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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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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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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Knowledge of HTML 5 is necessary for any contemporary web developer. Understanding where it came from will help you understand what this still-emerging programming language can accomplish and where it’s going. In this introductory lesson to HTML 5 and CSS, Mark Lassoff from LearnToProgram.tv gives an overview of HTML, the programming language that is the foundation of both websites and web applications. He covers HTML 4.01, XHTML, and HTML 5, as well as the design element of web design, CSS.
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Become a twinkle-toes... literally! This lesson from Boat People teaches you to brighten up a pair of old thrift store shoes by adding sparkle to the toes. This fun and easy project uses just glitter, mod podge, a brush, and some masking tape. Tape off the end of the shoe, brush on some mod podge, and apply the glitter. For added glamour, swap out the laces for a shiny ribbon!
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Learn how to create a journal as unique as you are, with customized pages and cover. In this lesson from Aly is Writing, discover the basics of bookbinding. Start by folding index cards and nesting five cards at a time to create a “folio;” put three to five folios together to form a “signature.” Then learn how to punch holes in your signature and bind everything together before creating a custom cover and spine. The finished product will be perfect for displaying and capturing your creativity.
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Comment allez-vous? Learn French Now! makes learning conversational French easy by teaching common phrases for informal greetings. Build your French vocabulary with greetings, conversation starters, and pleasantries. Whether you're going on a trip to Paris or just want to learn French for fun, this lesson will teach you the vocabulary to get the conversation started.
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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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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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Besides masculinity, the beard has long denoted wisdom and a philosophical soul. However, despite the distinguished air a beard can lend to its wearer, a poorly groomed beard may also make the wearer appear slovenly and unkempt. Never fear though—instead, take the guesswork out of your grooming! Learn the most classic and popular styles of beard; Sciascia’s Salon’s Donna Gillis demonstrates how to achieve each beard style (the natural, classic, and urban beards and the Van Dyke).
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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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Interested in learning how to use Microsoft Excel 2010? The first in a series, this Excel tutorial covers how to edit and format spreadsheets, enter data, and create basic charts. Motion Training will also teach you simple tips and tricks to help you get started with this powerful software. Although the lesson focuses on Microsoft Excel 2010, the concepts covered can be applied to earlier versions of Excel.
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Want to improve your forehand swing in tennis? In this lesson from Jeff Salzenstein, a professional tennis coach from Total Tennis Training, learn to avoid a common problem with your ready position that results in a weak forehand swing. Learn to space your hands and place one on the throat of your racket—so that you can extend your left arm more easily on the first swing. This trick can make your tennis swing more efficient and accurate.
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Have you always admired a friend’s skills at the piano and wished you could play too? Perhaps you are intimidated by the notation, or think sheet music is just too difficult to learn. Music theory doesn’t have to be hard. In this lesson, Michael demystifies the language of music and explains how to interpret which notes form a specific chord. Mastering chord notation will not only improve your playing, but will help you grasp how music works for when you begin to compose your own masterpieces.
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If you’re hitting the beach, why not hit the waves? Part 1 of 8, this lesson from Canggu Surf School introduces you to the basics of surfing. Learn about the parts of a surfboard (nose, tail, rail, deck, din, and leash), the surf break, and different kinds of tides. See how to position your body, legs, and arms on the surfboard, and get step-by-step instructions on how to paddle. You’ll also hear about some of the common problems in surfing form and how best to avoid them.
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Indulge your inner mad scientist by experimenting with and creating shapes out of magnets and ferrofluid, a black liquid present in the earth's crust. Discover the science behind this magnetic rare earth, hear how to make your own ferrofluid at home (including a portable version encased in water), learn how to alter and complicate your ferrofluid designs, and get tips on how to tidy up after your project (as every good mad scientist should).
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Stir-frying is one of the simplest and most versatile methods of cooking. The technique does require planning and preparation, but each successive stir-fry you create will increase your confidence and improve your timing when it comes to cooking ingredients. In this lesson, learn what the five main components of a stir-fry are, and how they can be used to create infinite flavor combinations. Heavy on vegetables, stir-fries are some of the healthiest, quickest, and most delicious meals to make.
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Knitting is an excellent way to make your own clothing or craft elegant gifts for loved ones. It allows you to express yourself artistically through the stitches and designs you use in your piece. In this lesson from Fabin BC, watch and learn how to knit a cable cast on. Start by learning how to do a slip stitch and how to hold your needles. Lynne shows you how to knit the cast on stitch and then demonstrates what to do when you get to the last stitch, to create a lovely cabled edge.
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The game of chess has persisted in relevance for centuries because it forces players to use the fundamental elements of time, space, and force. In this lesson, William Karneges discusses different strategies: leveraging these elements, checking your opponent’s king (using not only common means like back rank weakness, but by making supporting pieces like your rook and knight work together), and avoid unsatisfying stalemate.
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Scrapbooking is an excellent way to preserve memories for future generations. Although typically scrapbooks are graphically focused (with pictures, ticket stubs, cards, or other memorabilia creating the bulk of the contents), consider enhancing your books with creative journaling. In this lesson, Susan shows you how to add journaling to your scrapbook. Your life and your memories are unique; ensure that those once in a lifetime moments truly are unforgettable with creative journaling.
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Running may seem easy and natural, but it does requires proper technique if you wish to not injure or harm your body along the way. In this fifth and final lesson on improving running form, Oliver Henzler explains how you can avoid overstriding. Some people overstride because of a shortened Achilles tendon; regardless of why you overstride, minimalist running shoes or zero drop shoes naturally help you improve your form. Learn how to run correctly, and your body will thank you later.
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Painted in 1533, Hans Holbein’s “The Ambassadors” is a double portrait of two French Ambassadors, who were apparently successful in all aspects of life, evidenced by the items they are painted with. But an anamorphic skull in the bottom half of the portrait requires an entirely different perspective to view it, and not the men and their accomplishments. How and why did Holbein incorporate this skull into the painting? Amor Sciendi is here to help explain this metaphorical image.
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Did you know how important the pole plant is to great skiing technique? Many people make the mistake of planting poles too late and become unbalanced as a result—don’t become one of them! Instead, learn the optimum time to add support from your poles from this pole plant ski drill. Proper pole technique not only stabilizes your body through a turn, but also ensures that you don’t turn up the hill you just came down.
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