tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post4800456199525888127..comments2023-05-24T23:33:57.516+10:00Comments on My Unwelcome Stranger: The Cycling Freak and the Parkour kidsDenis Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-16637243776883854032011-01-04T08:01:15.806+11:002011-01-04T08:01:15.806+11:00Welcome to 2011, Julie L. No, I don't believe...Welcome to 2011, Julie L. No, I don't believe for one moment you are a Parkour girl! (That probably will make you determined to be one!) I do think it's for young bones and muscles and urban kids who don't mind knocking their shins or bruising their shoulders rolling on concrete while learning, <br /> But the more I say these things the more you will want to prove me wrong! I do think you should do the ninja thing though.... that's really more you! And better for the places you like to wander. If you and Bob had chosen to live in an inner city unit instead of a rainforest, I might have thought Parkour was for you! Tap dancing? :) <br /> I am fascinated by the idea of one [new] physical and intellectual challenge for the year. I'd have to think about that for myself.....Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-64395608970919511082011-01-03T21:54:37.042+11:002011-01-03T21:54:37.042+11:00Hmm...well, as usual my new year resolution is to ...Hmm...well, as usual my new year resolution is to undertake one physical challenge and one intellectual challenge for the year. Maybe Parkour could be it! Would make a change to move swiftly and efficiently past objects instead of bumping into them all the time! I WAS thinking of training as a ninja this year and becoming a mistress of stealth (it's actually the all-black look that attracts me but maybe Parkour would be more useful. There's not a lot of call for geriatric ninjas! Seriously, I think Parkour sounds excellent and wonder if it has an age limit?Julie Lakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268676551467882065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-7667291480316437982011-01-03T00:35:25.371+11:002011-01-03T00:35:25.371+11:00My pleasure, Christian. And may I say that seeing ...My pleasure, Christian. And may I say that seeing your friends together today I couldn't help thinking what a great group you are.<br /><br />I agree with your first comment, Joan. It was the left hand - and I had seen that comment before about imagining the movement or mirroring the good side. It's very encouraging. I do what I can.<br /><br />I heard from Julie about you pair redefining the universe. Not bad on a bottle of plonk! :) Maybe you better record the conversation next time and see how it sounds in the cold light of day....!!<br /><br />I'm very serious about the trip out - will contact you later in the morning.Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-59244693666036026652011-01-02T22:21:46.654+11:002011-01-02T22:21:46.654+11:00Thank you for mentioning us in your blog, Denis.Thank you for mentioning us in your blog, Denis.Christiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-32852391880830570402011-01-01T13:57:25.894+11:002011-01-01T13:57:25.894+11:00If kids are doing PK, skateboarding, or rap dancin...If kids are doing PK, skateboarding, or rap dancing on the pavement, they can't be drunk or or drugs. It's wonderful!!!<br /><br />As for your 7:00am bike ride, which hand were you balancing on, Denis? They say that even imagining you are doing such things creates the same pattern in the brain that the real activity creates. <br /><br />Last night we had a naughty-food/drink New Year's party. People didn't leave until 2:30, so they must have had a good time. At 2:00 I was deep in an intense conversation with Julie about meditation and Hindu/Buddhist philosophy. In the course of the conversation, I was rubbing an empty champagne bottle against the sugar jar, trying to create a universe. Something about the friction between opposites. I'd just had two small glasses of a Tasmanian liqueur that has the effect of making one more stoned than drunk. It's that liqueur that does that to the mind. This is not the first time it has happened. The mind becomes incredibly clear, though possibly not rational, the conversation gets very odd and intense, and I find myself saying things I've never even thought before. It's very weird, but so much fun. Must buy more of that stuff.<br /><br />Wish you could have been here, Denis.<br /><br />Have a happy New Year's day, and both Julie and I look forward to your promise to SEE us early in the New Year.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04715081266571704126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-89560586746829448832011-01-01T09:06:51.284+11:002011-01-01T09:06:51.284+11:00Some of them have reached amazing levels of body a...Some of them have reached amazing levels of body and mind control - but I see gymnastics training like pommel horse, tumbling, rock climbing - you name it! going into the discipline - and why not? The fluidity of movement of some of them - girls as well as boys - is beautiful. Oh to have again that strength and mobilty and determination to dare! <br /> Yes, there are injuries, as in anything so physical. Deaths too no doubt - again, as in any sport you care to name. Some always pay the price - but what is hammered home in the training is to build slowly to achieve an object - not to be competitive with others - not to fall into the trap of getting over-confident or proceeding too fast.<br /> As to other disciplines, no doubt different ones appeal to different kids for unexplainable reasons, but I think you have to let them try to trust their own judgment. Easy for an 'outsider' to say, I know - but some things must run their course. <br /> The popularity of knives these days worries me a lot. Young men especially are at risk of lack of fully developed judgment, which is why so many of them have to be scraped off trees they've wrapped their cars around, or imagine life's not all that different from a computer simulation. If only they could experience the pain and debilitation of a genuine stab wound, even a comparatively minor one, the glamour might go off it. Some must feel the urge to carry a knife to protect themselves - but the danger of going down that road is immense. Maybe some of these disciplines train in self-defence against knives. I rather hope that Parkour type training would allow a kid to escape and outrun someone waving a knife than have to try to defend themselves.<br /> The Chinese and Japanese martial arts have strong self-discipline as their base along with Taoist and Zen principles, so I have some faith in them. Sadly, they like other disciplines can be abused as much as any other, especially when ego gets in the way.Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-8060638853291251152010-12-31T12:13:20.075+11:002010-12-31T12:13:20.075+11:00I have seen some pretty amazing video footage of t...I have seen some pretty amazing video footage of these guys....must admit they scare the pants off me! Would hate to see inexperienced, younger kids copying, though. Congrats to Christian. Young Mike was taking a similar path until he became interested in a Japanese form or martial arts - is hoping to be off to Japan next year to meet the 'Grand Master'...And I admit to being resistant to the idea of him joining - especially as this school does both traditional and modern techniques (street fighting in a sense or at least how to handle yourself in these sorts of situations - dark, smoke filled rooms with attackers carrying knives (of sorts) etc etc. You can understand a mothers hesitation). But I have to say it is great to see him training - very controlled. Very focused. We will see where it all ends.Annenoreply@blogger.com