Move further

This is not a post about cardio.

...but, actually, while we're on the subject: Cardio is important. You should do it. Especially running. I should probably clarify that by "running" I mean "running more than 3 miles." There are depressingly big camps in the Paleo/Crossfit/Ancestral Health/Whatever-we're-calling-it-these-days movements who vocally declare their hatred and distain for running.  I really believe running is the beginning and the end of all functional movement, especially Parkour. Fancy moves, tricks, etc. are kid's stuff (which I don't mean in a bad way at all - I think they're awesome) but the real deal comes when you try to cover distance in an obstacle rich environment.

Okay, mini-rant over.

Last week I was talking with a guy who asked me, "So what is Fifth Ape training?" I was feeling philosophical so I replied something along the lines of "It's an acknowledgement of the journey."

That guy never signed up for a free trial class. I am suddenly realizing that I am perhaps the world's worst salesman.

Let's see if I can elaborate here. There's a saying that the best fitness program is the one you'll stick to. I 80% agree. But, I think there's more to it. I think what REALLY makes the difference - the thing that ties together fitness and health (not the same thing btw) is a constant need to evolve and grow as a human being. You must cultivate a desire to constantly push beyond your comfort zone. This doesn't mean flitting from one activity to another but it does mean refusing to get stuck and stagnate.

For me, the journey began at age 12 when I decided to combine two interests of mine - martial arts movies and a deep desire to impress girls* - by signing up for martial arts classes. During that time I was also spending an hour after school with this guy:

Batman is my coach...which seared into my impressionable brain that, while brawn and fighting skill is important, the SUPER cool thing to do is outthink and outmaneuver your opponents. And have neat gadgets. Those are some good life lessons.

*For my young male readers, I regret to inform you that martial arts skills do not impress girls. You know what does? Cooking. Learn to cook. Seriously.

When I made it to college, my martial arts practice deepened when I was introduced to grappling and muay thai. I realized I needed supplemental training to improve my MMA game. So I started bodybuilding, which had a very limited positive effect. Through exercise science classes and watching the football team train, I realized that athletes train very differently from "regular" people and was off and running down the path of "functional fitness." This led to Crossfit and George Hebert's Natural Method. This led to watching a video of some crazy Russians doing "Russian climbing" - my first intro to Parkour.

So I became a Crossfit zealot, which pushed me a little further down the path before I ran into its inherent limitations, and backed away. I followed a strict Paleo diet, before I realized I could loosen up a bit and suffer no ill effects. I realized that if I trained a little differently and took things at my own pace, I could not just learn but excel at Parkour, despite my "old age." I learned that pulling back from MMA training and culture gave me the space to become a gentler person without rejecting martial arts all together.

Now, I can't say this with 100% certainty because I'm still very much on my own journey, but I think what I've learned is this: skill, movement, and adventure come first. Training that furthers those goals tends to stick around. Everything else is stripped away. Bruce Lee knew what he was talking about.

I don't want to beat the dead horse any more, but this is why this whole "sport of fitness" thing makes me either 1) double over with laughter or 2) get kinda sad. Lifting weights, swinging kettlebells, and doing box jumps is what you do to get better at the actual fun stuff. It's fine - great actually - if you enjoy all that in and of itself (I do!) But don't stop there! If that's your idea of "play" and "the unknown" then you really do lead a zoo-human life. I'm reminded of one of my favorite Coach Rip stories. A man tells Rip that "Starting Strength" is the most interesting book he's ever read to which Rip replies, "You must have only started reading a couple weeks ago."

Everyone's journey will look different and it absolutely does not have to include Parkour, martial arts, etc. I guess what I'm really asking is for you to take enough interest in your own life to make it as interesting, fun, and challenging as possible. Open your eyes to the possibilities and dare yourself to move further... then to keep moving.