Parkour is a free-style method of exercise and exploration, in which an individual propels him- or herself through a urban landscape using only their surroundings and their own body—it requires agility and good form in order to prevent injury. In this lesson from Zoic Nation, learn how to do a parkour cat grab. Andy starts by outlining baby steps to get started with, as well as the often-injurious mistakes that people often make, before demonstrating a perfect cat grab.
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Both a “punch” and a “plyo” are two-footed jumps in the sport of parkour. But a plyo is not a punch. In this lesson from Zoic Nation, learn how to do a plyometric jump, safely. Andy demonstrates how to step into a plyo (instead of hopping or hurdling into it) for a quiet landing on the balls of your feet, as well as how to swing your arms forward into your jump for momentum. Finally, he illustrates common mistakes that people make and shows what a well-executed plyo should look like.
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One fundamental movement of both Parkour and Freerunning is the Vault. The Vault is a basic maneuver that you can use to safely hurdle over obstacles, including low walls, railings and fences. If you are looking for a movement that will allow you to navigate the landscape while maintaining your forward momentum, this is it! In this fun and quick lesson, you learn how to do the Speed, Reverse and Monkey Vaults.
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Somewhere between gymnastics and martial arts is Parkour, a challenging, physical discipline requiring speed, body control, and flexibility. In this essential lesson for Parkour and freerunning novices, review two essential skills: warm ups and landings. If you want to start practicing Parkour and freerunning safely as a beginner, this lesson is a great place to start.
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Ready to learn how to do a side flip? In this lesson, teacher Christopher Tung uses stop-action footage to show you exactly how to take off and jump higher. You'll see how to position your arms to generate torque when spinning, control your tuck, and spot the ground for a smooth landing. With some practice, you'll be able to add this trick to your free running and parkour moves!
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Parkour star Alireza Japalaghy's video landed him in hot water with Iranian authorities for violating public decency laws, forcing him to escape to Turkey. The possibility of extradition back to Iran has human rights activists concerned. Produced by: Durrie Bouscaren. Image credit: Screenshot from Radio France Internaional via YouTube video.
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Tired of failing to capitalize on your self-improvement kicks? In this lesson from Darya Rose, creator of Summer Tomato, learn how to take advantage of natural habit-building tendencies and enhance your daily routine. Once you identify your bad habits, rewire them without losing the rewards. Whether you want to start eating healthier or focus on physical fitness, these tips will help you achieve your goals.
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How do you determine right from wrong when human lives are on the line? Follow along with Professor Massimo Pigliucci as he considers the philosophical and neurobiological answers to this question. This lesson offers a review of Aristotle's virtue ethics, Kant's deontology, and Bentham and Mill's utilitarianism, and then analyzes the classic philosophical thought experiment, the Trolley Dilemma. Learn how different parts of the brain are used for making rational versus emotional moral judgments.
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Installing Mountain Lion OS X needn't be as hard as wrestling a real mountain lion! This lesson from Mac and Computer Help gives you step-by-step instructions on updating your Mac's operating system. Learn how to check if your computer is compatible with Mountain Lion, and see a list of hardware requirements. See where and how to buy the system, complete the installation, and set up iCloud. You’ll be using great new features in no time!
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A thesis statement is the first and most important piece of any essay—whether you call it a controlling idea or a unifying concept, your paper must have one. But a thesis doesn’t just state your position on whatever matter you are writing about; it also provides a road map for constructing the body of your essay, an outline for you to follow. In this lesson from David Taylor, learn a simple formula to create a thesis; once you have a solid thesis, your paper will be a delight to write.
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Viva la salsa! This video will teach you how to dance salsa and do turns like a champion - in the privacy of your own home! This dance lesson breaks down all the moves of a basic turn - in a fun and simple way. First, you will learn the steps without music, and then with music. Learning how to salsa was never easier!
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Your time is priceless; so make the most of it with these quick interval drills from Kacie Fischer! In this workout lesson, learn how to use an interval timer for rapid-fire exercising using only a jump rope and a bar for overhead squats (Kacie improvises by using a broom handle). Using an interval timer will allow you to move through multiple rounds of these five drills in a matter of minutes! Added bonus: an interval timer beeps, so you don’t have to watch the clock.
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Fashion magazines can provide wonderful ideas for your wardrobe. But these fashions often cost more than you can spend. Learn how to make them for yourself, at home! You’ll save on cash, and each time someone compliments you on your good taste, you’ll have the personal satisfaction of knowing you designed and created your one-of-a-kind jewelry. In this lesson, get the hang of making wirework jewelry— familiarize yourself with the tools, materials, and learn how to design your own pieces.
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Amaze your friends and confound your foes with this mystifying card trick! In this lesson from TAGS Magic, Tom demonstrates and then explains the "Slap the Cards" trick. Make a few wrong guesses, then smack the stack of cards in a spectator's hand to reveal their chosen card. The moves you need to pull off this trick (like the false cut) are useful to practice for any number of card tricks, so it's a great place to start.
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Whether you use your machine for gaming, video and photo editing, or animation, maximize your resources by using a computer suited specifically to your needs. In this first of four videos from his series on how to build a computer, Carey Holzeman demonstrates that it’s really not that complicated. Get started by figuring out what hardware you’ll need (if you’re stumped, Carey’s got some recommendations for you) and learn how to connect the power supply.
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Already learned to brew beer and ready to keg it? This lesson - perfect for a beginner beer brewer - gives step-by-step instructions for the kegging process. James Reed discusses the equipment and supplies you’ll need and walks through step-by-step instructions for how to keg beer, including how to clean and sanitize your keg.
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Think that all you need is a good camera and a good bit of know-how in order to take great pictures? While that might be true, a tripod is a tool that can help improve your photography skills—and not just for portraits. In this photography lesson, Julie Waterhouse offers two reasons why you should use a tripod the next time you are out shooting.
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Time to hang ten, man! You've managed your surfing takeoff, now ride your first wave. Part 4 of 8 from Canggu Surf School, this lesson teaches you to stand on and steer your surfboard. Learn to hold your body in the mid position with your knees slightly bent - and turn by shifting weight to your back foot and looking toward where you want to go. Be sure to look straight ahead rather than down when turning, or you'll find yourself in deep water!
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Your car has been repaired, but the last thing you want is patchy new point over just the touched up part of your car. In this lesson from Donnie at Collision Repair, learn about the importance of automotive paint blending. Paint blending is the process of blending the paint on adjacent panels of the car so that there is no clear difference, disguising the fact that a section has been painted. It can be used to make a repair to the car seem invisible.
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Learn how scientists discovered DNA and determined its function, composition, and structure. The first in a series of eight, this lesson will teach you about the major experiments that led to our understanding of DNA as the physical basis for heredity. Craig will also teach you about the chemical structure of DNA and recent advances in genetic study - including cloning Dolly the sheep!
Watch the rest of this series to learn about DNA replication, protein synthesis, and gene control.
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Stumped by integral notation? Wonder how to denote the constant that would disappear when taking the derivative of a function? Just plain confused about calculus? In this lesson on integrals from Krista King of IntegralCALC, build off of your knowledge of derivatives to understand how to calculate an “antiderivative” to find the exact area under a function.
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Want to improve your running in a way that doesn’t involve grueling exercises? Setting goals is a wonderful way to become a better runner, but Coach Tief is here to tell you that the quality of the goal matters. Often, goals are not attainable or not specific enough. But with Coach Tief’s SMART goals sheet, you will be running better, and increasing your confidence and sense of self worth. Start setting and achieving your goals today (link to SMART goal sheet available)!
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Lost in the woods? No need to resort to trails of bread crumbs! This lesson from Roadside Nature shows you the correct way to hold, use, and read a compass to scout your way home. Point the compass forward, keeping it level with the ground. Ensure that there are no metallic objects or electricity sources nearby, as these can interfere with your compass. Learn about the Quadrant and Azimuth methods of finding a specific direction.
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Hitting a tennis ball may seem pretty straightforward, but there is more to the technique than meets the eye! In this lesson, learn the four ways not to hit a tennis ball, before learning the correct method: using a half grip on your racket while compressing and rolling a tennis ball away from you upon impact. When you are conscious of how your racket interacts with the ball, you will have more control over where the ball goes, and more control is always a good thing in tennis.
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Knowing your way around a sewing machine opens up a whole new world of creativity! From clothing to home décor to customized gifts, sewing provides you with a range of opportunities to use your skills, save money, and bring your artistic designs to life. In this sewing lesson, Mimi G shows you around a sewing machine, explaining the most basic functions that most machines are equipped to do, describes the most necessary tools you’ll need to begin, and teaches you how to read a pattern.
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Knowing how to handle a chef’s knife is an important culinary skill. All too often the slicing and dicing of ingredients is considered a challenge or a chore, discouraging many from making home-cooked meals. In this lesson, you’ll learn chef knife safety and how to use the rolling and up-and-down techniques effectively. Take on new recipes and culinary adventures with confidence!
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