new beginning

I have decided to morph my blog into a website designed to give tips on how to get the flag going for the average Joe or Jane. It is still under construction but hopefully will be up and running soon.
http://humanflagtraining.com
Check it out!

Mission Accomplished!

Had a busy few weeks with not many posts....so...... decided to take the plunge today and just do it.
Yep flag painted, flag done.

 A few days ahead of schedule but I`m calling it mission accomplished!

Does that make this the end of my journey?
 I wanted to prove to myself (and my girls) that given enough time and motivation you can accomplish pretty much everything.
Tick that box as done.
Can I do the human flag?
check that also.
Could I do it better?
 most definately.

So...where to from here.
 Well I`ve grown to love bodyweight exercises, I`ve discovered other cool exercises like elbow levers, muscle ups, and human flag push ups. That`s where I`m heading next.

First off,  I will continue the flag training to get to the point where I can hold it for an extended period, during which I`ll also work on the muscle up and levers.

 I also want to branch out into Parkour and get some free running moves down. Worth blogging about? Maybe.....
I don`t know how many people check out this blog but I find writing stuff down and throwing it out there helps define what I want to do and (even if only one person reads it) keeps me motivated to never give up.

So at this stage the blogging will continue, who knows maybe it`ll morph into a website on how the average guy can learn anything and reach any goal! (3 months ago I didn`t even have a facebook page! yet another great learning experience:)

Next post, for those interested, I will be putting up my top tips for the average bloke (or chick) to attain the human flag in under 3 months.

Thanks for sticking with me those that have, catch you next time!

Getting closer....

Happy New Year!
Kept up the training over the Christmas period though I`d have to admit that the intensity has been dialled down somewhat. Having said that...I`m getting closer.
Can actually get into the full flag position now. Just need to tweek it a bit. (torso up just a bit, arms and legs straighter and get the hold for longer than a second or so!)

Have found that I`m finding it easier with a pole hold as opposed to the parallel hold shown here, will get a pole pic sometime in the near future.

Also as promised here is the link to the book I have been using to progress to this point. It contains full details on each progression point from the clutch flag to the full human flag. (as well as other awesome exercise progressions such as grip training and the like)


Way Cool, check it out!

Training Weapon 2

So it`s no secret I`m a big fan of Al Kavadlo.
 He was my initial inspiration and the blog that I go to most for information on the flag and and a huge range of other exercises and fitness related stuff in general.
He is definately up there as one of my main "training weapons".

If you`re interested in his workout training programs and in his words "never before seen training tips, photographs and personal anecdotes." I would highly recommend his book pictured below.

 We’re Working Out: A Zen Approach to Everyday Fitness

Sorry couldn`t get the link to work to go directly to the book site (hey I`m just learning!)

Check it out on his blog http://www.alkavadlo.com/

..and in case you`re wondering,  no I`m not affiliated with Al and do not receive any payment if you buy his stuff, I just think it rocks and anyone even slightly interested in getting fitter and having a happier healthier life should give it a look. End of story!

Coming up soon I`ll let you in on my last "secret" training weapon....the book that has given me the exact progression steps I have been following to get me to the final goal. (babystep-by-babystep)

Until then...... hang in there!

(ouch, man that was terrible!)       :)

Kickin` it up and refusing to quit

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
Napoleon Hill

Ok you got me...........I love a good quote, and although Mr Hill almost definitely wasn`t talking about being able to do the human flag, the reasoning is still there.

Some days I`ll feel like I`m not getting anywhere, but by refusing to quit I`m finding that a couple of days down the track I`m stepping over the plateau. (Baby steps maybe but going in the right direction is good)

Here`s the latest photo. You can see I`m using a parallel grip as the old weights rack I`m using is more stable than the clothesline :)

Basically at this stage I`m trying to kick my legs up high with tucked knees.

As you can see, I`m getting them up there but can only hold them for half a second.

 By studying the photo I think I need to better straighten and lock my lower arm and tuck my legs better. (my next plateau possibly?)

Anyway we`ve got around 6 weeks to go...........stick with me, I`m not quitting yet!

Current training program and progress

Having a shadow of doubt this week so decided to check out my progress so far to prove to myself I`m getting somewhere.
So for myself and those interested in what I`m doing for training I went through pretty much all my training program this morning, so here is from the start of Nov to now.

Push ups- Start: Incline Push ups 1 x 20, Full Push up 1x12
                Now: Full Push Ups 1 x 30 as warm up
                         Narrow (hands together) push ups 1x 15
Supported 1 arm push up feet together  (1 arm out away from body full stretch on basketball) 2x6 both sides

Squats- Start: Shoulder width stance half squats legs parallel to floor 1x12, 1x12
             Now: Feet together full squats 2 x 15
                      Supported 1 leg half squats (1 leg in front on basketball) 1x3 each side -struggling with getting below parallel with 1 legged squats, something to work on!

Pull ups- Start: Horizontal pull ups/ aussie pull ups 1x 11
                       half pull ups 1 x4, 1 x3
              Now: Horizontal pull ups 1 x 15 as warm up
                        Full wide grip pull ups 1 x10
                       Full parallel grip pull ups 1x 10
                       Narrow grip supine and prone grip 1x5 each

Handstands- Start: half handstand push ups 2 x 2
                    Now: full handstand push ups 3 x 3
 (doesn`t sound like much but getting better at balance and getting up into handstand)

Abs-Start: Hanging bent knee leg raise 1 x8, 1 x6
        Now: hanging straight leg raises 2 x10, 1 x6

Grip- Start: Hanging bar hangs 1 x45 sec, 1 x 30 sec
         Now: Hanging bar hangs 1 x60 secs
                   Uneven bar hangs (1 hand on bar 1 gripping towel parallel grip) 2 x 30 secs

Bridge- Start: couldn`t even get into incline bridge with top half on bench
            Now: still struggling but can almost get a floor bridge with straight arms


So that`s my training program (this is usually broken down over 2 days by the way)  I have definately made progress which is good but is it good enough for my timeline?
Incidentally I have also dropped approx 4 % body fat and gone up a shirt size. Not bad for a month without changing my diet.

 Will head to the park this arvo and post flag progress next post.
 Thanks to everyone who has sent me support!

Going Horizontal

Just a quick post this time.

Got horizontal today! Not perfect and I`m still a looong way off getting the real flag happening but I`ll take it.

Much better on one side than the other so some weaknesses to sort out there.

2 months to go!

"If you knew you could never fail, what would you try?"