More Updates...

It's been another couple of months since my last update.  Here's what I've been up to...

• I've lost over 20 pounds since the start of the year!  Down to 215 lbs from 236 on Jan 1st.  My FitBit really does make a difference -- I'm focused on physical activity every day.
• Haven't been doing much dunk practice, but I have been keeping up some plyometrics and other jump training.  I can touch my 10'3" basement ceiling on a depth jump now!
• Just trying to stay healthy and improve my conditioning a little bit every day.

In other news, I just discovered that Sports Illustrated had a long form article "Learn To Dunk" last year:  http://www.si.com/longform/2015/dunking/.  This article describes a very similar journey to my own, right down to the Tim Grover training guide ("Jump Attack") and searching for local playground rims to practice on.

For those that didn't see it, TNT just finished airing "The Dunk King", which featured most of the world's top dunkers.  I felt that Jordan Kilganon was robbed, but still enjoyed the series.  Clips can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU6BYY1Lu_ffetIxMhH_hZOkr41U4ADbL

39.5 and Dunking -- some updates

So, it's been about 4 months since I posted to my blog... here's some updates:

• Sprained an ankle in November, and tried to avoid dunk practice/etc. for several weeks.
• Ate and drank too much over the holidays, and had my weight balloon to 236 pounds!
• Got a FitBit for Xmas, and have been using it religiously to tracking my progress back toward my weight and general fitness goals.
• Haven't attempted as many dunks in 2016, mainly because the practice rims at the facility I play at once/week were changed (and now have "no dunking" signs on all of the backboards)

Progress in 2016 so far:

• I've dropped 12 pounds in about 12 weeks!  (236 back down to 224)
• My vertical is coming back... I'd lost probably 4-5 inches from my peaks of last year, but I'm getting close to where I was.
• I'm only about 7 months from the big 4-0.  That is now my one and only goal for this year:  DUNK AT AGE 40.

I will try to post more frequent updates as I progress toward my 40th birthday.  I still haven't found too many people out there dunking in their 40's, which inspires me to keep going an be somewhat unique in my goal.

39 and Dunking!!!

My 39th birthday has come and gone, and so it was time to get some dunks down and officially say that I'm 39 and dunking.

I haven't progressed on my weight goal (still around 230 lbs), but I did manage to hit 4 total dunks tonight after my weekly basketball game:  2 right-handed and 2 left-handed.  I was surprised at how easily I could control the ball with my left hand -- almost as comfortable as my right.

So, to celebrate dunking at age 39, and dunking left-handed.... here's John Starks with one of the most famous left-handed dunks of all time:

I'M BACK! 39 and Dunking?

So.... despite my best intentions to keep working on my vertical through the summer, keep losing weight, and keep dunking -- I ended up gaining about 10-12 pounds (earlier in September, I was up around 230 from 218!) and losing some of my vertical as a result.

BUT -- fall basketball season just started up, and I'm trying to get back to the good habits that helped me meet my goal of dunking at age 38.  Also, my 39th birthday is quickly approaching, so I'm updating my goals:

1)  DUNK GOALS:

• Keep dunking at age 39, and into my 40's!
• Hit more types of dunks:
• Dribble dunk (i.e. a legal basketball dunk)
• Off-the-backboard
• Two-handed
• Reverse dunk

2)  WEIGHT GOALS:

• Starting from 230 lbs, I want to get back under 210 lbs (losing at least 20 lbs).  This will also help my knees/body from feeling sore every time I wake up the next morning after some dunk practice.

3)  VERTICAL JUMP GOALS:

• Standing/No-Step Vertical Jump:  28" (getting half of my hand over the rim)
• Running/Max Vertical Jump:  34" (getting my full wrist over the rim)

Now that I've updated my goals... here is a new clip of me practicing some jumps and even hitting one dunk at age 38.9:

April Update

I haven't posted in a month, but wanted to write a quick update.

My basketball season wrapped up (our team got slaughtered in our playoff game), so I haven't been doing my weekly dunk attempts.

However, it is SPRING now in Toronto, and I've been looking for a good park/playground basket nearby to keep dunking on through the summer.  There are a couple at my kids' school that are around 9'6" (a bit too easy to dunk on), and another one in a park nearby that is around 9'10".  I did a few dunks on this rim, and I think it will be good enough to practice on through the summer.

I will keep taking some video clips of my dunking progress, and post them here and on YouTube.

In the meantime - I just saw an INCREDIBLE dunk on YouTube this week... a windmill from the free throw line:  enjoy!

WEEK 10: DUNK CLIPS!

This week, I managed to setup my phone for all of my post-game dunk attempts.
(I didn't want to miss any dunks this time)

Good news: I now have video proof that I'm able to dunk again at age 38!

As I noted a couple of weeks ago, I'm now able to get my entire hand over the rim (shown at the start of this clip). With my hand measuring 8.5", I'm going to record this as hitting 10'9", or a 32" max vertical with my 8'1" reach.

My second video shows a few misses, but still showing some good progress:

What's next?  I still need to hit my goals of losing 20 lbs, increasing standing vertical by 6", and increasing max vertical by 6".  And -- I will keep working on dunking... these dunks are just squeaking in, and I need to get a couple of inches higher to get them cleanly through with more power.

March 1st: Progress Updates at the Two-Month Milestone

As of today, I'm exactly 2 months into my quest to dunk at age 38.

I weighed 218.2 lbs on the scale this morning -- down 8 lbs from the 226.2 I weighed on the morning of January 1st, 2015. So, I'm averaging 4 lbs/month, or about a pound a week. At this rate, I would hit my weight loss goal in about 5 months.

My Standing Vertical Jump is still right around 10'3", which is a 26" standing vertical (up +3" from when I started the year). My goal of +6" on my standing vertical will likely be the hardest goal to hit, but I'll keep aiming for it.

My Max Vertical Jump is around 10'8" (I can now get my wrist to the rim), which is +5" from the start of the year when I could only hit 10'3".  My 31" running vertical is getting close to my goal of gaining 6 inches, so I might need to adjust this goal higher -- I had originally thought that I'd need to get to 11 ft to make sure I was able to dunk cleanly!

And.... the most important goal:  I've already managed to get a couple of dunks down!
(Week 7 was the first time that I hit a dunk)

Now -- I just need to get some dunks on video to prove it (hoping to do this tomorrow).