Neck training has been discussed on this blog before, along with numerous related discussions within the forum.  Use of a weighted harness is one of the most common exercises for the neck.  Below is a video that shows a low-tech variation with bands (starts approximately 50 seconds in).

These band exercises are similar to a partner exercise that I often perform with a towel.  The athlete will hang his head off of a bench or over the end of a boxing ring.  The coach will then stand next to him with a towel draped over his head.  He’ll  apply resistance by pressing down with the towel, as the athlete resists with his neck (typically performed for slow, controlled reps).

With a partner and towel, you can train the neck in several directions.  The athlete will begin by lying on his back, then each side, and finally on his stomach.  Resistance bands can also be used in place of the towel.  The added benefit of the bands is that they are much more useful when performing these exercises alone while standing  (as seen within the video).

Ultimately, the neck is one of the most neglected areas.  All fighters should train the neck regularly.  Resistance bands are a useful tool to add to the neck training arsenal.

I regularly receive questions from athletes who have experienced ankle injuries while competing.  Resistance bands are one of the best tools to prevent injury to the ankle.  If you are consistent with the bands, ankle problems will be a thing of the past.

Below is one excellent video from Dick Hartzell, the founder of Jump Stretch.

Following my last entry, I came across two additional videos from the same Youtube channel.  Both focus on strength and conditioning for parkour.  The first video is from 2006, while the sequel was added in 2010.

Each video demonstrates the potential for low-tech gymless training.  The video creators have  turned their surrounding environments into highly effective training areas.  The results speak for themselves…

Part 1

Part 2

Below is a documentary on parkour that was recently posted to my Facebook page.

The embedded player includes all four parts.  The arrows on each side of the player can be used to navigate from one part to the next.

The full playlist can also be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=98E854F495913919

As stated by the creators of this documentary:

Made by practitioners, we have tried our best to ensure that this short film gives the most accurate information possible about parkour and the methods and ideas behind it. It is a deliberate departure from the typical ‘media parkour’ you might see on TV and aims to provide reliable information to both newcomers and experienced practitioners alike.

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I am fascinated at the amazing abilities of these parkour enthusiasts.  These individuals regularly defy the limits of the human body.  I’m also a fan of their training methods.  There is no better example that showcases the potential of low-tech (often equipment-free) training.

Although I’ve never participated in parkour, I truly enjoyed this brief documentary.  I recommend this film to anyone with any interest in physical culture.

The video below was sent to me by a proud daughter.  Within the clip, you’ll see her parents (who are also grandparents) training for the Tough Mudder obstacle course.

In the words of their daughter,

“One of the things I like the best is they do a lot of training together (even though they are very different sizes), and always have a fun and playful attitude. My mom just took her first parkour class a few weeks ago, and they are constantly looking for new challenges. They are great parents, grandparents, and role models.”

This brief compilation video is awesome on so many levels.  Not only are these grandparents in excellent shape, but it is also obvious that they have a great time together (while tackling difficult challenges).  I certainly hope to follow their example later in life.

Thanks to Kami for passing this video along, and thanks to Mark and Cathy for the inspiration.