Pretty much my two favourite things - together at last!

There's literally nothing more I can add to this, except bravo!

American Ninja Warrior - Parkour Update

So I've graduated myself from the Beginner class to the Beginner 2 Parkour class, and am much happier for it. The Monday night Beginner 2 class is for ages 16+ so it's a bit less rambuncuous but also it's way more technical. I've actually discovered I don't know how to jump with my left foot. So far, no matter the exercise I've always found a way to kick off with my right... it's terrible. I actually have an amazing leap with my right, (maybe because it's always done all the work) but I'm now going to have to put some work in to un-program my brain and teach myself how to jump with my left. So weird!

I actually think I've got enough natural talent to join the intermediate class... except, it's really taking my 2 full days to recover from the beginner 2 class. That balance between striving forward vs acclimatizing your body is something I've always struggled with.

American Ninja Warrior - Things that are holding me back - #1 Update

The update is that there is no real update. It still hurts like a jerk most days. I've given the physio the flick since he either didn't know how to tackle it or was stringing me along. I only get 15 visits a year so I didn't want to waste too many. I'm now trying to strengthen my feet by working on my balance, and doing the exact opposite to what the podiatrist said, and spending as much time in bare feet as possible, and wearing different shoes all the time. Previous advice hasn't worked so I'm trying something new. I'm hoping the foot, being a miraculous feat of evolutionary engineering will figure itself out. I'm also massaging it with a golf ball and rolling out my calves every chance I get. I've got some Fish Oil that I'll be taking daily and I'm starting hot yoga to try and help as well.

American Ninja Warrior - Competitors in Oregon?

Asking for a friend...

Would love to meet anyone else training for American Ninja Warrior on the North West Coast of America.  Feeling a little bit lonely and unsure at the moment.

American Ninja Warrior - Things that are holding me back - #3

Shoulder Subluxation is a problem I completely forgot about. It first happened a few years ago in indoor soccer, then again when I was hit by a car on my bike, now it's happened about 5 times. On Thursday I was bouldering on a climb that was too hard for me... but I wanted to push myself... and my left shoulder popped out. Now it only takes a few seconds to roll back into place, but the recovery takes weeks. My left arm can feel weak for up to 6 weeks after... it sucks. I need to work some shoulder/rotator cuff exercises into my routine to strengthen the muscles around the ball joint. Blurgh!

American Ninja Warrior - 4 steps to training - Endurance

I had a shoulder injury last Thursday, so during the recovery it was a good time to start the Maffetone Method. Summed up, it basically gets you to stop using the anaerobic fibres in your body so you can train your aerobic fibres instead... basically transforming me from a sprinter to a marathoner. I know American Ninja Warrior is about short bursts of action, but I think the really great guys have a crap ton of endurance in their tank. A lot of guys go out because they get so tired, they then don't tackle obstacles properly and fall. I'm trying to prevent that from happening to me... like everything else on this journey, I have to go back a heap of steps to start from the start in something brand new to me. It's been challenging the last few days, especially the no carbs or sugars for 2 weeks thing... but I think it'll be worth it.

American Ninja Warrior - 4 steps to training - Calisthenics

I'm basically working my way through the book Convict Conditioning. It's really, really good. It's been frustrating basically starting over with almost literal baby steps... but I always go too far too fast and end up injuring myself... so I'm trying to do the exercises exactly as the book dictates.

American Ninja Warrior - 4 steps to training - Rock Climbing

The gym that I joined is also an indoor rock climbing centre, which is very lucky that it's so close. I did the beginner rock climbing course which was great and I learnt a ton. The only friends I have in Portland are the two girls I did that beginner course with. So, I basically go twice a week to do some bouldering by myself and then do a rock climbing session with the girls once a week. It's weird how different in skill level we are. The girls have great balance and leg strength, so they can do climbs I can't, whereas I'm a bit more upper body so I can get through spots they don't even want to attempt. It's great. At the moment I can do V0 & V1 climbs. I haven't finished any V2 bouldering climbs yet. In rock climbing I'm kinda sticking to the 5.8 & 5.9. Haven't completed a 5.10a yet.

American Ninja Warrior - 4 steps to training - Parkour

At the moment, I'm doing one beginner class of Parkour a week, and I'm usually sore for at least 2 days afterwards. It's really fun though and I'm really not that bad at it. I've got a good leap and I'm strong, I can usually muscle my way through things (not ideal) if my technique isn't great. Some of the other dudes in the beginner class are just amazing, it's very inspiring. I actually can't wait until I'm conditioned enough to go more than once a week.

American Ninja Warrior - 4 steps to training

One of the reasons I love Ninja Warrior is that no one type of athlete, body type, age or discipline is perfect for it. The rock climbing guys are usually great at Stage 3, but there is a heap of balance obstacles to trip them up before before then. I have no real background, I did competitive dancing in my early 30s, then played a heap of indoor soccer, and gym it up a lot, but I've overhauled everything to train for Ninja Warrior. Basically, my thinking is that the four areas I'm training are: Parkour, Rock Climbing, Calisthenics and Endurance. I am brand new to all of these things, but it's fun.

American Ninja Warrior - Strategy

I know it seems obvious, but slow progression is going to be key. Currently, I can't do a single thing that I'll need to bring to American Ninja Warrior, so it's all about progression. Start off small, master that, build on it, advance. Rinse and repeat. It's extremely tedious, but starting small helps condition my old bod, which'll open a whole heap of doors for me. I'll actually be going backwards for quite a while, doing exercises I can totally easily do... all in order to build up the tendons and supporting muscles. Usually I jump into everything as hard as I can, and usually end up injured along the way... slow and steady and driving myself crazy... that's my approach.

American Ninja Warrior - Things that are holding me back - #2

All my problems are tendonitis-y, I also have RSI but that doesn't really affect this new crazy goal of mine. Golfers Elbow in my right arm is a big problem though, it started when we were touring around Spain. I had been going to the gym heaps before we left, and then while we were bouncing around that crazy hot country, I'd only sporadically get to a gym... I tried my normal pull-ups and my elbow did not like it one bit. It's been a problem for nearly 10 years now. Basically Hammer Curls are impossible, and pull-ups develop an ache pretty quickly. 

 Dagnammit.

American Ninja Warrior - Things that are holding me back - #1

This came outta nowhere about 8 months ago. I was playing indoor soccer like 4 times a week and everything was fine for ages.. then I wanted to get better so I started training twice a week and my heal very quickly started to hurt a lot. I've now been to 2 podiatrists (and paid through the nose for orthotics) and will still no end in sight I'm now working with a physio. He thinks it's because of my tight calves. Which have always been crazy tight, but I've basically done no cardio for 8 months to heal this sucker so they really shouldn't be tight at all.

Damn old man calves.

American Ninja Warrior - Current specs

I wanted to take a serious of measurements before I started in order to see if there were any changes along the way. I honestly don't know what to expect... but I do know that it's hard to see how far you've come if you don't know where you started.

Australia's First Ninja Warrior

I know, I know... Doesn't seem likely.

American Ninja Warrior - Goal 2 : First Australian competitor

 

This one is a little out of my hands, but I'm chasing it regardless. My partner and I moved to America seeking change and adventure, and this show was a big reason for me for picking the United States. We could have moved to Japan or Malaysia or the UK to compete on their shows, but I've loved the American version of Ninja Warrior for years now. I am slightly worried that while I'm attempting to be on American Ninja Warrior that Australia launches it's own version (which would be epic, the weather allows Aussies to be ridiculously fit and sporty) but I'm chasing more of a sure thing here.

American Ninja Warrior - Goal Number 1, Get on the show.

I think I'm not going to be ready for the 2016 season of American Ninja Warrior, I've basically only got 5 months before trials start, so I'm truly aiming for the 2017 season. Which I think will be Season 9.

Aussie Ninja Warrior

Hi there, my name is Adam and I've decided to attempt to compete on the NBC TV show American Ninja Warrior.  This blog account will be my journal from start to finish of this big audacious overwhelming goal.