Small Group Training Open Day

The team practices shoulder stands and various pull-up / one arm chin-up progressions, in what was a predominately a bent-arm strength Small Group training class. Small group training allows us to explore in more detail movement complexity and individualised programming that is not possible in the Large Group classes. So it usually coincides that gymnastic strength, for example, is used more frequently (I don't have that many sets if rings!). It's the best of both worlds - private training with....well, a small group (duh)!

 I will be holding an open day and exhibition class for those that are interested to experience what exactly goes on in Small Group training. It will be a half day consisting of a few mini and themed taster classes covering the main elements of my approach, with have plenty of time to have your questions answered. At the very least it is free movement and coaching and you'll have a jolly good time (there will be no hard selling)! Stay tuned for more information. Until then you can find out more about small group training here: benmedder.com/classes (Scroll down past Large Groups.)

The Fine Art of Rough Play

I never will be or pretend to be a wrestling coach! But I can't emphasise how important it is to our human nature that we make time for rough and tumble play, or roughhousing as I prefer to call it. Most adults are divorced from play, especially from the rough and tumble kind unless they partake in some form of combat practice where it is encouraged or have managed to not lose it from childhood. There is plenty of research and you need only google to discover the benefits of roughhousing, not just for children but adults too; learning how to cope with the unpredictable, self handicapping , emotional intelligence and the obvious physical benefits - try wrestling for just a few minutes to see what I mean! Those are just a few of a long list.

One of my favourite benefits is the reconnection of human touch - something I'm not afraid of exploring in my classes through group games and partner interaction - Most are too afraid through social conditioning and lack of confidence to get "physical" with other people. Once the ice is broken and people remember what it is like to reconnect with another person through roughhousing and play, the confidence and genuine joy it promotes is obvious. Most (hopefully) realise this is a form interaction they are missing and want more of.

 The group bonded even more today and thank you all for trusting me (as always with my "weird" ways) and pushing through any reservations you may have had. Now go and roughhouse someone today.

Exposure as Practice

Yesterday's class was a good reminder that one should expose themselves to the challenge of adaption - in this case adapting to one's environment and the situation. We are used to the challenge of adapting to the environment in the context of moving through it, overcoming obstacles, adapting to the different demands that we might not find in a controlled indoor environment - for example the different demands on your grip when holding onto a wall. And there are many different walls! We adapt to the tools we have available from a suitable rail, to balance and vault on, finding targets for precision jumps suitable for the individuals ability, to a good wall to practice handstands, hanging, traversing and climb ups on.

What we had forgotten was that we also have to adapt to people! From being told we are too old to play in an empty playground, to various security guards telling us we couldn't do this, couldn't move there - mumbling some nonsense they didn't believe about health and safety. To dodgy characters stalking us looking for trouble, to young bolshy skaters, hyped up off of pizza and Mountain Dew practically marking their territory and complaining that we couldn't move where they were skating... You'd think we would have empathy from a culture often persecuted and moved on for their love of practice in public... not today. Did this stop us moving? Hell no.

And this is all said light-heartedly as we all saw the funny side of the social challenges presented to our usual movement based ones. We adapted, moved on when we had to and managed to carry out our practice in a variety of locations. It was wet and slippery, great for staying mindful and we did have the element of looking over our shoulder for an added practice of dealing with our sympathetic nervous response whilst staying focused! We kept moving and we moved well and overall we spread the love of moving (many looks of admiration, questions and a very nice lady who played photographer for us).  

Locomotion: Mon Crow Typerwriters with Outtakes

Locomotion ideas inspired by Ido Portal, Joseph Bartz and Jukka Rajala.

Thanks to Benjamin Buus Pedersen and Theresa Scheel for agreeing to post this. Showing that not every video has to be a "polished" finished product and what practice actually looks like i.e. some trial and error as you get to grips with the movements.

It's a process of "turning atoms into molecules" or "Isolate > Integrate > Improvise to paraphrase Ido. So far we are managing to integrate some things... but the process and research is always ongoing.

To quote some text from an Ido Portal Locomotion workshop: "Locomotion is Ido’s unique creation, a fluid, challenging, beautiful and rewarding movement system which relies on the use of low gait, squatting, inverting, crawling, bridging, quadrupedaling and other patterns, integrated to a sophisticated multi layered flow close to the ground" - http://www.move2peakacademy.dk/ido-portal-locomotion-workshop-english/

Gymnasts Are Strong for a Reason

Here's Theresa (aka Big-T) performing an L-sit. She was already pretty strong when she first started training with us, but with hard work she has made remarkable gains in strength in a short amount of time.

Basic gymnastic strength elements have played a part in that and is a great tool to get you strong quickly and with the right preparation, safely.

Gymnasts are strong for a reason! Strength is just one element, but a very important one when it comes to being a well rounded mover. Use the tools that give most bang for buck and that work for you.

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A Contrast

A small selection of some of the crawling / locomotion and games in yesterdays class. We were going to use the "gym equipment"... but we got sidetracked. Featuring Benjamin Buus Pedersen Julia Testa Julien Brightwell Kristi Knapp Luccas Ruzzon Mellisa Damodaram Theresa Scheel.

Small Group Class Snapshot

Yesterday's small group class had this trio performing a variety of movement, from many different influences. Some of the things we got up to were: Sprinting, Handstands, hanging progressions, straight arm pulling strength and one arm chin-up progressions, locomotion inspired by Joseph Bartz / Ido Portal and various mobility drills. As always, the team is a pleasure to teach and move with.