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Anonymous
I've always had great respect for the endurance, flexibility, strength, and coordination necessary for such activities as gymnastics or parkour. I want to achieve such a level of fitness, and was wondering this: where should I begin?

I am, in many regards, in decent shape. I'm 6' and ~140 lbs., and run every day for Cross Country. I want to work on my flexibility and coordination, and thought that perhaps taking up Capoeira could help.

What does /fit/ think? Suggestions?
>> Anonymous
Running endless hours does not make you a gymnast be
>> Anonymous
>>393744

This I know. How do I make the transition?
>> Anonymous
capoeria could help a little, if thats what you wanan do, but you mentioned parkour and gymnastics, so why not one of them? find a gymnastics center near you and go, or google parkour(location) and i bet you will find a parkoru group in/near your city you can go learn from.
>> Anonymous
Iono, I hear simply stretching in the morning is good. IM not talking regular stretching, im talking 30mins - hr
>> Anonymous
Not OP, but would starting gymnastics at age 18 be too late to achieve all the crazy shit they do?
>> Anonymous
Capoeira is a great workout, teaches all kinds of movements that develop good body control, and is very fun. But it's not gymnastics, and every minute you spend in the roda or doing ginga is time not spent learning to, say, backflip off of a springboard or hold spin around a pommel horse. So, it really depends on what you want to focus on.
>> Anonymous
>>393768

I am the OP, am 18, and also wonder if it's "too late." How many years would it take for me to be able to flip around like a crazy person and do all sorts of mad shit?

>>393770

I kind of want BOTH, though... the Capoeira-style control and the gymnastics-style abilities.
>> Anonymous
>>393777
You will get a lot of control from gymnastics, more than from capoeira really.
>> Anonymous
>>393786

Hmmh, interesting. What would be the benefits of Capoeira, then? It's sounding more like I should just aim for gymnastics... any specific flavor, though?
>> Anonymous
>>393777
I started doing messing around with gymnastics when i was about 18. I'm 21 now and I can do things like backtucks, flashkicks, backhandsprings etc. I also can do handstands and planches. TBH it's never too late to start learning this stuff, but it's just as you get older you get more conservative and concerned about hurting yourself, ie. when you're younger youre crazier and more willing to try things out.
Also if you get someone who's a good teacher it will help you alot. Start learning to handstand and practise A LOT.

tldr: how fast you learn depends on how keen you are.
>> Anonymous
>>393817
Hmm, thanks a lot. What kinda shape were you in when you started?

I'm just trying to see how intensive I should get before actually going all in.
>> Anonymous
>>393817

Yeah, thanks for yer help! It's encouraging to hear that you became so badass in only three years. I wanna start right now!!
>> Anonymous
>>393839
fuck yeah!
>> Anonymous
>>393835
I was in pretty good shape when i started.
If you're really motivated then go down to a gymnasium and ask a gymnast to teach you stuff. When you see people do backflips and stuff they make it look easy, and THEY ARE. However when you start you will be scared and intimidated and that can be VERY discouraging, you'll see how motivated you really are. But if youre dedicated enough you'll overcome the fear and then it's much much easier. I was lucky enough have to have someone pretty much MAKE me try it otherwise i think i would've pussied out and given up ahah..
You don't have to be very fit, but having a strong core helps a lot. Also being tall is a disadvantage, but it doesnt mean you can't learn (im 6'1")
>> Anonymous
>>393839
Some dudes (usually younger) can learn to backflip is less than an hour if someone shows them. Backflips are very easy technique wise, it's just that most people dont have the balls to try.
>> Anonymous
>>393757
Would anyone like to inform what kind of stretches exactly should be done? I'm fairly fit but I'd like to really up my flexibility, and I have time in the mornings. Or a link to somewhere showing the right kinds of stretches?
>> Anonymous
>>394045
www.trickstutorials.com read the stretching part.