Headstand Travels

[...] shortcomings. These results were measured as of August 15th 2013, shortly before I moved out of South Korea and traveled for a month. Let’s see how I did: Handstand 3 months: 25 seconds 4 months: 28 [...]

[...] good sun. When picking the vacation spot for our last summer holiday from our teaching jobs in South Korea, seeing that Best Beach award edged out the Philippines island of Boracay from a few other [...]

[...] chapter. It was the final destination after a 2.5 year stint living and working abroad in South Korea, a life where travel had been a regular expectation rather than unaffordable luxury. With much [...]

[...] About this time 3 years ago, I stepped foot on the foreign land of South Korea and began my journey teaching English abroad. The following 2.5 years proved to be some of the [...]

[...] handspring to my repertoire. And after 7 months of my journey to achieve the manly one arm chin-up, it actually looked like I was getting close. Here are the results from Month 2: [...]

[...] and staying in line Focusing on pulling upper body forward and away from the bar 4. One Arm Chin-up (OAC) Start: Month 1: It’s a slow and painful process but I’m becoming more aware of [...]

[...] Once that’s settled just embrace the rhythm. Working on MUs on gymnastic rings for Phase 2. One arm chin-up (OAC) 3 months: 0.8 (hand on bicep assisted)/ 3 second negative 4 months: 1 (hand on bicep [...]

In April of 2013 (shortly after turning 31) I began a 4 month journey where I trained to learn a series of moves, many of which share a common origin [...]

First month. New environment, new moves. Not too many surprises though. I guess this is technically Month 5 of the Pursuit of Movement so my body has [...]

Sometimes I don’t update as timely as I should. Month 2 concluded around the beginning of 2014. After a few days of destructive eating and celebrat [...]

[...] my first tumbling pass. Round off –> back handspring –> back tuck is the most basic tumbling routine that every cheerleader and gymnast can do. [...]

[...] one leg plyometrics to help explosiveness Need to spot my landing! 6. Round-off -> Back handspring -> Back tuck Start: Month 1: Learning the back handspring has been an incredible mental [...]

[...] of basic drills and realignment proved to be the answer as I was finally able to add the back handspring to my repertoire. And after 7 months of my journey to achieve the manly one arm chin-up, it [...]

[...] shoulders love this one. GOAL: 1 rep of straddle to handstand back to straddle. Footage by Ido Portal START: A somewhat shaky 7 second straddle hold. Practicing: Straddle holds (static) Pike & [...]

[...] further ado, here are the 6 movements for Phase 2 of The Pursuit of Movement: 1. Straddle press handstand This is a graceful looking movement that gymnasts and yogis make look super easy… [...]

[...] , I realized that the actual name of this technique is called the Stalder Press, not the Straddle Press Handstand as I originally believed. A straddle press involves leaning into a handstand with your [...]

[...] or a few seconds with a shitty piked form Practicing: Straddle front levers L sits ALL DAY 3. Back lever Looks very similar to the Front Lever but a completely different experience. This is a move [...]

[...] ways off until I can say I feel “strong” in this technique. Oh well, gotta keep at it. Back lever Month 1: Month 2: Well. After a few weeks of engaging the correct muscles, this move is [...]

[...] gymnastics center (landed it on floor), but since that time I’ve fully reignited the “startle effect” and have developed TERRIBLE form again. And to be honest I’ve never landed a back [...]

[...] to fix. My technique here still has some steps to take, but damn it feels good to lose the startle effect and land straight again. Extras Planche Practicing the back lever has helped immensely in [...]

[...] island of Boracay from a few other competitors. What better way of ending a 2.5 year stint of lesson plans and whiny kids than the time-honored tradition of “getting away from it [...]

[...] . Tokyo was what you could call a closing chapter. It was the final destination after a 2.5 year stint living and working abroad in South Korea, a life where travel had been a regular expectation [...]

First month. New environment, new moves. Not too many surprises though. I guess this is technically Month 5 of the Pursuit of Movement so my body has [...]