sandblade

This is something I’ve been trying to do on and off for years. I’ve recently done a personal record of holding one for 4 seconds. Once I can hold it for 20 seconds I’ll consider this done. Here is what I’ve learned so far:

1) Physical conditioning has a LOT to do with improving. Core strength is the key to holding it successfully. If you can’t lock out your legs and torso, you will never be able to hold the handstand. Obliques, abs, lats all work together to lock your core. Hand strength is also very important, because your fingertips are what make the fine adjustments for balance.

2) Don’t try to adjust by moving your legs. If you do you’re already done. Adjustment is in the hands.

3) Exercises that help, hollow rocks, planks, pushups, bridges, crunches. I started bboying which has really helped. Any move that involves freezes or stabs has helped a lot with my hand strength and core strength

Finished reading Esther. It’s a story I like a lot. One of the few stories where a woman saves the day and speaks truth to a male dominated hierarchy. There are two things that I find interesting in Esther. Why did Mordecai instruct Esther to hide her Jewish background while he himself created confrontation by being so public about his Judaism? Also I find it fascinating that Esther’s plan to save the Jews required fasting. She didn’t say, “oh please pray for me” She specifically instructed the Jewish nation to fast for three days with out food OR drink. That’s a hardcore fast. It wasn’t optional. It was part of the plan. I wonder what it would be like if Christians today fasted as a group on a regular basis.

I find Nehemiah a really interesting character. He’s completely incorruptible, a great leader, a great governor, and a man who sticks to his principles. A rare person to find then and now. What I find interesting is how he is both a pragmatist and an idealist at the same time. He finds a way of both restoring Jerusalem in record time both physically and spiritually while managing hostile elements from the outside and stamping out corruption from the inside. This is the guy you want as your mayor. He gets things done and he does it without selling out. Some notes of interest. In the beginning of the book he talks about how he manages the constant state of having to be at a ready state of war against the hostile neighbors while trying to move forward at the same time. It’s eerily like the current problems in Israel today. Also Chpt 5 has an inspiring bit about how he gets Jews to stop exploiting each other. Later in the book he reforms his people back to following the law set in the Torah. Not just the sacrifices, and purity laws, but also jubilee. It’s easy to see why the Persian King was so impressed with him that they let him go back to Jerusalem to rebuild.