The Brad Nelson Gymnastics Chronicles…Installment #3

I have finally gotten all 3 on a trampoline.  Now working on technique.  Sometimes you just have to “DO” in order to “GET IT”.  True in my experience.

Here it is…

Get after your 2009 Goals…we are already 33% done with 2009!

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Those of you following me know I have been working on Muscle Ups on the Rings.  I finally got one this past Saturday…and then I got 5 more singles.  Here are a couple on video.

Take-away => Being a student again & learning new skills are challenging at times, frustrating at times, but EXACTLY what my nervous system needs…novelty in training.

Pursue your goals.  Give me status updates in the “Comments” section on your 2009 goals thus far.

Crank it!
B-Rad

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Ladies…you keep reading too!

Balls.  Big Bull Balls is what we’re talking about.  Today, I’m going to kick you in the ass about trying something new.  Some of you are so stuck in your routines about everything in life from using the same toothpaste to wearing the same clothes to doing the same workout over and over and over again that it makes me want to puke.  2009 is THE year to do something different.  Do you have the BALLS to do something different?

Yesterday marked a landmark day in U.S. history with President Obama being ushered into the White House.  Whether you agree or disagree (I disagree with many…but I do with most presidents) with his policy, you must understand this is a new era.  He is  the FIRST African-American President ever.  He is the YOUNGEST president EVER. He is eager to change some things.

We will have to wait and see what will come in the months ahead as he has some serious issues to deal with and a lot of hope and peace of mind to restore to the people of America.  Obama’s got BALLS regardless if you like him or what he stands for and I at the very least can respect BALLS.  Ok enough of the political b.s.  Let’s get back on purpose.

Monday night I was finally able to attend my first Adult Gymnastics Open Gym at Gleason’s Gymnastics School in Eagan (kick ass gymnastics center by the way).  It’s “Adult” in the sense there are no little 6-year old kids there to point fingers at me and say “Mister, why can’t you do this?” and proceed to land a perfect back handspring to back-flip and says “this is easy” and then walks away not understanding how that little comment will force me into spite mode so I can return 6 months later and go “Hey Suzy, WATCH THISSSSSS!” as I return the favor.

So a 20-something female “tutored” my friend and I on gymnastics basics.  Went something like this:  “I’m going to have you guys warm-up on the trampoline…”

-10 consecutive jumps landing in the same place (WAY harder than it sounds on a “Super” tramp…no, not the band)

-alternate these 3 jumps

Tuck jumps

Pike jumps

Straddle jumps

-add a 180-degree turn after each one

-learn Front drop back to standing

-learn Back drop back to standing

-learn Butt drop back to standing

-do each of the previous 3
alternating between each AND doing a 180-degree turn

**Did I mention that we are 75 minutes in and still “warming-up” … Welcome to the BEATDOWN!

Then it was time to move to Floor Exercises:
Handstand progresssions

-Tuck bounce

-1 leg kick up

+Pike land

+straddle land

*I was very close the first night to stabilizing myself in a handstand for the first time ever

-Finished with cartwheels (which I was definitely pa-thet-ic at!)

I’m going out on a limb and saying by noon next Tuesday I’ll be able to do this in perfect form

So what is my point of telling you about gymnastics class?  Well, a few posts back I discussed some of my BHAGs and one of them is to learn some serious gymnastics’ skills in ‘09.  I am committed to going a minimum of once per week and twice when time allows so I can get better by CHALLENGING myself to learn something new (next I’m pondering taking cooking classes…my wife may laugh convulsively at this )

So have YOU taken action on any of your BHAGs?  Are YOU going to try something new, out-of-the-box, way outside your comfort zone this year? this month?  Are you willing to be a “beginner” at something to feel the uneasy feeling that you don’t have a clue what the hell you are doing?  Are you willing to fail forward until you learn a new skill or activity?  If you’re a parent, and NOT challenging yourself, what kind of message is that sending to your kids?

I hear a lot of people talk about doing things but I don’t see them TAKE ACTION.  I’m talking about ANY NEW ACTIVITY that you’ve been “thinking” about trying.  No try, just DO.  For example, I hear a lot of people talk about kettlebell training and say “that looks really hard.”  That translated means “I’m a sissy and too lazy to get off my ass and learn kettlebells.”  Get over yourself and do it.  Whatever “it” is.

So here’s the take away:

*YOU are one decision away from being “young” regardless of your actual age

**and the battle cry of Michigan Fab Five from the 90s before entering every single game:

“Let Your Nuts Hang!”

B-Rad

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