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2-Day Seminar in Bilbao, Spain


  • irie entrenamiento 192 Langileria Kalea Leioa, PV, 48940 Spain (map)

My 2-Day in person seminar is coming to back to Europe.

Registration includes 12 hours of training and instruction over two full days. This event will cover handstands, flexibility, movement, acrobatics, strength, health/fitness, and overall teaching and training philosophy. The seminar is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn more about handstands, acrobatics, movement, etc, to benefit their own practice or for their clients/students.
Class size is limited to ensure everyone has an opportunity for personal feedback and questions.

Location:
Irie Entrenamiento
Langileria Kalea, 192, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain

Times:
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Cost:
$375 for registration before April 1
$450 for registration on or after April 1

Schedule:
-
Saturday Morning: Handstand Basics and Foundation
Introduction, warmup, wrist and shoulder preparation, handstand fundamentals, building up to handstand balance.
-Saturday Afternoon: Handstand Continuation plus Flexibility/Recovery
Warmup, handstand balance continuation, handstand pushups, handstand walks, flexibility and recovery
-Sunday Morning: Intermediate/Advanced Handstands plus Strength
Warmup, Intermediate Handstand Balance, Handstand Entries, Balance Complexity, Press Handstand, Stalder Press, Planche
-Sunday Afternoon: Acrobatics, Movement, Recovery
Warmup, Acrobatics and floor movement, flexibility work, Recovery, Final Q&A

Note that the above is a general guideline for the event. The actual content and schedule of the event will depends on the level and desires of the group.
Lunch break is 2 hours to allow time to eat, digest, review notes, take a nap, etc. without feeling you need to rush.

FAQ
Are there any prerequisites to attend?
The class is open to anyone of any background or level of ability. That includes complete beginners. All exercises can be scaled up or down so that students can be appropriately challenged for their level. The presentation will be a mix of theory and practice, so you can decide to what extent you wish to participate. Even with zero practical participation(which I don’t recommend), you can still get a lot out of the class by listening, observing, and asking questions.

Will I be sore following the event?
It’s likely you will be. I do my best to focus on technique and concepts, rather than putting students through hard workouts to fatigue them. That being said, the seminar is physically demanding. We are training long hours and you may be performing new exercises your body is not used to.
I include some recovery work to help break up the training, and if anything is too intense there is no obligation to participate. However, given the hours and the potential to move your body in new ways, you may experience some soreness.

What’s the point of learning a handstand?
The main reason I would give for learning a handstand is the same as I would give for any other skill: because you want to. It’s a skill based fitness practice that is a fantastic display of body control and awareness. It can be frustrating to learn sometimes, but very satisfying when you get it right. Many people also view handstand as a meditative practice, as it’s a skill that requires 100% of your focus and does not tolerate distractions. There are a number of physical disciplines that utilize and can benefit from handstand training including: gymnastics, martial arts, yoga, calisthenics, weightlifting, acrobatics, etc. On a deeper note, I use the handstand as a way to help students develop their own learning process, as it’s a skill that comes with physical, technical, and psychological challenges.
It’s also an easy way to escape the “serious world” and momentarily visit a childlike state of play.
I’m not trying to sell anyone on handstands here but it can be a fun practice and I enjoy seeing people get upside down.
I also see the handstand as a powerful symbol for what you can achieve if you work at it. Many adults simply stop learning new things and become complacent in life. The handstand is an impressive looking skill that contains physical, technical, and psychological elements. However it is very achievable with some work and consistent practice. I see learning handstand as a symbol for being able to continuously learn new things as an adult.

Why should I attend the seminar when I can watch youtube videos for free?
This is a great question, and let me say that I absolutely support youtube learning. I think it’s a fantastic resource, and one of the first places I go when I want to learn something new. That being said, it doesn’t replace in-person instruction. if you really want to go deep on a subject, in-person training with a quality teacher is invaluable.
The problem with youtube is that it’s generalized, not specific to the individual. It’s also hard to discern quality information over flashy click-bait. I think YT is great as a preliminary source of information to get you started, but does not replace real instruction. Plus, there’s something to be said about the group energy and interaction that comes with a live event versus watching recorded videos. Also, people who put out instruction on YT generally don’t get paid for it, so attending a live class is a great way to show support.

What will I get out of the seminar?
This weekend is a collection of knowledge from my 15+ years experience of training, teaching, and performing. I originally come from a self-taught background, so I made lots of mistakes that I learned from. There’s a lot I teach that I wish I would have known in my early days. The right information/instruction at the right time can save a lot of time and frustration in the learning process. The information is presented in an informal no-nonsense way that allows students to interact and ask questions. I like to teach in concepts and perspectives so that students can see things differently and take something back to their own practice.
Other things you may get from the seminar:
-New warmup sequences and exercises to help prevent injury and promote a healthy practice.
-New perspectives on approaching handstand and acrobatic skills.
-How to approach physical skills in a holistic way that also takes into account general health and fitness.
-New ideas on how to coach/teach.
-Personal feedback from a professional.
-Gains and PRs(not guaranteed.)
-A fun and entertaining weekend.
-The chance to meet new people and be in a room full of others with the same goals and interests.
-Be entertained for a couple days.

About the Instructor:
I am a professional acrobat, stunt man, author, trainer, and instructor.
Originally, I come from a self-taught background, not having been particularly athletic as a child. As a young adult I started getting into fitness, martial arts, acrobatics, strength training and gymnastics. Because I was mainly teaching myself, I made a lot of mistakes in my learning process. While this may have derailed my overall progress, it gave me a unique perspective on teaching as well as the overall learning process.
I went on to be a a division 1 Collegiate Athlete, performed as Professional Acrobat, published books on handstands and physical arts, taught seminars around the world, and now I’m doing stunts in films.
I have helped thousands of students around the world learn how to handstand, move better, and improve their body control and awareness.
Among the arts I have studied are: hand balancing, capoeira, martial arts, acrobatics, tricking, circus arts, gymnastics, cheerleading, stunts, weightlifting, calisthenics, dance, etc.
I love teaching because I get to share my knowledge and experience with others in the hopes that they can use it to improve themselves.

Earlier Event: May 6
2-Day Seminar in Vienna, Austria
Later Event: January 13
Handstand Workshop in Clearwater, FL