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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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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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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For archery enthusiasts, knowing how to start and finish a bowstring serving is necessary to maintain your equipment. In this lesson from Wheelie Pete, learn how to do this simple upkeep, beginning by laying the tail end of the string and wrapping the serving, and ending with a technique known as backserving. To get the job done, Wheelie Pete recommends the Arizona Archery Enterprise serving jig. Bonus: this same technique is also good for peep sides!
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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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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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Some people like sports, some people like reading books. What do you like? In this lesson from Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids, follow along with Eli, Andy, Parker as they talk about their hobbies in Spanish. With the help of fun graphics and examples, you’ll learn how to talk about a few of your own favorite things and pick up a few new words and phrases along the way! Perfect for kids (and kids at heart)!
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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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Interested in the art history of ancient Greece? Explore the story and secrets of the frequently copied statue of Apollo Sauroktonos, the Lizard Slayer. Sculpted by the famous Greek artist Praxiteles, this classic nude depicts a youthful Apollo poised to kill a lizard climbing a tree. In this lesson, Lucas Livingston, historian at the Art Institute of Chicago, explores the Lizard Slayer sculpture as a metaphor for the struggle between the Greek gods of Mount Olympus and the primordial race of titans.
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Sometimes all it takes to turn a bad habit into a good one is a bit of mindfulness. In this lesson, learn several techniques for eating healthy by paying attention to the food on your plate. Darya Rose, author and creator of Summer Tomato, explains how even small environmental tweaks like low light and soft, slow music can improve your eating habits.
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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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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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Do you have an ugly hole in your wall you want filled, but don't want to block off what's inside? This lesson from Rick's DIY teaches you how to create a drywall access panel like that you'd place over, for example, a heating unit built into the wall. See how to cut your drywall to the right size with a razor knife, create a trim board for the base of the panel to match the wall, and choose the right screws to attach a trim frame around the panel.
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Do you love Korean BBQ? Now you can grill Korean style beef at home following this simple recipe - and you don’t even need a barbecue to make this delicious treat! Learn how to marinade your beef in soy sauce, sesame oil, green onion, red pepper flakes, honey, and garlic. Honeysuckle Catering teaches you how to grill your beef perfectly.
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Does DNA sometimes seem imaginary, like the Tooth Fairy? Everyone learns about it in high school biology, but have you ever actually seen DNA? Well, with Myles Power’s help you can. In this lesson, learn how to extract DNA from a strawberry. Using only common household items like dish soap, table salt, and paper towels, you too can draw out the genetic material that makes a strawberry a strawberry. This experiment is easy, but amazing, and proves that science is totally fun.
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Looking for a new jewelry making technique? Learn how to locker hook beautiful handmade bracelets out of yarn, ribbon, recycled silk, and fabric. In this lesson, Theresa Pulido will share tips and tricks from her most recent book on locker hooking, Locking Loops. A cross between needlework, crochet, and latch hook, locker hooking is a unique needlecraft that is equally fun for kids and adults.
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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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Do you love Greek mythology and the art of ancient Greece? Learn about a mythic monster from the Classical World, the original femme-fatale, the Gorgon Medusa. Through Greek sculpture, painting and poetry, this lesson explores Medusa’s lineage, background, and tragic curse. In this lesson, Lucas Livingston, a historian at the Art Institute of Chicago, discusses the possible origins of this haunting myth. As Lucas tells the tale of Medusa, he will also cover the Clash of the Titans, Perseus, Poseidon, and Athena.
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Are you not content to just fill a scrapbook? Make your own scrapbook from scratch! In this exclusive Curious lesson, crafting expert Erin Bassett teaches you how to fold, cut, and glue paper to make a colorful and original tiny book. You'll need a 12-inch square piece of paper, a scoring board or ruler, scissors, and glue. You can even paint or decorate your paper before making your book to add a specific color or design.
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Though the creation of art is not formulaic, it does require more than luck and raw talent. In this photography tutorial, Ted Forbes discusses the elements required to create art, focusing on composition and the guideline known as the Rule of Thirds. Forbes illustrates the “golden mean” with examples by famous photographer Arnold Newman.
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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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Maybe you aren’t a graphic artist yet, but do you dream of one day animating a Disney Pixar blockbuster? If you are interested in digital animation, but have zero experience in the field, start with the basics. In this introduction to the 3ds Max series, Jerry Gonzalez gives you a quick overview of his series on animating in the program—follow each tutorial closely and put in practice time, and you’ll be creating complex models and 3D animations (and maybe the next blockbuster) in no time!
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How can you win when playing Rock, Paper, Scissors? Not with a pure strategy, that’s for sure! This lesson from William Spaniel's Game Theory 101 series teaches you the theory behind this classic game. Do the math and check the payoffs to discover why you just can't beat randomness. Bummer, right? Learn about cycling arguments and why equal payoffs mean you can't easily pin down even a mixed strategy Nash equilibrium.
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