Dan Edwardes | Cultivating Confidence, Fear, and Flow

Published January 2, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 2

On Castbox.fm — Dan Edwardes | Cultivating Confidence, Fear, and Flow

What are the most effective methods for understanding and managing fear in physical and mental practices?

Exploring how fear shapes movement and mindset in Parkour and beyond.

The stories can be changed, but fear as a raw emotion is a good thing.

~ Dan Edwardes (4:26)

This conversation focuses on the role of fear in Parkour training and its broader implications for personal growth. Dan explains that fear itself is a natural and helpful emotion, distinct from the stories or narratives people attach to it over time. He challenges the conventional approach of overcoming fear through adrenaline or suppression, advocating instead for building a positive relationship with fear by understanding and accepting it as an ally.

The discussion highlights practical techniques for coaches, such as familiarizing students with the emotion of fear in controlled settings, separating the raw emotion from its associated narratives, and encouraging a focus on controllable elements of challenges. Dan emphasizes that this approach not only enhances physical performance but also fosters deeper psychological resilience and confidence.

Takeaways

Fear as an ally — Fear is a protective emotion that can be transformed into a helpful guide when understood and accepted.

Narrative distinction — Separating the raw emotion of fear from the stories attached to it is key to managing it effectively.

Coaching strategies — Coaches can help students by familiarizing them with the sensation of fear without immediate action, fostering comfort with the emotion.

Controlling the controllables — Focusing on elements within one’s control, such as technique and preparation, reduces fear associated with specific challenges.

Limitations of suppression — Overcoming fear through suppression or adrenaline may yield short-term results but lacks the depth to build lasting confidence.

Parkour as a fear practice — Parkour uniquely integrates fear management into its core, making it a valuable framework for broader life applications.

Resources

Parkour Generations — Organization co-founded by Dan Edwardes, focusing on Parkour training and education.

ADAPT Qualifications — Certification program for Parkour coaching and training, developed by Dan Edwardes.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The only way out is through

Published January 2, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 2  ·  

But that won’t work. The “sickness” is not that some nasty people have come into power, but that human beings across the board are still working primarily from their stone-age instincts. The detractors of The Establishment are just as consumed by their own needs for personal power, righteousness, security and social dominance as the people they so proudly hate.

~ David Cain from, If Society is Sick, What Should We Do About It?

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To some extent, this article is cynical. Although, it’s not nearly as cynical as this pull-quote I’ve selected makes it sound.

After reading it, what interests me is the idea that the more difficult path of wading into the society—as opposed to trying to remain “untainted” by it—may be the correct course of action. I like the idea that, yes, there is a great deal wrong with humans, but nothing so wrong that can’t be fixed through the continued application of some compassion, reason, and logic (in no particular order.) I used to think it’d be easy to be happy if I was just in an idyllic environment, but that continuing to strive in a lesser environment was to take the higher road. But in more recent years I’ve been thinking that it may not be possible to be truly happy in an idyllic environment; that having something against which to measure oneself may be a necessary component of happiness.

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Clutter and focus

Published January 1, 2019  ·  All posts on Jan 1  ·  

When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment.

~ Erin Doland from, «https://unclutterer.com/2011/03/29/scientists-find-physical-clutter-negatively-affects-your-ability-to-focus-process-information/»

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My personal experience agrees. Having spaces set aside for whatever-it-is-you-want-to-do pays off. Sometimes that’s a dedicated space. But sometimes it’s a space which has multiple purposes, which I somehow convert when I’m changing uses.

Having a space which I intend to be uncluttered also gives me the opportunity to clean it up and prepare it for the activity. Sometimes I’m just not feeling the vibe I need to begin whatever-it-is, and taking a few minutes to prepare the space — and maybe prepare some coffee too ;) — puts me into a focused and energized mood.

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Traditions you love

Published December 30, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 30

Make a list of the traditions you love, and that you don’t love.

~ Leo Babauta from, How to Simplify the Holidays

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A couple of less-usual ones that I particularly love: The idea of having Friends-giving dinners, and a randomly-scheduled, rotating hosts, dinner party thing I have with a group of my second-cousins.

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Martin Kallesøe: Coaching, coffee, and Street Movement

Published December 29, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 29  ·  

Martin Kallesøe: Coaching, coffee, and Street Movement

What lessons can we learn from integrating Parkour into structured educational settings and promoting personal growth through physical movement?

In this episode of Movers Mindset, Craig talks with Martin Kallesøe of Street Movement. They discuss Martin’s unique introduction to parkour, his thoughts on coaching, and Danish Parkour’s coffee culture. He also touches on his first experiences with the Yamakasi, as well as the history and culture of Street Movement and the International Gathering at Gerlev.

Don’t lose joy. If you lose joy in Parkour, don’t quit. Tone it down, keep doing it, but do something else a lot for a while.

~ Martin Kallesøe (37:10)

The conversation explores the transformative journey of integrating Parkour into both personal practice and educational frameworks. It begins with the guest’s early exposure to Parkour during his university years in Denmark and traces his path to co-founding Street Movement. The discussion includes the philosophical underpinnings of Parkour, emphasizing self-discovery, collaboration, and adaptability. These principles are highlighted as crucial for teaching others while maintaining the joy of practice.

Further topics include the challenges and rewards of incorporating Parkour into academic settings, such as fostering peer learning and designing flexible curricula. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of creating inclusive learning environments, the role of international connections in evolving the discipline, and the need for mindfulness in both teaching and training.

Takeaways

Teaching through collaboration — The importance of peer-to-peer learning in Parkour education.

Bringing Parkour into schools — Challenges and successes of introducing Parkour into structured educational settings.

Resilience and creativity — Using movement challenges to foster adaptability and innovative thinking.

Cultural shifts in coaching — Moving away from performance-driven goals toward intrinsic growth and curiosity.

Integrating physical disciplines — Drawing insights from other activities to keep Parkour practice fresh and joyful.

Philosophy of movement — Viewing Parkour as more than just physical practice, emphasizing life lessons and mindfulness.

Iterative development in education — Adapting teaching methods based on participant feedback and small, meaningful changes.

Resources

Movers Mindset Podcast Episode 24 — The podcast episode featuring this conversation.

Street Movement — The organization co-founded by the guest to promote Parkour and creative movement.

Yamakasi — A founding group of Parkour practitioners referenced in the discussion.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Insight

Published December 29, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 29  ·  

The greatest revelations are not when you discover something new and profound, but when you actually apply something you already “knew.” That is when information becomes real wisdom. Only then is it finally able to change who you are instead of just what you think.

~ David Cain from, Insight Is Not Enough

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I’ve been referring often to David Cain’s writing recently. Nothing wrong with that per se; it’s great stuff that makes me think. Anyway, you may wonder why that happens. Why do I seem to run in dashes of particular source material. It has to do with how I queue up reading material. I’ve some interesting hacks that I hope one day to share with the world. I hope.

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Your life’s work

Published December 28, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 28  ·  

I had a wonderful day, thanks in no small part to hearing George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” on the radio while I ate breakfast. I walked into town relishing the sunshine, and enjoyed every minute of today. George moved his last block in 2001.

~ David Cain from, This is Your Life’s Work

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This seemed at first a cold way to think of one’s life: The sum total of the changes wrought in reality. On the other hand, there’s a huge amount of strutting and fretting and worrying and machinations and gyrations and chaos in my internal world. I’m sure it will be a good thing if that all evaporated from the world.

On second thought, how great would it be if I could get all that stuff to evaporate before I’m gone.

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No phones allowed

Published December 27, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 27  ·  

The no-phones policy illuminated something about smartphone use that’s hard to see when it’s so ubiquitous: our phones drain the life out of a room. They give everyone a push-button way to completely disengage their mind from their surroundings, while their body remains in the room, only minimally aware of itself. Essentially, we all have a risk-free ripcord we can pull at the first pang of boredom or desire for novelty, and of course those pangs occur constantly.

~ David Cain from, The Simple Joy of “No Phones Allowed”

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It has always seemed obvious to me that being focused on a screen, at the expense of the other person, was obviously bad. This used to bother me.

Now, when it happens I check my premises: Am I, right this instant, actually more interesting than the entire world in their hands?

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Dylan Johanson | Salsa for Fluidity

Published December 26, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 26

On Castbox.fm — Dylan Johanson | Salsa for Fluidity

What are the transferable skills between salsa dancing and Parkour, and how can they enhance physical training and movement?

Highlighting how musicality and timing contribute to better control and creativity in physical movement.

I challenge you to go and ask somebody to dance.

~ Dylan Johanson (7:20)

The conversation focuses on the intersection between salsa dancing and Parkour, exploring how skills developed in dance, such as fluidity, decisiveness, and responsiveness, translate to movement training. By engaging in salsa, practitioners improve their ability to make quick decisions and adapt to unpredictable situations, mirroring the dynamic challenges faced during Parkour. The discussion emphasizes how leading in salsa fosters decision-making, while following sharpens sensitivity to physical cues—both of which align closely with attributes beneficial to Parkour.

The dialogue gets into the personal journey of discovering this crossover and the unexpected ways in which dance has influenced balance, recovery, and flow in Parkour. Additionally, the session touches on how participants resonated with the material, recognizing the value of timing, spacing, and musicality in movement practice. The session ends with practical suggestions for incorporating salsa into daily routines to enhance Parkour skills, encouraging participants to engage in social dance events to further develop their abilities.

Takeaways

Salsa and Parkour crossover — There are transferable skills between salsa dancing and Parkour, particularly in fluidity, decisiveness, and responsiveness.

Lead-follow dynamics — Leading in salsa sharpens decision-making, while following develops sensitivity to movement cues, both of which are beneficial in Parkour.

Balance and recovery — Practicing salsa helps improve balance and the ability to recover from compromised positions, aiding in obstacle navigation.

Pacing and timing — Musicality and pacing in dance relate to the timing required in Parkour routes, contributing to smoother and more controlled movement.

Group movement awareness — Salsa highlights the importance of timing and spacing in collaborative movements, mirroring the coordination needed for group Parkour sessions.

Practical exercises — Practicing basic salsa steps or attending social dances can reinforce foundational movement skills applicable to Parkour training.

Resources

Innate Movement Parkour

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The fountain of content

Published December 26, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 26  ·  

The fountain of content must spring up in the mind, and he who hath so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happines by changing anything but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief he proposes to remove.

~ Samuel Johnson

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Insecurity

Published December 25, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 25  ·  

This entry is part 68 of 72 in the series My Journey

The problem comes from how we deal with the feeling of insecurity. We might curl up and hide, lash out at someone in a hurtful way, harden our rigid views of the world so that everyone else is wrong and we’re continually angry. We might procrastinate and run to distraction, use social media to avoid feeling insecurity, try to control others or the world around us to end the feeling of insecurity.

~ Leo Babauta from, The Guide to Insecurities You’ve Been Waiting For

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I have been lucky—repeatedly over the course of several years—to have had Leo Babauta’s writing available to me. One theme that he repeats is the idea of being kind to one’s self.

The insecurity that I’m not good enough, in my own judgement, is deeply held. I regularly and often flee to easy comforts; it’s been many things over the years, but in the most recent years, it is food.

Not often enough, but sometimes, I find a way to practice being kind to myself. One that works well is: “Spend 30 minutes balancing on a rail. If you fall, simply get back on. Take your time. Be kind to yourself.” Each time I do this I know I will reach a barter-stage where I’m ready to be done. Each time I do this I know I will fall off often—it’s hard for me to even leave out the word “too,” from the phrase, “fall off too often.” Each time I do this it makes me sweat from the physical effort not from, (for example,) the fear. I do fear that some day this exercise will no longer work for me.

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Do you value your time?

Published December 24, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 24  ·  

Do you value your own time?

Do you actually do the math?

Suppose there was something you spent 10 minutes on per week that you could avoid doing—some chore you could eliminate. How much money is that amount of your time worth?

The first step is to value your time and it turns out this is rather hard to do. But just investing the time to think about it will shift the way you think about the way you spend your time. A few ways to put some brackets on how much you—not others—value your time.

If you know a specific hourly rate for your job, you could multiply that by 10. (The thinking being that you’re willing to sell that time at a HUGE discount because you’re gauranteed to be able to sell large amounts of it, on a well-known and convenient schedule. It’s a market balance between you and your employer.) Another possible valuation is to imagine some task you would hate; maybe it’s shoveling out latrines… and that you had to do an entire 8 hour shift of that; what hourly rate would you want? Or take your total current take-home annual income and divide by a “sane” 40-hours a week of work times 48 weeks and divide it out to get an hourly rate. Again multiple by how much you think you’re selling it at a discount based on the market forces with your employer.

Just doing the “how much is my time worth” math is valuable. Now, suppose you came up with $500/hr. (Which is a pretty reasonable amount for a reasonable human being in my opinion. Remember, this isnt how much cash you can earn at your job in an hour; this is how much do you value your time.)

That 10 minute per week task times 52 weeks? …that’s $4,300 per year of value that you “regain” by stopping that activity.

Suggested exercise: Do the math for your intentional hobbies and discover how irrelevant the physical costs are. Do the math for your “time wasting” activities and you discover how much you value your down-time, etc..

Update March 2019: Here’s something apropos from Seth Godin, Making Big Decisions About Money.

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Silent flute

Published December 22, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 22  ·  

I wish neither to possess,
Nor to be possessed.
I no longer covet paradise,
More important, I no longer fear hell.

The medicine for my suffering
I had within me from the very beginning,
But I did not take it.
My ailment came from within myself,
But I did not observe it
Until this moment.

Now I see that I will never find the light
Unless, like the candle, I am my own fuel,
Consuming myself.

~ Bruce Lee from, The Silent Flute

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Cord’s closing speech from The Silent Flute.

(hat tip: Martial Artist of Life by J Little.)

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Show us you have learned

Published December 21, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 21  ·  

Eat like a human being, drink like a human being, dress up, marry, have children, get politically active — suffer abuse, bear with a headstrong brother, father, son, neighbor, or companion. Show us these things so we can see that you truly have learned from the philosophers.

~ Epictetus

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A doorway from hell into your bedroom

Published December 20, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 20

If the devil were to create a doorway from hell straight into your bedroom, it would look a lot like an email app. While email is a valuable tool, it’s also a giant funnel into my consciousness. The single biggest change that helped me resist insomnia was to ignore work email when I get home.

~ Gabe Weatherhead from, Fighting the Insomnia Machine

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I banished the phone (and everything else) from the bedroom about a decade ago. If you have a television, your phone, your computer or anything else in the space where you sleep, I believe you are making a grave error.

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Brandee Laird | Intuitive Instruction

Published December 19, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 19

On Castbox.fm — Brandee Laird | Intuitive Instruction

What role does intuition play in effectively teaching and engaging with learners?

Intuition transforms raw knowledge into meaningful teaching experiences.

Information on its own is just… raw data. It’s a what. Experience gives us the why and the how.

~ Brandee Laird (4:00)

The conversation explores the concept of using intuition to improve teaching effectiveness, particularly in the context of Parkour instruction. Brandee Laird highlights how intuition, often dismissed as abstract, is rooted in mindfulness and the ability to notice and interpret subtle cues. She emphasizes that a teacher’s adaptability, based on observations of students’ physical and emotional readiness, outweighs rigid adherence to pre-planned lessons.

The discussion also delves into the balance between knowledge and experience, pointing out that knowledge provides raw data, while experience transforms it into actionable insights. Key practices for fostering intuition, such as meditation and being open to unpredictability, are discussed as critical tools for becoming a more effective instructor.

Takeaways

Mindfulness — A calm and observant mind is essential for noticing subtle cues in students.

Adaptability — Teaching plans should remain flexible to match the needs of learners in real time.

Observation skills — Teachers must focus on facial expressions, body language, and energy levels to gauge readiness and engagement.

Experience vs. knowledge — Information alone is insufficient; lived experiences provide the context and meaning required for effective teaching.

Intuition development — Regularly practicing mindfulness and reflection helps turn observations into automatic, intuitive responses.

Soft skills in instruction — Intuition and empathy are critical for creating impactful learning experiences.

Resources

Parkour Visions — Organization where Brandee Laird has taught for over a decade, fostering innovative approaches to Parkour instruction.

Art of Retreat

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Spontaneity, creativity and the ability to connect

Published December 19, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 19  ·  

… A lot of it is relaxation. I ran into, the acting guru from the actors studio once, in an airport, and we just chatted. And he said, “you know what the actors in the movies in the 40s had, that was helpful to them? They knew how to make themselves relax on camera.” Because most of them were not experienced or trained actors, and they had to be comfortable. That’s why you constantly saw them lighting a cigarette or sitting on the edge of a desk. Anything to help them relax. And in that relaxation, which you can get other ways if you learn, comes spontaneity, creativity, the ability to connect with the other person, because you’re not worried about yourself. You’re not thinking ‘how am I doing, am I too fat…’

~ Alan Alda from, «https://art19.com/shows/clear-vivid-with-alan-alda/episodes/4a35b668-2adc-4aa3-83b0-25ef831568d2»

Theirs was a wide-ranging and very interesting conversation about the healing power of music. Around this part, they were talking about how some people seem to be natural-born communicators. In particular, how some people just seem to “fill up a space”—in a good way.

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Working hard

Published December 18, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 18

Not that I’m blaming society for my troubles as a young adult, but nobody ever seemed to have a very good explanation for why I actually might want to work hard and challenge myself. Not “have to”, or “need to,” but “want.” The reason was always, “It’s just something you should do,” or “You’ll be glad you did when you’re my age.”

~ David Cain from, 3 Pieces of Advice I’d Give My 18 Year-Old Self If I Could

True story: I once got a job working at a golf course as a grounds keeper. I’d bicycle ~10 miles at first-light and my dad picked me up after work. I’d string trim (the entire golf course — wrap your brain around that), edge sand traps (by hand using a machete to cut the edge of the lawn) and then rake the sand. I chain-sawed trees that fell on the course, and I painted wrought-iron in the blazing sun. Every weekday for an entire summer.

I learned two things:

A deep respect for physical labor.

…and that I wanted to go to college and be a scientist working in a lab, or maybe with computers.

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