Starting from scrap

[jan]

I do not know if this post is meant to be here, because it is not about G.U.T.S., but anyways.
Last week I started with the basic of the basics again: the Charles Atlas course. I add the exercises from PYTP for the corresponding bodypart for that lesson. I do the workouts in the evening, and the 8 Pieces of Brocade in DVR style in the morning.
I will try to put a few pics up after each forthnight, at the end of a series of lessons before starting the new ones.
Hope I can keep posting my routine(s), although not G.U.T.S., on here.

Jan

[MikeNY]

Jan sounds like a good program, the Atlas Course will put you in great shape.

Since you are using PYTP and adding the exercises from there, and PYTP is IMHO the best modernized version of Charles Atlas; why not just use the PYTP Course? I to have come to see the original Atlas Course, PYTP and the M7 Workouts (a great concise version of the Atlas Course) as second to none. John is a better wrtier than Atlas was and easier to understand.

I really never thought highly of the Atlas Course; had bought it long ago and got sloppy, mimographed pages with blurred photos; then recently got a new current Atlas Course in book format and got to see the real Course; much better than the one I bought long ago. But written poorly, can see why some folks used the original Atlas Course as Isometrics. And it worked as good using it as Isometrics as the regular Course.

I'd bought Dynaflex in the 1960s and it was horribly written, I reasoned out how to do it. Made notes in the book etc; my friend's copied my notes and instructions so it worked. I must confess I have notes in the M7 and thoughts, old habits never die. Usually I respect books, but I liked the M7 book. Really a great book and the Seven Workouts in the back section are one great version of the Atlas Course, concise, well written and easy to follow. Powerflex is another great version of the Atlas Course; if Atlas had use muscle tension like Big Jim did then his Course would have been perfect. One thing JP in the M7 uses that same advice about muscle tension.

jan all success to you, the Atlas Course and the Brocade Exercises should work great.

[jan]

Mike,

for one or another obscure reason, I never really got a good grasp with PYTP. Mind you, I think it is a great book, well written, a modern encyclopedia of self-resistance exercises. But there is so much in there. The Atlas Course has a limited number of exercises per lesson, and I find it easier to add extra exercises from PYTP. So I guess it's like John says, each of us has to figure out for him/herself what the best training method is for him/her.

Jan

[MikeNY]

Jan I can understand that reasoning; I love the M7 Course, and find the concise Atlas Course in the Seven Workouts is just perfect, John has 49 exercises in that section; along with the 7 Tiger moves.

I can see where the Baduanjin, eight section brocade can help. You must be into Kung fu? I taught Shaolin Ssu in Chinatown in California. Should have stayed in California, liked it there.

[Greg Newton]

Hey Jan,

I am not sure who decided to change the title of the workout forum, BUT this is still the workout forum. So don't hesitate to post your workouts here.

Greg

[jan]

I can see where the Baduanjin, eight section brocade can help. You must be into Kung fu?

Mike,

no, I no longer am. I used to practise Tai-chi Yang style for nearly 20 years. Somewhere along the line other interests came along (Transformetrics being one of them). After so many years of searching, I have found Zen. This practice has completely transformed me for the better. However, I do still believe the energetic body practises of great value, together with Transformetrics, for maintaining a healthy and youthfull appearance.

Jan

[jan]

Hey Jan,

I am not sure who decided to change the title of the workout forum, BUT this is still the workout forum. So don't hesitate to post your workouts here.

Greg

Thanks Greg, I certainly will :)

Jan

[MikeNY]

Jan my friend is a Buddist and practices Zazen. Interesting man he doesn't sleep he meditates at night. A wonderful, crazy man and funny; makes me smile to think of him. He makes his wife laugh to, you'd think someone so into Zen would be withdrawn, he got funnier lol.

[jan]

Mike,

that' s a general misunderstanding I guess. Zen puts you with your two feet solidly on the ground, instead of your head somewhere up in the sky. After all, life happens here on Earth, right?

Jan

[cliffa74]

Hey Jan,
Glad to see you are working through the Atlas Course.
I am doing the same thing! I was starting to stall with GUTS, and I realized that I didn't really have the foundation of strength that I thought I had.
So what better way to start than at the beginning of it all.
I've been enjoying it.

I will confess to total ignorance of the "8 Pieces of Brocade" though.

Have fun,
Cliff

[MikeC]

Hello MikeNY Your friend doesn't sleep?? He meditates instead?...I've often thought, How wonderful it would be to be an insomiac. I would get more done.