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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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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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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Want to make your own beautiful lace shirt? This lesson from Boat People teaches you to make a caftan or box top style lace shirt with just lace, scissors, pins, a needle, and thread! Learn how to fold your lace, cut out your neck hole (be sure to check the fit), and sew up the sides, leaving sleeves or arm holes. These stylish shirts look great over a colorful tank top or sports bra.
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Did you know that Saint Patrick was actually British? What about the fact that he was once a slave, and escaped to study and become a bishop? Or that his given name was actually Maewyn Succat? In this lesson from Jeremiah Warren, unleash your inner Irish by learning all about the life and legends of the man who spent thirty years travelling Ireland converting pagans to Christianity.
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Learn about Saint Patrick and submit a photo or video showing how you celebrated the holiday!
You've reached the top of your climbing wall, so how do you get over it without unsightly and unsafe rolling and flailing? Learn the dos and don'ts of topping out. This lesson from Rock Climb Tips explains how to top out with a vertical body, stepping over the wall with good foot placements and avoiding 'beaching the whale'. The video also covers planning for your fall by predicting your landing and placing a crash pad.
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Missing your play dough days? Try the grown-up version: clay sculpting! The third in a series of four, this lesson teaches you to condition your clay using a roller and your hands so that it won't dry out or crack. Once it’s ready, learn to cut your clay safely with a blade, and then blend different clays and inclusions (such as glitter) to create the perfect shade for your art project.
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Holidays and birthdays often mean expensive travel plans and gifts. If you are working to pay down your debt and are on a strict budget, you may be tempted to call the occasional birthday meal out or housewarming gift an “emergency,” justifying the use of a credit card to make the purchase. Instead of digging yourself deeper in debt, create a “sinking fund”! Learn how to plan all year for expected expenses, so that you don’t find yourself in a financial crisis come the holidays.
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Wish you had more shade in your backyard? Put the finishing touches on your home and garden by building a freestanding pergola with Ron Hazelton. For this DIY project, learn to build a trellis and canopy to cover an outdoor patio or accent your landscaping - perfect for providing a bit of shade on sunny days.
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Have you mastered the double crochet and slip stitch? Are your friends and family always complimenting your handmade crochet scarves and accessories? If you want to start selling your crochet for profit, this is the course for you! You’ll learn how to create a business plan to make your dream into a reality. Begin by thinking about your audience, inventory, pricing, and advertising strategy.
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Get a forehand tennis swing like just the pros! In this lesson, Rachael from Full Swing Tennis teaches you all about the modern forehand in four easy steps. Learn about the semi-western grip, which can allow for extra topspin. The lesson also covers dropping your racket for the backswing, rotating your waist and shoulders, and swinging through with your non-hitting hand. Be sure to keep your weight on your inside foot as you step out for the swing.
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You've set up Twitter, Facebook, blog, and Pinterest accounts for your business... so why is nothing happening? In this lesson from Lyra Communications, learn how long social media marketing takes to kick in, and why. While advertising results in a sudden spike then fall in interest, social media builds interest gradually over time, particularly for start-ups. Get estimates on how long it will take to see an impact, and find out why social media is worth the investment despite the wait.
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Want to store your stuff with style? Crafty Gemini teaches you how to stitch your very own quilted zipper pouch with boxy corners. All that you'll need is two kinds of fabric, batting, a lapel stick, a zipper, and a sewing machine. These bags are easy to make and perfect to use as pencil cases, make-up bags, travel dop kits, or what you will. This video offers handy tips for sewing zippers onto fabric using a zipper foot.
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When it comes to screen printing, standard flood and stroke methods are not ergonomically designed, and can stress your back, arms, wrists, and fingers. But there is a better way, and Jonathan from Catspit Productions is here to tell you about it. Jonathan uses a “pull flood” and “push stroke” method that puts less tension on your muscles that applies more force to your transfer and gives you more control of the ink. Because this method is so efficient, just be careful to not use too much force.
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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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Everybody was Kung Fu fighting... And soon, you will be too! In this intro lesson, Master Wong walks you through the basic moves and philosophies of Wing Chun. This close-combat Chinese martial art is a great self-defense technique. Learn some stretches and exercises to warm-up, then jump into an energy drill to practice holding the line of your body when striking and pushing. See a grab and pull that can divert your opponent, and get tips on moving your feet without losing control of your body.
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Drawing can be difficult and intimidating if you weren’t born with the hand of an artist, but like every other skill, it can be learned through exercise and repetition. In this lesson from Drawing Teachers, Michael teaches about 3D elements such as the vanishing point and horizon line while showing you step-by-step how to draw a 3D house. For this exercise, you’ll need a paper, ruler, pencil, and pen. Once you master this lesson, you’ll be able to draw any boxy design in 3D.
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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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Cycling is an environmentally friendly way to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and even save on gas money. The first step to getting started cycling is getting the right bike; the second step is getting the right fit. In this lesson from Art’s Cyclery, Luke demonstrates how to get the correct saddle height, and the right saddle fore and aft positions. Finally, to take pressure off of your back and wrists, learn how to flip the stem for a more comfortable angle on your handlebars.
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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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Succulents come in a variety of shapes and stunning colors, and are versatile enough to fit in deep or shallow containers. Create a beautiful container garden showcasing these gorgeous plants, and add interest to your porch or patio! Learn how to prep your container, what kind of soil to use, and how to maximize the 4” pots of succulents you’ll buy. Single-container succulent gardens also make unique and thoughtful gifts—whether your creation is for a friend or yourself, it’s sure to be enjoyed.
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With just a cooking grate, sand, aluminum foil, and bricks, you can build your own barbecue pit in minutes. Margo True, food editor at Sunset magazine, shares the blueprint (courtesy of celebrity chef Michael Fiorello). Gather some fire-building materials and invite your friends over to test out your DIY creation.
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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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