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yeah, i would say that it does improve body awareness, or at least it has for me. learning completely new skills from a baseline of zero means learning totally new body organization, and that means you're clumsy and have to pay close attention to what you're doing. i've always had decent kinesthetic awareness: i'm an okay athlete, can pick up the basics of new sports pretty easily. but for example i knew my handstands were sagging even before i saw those videos the other day, and that's because i was paying close attention to my whole body.

once the basic skills are ingrained -- pirouettes, kip-ups, handstands -- i have no doubt that will translate to improved balance. one thing i like about the GMB program (they have something like 10, actually, and i'm doing Floor 1) is that it's cumulative. you start easy and add complication in a clear way.

as far as moving better in general, too early to say. one thing i will say is that my wrist mobility has definitely improved, and i think shoulder mobility a bit as well. wrists don't play much role in overall movement but i'm a believer now in their commitment to stretching and mobility, which i'd kind of drifted away from for the last few years.

yeah i totally feel you about the form purism. i'll get to backflips and front flips when the program does, as i mentioned earlier i don't want to rush ahead now that i've bought (literally) into GMB. when i do, i'll see if i can find a spotter.

- GMB F1 W5 D5
phase one complete. made some good progress on pirouettes today. also filmed some kip-ups so y'all can see what i'm doing wrong. the ones that are slightly closer to success are where i pushed harder with my arms. unfortunately that's uncomfortable for my shoulders, especially the left.

reflections on phase 1: overall i'm happy. it's the most fun i've had training in a very long time, feels good to give myself over to a prescribed program and just trust to incremental progress. made huge strides on wrist mobility, cartwheels (done properly for the first time in my life!), crow, and handstands (also done for the first time in my life!). on the other hand, could not nail kip-ups and was discouraged by repeated banging on the ground, which gives me a headache and saps motivation to continue practicing and trying different things. they're just not explosive enough.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XApFs0LFNNs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XApFs0LFNNs</a>

nice! your technique is different than the one GMB describes. they have the arm throw as a key to getting the body upright, and the target is to land in a deep squat. i'll try anything, though. just want to get on my feet.

and not hassling at all, i really appreciate the tips and encouragement.

-hanging leg lifts/toes to bar (use straps)
-ab wheel roll-outs
-hollow body holds
-pallof press

god damn it.

- GMB F1 W5 D2
pirouettes all over the place, trouble balancing. better toward the end, still annoying. otherwise fine. cartwheels are pretty much there, practice is just to get closer to mastery, i've got the basics down.

here's the conditioning circuit at the end of the B days (i.e. cartwheels and piroettes).

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hllpgf8l8g0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hllpgf8l8g0</a>

NB: my jump height has suffered but these are WAY submax.

nope nope nope. went down a flip tutorial rabbit hole on youtube last night and i'm pretty sure i could do at least a back flip pretty easily if i had a safe place to practice or could muster the stones to do it on my lawn. must not rush, though. am enjoying the gradual, prescribed road.

you found out you have a near complete PCL tear and played basketball the next day???!?!?