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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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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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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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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Do you love the film, characters, and soundtrack of “Frozen”? Then try learning Idina Menzel’s version of “Let It Go” on guitar, taught by Smiley Mo! This intermediate guitar lesson covers all the chords you need to know to play this song through and through, from the intro to the last note. Practice the strumming patterns and perform your new song for friends and family!
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Try out yoga with basic and foundational yoga poses in this online video for beginners. Emma Guth teaches how to do different yoga positions - one step at a time. The lesson covers proper breathing technique, the Mountain Pose and Standing Forward Bend. Grab your yoga mat and get started on your yoga training!
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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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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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Improve your rock climbing with these helpful hints about employing your center of gravity! This lesson from Rock Climb Tips teaches you how to find the balance point in your body, which tends to be different for men and women. Learn how to position your hand and your body around holds to keep your balance, use the diagonal of your body to maximize your reach, and compensate for any loss in balance.
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Knock it out of the park with help from this power bag drill! This lesson from Performance Factory Baseball teaches you an exercise to improve the explosive power and drive of your baseball bat swing. The lesson offers tips for the stance, form, angle, and direction of your swing. This drill will also develop hand, wrist, and core strength.
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Looking for a fun and interesting way to teach 4th or 5th grade students about chemistry and chemical reactions? Use this polymer bouncy ball experiment that combines sodium silicate and ethyl alcohol to create a bouncy ball kids can play with over and over, then teach them about the science and chemical reactions in play (pun intended).
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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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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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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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April showers are finally coming up in May flowers! Learn to make gorgeous three-layered paper flowers that are sparkly and colorful. You'll need cardstock, paint and a brush, glitter glue, scissors, glue, and beads or buttons to ornament your flower. The lesson includes a great trick for giving any old paint the consistency of watercolor paint. These versatile paper flowers are great for decorating scrapbooks, cards, treasure boxes, or gifts.
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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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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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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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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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New to homebrewing beer or curious about the chemistry and cooking process behind the delicious brew you already know how to make? In this video James teaches you the tricks and techniques of home brewing your own beer while making a Nut Brown Ale from a malt extract recipe. Learn how each ingredient and process contributes to the flavor profile and appearance of your homemade brew.
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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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