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Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:10 pm)
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Don Jean Haberey - pre-PK pioneer
This is an archive of Erwan's posts on the DJH thread.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert Edited by: Artful Dodger at: 11/5/04 10:47 pm
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Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:13 pm)
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1
"Jean Don Haberey.
This guy was born in...1944 and wrote a book in 1986 called "combat vital ou le citadin initié " (vital fight or the initiated city dweller") in which he explained how to train in the urban jungle, how to move with fluidity, how to recover one's instinct in the city, how to learn to breathe and capture energy from the elements of the
Universe that are still much present in the big cities like Paris. Back in 1984 he had actually performed a jump from an helicopter down into the freezing water of Greenland, next to a huge iceberg, and wearing nothing else than simple swimming trunks. That was for a TV commercial for HOM that eventually never came out because they finally thought it looked too extreme! It was quite a survival performance.
Back to Paris after his experience in Greenland he was definitely the very first guy to take guys up onto the roofs or onto the bridges of Paris, or down into the undergrounds, always barefoot, with no gear at all, and to train people how to move silently like cats through the urban obstacles. He trained people regardless of their age, wealth, religion, race etc...especially at night, when everyone was asleep. We could also jump from bridges into the dark and cold waters of the Seine river, in the middle of the winter! Cops were often after us, hahaha. He had his book edited in 1986 then, but still trained people until late 1990's, then evolved to a kind of poetic performer in the city. Even though in his late 40's, that guy had an amazing charisma and health, combined with a special vegetarian diet and daily breathing exercises. He got filmed and was seen several times on French tv and paper medias, and there's absolutely no doubt that he inspired the
quite younger kids that later on grew up developing their own style and techniques in the suburbs of Paris that lately came to the world as "le
Parkour".
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:18 pm)
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2
In fact what's for sure is that giving the trend that PK has become within a short time, it wouldn't be surprising that sooner or later a book exploring it's origins, "history" and evolution will come out.
What's for sure is that there unquestionably different "roots" of inspiration, from as we know already martial arts experts or movies(artistic karate, Jackie Chan), acrobatics, urban climbers (Alain Robert), firefighters training (David Belle's father, or my own brother).
And unquestionably too, that's in our genes to all, whatever genes they are after all, since cats, rats, wolves and many other animals are great traceurs, amazing ones !
Like old and wise Chinese wushu masters observing animals and creating styles named by animal names, it can be also inspiring sometimes to observe animals in their own motion style ! Not that we can reproduce what they do (different anatomy) but we can "capture" a kind of feeling from them, kind of "motion instinct".
So yes indeed, I was one of his "followers" of the early times.
Haberey had a very hectic and ecclectic background (kickboxing, body-guard) until he got badly hurt to the hip in a fight, so he couldn't really walk.
He then met an old man (his "Master Georges" as he used to name him with great respect) who taught him about natural way of life, natural diet, fasting, go in the nature etc...and this totally cured him (especially his 3 weeks fast in the mountains).
Back in the capital, he went on training and adapated his technics and philosophy to the city, mixing as I said martial art technics, yoga-style-kind-of-technics, breathing technics, natural diet, sleeping on the ground etc...you know, actually ANYTHING can be used as a training !
It was not only about being able to move fast, but being able to reappropriate yourself, your Self, Self along with the Universe, even though living in a huge city. Even though, or moreover above all because one's was living in a huge city. It was about feeling the energy of the ground and sky and trees and wind. Walking through the cold. Being able to fast. Being able to control your breathing while up there upside down on a roof above the empty streets in the night. Moving barefoot was also very important, because a way to "feel" the ground (of course then you can't jump from very high, just a different oultook), feel the energies, be totally silent.
So many trainings were about breathing and making "vibrations" (I could explain that later on).
Why I say it is obviously a part of Lisses 's teens (when they started PK) inspiration is that Habrey was in the medias when they were teens (just like me), on TV and in magazines. Not that he was that famous here, but at that time photos that appeared in the media (and the fact that all this wasn't in a gym or stadium but right in the city) were breathtaking. He had made the city his own playground, was a kind of urban shaman, not doubt about it.
But what David belle achieved has its own identity and is really great. He and his close friends are truely the founders of the PK. Respect and long life to PK.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:20 pm)
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3
It seems the word has already spread as fast as a crazy Traceur on a roof. Indeed I've very recently sent some interesting information regarding what can be called "roots of Parkour" (obviously not the only inspiration of modern PK though) including photos extract from magazines or else.
I'll be cristal clear, I'm not claiming that Jean Don Habrey created first the Parkour. David Belle and his friends did.
But after all, Parkour is just a word, right ? Where does it actually begin and when ? Did doctor Georges Hebert initiated the parkour ? Yes and no right ?
However, Habrey is undoubtedly a pioneer since he was, as far as I know, the first guy to create a whole philosophy and technique of moving in the urban environment. When he started climbing onto bridges and jump from roofs to roof, back in the early 80's in Paris, means more than 20 years ago and Lisses teens were then...10 or so ! And he's now...60 years old.
You know, his practice was already a daily routine of training, combined with vegetarian diet, yoga-sort-of breathing techniques, fasting, resisting to cold etc... and other philosophical outlook. A totally elaborated way of life, an attempt to develop fully his physical and mental potential in extreme conditions, such as his survival experience and performance in Greenland when he jumped from a helicopter down into the freezing-to-death dark waters. An ultimate application of the "methode naturelle" of our dear doc' Hebert.
Now, he wasn't much into acrobatics and couldn't jump saltos and other great tricks modern Traceurs can do. But he was and still remains a "larger-than-life" character !!!
But trust me, he could have taught you amazing techniques that could help you to be a better Traceur. Things that are not compulsorily spectacular, quite the opposite in fact. A whole subtle knowledge of your own physiology and how it is connected to the energy of the elements in this Universe. Chinese call it Chi. Hawaiian call it Mana. He called it "Force".
Whatever move he did was a way to be and go with this Force.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:21 pm)
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4
I'm quite surprised Habrey made the TV news over there in NZ !!!
i was a teen-ager myself when I first saw him on TV, then contacted him after I read his book "combat vital" in which he explains the whole preparation of his Greenland jump into the cold sea, then also about his whole philosophy of training in the city. That book was edited in 1986 and sold out for a long time. French version only, sorry guys.
Anyways, it's weird since I've known about the Methode Naturelle of Georges Hebert only recently, while Don always used to tell us (his faithfull followers hahaha) of his "Maître Georges"(Master Georges) as the one guy who saved him and had given him "the spark".
In fact, that Georges was a different one, but I'm quite convinced that this older man who's now dead knew about Hebertism.
Habrey had met his "master Georges" in an organic food shop when he was in his late 30's. He was badly hurt to his hip after a Thai-boxing contest (had previously practised full-contact with Dominique Valera) where he had reiceved a knee kick. So he couldn't hardly walk and was almost crawling. Georges told him to trust him and let him take care of him. He then taught him about vegetarian diet, yoga, probably Hebertism and many other things. But above all, he had him fast together for 3 weeks (!) in the mountains of Corsica. For people who're not aware of it, yep some people can fast for weeks as a healing method. Only water.
After this time, Habrey had fully recovered and decided to start teaching and spread a kind of new way of life.
He then chose to to retire away in the woods or countryside, but moreover right there in the urban jungle, where people are most endangered by stress, routine, sadness, boredom etc...
He very soon got many people around him wanting to learn. He was taking them up onto the roofs, teaching by showing and talking. There was quite an extensive array of techniques and types of training. He was actually constantly exploring his own method and creating new exercises. It was all about having fun, develop one's potential both physically and mentally. Exercising every sense.
I have some photos, that I have sent to EZ already. One of them shows him jumping from a roof to another, one shows him swimming through disgusting floating junk pollution (enhance immune system), one shows him running on a metal bridge narrow edge. We are in somewhere in between 1984 and 1994, there's yet no Parkour, and no Internet, websites etc...so all this remained kind of confidential ! Well actually he stopped his teachings in 1992 or so, so Internet was still a small thing at that time.
So maybe EZ will post some of the pics some time ? ;-)
Just to let you know, I was 19 (now 33) when I first met him and trained with him for 7 years.
And Art you definitely live in a fantastic place ! I wish I can come and visit one day ! Maybe attending the NZ ironman.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:22 pm)
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5
And well I forgot to tell something essential : this guy was well known here for always going barefoot, no mattered the weather outside.
So his "Parkour-like" training was always barefoot. Of course, you can't jump for really high...but there's many other kind of benefits in doing so.
Many rock climbers train that way by the way.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:23 pm)
Reply
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6
Indeed I'm quite convinced there will be a book sooner or later !
What's for sure is that there's a lot to be unearthed with the so-called "Combat Vital" initiated by Don Habrey in 1984.
And maybe there were other individuals somewhere else, in different countries ? That is more than very likely.
The thing is that Don had written a book about it. Had been filmed. Had had photos and articles in the medias.
Also, Hebert's teachings and techniques were also used by many schools, educational organisations, firefighters etc...So all this could be easily unearthed by a writer who would have to do this journalist job.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:26 pm)
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7
Indeed, he had created a whole "system". He had practiced then gathered various techniques and teachings but he wouldn't talk about it. When practicing, there was few words. He then wasn't interested in explaining so much the "how" and the "why" of such or such exercise but wanted you to FEEL. To forget your thinking and feel. To get ridden of analytic thoughts. To let the instinct rule. To let go, not to hold on what you think you know.
In a sense, there's lot of similarities with nin-jutsu, however he wasn't interested in weapons ! But there was also some street-fight training too. Just because in his philosophy, it was still important to be able to defend yourself and not undergo. That was one of his favorite saying "never undergo", in a broad sense, don't undergo social limitations, don't undergo social pressure, don't undergo what others are expecting from you, don't undergo your own bad habits hahaha ! etc...
Now, he had been a lot influenced by the native American spirituality.
He was a lot interested in the old beliefs of pagans, before Christianity came to Europe. When there was a connection to the Force of the elements, the Force of the universe. All his practice was also a way to find that connection with it.
That's why he had no interest in sport. To him, sport was cut from this outlook, confined with the human side of us only. He was interested in going beyond the human in us.
Actually I'm using all this in my daily life for sure, but not as Parkour !
I do triathlon long distance. Requires lots of will. However, I complete my current training with other exercises that have nothing to do with triathlon. And when I train or compete, I still have this connection with the Universe around me. With the Force of the elements that are in the water, in the air, wind, earth etc...kind of cosmo-tellurism perception.
Mark Allen, the best triathlete in history, has always said that he could won not because he was the best athlete, but because he knew how to use the energies of the place where he competed. He has actually learned with a famous Mexican shaman and studied for years with him. He says he could win because his mind was connected with gratitude and sympathy with this Energy...
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/4/04 11:28 pm)
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8
Indeed it's a small world. But it is not "bizarre". It is synchronicity and this is how this Universe works. Native Indians would have said this is a "sign". Yes, this Universe is very smart. We are all connected, believe me ;-)
Everything happens for a purpose.
Now everyone can see who Jean Don Habrey is, and what he did. Those pictures were taken 20 years ago as the Dutch guys confirmed.
When this pics were taken, Don was then 40. Can you believe it ?
So when I say I'm convinced he undoubtedly was an inspiration for the (then) kids of Belle's "posse", it seems to be much more obvious now.
Habrey always talked about this so-called "Force" that come from elements, and vibes from cosmos and earth (telluric forces) etc...
You know there's nothing new about it, it is a common knowledge for ages...long before organized religions began to mess up with ancient knowledges and beliefs.
Yes, Habrey was and still is a mystic, no doubt about it.
It always leads to intolerance, and paradoxically this singularity always leads to a kind of conformism. And I know by experience that Habrey fell into this trap for some time and eventually took things way too seriously ! So my message here is be careful with the mystics that take things way too seriously !
Lots of young people (most of the time young) are looking for a higher truth. Keep things simple ! As long as what you believe in brings you happiness on a daily basis, you're on the good way. Because EVERYBODY KNOWS FUN RULES !!!
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/5/04 10:38 pm)
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9
All right I'm going to tell more about my experience with Jean Don Haberey and the way discipline was practiced with him. However remember this was pre-PK and then different from what is now practiced as Parkour. There's no need to make a comparison of what practice is best, since none is. There's many similarities, but also lots of differences.
Discipline of Combat Vital :
_ rule number one (hahaha this is no fightclub ) : we respect the matter. matter means elements. elements mean universe. universe means Force. we respect the Force that is in everything. when you deeply respect, it's already a discipline.
_ we're not struggling against anything : we're looking for easiness and fluidity. then, we want to be as silent as possible. to be silent, we need to focus a lot. focusing is a discipline in itself.
_ when we train, we don't talk. we focus, and feel. discussions use thoughts and consciousness. Oppositely we want awareness (lucidity) and sensations. silence is a discipline. we have plenty of time to talk afterward and to make jokes !
_ so when we train, we don't really "think". When you think, your attention is focused on your consciousness, but you loose awareness of your sensations and what's going on around.
You think and believe you're aware at the same time ? Of course, you'd pay attention to a big noise etc...but what about all these little details that are so precious ? A change of light, a hardly perceptible noise or vibration or smell, a change in your balance, in your breathing, in your body sensation, even a tiny change must be noticed. Precision. Attention. Senses, focusing on senses and every information they bring you. Because it is very likely that it will avoid you to get hurt.
_ Breathing : you can hardly focus if you're not focused first on the way you breathing. You must control your breathing, always.
It is the best way to the Force. You easily loose discipline if you can't breathe properly. It feeds your brain, your whole body.
You may try some breathing techniques that help you focus your attention.
_ discipline is all the time : the way you eat, the way you talk, the way you breathe, the way you stand, the way you think etc...discipline is not so much about imposing something than focusing on what you do and try to give what you do some efficiency and style. So there's no like I focus now because I'm training. Training is all the time and never ends, especially regarding the little details of life. If we take a seat, we try to be as silent and light as possible. If we open a door, same. We want to use a few energy as possible in the daily routine. We want to break the daily routine by being aware. That's discipline.
_ Comfort : too much comfort kills comfort. We'd experience discomfort as often as possible. Then, anything seems comfortable afterwards !
We'd sleep on the floor, not on beds. Eat on the floor, not on tables.
we'd take cold showers very often. we'd jump in the cold water at night in the winter.
we'd fast for a day every week.
we'd not use the electric light in the dark so we train to move in the darkness.
We'd not wear shoes for our trainings outdoor so you must pay a lot attention and be very agile when you move. Increases resistance, brings wonderful sensations and energy.
we'd stand up still for long moments : when you then move, the sensations are amazing !
We'd most of the time turn off TV's and radios so we explore silence and don't pollute our senses and attention.
we'd have only one or two meals a day, so the rest of the time we wouldn't eat snacks or junk food.
We'd always find new ideas to break up with the daily routine. not always sleep in the same corner or at the same place, not always eat at the same time of the day and so on...
To do so, you definitely need discipline. It is a kind of stoïcismï with discomfort that you have to work on. It is also a kind of creativity because you never think the usual or social way.
_ Resistance : to the cold, to the heat, to the lack of food, lack of sleep. resistance to pollution, to social pressure (what you think people think of you limits you). requires discipline.
_ Understanding interaction : why should I do all these things, they are useless ? In fact, even though some trainings seem not to be directly linked to your main practice, actually they totally are. What you learn from every type of training is to be added to your global self-knowledge and therefor is undoubtedly precious.
Being confident in this gives you a firm direction, then a better discipline.
Now my personal word on discipline :
discipline isn't about mortifying your body and mind ! It isn't supposed to harm you in anyway, but oppositely to enhance your energy level and reach the Force. So trust your senses, there's always a balance to keep. Don't cause yourself useless pain. You won't get any additional self discipline that way.
Discipline isn't that much about being able to stand underneath a freezing cold fall. It is about focusing all the time so you're aware of what you do, how you do it and why. It's a way to be FREE. So discipline is a totally personal matter. Don't let anyone impose his own way to see discipline. Forget the hierachical system.
As a conclusion, follow your inner voice, never let anyone else's voice talk inside instead of yours.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/5/04 10:43 pm)
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10
So yes that's in our genes for sure ! every kid wants to jump from a wall and climb a tree...it is an instinct of developing physical and mental skills. Why should this stop with our childhood ? Because we were always told not to harm ourselves, then to be good at school, then to get a "real" job uh ? Bullshit ! We want to feel fully alive, and to experience this fullness, freedom, liveliness within not only our minds, but also our bodies.
I like the following question I've noticed somewhere recently :
"What is a city for" ?
So give a bird a metal pylon, he builds a nest on the top of it. Give fishes a shipwreck or a hollowed brick, they make a shelter of it where they can hide. They won't make a difference with the natural, simply use what they've got.
So give a traceur a city, he makes a parkour of it !
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/5/04 10:46 pm)
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11
Ok, Don (that's how everybody used to call him) is STILL very active, even though he's now 60.
Let's say he's kind of given up the apparent spectacular side of his practice. He's always been into a let's say mystical quest. He claims he's not human anymore. For many people, he's lost his mind. For others, he's a genius. For some he's a moron. But everybody aknowledges he's got a huge charisma. That is presence is very intense.
To me, even though he has himself called "Hors-humain" which means something like "Out-of-human" or "Off-human" (sorry my first language is French) he's in fact very human, just like us, with qualities and fault.
But he chose to follow and explore a new personal way where seemingly none can follow him. Because it's personal to him. Not because of a physical reason, but because his field lies within his own psychology, his own mind, or soul. Because trying to do like him would involve to imitate him which is rather impossible.
So yes, he's still active, but it's not about jumps and parkour-like trainings anymore. It's a more subtle work on physiology including breathing techniques etc...and maintain his Force level as high and intense as possible. He sometimes teaches some to people who want to learn from him, as he always did. But is not parkour, let's be cristal clear here.
And that's why I recall to not take things too seriously about inner quest, listen to your inner voice only etc.... When someone starts to think for you, you're on the wrong way !
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/5/04 10:47 pm)
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12
Haberey always loved and still loves to create neologisms.
It was a way to create his own world, but also to surprise and intrigue even more people listening to him. It was also a way to have people ponder and think more deeply. In fact, with usual words, brain is lazy and believes "oh yeah I know this already". New words impose to understand something new, so it triggers a real reflection about what is actually meant.
Two of his early neologisms were : "Elantisme et Illimitisme" (could be translated as "momentumism" and "unlimitism")
Those were 2 of the words Jean Don had created in order to qualify his way of thinking, his behaviour.
"Elantisme" ("momentumism" ?) from the French word "élan" which means both "run-up" and "momentum", meant some attitude like always be on the move but never stagnate. Daring to go forward always, on and on, again and again.
"Illimitisme" ("Unlimitism" ?) could describe a way of not only being free of limits, but also a way of uprooting limits within the mind. These limits that only social conformism settled and that are actually unnecessary. A way to say : I have no limits, I go beyond them.
He was also talking about "fossilization" or how people become like "fossils" when they stop moving and evolving they look like "fossils" he would observe anyone and could tell instantly many true things about people even if he was meeting them for the first time. He would especially look at their way to walk, move, and also their gestures. Some were qualified as totally "fossilized" ! To him, flexibility against stiffness, fluidity against being jerky were the key to feel the Force. Let the energy flow. Like a snake, or a cat.
"Aiguiser" : to sharpen. Sharpen your body, your senses, your language, your ability to observe etc...sharp like a blade.
"Sentir" : to feel, or to sense. "Sentir" was an absolute necessity according to him. It was a substitute to thinking which to him was much much less efficient. the "sentir" or ability to feel was a sort of intuition, like the synthesis of all senses that give you an immediate perception of what's around you. An essential way to anticipate.
"Anticiper" : to anticipate. never, never let yourself be surprised. If you're aware, you know what's going to happen, because you can predict. You develop a kind of third eye.
"Capter" that could be translated as "to tap into". into the energy of elements, or Force. Being able to "capter" was essential too. If you can't "sentir" (feel) you can't "capter" (tap into). You're missing the subtle side of the practice, which is beyond the training itself. training is a mean, not a final goal.
"Antennes" : antennas. "antennas" are what allows you to feel and anticipate. Hands, feet, hair, nostrils are antennas use them like waves, vibes receivers. When you move, you create waves and vibes. The world around is made of waves and vibes. The "antennas" are the channels by which these vibes and waves circulate.
Metamorphose : simply metamorphosis...the ultimate process of becoming a more intense yourself...or whatever you want be.
"Trancher" : to clear-cut decide. Being able to decide without hesitation.
"Souffle" : breathing, the top thing to master, an absolute priority. Without it, you can't hardly be "lucid".
"Lucidité" or lucidity. Consciousness lies within the mind only, it is a psychological thing. Lucidity, or global awareness, was rather more an instinctive thing to him. The result of the whole practice. When something happened to you, like you harm yourself or something bad could be a lack of lucidity. If you had been more lucid (aware) you would have felt ahead the bad things coming, then avoided them. You let yourself be surprised, caught up. It is hard to understand, but in a sense if your mindset then the energy you emanate is wrong, you then attract the wrong events in your life. Kind of universal law. Lucidity is a way of being aware of this for your own good.
"Inconcevable" : inconceivable. Things you can't experience by thinking.
As a conclusion, he used to reply to people who'd tell him he's crazy :" yes I am, but you're certainly sad not to be so".
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/6/04 12:27 am)
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13
here's another link : www.fotofinder.net/person...sonen_7.ep
Find - Habrey, Don- in the list and click on the link.
it shows him more as the "urban shaman" than his pioneering parkour-like stunts in Paris. Especially the one with his crow (raven) on his shoulder. However it helps to understand the character better.
His swim through pollution dirt is amazing. The other one with a huge metal chain needs an explanation : he used to train up on a bridge, jumping that "rope" !!! That was one of his favorite trainings.
The one with the tuxedo and the ax must be explained too : how to be able to dress nice while keeping your warrior mind. A symbolic picture, a visual metaphor.
For those who are legitimately interested especially in his pioneer Parkour action, you'll find photos where he definitely does PARKOUR (before this word ever existed) on the link that Kiell recently found :
www.omnipress-images.com
In the box at the top of the page, type "parkour" and click 'Zoeken'.
See last pics of the guy jumping barefoot. We're in 1989, he's 45. But there was not Internet at the time to spread the word...
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/7/04 10:40 pm)
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14
Souffle = breathing adapted to each situation in connection with the universe. How to explain this...let's say you're an individual as everyone, but you feel no connection with the universe around. You feel no connection with the sky, with the wind, with the earth, with the rain, with the matter. Matter is made of elements put into human-world functional shapes, but still it's elements, and elements are part of the universe. You are part of the universe. That universe is smart and connects everything and everyone.
So you may train hard, you'll get results for sure, but still...you can't connect. You may connect with friends doing parkour, and that's great and fun, but still...you can't connect to the universe.
All right, you're on a rooftop, ready for a cat leap, but it's high down below...you're brave, but it's still real high. You start thinking of the danger. "I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid"...you're on your own. You maybe won't even notice it, but your breathing is totally messed, you can feel your nerves stressed out, your muscles feel like marshmallows...you heart "drum" hard. Ever felt that way ? Of course you did like all of us.
That's especially when breathing is essential. But also connection. You're a part of the universe, if you can feel that, yo're not alone anymore. You feel immersed in a whole world of smart energy you can tap into with confidence and gratitude. Breathe, breathe, slowly, deeply, especially when breathing out. You feel better, you feel good, you feel connected with yourself and the universe.
So you see, the most important thing to understand is that breathing = connection.
Now, there's lots of different breathing techniques. I can't explain here. You may find by yourself.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
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(11/7/04 10:42 pm)
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Indeed, this is the "Hors-Humain" a few years ago, after he already had evolved toward a more underground-artistic-poetical style. He experiences many things in his art and philosophy of life.
I had recently mentioned the link to ez who told me he looks like he's lost his mind !!! that's maybe true. Remember : Habrey, even in his early years, always used to be a urban shaman. He's created a world of his own that is often hard to clearly understand. On the video, he's 53.
The hanging upside down at the Alma bridge is a very dangerous thing especially because of the cars driving fast down below. If you ever fall, it's game over, for real.
If you watch the climbing of Notre-Dame de Paris by the scaffoldings, I'm the guy who carries the kettle-drum up. That was a pretty dangerous thing, since it is a heavy instrument and that night was freezing cold (New Years eve).
For people wanting to understand the meaning of "Hors-Humain" it could be something like "Off-Human" or "Out-of-Human", someone who's left humanity...
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
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(11/7/04 10:44 pm)
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Yes he even looks definitely mad on that movie , but again, this was supposed to be an artistic underground movie. It obviously doesn't mean Habrey behaves like this in real life ! that's his way to question people about their own lives, the meaning and the limits of it. In his opinion, humanity is on a wrong way and that's why he decided not to be a part of it anymore. But that's his point of view, and even though I respect it, I don't agree with it. Because to me this is a dead-end way. We are One.
"Furtive behavior = Furtive training"
Back to the Parkour, yes I agree with you, the more silent a move is, the more it shows fluidity, like an animal.
Many people discovering Parkour are often willing to do the spectacular things first. But more advanced traceurs are looking for real flow and more subtle outlook and training.
Your training always go on. Habrey used to tell us that it is possible to have a very complete training on a one square meter surface. And this is true. But more is what I call "furtive training" and this is a tip directly inspired by my own experience with Habrey.
Furtive training will have an immediate effect on your Parkour. Furtive training is done especially when you're not doing Parkour, or when you cannot because you're at work, or at school, or whatever circumstance that isn't the right time or place for Parkour.
In such circumstances, don't feel frustrated, be creative. Focus on your inner sensation, the way you breathe for instance. Have you noticed your shoulders are tense ? Your gestures are stiff when you talk to people. Focus on details. Is your back straight when you're at the table ?
Do you seem to collapse on yourself when you take a seat ? Are your moves noisy ? Are you tense when opening or closing a simple door ? Do you slam it ? Do you sometimes realize you seem to lack of air ? Watch your breathing, again, it's the key to fluidity. Focus on exhaling more than inhaling, because when you breath out you release tensions.
Furtive training is about avoiding and releasing unnecessary tensions that would otherwise accumulate within your body and mind.
It is also about putting as less energy as you can in your daily moves.
Finding and enjoying flow in them. It's about avoiding to loose energy by undergo the stress of social life, urban life, but rather keeping it for better Parkour.
After some time of practicing furtive training you'll notice you need less time for warm-up when you go training. You'll notice you're less using will and more instinct. You will also notice that your body and mind seem to work better together with more complicity.
Because when you focus on your simple daily moves that way, you're obviously indirectly training for Parkour. You're learning "felinity" = being like a feline. FELINE = FEEL. And that's immediate and easy benefit in your Parkour practice.
Seb is totally right : "If it's not quiet then you are not doing it right".
There again, Habrey was telling us "the faster it goes, the slower your mind must go". Moves can be fast, you could be running fast, but your mind keeps quiet, like slow motion.
And the good news about furtive training is that no one will ever notice it ! Incognito Parkour. Habrey also use to say that "people should feel that you're different without understanding clearly why..."
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
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(11/7/04 10:45 pm)
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There's many different breathing techniques actually. It can be practiced anytime, anywhere, in front of your PC or TV, in a meeting, in public transportation, in the shower, before falling asleep, when you wake up, etc...it's part of the furtive training. It is mainly silent, and hardly noticeable if you're surrounded by people.
It's a pleasure to feel one's own breathing. It is a wonderful sensation. It is a rhythm. Actually, it's life. How many times do you breath a day ? Thousand times. Don't you think this has a direct action on your health ? Metabolism ? Energy level ?
So do you provide enough air to your body ? Do you release the tainted air efficiently ?
Focusing on breathing has many different benefits. Especially on stress, emotive behavior. It helps you to maintain the positive mindset you've chosen in your life. You'll cope much more easily with tensions when you're in control of your breath. Especially the exhale part, when you release.
Think of it whenever you feel stressed by anything. Breath slowly, deeply.
There's different techniques. The simplest is deep breathing. You know, it seems so simple that many will find this useless. But it is actually an extraordinary training. First, always start by a deep release.
That's rule number one, breath out, not in. If you breath out deeply, you're automatically going to breath in deeply afterward. But the opposite isn't true. You may think it's necessary to breath in as much as you can. It often reveals a fear of lacking air. Yes, breath in as much as you can, but only if you've first made sure you've released as much air as you could. It is better to lack a little of air than to be full of tainted air not exhaled.
So you want to do this for a start, and that the basic exercises. You see, it is quite simple. So simple, so natural, so efficient.
A direct adaptation of this into the Parkour is when you vertical jump especially (and when you jump or vault anyway no matter how) : don't breath in when you let go. If you're stiff, that's hard matter against hard matter when you reach the ground, and your body absorbs bad vibrations. That's what happens if you try to hold your breath, you make you body stiff ! Don't do that. Before you jump, breath in, then when you actually jump exhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaale, because it releaaaaaaases, makes your body relaaaaaax, and that's exactly what you need in order to absorb the impact as less as possible.
So you have to train to breath out slowly, deeply, and make it last as long as possible.
I remember one of our trainings with Habrey by a cold night of winter. We had climbed under a bridge above the Seine river. From there, the height was about 30' high. Since it's water down below, don't worry it's not gonna hurt your feet. However, given the darkness, the cold weather and the currents, that was a little scary uh. We were hanging to a metal bar, ready for a vertical jump into the water, one after one. When it was my turn, I took a deep breath, hold it for 2 seconds, then let go and dived while breathing out all the way down. I hit the water, and started to swim back up to reach the surface, but then realized I had still enough air to enjoy some more apnea ! So I swam a few more seconds underwater and when I got back to the surface everybody was mad at me !!! hahaha, only funny afterward, since they thought I had drown...
If you're interested, I may give extra details on breathing techniques a next time. But you may have your own research, there's also breathing techniques in karate for instance (respiratory katas) or Qi-kong but moreover in yoga (pranayama). Indian notion of prana is a little like chi, ki, mana or Force, it is that mysterious energy you can learn to tap into, to capture. However, my advise is to keep things simple, without thinking too much about the sort of metaphysical explanations. Conceptual knowledge is interesting, but instinctive sensations, through experience and practice, will always bring you much more. It's about application, which leads to the real understanding.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
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(11/7/04 10:46 pm)
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A good breathing will help your body to enhance your immune system. Will give you a better sleep.
It also reduces your perception of pain and discomfort. Because when you focus on breathing more than on pain or any kind of discomfort, your attention is well placed. It is a kind of stoïcism, you know pain is here, but you kind of don't give it so much importance. Not a priority. Since you know you won't get ridden of it immediately, it soothes if attention is elsewhere. Breathing helps a lot in reducing the global body and mind tensions induced by pain and discomfort.
It is very efficient when the weather is cold for instance. It helps a lot to resist drowsiness.
Diaphragm control is the key. One of the most powerful muscle in your body (when I was a kid my clarinet teacher used to tell it's the most powerful one, but he was wrong. Anyways, he introduced me first to the notion of breathing properly and control the diaphragm).
It is not the only respiratory muscle, but it is the most important one.
In order to better locate it and feel, you could put your hands together on the top of your belly, right under your lung cage. Breath in. You can feel the diaphragm pushing off your hands ? Good, there you are.
Now, try to prevent your diaphragm from pushing off your hands by pressing as hard as you can on it (pay attention not to contract abdominal muscles) You can't uh ? I told you, that muscle is extremely powerful !
Now one fantastic exercise I've learned with Habrey is the doggy (-like) breathing. Keep your mouth opened. Now, you want to breath in and out at a very jerky pace. To better understand this exercise, you must clearly imagine you're a dog in a hot day of summer...mouth wide opened, tongue stretched out your mouth, dribbling hard I'm kidding, just keep your mouth opened that's all, but do breath like a dog. Yeah yeah, it sounds easy or stupid, but now try to hold this for one minute...two minutes...three minutes.
It is most likely that within a few seconds, you're already lacking air, tense, kind of tired with it...
Why is so ? Because you can't control your diaphragm. Now try again. Start slowly. Then go faster little by little. When you can hold this for more than a minute easily, have fun changing pace, create new rhythm with your diaphragm, and above all try to feel it becomes more and more powerful. This exercise is a real diaphragm work out.
This breathing technique is going to built a stronger, more tonic diaphragm. The immediate benefit is that your daily breathing will be deeper even when you don't pay attention to it, simply because your diaphragm got stronger.
Back to the Parkour, you may use this technique when you warm-up. Warming-up your breathing capacity is a real good thing too. Doggy respiration, then deep breathing in order to relax.
A great warm-up is the quadrupecy (walk on both legs and arms) described by Hebert. We used to do that a lot with Habrey. When "walking" that way, keep focusing on your breathing. Try to doggy breath at the same time. You understand better then how a strong diaphragm is important. When you'll be climbing now, or cat to cat vaulting, you'll feel the same need to pay attention to how you breathe.
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/9/04 11:09 am)
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19
I know Don very well. He's neither a saint, or a wise-man, that's for sure...but you're right, he's gained another kind of mind, definitely. If I'm not talking about it on this forum, it's first because this is his own world and I don't have to talk about it. Secondly, I think people here are more willing to hear about his kind of Parkour activity of his early years more than about his current research.
Because it goes totally beyond the notion of Parkour. You have no idea how beyond his mind is. He's a total ascetic and mystical artist. This is no Parkour !!!
So thanks again to Artful Dodger for his translation of Yann Minh introduction of "Hors-Humain" (Habrey).
I'm giving another version of it with a little more accurate translation
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Hors-Humain
by Yann Minh
Some are called Johnny, Che, others uncle Ho, Pablo de Herlanes, or El Greco.
He is called "Beyond Human", and this is not without significance.
Beyond Human, more than any other, will appear different to each one of those who will approach him; different according to who approaches him, different according to the context of the meeting.
One cannot describe Beyond Human without, inevitably, reducing him; to really understand who he is, there's no other choice than to make oneself an opinion.
These are some descriptive lines that can be only a draft, an impression, inevitably limited by my subjectivity.
There are in Beyond Human, three strong identities.
The artist.
The unsubdued rebel.
The enlightened (in the literal sense).
One would need a whole book to start a description of these three facets of his character, and I am sure that there are others. I, thus, will limit myself to the aspect which I know best: the Artist.
Beyond Human is one of the most authentic artists of our time, a modern François Villon at the same time by his life of rebellion and his writings.
His poetry is of an exceptional lyric and revolutionary quality.
His style is simple but with luminous metaphors it metamorphoses the thoughts of the reader, and his words have the precision of a scalpel incising an abscess.
But Beyond Human is also the provocative playwright, who made the city his theater, transforming his inhabitants into involuntary interpreters of their own roles. There is no greater artist than he who, by his work, manages to change our perception of life and of world by revealing them under a new light. And that is what Beyond Human succeeded in doing for those who, in closed-mouth secrecy and clandestine silence, could, these last years, assist and take part in his incredible scenic and poetic interventions in the city, who would make fade of desire most excessive of the performers.
Relegating to the oubliettes all these ridiculous caricatures of provocations that the cinema, the visual arts and the theater proposed to us each year within commercial systems of diffusion.
Facing the rules, really endangering himself, this mischievous devil, this modern Arsene Lupin, as an imperceptible agitator, dared to give concrete form to the phantasm of many creators to forge art in the city, by convening his public in prohibited urban spaces, the time of a performance, transforming on these occasions the police force into as many puppets, of a grand-guignolesque theater of which he was the marionnettist.
From the pinnacle of Notre Dame, unto the mud of the battle fields of Verdun, while passing by Loch Ness, Etna and the San Andreas fault, a futuristic Charon guiding his boat between the worlds, one saw him calling upon those alive like Death, with the bearing of his gigantic drum carried by man to the top of the most abrupt frontages.
Or, well before a late princess gave her celebrity to this structure, one could see him suspended by his feet within the frames of the bridge of Alma, and oscillating as would a pendulum, to address sharply his extreme poetry, the automobile flood streaming under him.
Jean-Edern Hallier, said that the middle-class loves the artist only when he is dead. Because once dead one knows finally his limits, and one is from now on certain that he will not be able to disturb the order of things more that he already has.
The Beyond Human is not a reassuring artist, he gives, really, the impression of being without limits. And that worries all the "decision makers".
But will we await his death to recognize finally, that in this twilight of the second millennium, one of the greatest artists of our time, a true urban legend, haunts the walls of the city?
But who knows that he would not manage to return among deaths on New Year's Day, as the Phantom or as Quasimodo, a reminder to us while playing the drum to the tympanum of Notre Dame.
Beyond Human disturbs, it is certain, because he has the charisma of all freed.
Some see in him a kind of Shaman of the industrial era which, by traveling too much between the worlds, returns to us too full of freedom.
He is not the guru of a sect as certain journalists in the search of easy subjects have claimed, nor the satanic Messiah that denounces certain uncultivated incompetents to include/understand his metaphors; in fact, he is worse than all that.
Beyond Human is the re-appeared, disillusioned Diogènes of the mud of our industrial waste, who, having definitively given up seeking the human with his small lantern, directs on us its projection with xenon, the better to dissect us and reveal us to ourselves.
Today, thanks to the theater of small Hebertot, the occasion is given to us to attend a spectacle of Beyond Human in serenity, in the comfort and safety of the theatrical scene, rather than in the play pangs of the cold, the night and the police.
Even for those who could take part in these adventure-spectacles in the depths of the city, which Beyond Human presents to us on scene, is completely unexpected and I will say unhoped-for.
Because this Master of urban No Man's Land, which one believed intended to work in the precariousness of clandestineness, proves to be also a Master of the theatrical stage.
His service in a one man show illuminated with the theater of small Hebertot is of density at the same time by quality of the texts, and that of its play of actor (but is he really acting?).
He does not do without a moment of spectacle, without it Beyond Human would not give this fabulous impression of being inhabited by these mysterious cosmic forces which one day penetrate each actor or artist, to carry it about this sublime moment that Antonin Artaud called the creative moment.
And you can be sure that energies which were present in the fury of the city are also present on the stage of small Hébertot. But there, Beyond Human is less than ten meters away. Attention... it metamorphoses.
Yann Minh.
(Realizer and Writer)
"It resides not only in the muscles and the breath, but above all in the "energy" which is used, the will which directs it and the feeling which guides it." - George Hebert |
Artful Dodger
PK OZ/NZ Mod
(11/12/04 10:58 pm)
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Yes I used to train with Don as from 1989 until 1996. As I've explained a few times, our training was a very extensive array of "trainings", including some PK-like trainings. However it was not the most important thing I was training on with Habrey, even though they were the most spectacular or dangerous.
If you watch that underground movie of the "Hors-Humain" (Beyond human) performing his poetical happening on Notre-Dame de Paris, I'm the one guy carrying up the kettle-drum on my back.
That instrument is about 13 kg. The temperature that night (New Year's Eve) was about 2° C. The kettle-drum is tied by a thick wool scarf (!) across my chest, so I can hardly breath. The drum is so wide that it gives me no other choice than to bring it up by the outside of the scaffoldings, and its weigh is pulling me outward and downward. The only way to climb it is to put my feet on these tiny and slippery circles of metal you can notice on the movie. You know, that was the type of thing we would often do with him. It requires to be fully involved mentally or you just can't do it that's all.
Don to me was a kind of "maître" or master you know the old way, like you want to learn ? Then follow, then dedicate yourself, forget your selfish ego, listen, understand, help, then learn. In our contemporary view, it's kind of having a guru upon yourself telling you what to do and why. If you were to learn from for instance an old school Japanese martial arts "sensei" (master) do his teachings stop when you're out of the dojo, or back home ? Not really. The discipline and values you learn at the dojo, you apply them in your daily, personal life, intimate inner world. It becomes a part of your experience, a part of who you are.
So same here. I could have thought : yeah yeah interesting somehow. But instead I was thinking : this is IT. This is how I think, this is what I am. Imagine yourself encountering David Belle himself, and he's teaching his techniques and philosophy of Parkour, and you'd have this opportunity to learn from him directly on a daily basis or so. what would you do ? Wouldn't you be influenced by his way to do, to speak, to see life ?
Someone here mentioned FightClub. Except for the fight, there's a lot of it in my Habrey experience. We all (5 to 6 guys) had our daytime job, but at night, we were all dressed in black, like a code. We want no color. We don't believe in hope. What did I own then ? A few books, a few clothes, and that's all. A bed ? No bed. Sleeping on the ground. Give me a blanket or two and I'm fine. A table ? What for ? I'd do everything on the ground. A haircut ? Leave my hair alone. Perfume, deodorant ? A hot shower is fine. If my body is clean inside (vegetarian diet) I don't need this. TV ? Don't pollute my mind. Games ? All my games are outside, outdoors. Fashion ? What is it ?
So yeah, we've climbed the Louvre museum and entered it by night, we swam across the Seine river by a cold night of winter, we fasted for 3 days, we didn't sleep for 2 days and 2 night, or we slept one or two hours by "night" for 10 days, we ran barefoot through Paris by night, we slept directly on the ground in a zoo just above the zebras, we fed wolves in the same zoo by night with chunks of raw meat between our lips and the wolves took them off through the wire netting, etc etc...that's only examples of what we've done together. Vivid experiences.
Why did I stop following him ? You see I was so involved in his philosophy and dedication to his action and artistic activism (latest year) that I realized I was not myself anymore. Not having my own life, my own way, my truly own experience. And this is the most precious and important thing in life, to lead your own life your own way. So it is good to always widen the field of your own experience in life. If you're so convinced you're right, it may reveals you're wrong...I had many other kinds of things ahead to experience and learn by myself. On my own...
Now I'm into long distance triathlon, and I'm very interested in many things regarding philosophy, psychology etc... I'm also including some PK training sometimes, because it's a way to keep flexible, instinctive, playful.
I've watched Waking Life once a few years ago in California. That is the best movie I've ever seen. There's so much insight in this movie and so much I can relate to, with my own outlook on life.
I sometimes have lucid dreams. This is something I've trained on when I was 17, so 16 years ago now, and as from then I often realize that I'm dreaming...when I'm dreaming ! I then choose to do some things I want to do, and that simple feeling of being aware of something you're not supposed to is amazing, very powerful.
In the "real" life, I may also sometimes wonder if I'm awake, or not, just like in the movie. Not that I'm not aware I'm awaken, but after all, what's the difference ? Gives the same feeling of freedom : what do you choose to do from now on ? See ? Question the routine, question the automatically behavior, question the commonplace certainty, question the logical thoughts. In fact, widen your mind.
www.lucidity.com
So what happened, and how did you finally get out of it?
Oh man. It was like one of those like life altering experiences. I could never really look at the world the same way again after that.
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