious little story I've been meaning to tell for a while. It's quite old, (six, seven months) it happened to me when I was gathering data for the proposals of this research project. This little incident taught me a fair bit about discipline, exercise and myself.
How the Wii Fit
Physical activity has always been important to me. Boxing, rock-climbing, mountain biking, skateboarding, snowboarding - I've always picked individualistic physical pastimes, things that offer personal challenges rather than competitive team activities. With this outlook I treated my exercise as fun and a chance to test myself and my physical abilities. I've never had any reason to take it particularly seriously and often ignored (even jeered) the various routines that people attached to their sports - uniforms/specialised equipment, warm-ups/cool-downs, set regimens, diets, etc. My exercise came in form of sporadic physical activity, at any random time I felt like it.
Then, recently, parkour came along. I knew that I'd have to shape up, so I started up some semi-regular training. The first general exercise I did revolved around the layout of my local train station. A two-level garden, each level about a meter and a half in height, gave me a prop for vault practice. I'd climb the two steps with maximal flow, trying to conserve as much momentum and move as fluidly as possible. Then, I'd go back down - precision jumping onto the lip of the first step then down from there - again, with as much fluidity as I could muster.
Because I catch the trains often the exercise was perfect, I'd inadvertently be at my training ground one or twice a day and I'd squeeze in as many reps as time would allow. I started clumsily, then developed technique. There was a definite burn and I'd be puffed after a few reps. This would improve with my fitness. I started with five ups and downs per go, then expended to ten. I was getting better, learning a lot and using nearly all of my muscles - there was no doubt in my mind that this exercise was good.
Two weeks went by. One morning I woke up with a new discomfort. My lower torso, around the kidneys, had a peculiar ache. I'm lucky in that I don't usually have much problems with physical discomfort, aside from an ankle that's been twisted all too many times everything on my body works pretty much as it should. So, the ache stood out and I started to worry when it persisted. After three days I noticed that it would flare up after my wall climbs, and after each exercise session I would wake up the next morning to find the ache had gotten worse. I made a doctor's appointment.
The examination turned out nothing. I was in good shape. They sent me in for blood-work. There was reason for concern, a chance that my kidneys were acting up. I asked about jolting (I was doing a lot of jumping) and the doctor told me it was highly unlikely to have done any harm. The blood-work took two days and I cut down on impact exercises. The ache got worse. Any remotely strenuous movement would aggravate it and I really started to worry. My blood-work came back - it showed nothing wrong. The doctor sent me off to have a series of scans.
Private little radiology centre. My clothes in a cubicle two rooms away. Me on a stretcher in a smock trying to sound unworried while making light conversation with the lady technician. My kidneys up on the ultrasound display. "See that there? That's passing fluids. Shape, size, texture - all normal." I was massively relieved, but at the same time more worried. What the hell was going on? An X-ray revealed an unusual skeletal posture, all perfectly healthy. I was healthy as a horse. I decided to push through the pain, retake up training and hope it would pass.
Training made things even worse. The ache moved up and spread out. My back seized up. I felt like an 80 year old. I stopped training. The ache was constant and any physical activity made my back seize up. I was pissed as hell. I couldn't train and despite a clean bill of health my problem was getting worse. A friend offered to lend me his copy of Wii Fit - with the balance board - he suggested I try it until I get better. Low impact exercise was better than none, he suggested, and he promised that the workout was deceptively effective. I decided to give it a go.
I've always winged about Wii Fit. I'm a nintendo fan (by the way, they're not paying me for this) and I was annoyed that the development team was making programs for housewives while leaving the hardcore gamers hanging. I was pleasantly surprised. The full workout was actually challenging and there were a bunch of exercises that I'd never heard of. I was drawn to the yoga, something I've always been curious about but never tried. That's where the penny dropped.
As you play you unlock new exercises, pretty quickly I unlocked the yoga stretches. The Spinal Twist, Sun Salutation and Triangle poses felt practically orgasmic. I did each one several times. The next morning my back was better, the ache was less intense. I kept up the stretches and over the next three days my condition improved. By day four I was ready to cautiously return to my impact runs. The ache would start up, but then I'd do these stretches and the pain would disappear.
Stretching is now a part of my routine. I learned the hard way that muscle exercise can cause muscles to contract and shrink as they repair and grow. Stretching is absolutely essential with a regular muscle workout. Some routines are necessary. Training requires a certain amount of discipline.
There's a curious little story I've been meaning to tell for a while. It's quite old, (six, seven months) it happened to me when I was gathering data for the proposals of this research project. This little incident taught me a fair bit about discipline, exercise and myself.
How the Wii Fit
Physical activity has always been important to me. Boxing, rock-climbing, mountain biking, skateboarding, snowboarding - I've always picked individualistic physical pastimes, things that offer personal challenges rather than competitive team activities. With this outlook I treated my exercise as fun and a chance to test myself and my physical abilities. I've never had any reason to take it particularly seriously and often ignored (even jeered) the various routines that people attached to their sports - uniforms/specialised equipment, warm-ups/cool-downs, set regimens, diets, etc. My exercise came in form of sporadic physical activity, at any random time I felt like it.
Then, recently, parkour came along. I knew that I'd have to shape up, so I started up some semi-regular training. The first general exercise I did revolved around the layout of my local train station. A two-level garden, each level about a meter and a half in height, gave me a prop for vault practice. I'd climb the two steps with maximal flow, trying to conserve as much momentum and move as fluidly as possible. Then, I'd go back down - precision jumping onto the lip of the first step then down from there - again, with as much fluidity as I could muster.
Because I catch the trains often the exercise was perfect, I'd inadvertently be at my training ground one or twice a day and I'd squeeze in as many reps as time would allow. I started clumsily, then developed technique. There was a definite burn and I'd be puffed after a few reps. This would improve with my fitness. I started with five ups and downs per go, then expended to ten. I was getting better, learning a lot and using nearly all of my muscles - there was no doubt in my mind that this exercise was good.
Two weeks went by. One morning I woke up with a new discomfort. My lower torso, around the kidneys, had a peculiar ache. I'm lucky in that I don't usually have much problems with physical discomfort, aside from an ankle that's been twisted all too many times everything on my body works pretty much as it should. So, the ache stood out and I started to worry when it persisted. After three days I noticed that it would flare up after my wall climbs, and after each exercise session I would wake up the next morning to find the ache had gotten worse. I made a doctor's appointment.
The examination turned out nothing. I was in good shape. They sent me in for blood-work. There was reason for concern, a chance that my kidneys were acting up. I asked about jolting (I was doing a lot of jumping) and the doctor told me it was highly unlikely to have done any harm. The blood-work took two days and I cut down on impact exercises. The ache got worse. Any remotely strenuous movement would aggravate it and I really started to worry. My blood-work came back - it showed nothing wrong. The doctor sent me off to have a series of scans.
Private little radiology centre. My clothes in a cubicle two rooms away. Me on a stretcher in a smock trying to sound unworried while making light conversation with the lady technician. My kidneys up on the ultrasound display. "See that there? That's passing fluids. Shape, size, texture - all normal." I was massively relieved, but at the same time more worried. What the hell was going on? An X-ray revealed an unusual skeletal posture, all perfectly healthy. I was healthy as a horse. I decided to push through the pain, retake up training and hope it would pass.
Training made things even worse. The ache moved up and spread out. My back seized up. I felt like an 80 year old. I stopped training. The ache was constant and any physical activity made my back seize up. I was pissed as hell. I couldn't train and despite a clean bill of health my problem was getting worse. A friend offered to lend me his copy of Wii Fit - with the balance board - he suggested I try it until I get better. Low impact exercise was better than none, he suggested, and he promised that the workout was deceptively effective. I decided to give it a go.
I've always winged about Wii Fit. I'm a nintendo fan (by the way, they're not paying me for this) and I was annoyed that the development team was making programs for housewives while leaving the hardcore gamers hanging. I was pleasantly surprised. The full workout was actually challenging and there were a bunch of exercises that I'd never heard of. I was drawn to the yoga, something I've always been curious about but never tried. That's where the penny dropped.
As you play you unlock new exercises, pretty quickly I unlocked the yoga stretches. The Spinal Twist, Sun Salutation and Triangle poses felt practically orgasmic. I did each one several times. The next morning my back was better, the ache was less intense. I kept up the stretches and over the next three days my condition improved. By day four I was ready to cautiously return to my impact runs. The ache would start up, but then I'd do these stretches and the pain would disappear.
Stretching is now a part of my routine. I learned the hard way that muscle exercise can cause muscles to contract and shrink as they repair and grow. Stretching is absolutely essential with a regular muscle workout. Some routines are necessary. Training requires a certain amount of discipline.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Life is the stuff that happens to you in between the things you plan. This is the second week I've intended to visit the Trace facility in north Melbourne on the thursday and it looks like this will be the second week that I'm going to have to put it off. Family emergency, I'll be driving my mum around for a good part of tomorrow. hopefully I'll be able to get away, but knowing the nature of the trouble the chances are slim. Shit. I'll have to check if there's training sessions at the Trace on Fridays.
Took the new tools of the trade out today. Found a good rail with posts on ether side and set myself a low mark with the masking tape. The aim was to jump through the space between the top rail and the tape feet-first, then, use the top rail to carry myself through without touching the tape below. Harder than I expected. My back touched the tape every time. Hopefully I'll improve with practice.
Some running followed and then, later in the day, I went for a swim. Melbourne beaches are some of the most beautiful I've seen and I've got a few favorite spots. I love snorkeling, and in just a few years since I've discovered that pastime I've improved my swimming 10 fold. My plan is to finish today with the usual drill run.
--
Post-run note: Ugh, I think I'll make it a rule from now on not to eat a heavy dinner after 8pm. Nothing more gross than re-experiencing the crappy curry you had for dinner each time you do something jolting or strenuous in training.
Took the new tools of the trade out today. Found a good rail with posts on ether side and set myself a low mark with the masking tape. The aim was to jump through the space between the top rail and the tape feet-first, then, use the top rail to carry myself through without touching the tape below. Harder than I expected. My back touched the tape every time. Hopefully I'll improve with practice.
Some running followed and then, later in the day, I went for a swim. Melbourne beaches are some of the most beautiful I've seen and I've got a few favorite spots. I love snorkeling, and in just a few years since I've discovered that pastime I've improved my swimming 10 fold. My plan is to finish today with the usual drill run.
--
Post-run note: Ugh, I think I'll make it a rule from now on not to eat a heavy dinner after 8pm. Nothing more gross than re-experiencing the crappy curry you had for dinner each time you do something jolting or strenuous in training.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Work, work, work! Good start, working out the page layout and dialogue for the Sunday Session book. Feels like I'm rolling along. Training was good on Sunday. Went along with the first timers to get more info for the book. Got what I need. Getting a new computer soon. Delivery's tomorrow or the day after. Between 9 and 5. Shit. Had plans but looks like I'm staying in. Might get some work done.
Went on my run. Took the chalk and the tape. The chalk did a good job of making me aware of my movements. The jogging has noticeably improved my cardio, and a sweat is a bit harder to break. The week off my feet has done the opposite, slower start this time.
Something interesting about the tape: masking tape is LOUD. At midnight, in the park, with folks yelling out their windows may NOT be the best time for tape assisted training. I'll do it in the morning, when I jog instead.
Added wall-squat to the list of drills.
PLUS, the pencils on page one is DONE! Keep an eye on this space!
Went on my run. Took the chalk and the tape. The chalk did a good job of making me aware of my movements. The jogging has noticeably improved my cardio, and a sweat is a bit harder to break. The week off my feet has done the opposite, slower start this time.
Something interesting about the tape: masking tape is LOUD. At midnight, in the park, with folks yelling out their windows may NOT be the best time for tape assisted training. I'll do it in the morning, when I jog instead.
Added wall-squat to the list of drills.
PLUS, the pencils on page one is DONE! Keep an eye on this space!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
I'm very tired, but I cannot sleep. Bugger of a thing, that. The foot is still bruised, but I think I can handle parkour tomorrow. To be honest, this week has been a near-total write off. The injury has been a handy excuse, but I suspect I'm suffering a bit of transitional disorientation. It's been difficult to find motivation to work. I have so much to do and, finally, the time to do it but... this week... very little productive labour. Well, all I can really do is be aware and change my attitude. I've even missed out on training this week. Naughty.
There is another possibility, that this is how I work. The 'Sunday Classes' comic is crystalizing in my brain, I WILL have it done before Christmas. Tomorrow I will go with the first timer parkour folks. Then I'll have all the info I need. Gotta find focus and keep it.
There is another possibility, that this is how I work. The 'Sunday Classes' comic is crystalizing in my brain, I WILL have it done before Christmas. Tomorrow I will go with the first timer parkour folks. Then I'll have all the info I need. Gotta find focus and keep it.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Shit. First week without outside work is off to a foul start. Injury. I bruised the inside of my heel in training this weekend - my own fault - and it hurts like hell to walk. Getting better with each passing day, nopefully by tomorrow I'll be good to train again. It's put my little schedule into disarray. Still haven't transcribed my notes from Sunday, not working enough. Need to pull myself together. I'll call this the transitional period I guess and try to move past it. Resting, healing and scheming.
On the bright side, I bought that chalk ant tape. Plus, if all goes to plan, I'll be visiting the trace facility tomorrow.
On the bright side, I bought that chalk ant tape. Plus, if all goes to plan, I'll be visiting the trace facility tomorrow.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Hectic week. House guests, heavy deadlines and lots of distractions. Though I haven't been too diligent in training I've playing around with obstacles and environments. Also, missed sunday class this week. VERY BAD. Mustn't get into bad habits. Been running distance regularly in the mornings, very satisfied with my progress. Hoping to muscle my way past my hangover and go for a run tonight - it's a beautiful night out.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday 1 Nov
Attended the training session on sunday. It was great fun. Talked to a few other participants, trained and took notes and photos. I've got a good direction for the first comic - I recon' I'm gonna start at the end, with the strength and conditioning. I'll be working out the pencils this week, wherever I find a moment to take from work. Everyone at parkour is great, and its easy to feel part of a common clan in training. Non-competitive challenge is the best kind.
I put off transcribing the notes until this morning, in doing so I relived a moment of prosecution from a random bystander that I think is worth including here:
A notable incident occurred in training: during the balancing segment of our lesson – on the north-east side of the Myer music bowl. As we started walking the ropes, an older guy (in his 50’s?) dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and a red hat began yelling at the whole group while keeping a solid distance from us. Without any apparent interest in our activity, he demanded that we “Get down from there!” The trainers seemed only a little ruffled and told us to simply ignore him and continue our training. We ignored him as he circled the group -- always at a distance – getting progressively irritated with our lack of response. The only brief response he received was after he threatened to “report this”, it came from one of the instructors, who told him to go ahead and do so, before turning back to the class.
Ten minutes later a park-ranger jeep pulled up and for a short period of time stood at a distance. Some of the younger class participants seemed a bit worried as a ranger in his mid-twenties stepped out of his jeep. The instructors went to meet him, but before they had a chance to say a word he told us that “he though it was you parkour guys.” The ranger was obviously unbothered by our activities. He intercepted the instructor’s explanations by making it clear that it was all-OK with him. He had received a complaint, which he said was framed in the context of a concern for our personal safety, but having seen that we were organised, and what we were doing, he was quite happy to have us carry on. He also pointed out that security cameras monitored the aria and that the music bowl had its own security staff – since they hadn’t told us to move on, he saw no reason to do so.
As the instructors returned to the class I stuck around to talk to the ranger. He seemed embarrassed to have disturbed us. As an excuse he said that sometimes the “emos” get drunk in the park and had it been them climbing around he would have told them to move on. He also commented that parkour “looked like fun” and that “he’d like to give it a go sometime” before leaving us to train.
--
Looks like it happens to everyone. I must say I find this fascinating. What prompts people to react like that? Is it really a concern for our safety? I'm not entirely convinced. Might ask around on the forum, and later, in person to see how many others have had similar experiences.
Training notes: Started jogging in the mornings, gotta improve my stamina. Still doing regular night runs.
I put off transcribing the notes until this morning, in doing so I relived a moment of prosecution from a random bystander that I think is worth including here:
A notable incident occurred in training: during the balancing segment of our lesson – on the north-east side of the Myer music bowl. As we started walking the ropes, an older guy (in his 50’s?) dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and a red hat began yelling at the whole group while keeping a solid distance from us. Without any apparent interest in our activity, he demanded that we “Get down from there!” The trainers seemed only a little ruffled and told us to simply ignore him and continue our training. We ignored him as he circled the group -- always at a distance – getting progressively irritated with our lack of response. The only brief response he received was after he threatened to “report this”, it came from one of the instructors, who told him to go ahead and do so, before turning back to the class.
Ten minutes later a park-ranger jeep pulled up and for a short period of time stood at a distance. Some of the younger class participants seemed a bit worried as a ranger in his mid-twenties stepped out of his jeep. The instructors went to meet him, but before they had a chance to say a word he told us that “he though it was you parkour guys.” The ranger was obviously unbothered by our activities. He intercepted the instructor’s explanations by making it clear that it was all-OK with him. He had received a complaint, which he said was framed in the context of a concern for our personal safety, but having seen that we were organised, and what we were doing, he was quite happy to have us carry on. He also pointed out that security cameras monitored the aria and that the music bowl had its own security staff – since they hadn’t told us to move on, he saw no reason to do so.
As the instructors returned to the class I stuck around to talk to the ranger. He seemed embarrassed to have disturbed us. As an excuse he said that sometimes the “emos” get drunk in the park and had it been them climbing around he would have told them to move on. He also commented that parkour “looked like fun” and that “he’d like to give it a go sometime” before leaving us to train.
--
Looks like it happens to everyone. I must say I find this fascinating. What prompts people to react like that? Is it really a concern for our safety? I'm not entirely convinced. Might ask around on the forum, and later, in person to see how many others have had similar experiences.
Training notes: Started jogging in the mornings, gotta improve my stamina. Still doing regular night runs.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The comic entries are appearing slowly. Need more free time to really commit to this. Need new shoes, so quitting my retail gig will not happen for another two weeks. Meanwhile I'm forming an outline for the Sunday classes comic. Going to train and take notes today. Still have to write up an intro on the forum. Will do that as soon as I've backed up the new comic page on DA.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Ouch, good workout on Sunday, I was very sore yesterday and decided to give myself a day to recover. Spent it largely hanging out with friends and being quite unproductive. Today I'm working on the illustrated entries. I plan to go for the usual run and will update the blog tonight. Also, must make a post on the Parkour form... Will report in later.
Later is now and I am very naughty. Birthday party tonight, very, very full. No excersise tonight. PLUS I'm going camping tomorrow until saturday. But this isnt total neglect of activity - I plan to climb me some trees and mountains. See ya saturday.
Later is now and I am very naughty. Birthday party tonight, very, very full. No excersise tonight. PLUS I'm going camping tomorrow until saturday. But this isnt total neglect of activity - I plan to climb me some trees and mountains. See ya saturday.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Parkour: A Sunday Lesson book is officially under way. Today I went to the class and made a whole heap of notes. It's really pleasant to see that the success of the parkour movement in Melbourne hasn't changed the friendly, casual attitudes of its practitioners. Some of the guys were familiar from my time spent training during the proposal write up stage (about 5 months ago?). There are a bunch of guys who are new, both as trainers and as 'students', and I got lots of great stuff to put in the book.
Also, a good few mistakes were made and limitations discovered. Without sunscreen I burned up completely. As I write this my cheeks are bright red with sunburn. I got back drowsy - always happens to me when I burn - and there's a good chance that in a few days I'll start peeling... next time: Sunscreen. The second major error was not bringing a water-bottle. Towards the end of the lesson (which spanned four hours) I was completely parched and even a little dizzy. Some of the other guys offered me some of their water, which was super nice, and that got me through.
Next, on a researchers scale, I realized that I'm probably too unobtrusive for my own good. Though I have no negative intentions, heck, I'm a FAN of the discipline, I felt a bit weird making notes and taking pictures. That's something I need to get over. I don't want to be a lurker and everybody seems really open and nice. I plan to run an introduction on the parkour association forum letting people know exactly what I'm upto, though I had the chance to tell a few politely curious folk in person. Ethics at the university will demand full disclosure anyway.
On the technical side of things, I need work with my underbars and DISTANCE running. Plus, bad shoes are BAD! My crappy replacement shoes fell apart towards the end of the lesson. Gotta go buy some when I'm not completely broke. All in all,the workout was great. The night run was half hearted as I was still buggered from the lesson and now I'm super sore. But that's good, I expect to feel better tomorrow. That's what sleep is for.
Also, a good few mistakes were made and limitations discovered. Without sunscreen I burned up completely. As I write this my cheeks are bright red with sunburn. I got back drowsy - always happens to me when I burn - and there's a good chance that in a few days I'll start peeling... next time: Sunscreen. The second major error was not bringing a water-bottle. Towards the end of the lesson (which spanned four hours) I was completely parched and even a little dizzy. Some of the other guys offered me some of their water, which was super nice, and that got me through.
Next, on a researchers scale, I realized that I'm probably too unobtrusive for my own good. Though I have no negative intentions, heck, I'm a FAN of the discipline, I felt a bit weird making notes and taking pictures. That's something I need to get over. I don't want to be a lurker and everybody seems really open and nice. I plan to run an introduction on the parkour association forum letting people know exactly what I'm upto, though I had the chance to tell a few politely curious folk in person. Ethics at the university will demand full disclosure anyway.
On the technical side of things, I need work with my underbars and DISTANCE running. Plus, bad shoes are BAD! My crappy replacement shoes fell apart towards the end of the lesson. Gotta go buy some when I'm not completely broke. All in all,the workout was great. The night run was half hearted as I was still buggered from the lesson and now I'm super sore. But that's good, I expect to feel better tomorrow. That's what sleep is for.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Got up this morning with an idea. The Melbourne Parkour association runs classes on Sundays. I've been to a few, and they've been growing over the last few months. They've also been getting a bit of press. I though this would be a great place to start. A 15-20 page comic story that captures the classes, introduces some of the people and sets the mood for more to come. A stand-alone teaser, if you like. I'm sure the organization guys would be able to do something with it too, that's be great - being able to contribute something back immediately.
I left a message on 'Chippa's' phone (organization president) and then spoke to Sam, (secretary) and they seemed obliging. All systems go. Better dig out the old camera.
Will add more tonight after my run.
I left a message on 'Chippa's' phone (organization president) and then spoke to Sam, (secretary) and they seemed obliging. All systems go. Better dig out the old camera.
Will add more tonight after my run.
Whew, I had a few drinks after work today. When I went for my run three hours later I discovered that alcohol is by no means a performance enhancer. It’s like training with lead weights!
Did some sketching of training environments, as well as local cityscapes this afternoon. Will soon add another page to the visual journal. I don’t usually dedicate this much effort to environments, feels good to push the boundaries.
Never did get that tape and chalk. Hopefully, tomorrow.
Did some sketching of training environments, as well as local cityscapes this afternoon. Will soon add another page to the visual journal. I don’t usually dedicate this much effort to environments, feels good to push the boundaries.
Never did get that tape and chalk. Hopefully, tomorrow.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Before going for my run this evening I posted the following on my Facebook account: Alex Pavlotski: Um, how many of you folks have heard of PARKOUR, and if you have, from where? Thanks.
I was quite surprised at the volume of response. Here are the reactions.
M: Known about it for a while :-) Nat and some of his mates do it occasionally. I'm too fat :-)
T: Free-running, started by Frenchmen wasn't it? Took off in Europe to make use of the dense urban areas. Crazy cool. Makes an appearance in the latest house too.
A: have, not sure where from though
N: Hi Alex! I have there was a big article about it in the Age a few months ago - http://www.theage.com.au/news/health/spiderman-classes-near-you/2007/12/07/1196812975935.html
L: it's been around for yonks now. even hollywood and hk films have been using it in chase scenes for years
D: I know you broke yourself doing it you clumsy bastard.
D2: You! Plus numerous media references... including Top Gear.
M: I've been fascinated by it for some time now. It just looks so damn cool.There are also a couple of French movies that feature parkour, most notably Banlieue 13.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19CrlgB0ueU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPIw3cv8Zls
Seems like, even among my narrow circle of friends, word about parkour is spreading. Actually, the Age article sent to me by N served to point out a misconception I’ve been holding onto. Mat Campbell points out: “ ‘(Parkour is) not just urban … It's just one of those misconceptions. It's just as much in nature as it is in the cities."
The landscape is nearly irrelevant. At the same time, I would say it is the overwhelming prevalence of the urban environment and its inherent restrictions that draws people to this subculture. That’s certainly one of the attractions for me. I love appropriating the environment!
Notes on training: The routine is becoming less challenging as my fitness increases. I’m going to have to step up training. I’ll head into the shops to pick up some tape a chalk tomorrow. Time to create boundaries for an extra challenge.
Currently working on more comic notes but need more time. Soon I’ll quit my part-time job and dedicate myself to this full time.
I was quite surprised at the volume of response. Here are the reactions.
M: Known about it for a while :-) Nat and some of his mates do it occasionally. I'm too fat :-)
T: Free-running, started by Frenchmen wasn't it? Took off in Europe to make use of the dense urban areas. Crazy cool. Makes an appearance in the latest house too.
A: have, not sure where from though
N: Hi Alex! I have there was a big article about it in the Age a few months ago - http://www.theage.com.au/news/health/spiderman-classes-near-you/2007/12/07/1196812975935.html
L: it's been around for yonks now. even hollywood and hk films have been using it in chase scenes for years
D: I know you broke yourself doing it you clumsy bastard.
D2: You! Plus numerous media references... including Top Gear.
M: I've been fascinated by it for some time now. It just looks so damn cool.There are also a couple of French movies that feature parkour, most notably Banlieue 13.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19CrlgB0ueU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPIw3cv8Zls
Seems like, even among my narrow circle of friends, word about parkour is spreading. Actually, the Age article sent to me by N served to point out a misconception I’ve been holding onto. Mat Campbell points out: “ ‘(Parkour is) not just urban … It's just one of those misconceptions. It's just as much in nature as it is in the cities."
The landscape is nearly irrelevant. At the same time, I would say it is the overwhelming prevalence of the urban environment and its inherent restrictions that draws people to this subculture. That’s certainly one of the attractions for me. I love appropriating the environment!
Notes on training: The routine is becoming less challenging as my fitness increases. I’m going to have to step up training. I’ll head into the shops to pick up some tape a chalk tomorrow. Time to create boundaries for an extra challenge.
Currently working on more comic notes but need more time. Soon I’ll quit my part-time job and dedicate myself to this full time.
Monday, October 19, 2009
train driver
Tonight, a reminder that the subject of my study is not even close to being a socially accepted activity. Usually my exercises don’t begin until 12:30 am. After the trains stop running and there are no passengers waiting for the next train the station becomes my obstacle course, gym and playground. This evening plans for a late dinner have disrupted my schedule. Parkour is too demanding to practice on a full stomach, thus in order to accommodate late dinner tonight I decided to go out at 8pm.
The jog was fine; the streets were not much busier than at past midnight. When I arrived at the station the difference between my usual time and tonight’s training became an apparent obstacle. A photographer was taking photos of graffiti at the vertical wall ledge I usually climb. To give him a chance to finish up I went over to the two-step garden were I do my wall vault (see last journal entry for diagram of vault). I usually do 10 vaults. At around the third a train pulled up at the station. I just continued my exercise.
On the descent of my fifth vault the drivers exit door opened and the driver called out. “Hey, that’s not the best place for that!” The guy was standing in the door and I stopped, standing on the platform. “What if you fell and hurt yourself,” he asked, then without waiting for a reply continued “Melbourne is full of these places.” He pointed vaguely at the wall behind me, “I have to report this kind of stuff. Just go somewhere else.”
I was ready to start off with something about personal liability and having no other place to train but he started first, without giving me a chance. “Look, I’ve called the cops,” He thumbed towards the station building further down the platform as if to point out the source of his authority “So just fuck off.”
I nodded, deciding that he wasn’t really interested in anything I had to say – especially since he has a schedule to keep and his time at the station was probably running low – and slowly started plodding up the platform. He closed the door and soon the train started pulling out. When he turned the corner I turned too. I finished the vaults, adding five to make up for my unexpected break, and then finished my workout while keeping an eye out for the police.
I don’t blame the guy. Seeing a 100-kilogram man climbing public property and jumping off walls isn’t an everyday event. Though I wish people didn’t jump to conclusions and assume the worst, I can't really blame them for not feeling comfortable enough to actually ask me what I am doing. All of this is just another reminder to be careful.
Actually this is not my first, or even second, such incident. While I was training for my proposal a bystander called the police. I had to explain myself to the law then. Then, on another day a man walking home late from work saw me climbing the ledge on the side of the station building. His reaction was genuinely admirable. He waited for me to get down and then watched me climb again. When I got down the second time (many of my exercises are repeated drills) he stepped in with a question.
“Why are you trying to climb that building?” he asked me. I tried to explain that I was practicing Prakour – a type of improvised urban gymnastics – he seemed unconvinced. I then compared it to rock-climbing, an explanation he hesitantly accepted. “Are you sure?” He asked before walking off. He was concerned and I appreciate his actions.
This whole thing reminds me of old Mary Duglas’ ‘matter out of place’ hypothesis. The idea that things and people that occupy the margins of society or engage in socially unusual practices are nearly innately unsettling to most people. They create uncertainty and question existing boundaries and sadly, it is a near-universal human reaction to assume the worst of those we don’t understand and those who challenge our conception of the world around us.
On a more technical note: Distance running and hand-over-hand ledge climbing is getting easier and I’ve added a twist vault to the usual batch of exercises.
Also, getting pretty comfortable with chin-ups. Will do more comic-notes in the next few days. My current illustration gig has been keeping me busy during the week and an unexpected comic convention took this weekend over.
The jog was fine; the streets were not much busier than at past midnight. When I arrived at the station the difference between my usual time and tonight’s training became an apparent obstacle. A photographer was taking photos of graffiti at the vertical wall ledge I usually climb. To give him a chance to finish up I went over to the two-step garden were I do my wall vault (see last journal entry for diagram of vault). I usually do 10 vaults. At around the third a train pulled up at the station. I just continued my exercise.
On the descent of my fifth vault the drivers exit door opened and the driver called out. “Hey, that’s not the best place for that!” The guy was standing in the door and I stopped, standing on the platform. “What if you fell and hurt yourself,” he asked, then without waiting for a reply continued “Melbourne is full of these places.” He pointed vaguely at the wall behind me, “I have to report this kind of stuff. Just go somewhere else.”
I was ready to start off with something about personal liability and having no other place to train but he started first, without giving me a chance. “Look, I’ve called the cops,” He thumbed towards the station building further down the platform as if to point out the source of his authority “So just fuck off.”
I nodded, deciding that he wasn’t really interested in anything I had to say – especially since he has a schedule to keep and his time at the station was probably running low – and slowly started plodding up the platform. He closed the door and soon the train started pulling out. When he turned the corner I turned too. I finished the vaults, adding five to make up for my unexpected break, and then finished my workout while keeping an eye out for the police.
I don’t blame the guy. Seeing a 100-kilogram man climbing public property and jumping off walls isn’t an everyday event. Though I wish people didn’t jump to conclusions and assume the worst, I can't really blame them for not feeling comfortable enough to actually ask me what I am doing. All of this is just another reminder to be careful.
Actually this is not my first, or even second, such incident. While I was training for my proposal a bystander called the police. I had to explain myself to the law then. Then, on another day a man walking home late from work saw me climbing the ledge on the side of the station building. His reaction was genuinely admirable. He waited for me to get down and then watched me climb again. When I got down the second time (many of my exercises are repeated drills) he stepped in with a question.
“Why are you trying to climb that building?” he asked me. I tried to explain that I was practicing Prakour – a type of improvised urban gymnastics – he seemed unconvinced. I then compared it to rock-climbing, an explanation he hesitantly accepted. “Are you sure?” He asked before walking off. He was concerned and I appreciate his actions.
This whole thing reminds me of old Mary Duglas’ ‘matter out of place’ hypothesis. The idea that things and people that occupy the margins of society or engage in socially unusual practices are nearly innately unsettling to most people. They create uncertainty and question existing boundaries and sadly, it is a near-universal human reaction to assume the worst of those we don’t understand and those who challenge our conception of the world around us.
On a more technical note: Distance running and hand-over-hand ledge climbing is getting easier and I’ve added a twist vault to the usual batch of exercises.
Also, getting pretty comfortable with chin-ups. Will do more comic-notes in the next few days. My current illustration gig has been keeping me busy during the week and an unexpected comic convention took this weekend over.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Good run tonight. I was cold out so I had good motivation to get the blood pumping. Did all the basic exercises. Ran a good distance.
Today, on the way to work I decided to do some notes in comic form. What came out is a diagram of one of my nightly exercises. Windsor train station (where I train) has a wall-garden of two levels built out of stone on the south side of platform 1. Each level is a good bit taller than a meter and the two levels make a two step vault. Every night - weather permitting - I try to climb both steps in a fluid movement. When I reach the top I jump down, landing on the stone lip of the first step then hopping down to the train platform. Then I climb again. The whole thing is repeated ten times and gets me puffed and well worked out.
My movements are still clumsy, I tried to capture
this in the drawing sequence.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Well, it's a rainy night outside. This pretty much puts a complete damper on my evening run. I've learned that wet sneakers offer very little traction and although, from what I understand, the parkour philosophy would suggest that I treat wetness as just another obstacle: I'm not yet confident enough to tackle high climbing with little traction.
Instead I've stayed inside. I've been looking at my comics for ideas on self-depiction. I'm going to have to settle on a drawing style for the comic work that's to come. In my proposal for this project, as well as my honors thesis, my self-depiction was a cuter, "chibi" version of myself. Accessibility was the key, and the subject matter was abstract. My model was the self-depictions of Scott McCloud, cute, simple and abstract (see above).
This time the subject matter is far less abstract. Parkour is a physical discipline, it requires a more grounded, realistic style. Not too realistic. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Thinking something more along the lines of Craig Thompson's cartoony brush-lines. Gotta sit down and do some sketching.
Actually, I've recently picked up Christopher Downes' A Diary of a Work in Progress and enjoyed the hell out of it. The thing that made it particularly inspirational was the fact that Chris decided to do a page a day for a book project. Admirable habit that I might have to cultivate. Plus, rendering environments is something else that I'll have to practice. Must find some time to take out my pad and do some observations.
Getting Started
Went out for a run tonight. Running late to attract less attention. Parkour draws all kinds of suspicion from folks. Especially if you chose a train station as your training environment. The police have come around twice, both times they asked to move on and both times I've had to explain that no property damage is being done. Now I leave at midnight and am usually back by ten to one.
No privacy tonight though. There was trackwork and the workers took the time to puzzle over the big dude climbing around on the roof of the station. Jumps and climbing only tonight. No fence climbing, too dodgy looking. Tomorrow. Also gotta start taking sketches of the runs and the environments.
This is it folks, how it all starts. I just handed in my paperwork for the grant. My university will start paying me as of the beginning of next year. Money to write, draw and do Parkour with other runners in Melbourne. I'll have to go talk to some other runners soon. Hope they don't mind me taking notes and sketches.