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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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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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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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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Pesto is a versatile Italian sauce—traditionally used on pizzas or pasta, it makes an excellent spread on sandwiches, potatoes or even fish (Chef Pesto prefers his on salmon). While there are many other ways to incorporate this sauce into your food, pesto itself is easy and quick to make. Chef Pesto prepares a basic recipe that can be augmented to satisfy your flavor cravings. Simple enough for a child to make, but delicious enough for everyone, enjoy some fresh pesto with dinner tonight!
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Show off your slideshow skills with this tutorial in the basics of PowerPoint! In this beginner lesson from Motion Training, learn to create professional and engaging slideshows. See how to: add slides; create bullet points; write and edit text make custom slide layouts; format your presentation with themes; add images, animate your presentation; and much more. Although this lesson is specific to PowerPoint 2010, the concepts presented here can be applied to any edition of PowerPoint.
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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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Brave the great outdoors with these wilderness survival tips! In this second of two lessons, Dave Canterbury from The Pathfinder School teaches you two crucial elements of survival: water and fire. Learn to recognize the signs of dehydration, and to filter or boil water so that it is safe to drink in just three minutes. Learn the right technique for creating a fire with waterproof tinder, kindling, and fuel. Be sure to carry a stainless steel water container, waterproof bag, lighter, and tinder.
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Perhaps you’ve taken a year of Spanish, and you feel comfortable enough in your language skills to finally take that vacation to a Spanish speaking country. While you may be intimidated, if you have the basics down, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Spanish is Your Amigo is here to teach you ten key phrases that are great to begin a conversation, or to interject when you don’t know what else to say. Master these, and no one will guess that Spanish isn’t your native language.
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So you want to create a mixed media video, combining raw film footage with animated characters (think Angry Birds in real life). It might take a lot of time and work, but it is worth the effort to do it the right way. Take the time, and you can create a compelling, realistic yet fantastical effect. In this lesson Tom Antos, provides a basic overview of what it takes (time, skill, commitment, and more) to integrate a cartoon style animation with video footage.
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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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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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Confused about why there are electoral votes in US presidential elections? Learn about the Electoral College and the part it plays in choosing the president. In this lesson, HipHughes will explain how electoral votes work, how they are allocated, and why the media pays such close attention to the election map.
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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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Make your own stamped greeting card for any special occasion! This lesson from Catherine Pooler of Life Scraps shows you how to transform cardstock into 3D cards, perfect for birthdays and holidays. Learn to make a basic background for your card, and then see different ways to embellish your card with buttons, ribbons, embossing paper, stamps, or brads. It is easy to create many of these cards at once so that you can have them on hand whenever you need them.
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Turn heads with your fabulous booty! In this lesson from Kacie Fischer, learn how to shape and tone a fabulous derrière using only a weight and a pair of good shoes. Kacie shows you how to maximize three drills that target your glutes: the single arm snatch, the reverse lunge, and squat jumps (and remember, if a drill uses only one arm or leg at a time, make the most of your workout and repeat the drill with the other arm or leg). Maximize this workout for a perfectly sculpted backside!
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Want to add a little spice to your kitchen wallpaper? Use a stencil to paint a border running above your counters and appliances! This lesson from Cutting Edge Stencils teaches you to tape your stencil in place, apply your paint evenly with a roller, and remove your stencil without smearing or bleeding your paint. This simple technique for stenciling a border can add an simple but classy accent to any room.
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Become familiar with the tools and materials required to solder. This lesson teaches you the proper way to cut, clean, and deburr pipe, and demonstrates proper flux application (flux is not only for the pipes you are soldering, but also for the pipe fitting). After watching Seth demonstrate with ½ in. copper pipe, you will be well on your way to safe soldering, and repairing your own plumbing in no time!
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Before you set out on your next adventure in the great outdoors, make sure you have the right food—and enough of it! Elaine Johnson, associate food editor at Sunset magazine, reveals what to prep ahead, why you should use a grocery list, how to pack a cooler to keep fragile foods safe and secure, and more. With all of the meals squared away in advance, you can spend less time hovering over the grill and more time enjoying the fresh air.
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Why wile away your days when you can tile them away? Part 1 of 3, this lesson from Tommy's Trade Secrets teaches you how to tile a bathroom or kitchen floor. Learn how to plan your tile arrangement and mark your room accordingly - and the best practices for sealing your floor with PVA glue, spacing your tiles, and laying tile on an uneven surface. Continue with the series to learn how to cut tile for corners, edges, and doorways - and how to grout and finish your tiling project.
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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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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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Drilling through ceramic is a useful skill, whether you’re hanging decorative plates on a wall, creating a fountain from terra cotta flowerpots, making wind chimes, or creating your own project. All it takes is a drill, some diamond drill bits, and a container of water. In this video from Supergokue1, learn how to safely operate your drill to avoid injury while quickly drilling through whatever ceramic material you’re working with.
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