Your body tells the story of the choices and decisions you have
made; it's a reflection of the journey you've been on. And though the origins of
that journey are important, it’s equally important to know where you’re going,
and ultimately hoping to end up.
By using the example of myself, I hope to demonstrate how
your body’s journey doesn’t necessarily stay on a single path, but can deviate
as a result of constructions and encounters along the way. These alterations
aren't necessarily a negative thing though. Sometimes, choosing a new direction
can help us reassess our true end goal, and potentially reach it even sooner.
The Starting Point
Physically, my body reflects two stories; there remains a number of injuries resulting
from a long career in rugby, as well as the more recent physical developments from
the calisthenics training I’ve since adopted. But why did I transition from professional rugby into
calisthenics?
Well ultimately, this decision derived from a forced retirement,
having sustained a head injury during a
routine Nottingham Rugby training session, which put me out of any training for
nearly six months.
Once recovered, though I couldn’t return to sport, I continued
lifting weights in the gym, utilising the same sessions and exercises I
previously used whilst training as a professional rugby player. However, that
training had previously had a purpose - an end point; the game at the weekend. I
needed to be a certain shape for stability, a certain level of fitness for
endurance, and a certain degree of agility to manoeuvre around the field. This
was my weekly focus, but now that I was retired, why exactly was I continuing
to train in this particular way?
The Journey
Training had become stale without a purpose. So thank God I
met Tim when I did, before I became completely demotivated. He introduced me to
a new form of training; my destination needed to change, and so I needed to pursue a new path - my calisthenics
journey had begun!
The challenge that calisthenics brings in mastering and
controlling your body, in being able to complete movements or positional holds
(such as a reverse lever or human flagpole) provided the challenge
I was looking for. For me, it's now a personal endeavour to constantly improve
myself, whether that’s the ease with which I perform a particular shape, or the
length of time for which I hold it. And suffice to say, I'm addicted to that
challenge! I'm the oldest I've ever been (it might surprise you to know!), and yet
in the best shape of my life thanks to this newfound form of motivation.
What is Calisthenics
As Tim explained in his own calisthenics based article, ‘EatClean, Train Clean,’ it's what many people describe as the most natural form of
training. And he's right. Having to position and align your whole body in
certain positions, and have the ability to create the necessary tension to hold
that position, such as my favourite; the human flag, means there is no hiding
place. It requires the correct alignment of joints and optimal muscle
synergies.
The End Goal
Calisthenics has not only challenged me in terms of
strength, control and balance, but also in correcting the postural and joint
alignment of my battered body, from having played over 300 championship games
for Nottingham Rugby.
Not only can I control my body more efficiently now, but I
also better understand it, as a result of this natural form of training.
So what story does your body tell, and is it time for a new
chapter; a new direction?
Calisthenics was the deviation my body needed, and it could
definitely work for you, too. If you want to get started with your own
calisthenics journey, then keep an eye out for training tips and blogs from both
me and Tim through Be An Athlete, and why not check out the series of
calisthenics workshops we're running in Nottingham - see
our official facebook page for details.
About Jacko:
David Jackson is a former professional rugby player, whose
training moved towards calisthenics after he was forced to retire from rugby
due to a head injury. He is now a Director at oneathlete, where he provides
strength and conditioning, and performance mindset support to athletes. David
is a Be An Athlete Ambassador.
w: oneathlete.co.uk Twitter & Instagram: @JackoHumanFlag
About Tim:
Tim is a professional strength and conditioning coach,
working with elite Paralympic athletes, and is part of Team GB for the 2016
Games in Rio. He has coached athletes to medal success at European,
Commonwealth, World and Paralympic competitions and is a Be An Athlete
Ambassador.
w: oneathlete.co.uk Twitter & Instagram: @TimVsGravity
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