Parkour!

[The Eggplant]

So I'm home for the summer from college, 300 miles away from my school and consequently most of my friends, my ex dumped me a couple weeks ago because of the distance issue, and my job only takes up about half the workweek. I need distraction, and I've been finding myself increasingly drawn to parkour. The blend of physical endurance and mental agility appeals to me hugely, and I'm game to give it a shot.

Here's the problem: I know next to nothing about it. I'm familiar with the basic principles (running, jumping, vaulting, rolling, balance, etc.), but that's about it. So if there are any traceurs out there, I'm looking for advice... what should a parkour novice know before heading out for the first time? Is there any preferred gear? What are the realistic limitations to set for myself as a fit but inexperienced initiate? And so forth...any and all advice, even if it's "don't do it," is welcome. [sub]Oh please don't tell me not to do it.[/sub]


(Oh, and if it matters...I'm 6'5", about 185 lbs, lean and quite muscular. I work out religiously, and consequently I'm fairly strong and fast. My natural dexterity is fairly poor, but I've studied martial arts for years, which has improved it somewhat. Still a bit sub-par, IMO. I've heard that there's no "right" body type for parkour, but just in case.)

 

[Marter]

My only real tip is to start off really slow, and start where no one can see you. You'll likely fall, a lot, when you first begin. Don't need anyone else seeing that now do you?

Good luck, have fun and I hope you do not hurt yourself!

 

[DazZ.]

Find some friends to do it with so you don't look like a total pillock doing it on your own.
Sure it's impressive when you can actually do it, the stages leading up to that make you look pathetic.

Never interested me, so this is advice from an outsider.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Try it on soft things at first.

In my area there's a laser tag course with all thise foam stuff you can climb on, something like that would work.

 

[Banana Phone Man]

I'm going to sound stupid but what is Parkour?

 

[Lt. Sausage]

There actually is a right body for pakour. You're a bit tall, but you still can do it. Work on your dexterity, that's extremely important at times. I personally don't work out much, but I'm really agile, and do fine. Other than that, just go for it. You don't have to do everything like a pro to be good at it. Screw the padded courses and special gear! Parkour is for fun, not to compete!

 

[Marter]

I'm going to sound stupid but what is Parkour?

From Wikipedia:
The physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment.

 

[The Eggplant]

I'm going to sound stupid but what is Parkour?

Similar to, but not synonymous with, free running. It's basically the use of nothing more than the human body and mind to overcome any physical obstacle.

What that means in practical terms is lots and lots of running, jumping, climbing, and vaulting stuff. Kinda like unroped rock-climbing in an urban setting.

 

[Banana Phone Man]

I'm going to sound stupid but what is Parkour?

Similar to, but not synonymous with, free running. It's basically the use of nothing more than the human body and mind to overcome any physical obstacle.

What that means in practical terms is lots and lots of running, jumping, climbing, and vaulting stuff. Kinda like unroped rock-climbing in an urban setting.

Can I ask what is the difference with Parkour and free running?

I just looked up some Parkour videos on you tube. Damn that looks hard. I'm way to lazy to even attempt that kinda stuff. As for your questions, just don't jump from high rooftops and you should be fine. Prefered gear, a pair of steel balls because you need them to do this, in my opinion anyway.

 

[The Eggplant]

I'm going to sound stupid but what is Parkour?

Similar to, but not synonymous with, free running. It's basically the use of nothing more than the human body and mind to overcome any physical obstacle.

What that means in practical terms is lots and lots of running, jumping, climbing, and vaulting stuff. Kinda like unroped rock-climbing in an urban setting.

Can I ask what is the difference with Parkour and free running?

I just looked up some Parkour videos on you tube. Damn that looks hard. I'm way to lazy to even attempt that kinda stuff. As for your questions, just don't jump from high rooftops and you should be fine. Prefered gear, a pair of steel balls because you need them to do this, in my opinion anyway.

From what I've heard, parkour is dedicated solely to economy of movement, finding the most practical way to surmount physical obstacles. Free running, by comparison, includes things like aerial flips, spins, and other means of movement that are aesthetically cool, but don't improve the functionality of the movement.

 

[Banana Phone Man]

From what I've heard, parkour is dedicated solely to economy of movement, finding the most practical way to surmount physical obstacles. Free running, by comparison, includes things like aerial flips, spins, and other means of movement that are aesthetically cool, but don't improve the functionality of the movement.

Hmmmm. Parkour sounds like something I could get into when my badminton season isn't on just I have the small problem of being mega clumsy. I would trip over myself and look like an idiot.

Good luck with your Parkour though. If it's anything like those videos I just watched you'll need it.

 

[The Eggplant]

Do not attempt it on buildings LESS THAN ten stories tall.

I like this guy.

[sub]...I'll just send the funeral bill to you, though, eh?[/sub]

Also, to anyone who's familiar with it...are handwraps any use? It seems like practitioners either swear by them or swear at them.

 

[mooncalf]

My only advice would be get backup, someone to get help if you need it. Find someone at a gym or MA club and get some extreme tag going maybe. Start on things your willing to fall from, getting used to distance you can cover in combinations you can handle, which builds your confidence to do the similar things, only higher.

 

[KaiRai]

Sounds like a plan dude. Just keep it low level like bus shelters, bins, benches, that kind of crap.

Once you start getting artsy move it up to maybe a few stairwells, but nothing too high. Same as working out really, you do it in stages. I don't do it myself but a couple of friends do

 

[ViolentlyHappy91]

Parkour is easy, very very easy, it's when you look at Freerunning that it gets hard. Being tall is what's going to cause problems, because there are many more smaller objects to train parkour with.

Start with something small, landings and rolls are what's gonna save you later on, and for the sake of your own body, stretch before attempting anything.