Chris's Posts - Bay Area Parkour2024-03-29T08:24:57ZChrishttp://baparkour.ning.com/profile/kaoshttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/62510997?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://baparkour.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=s4uyydp4ael2&xn_auth=noBay Area People Should Check Out Seattletag:baparkour.ning.com,2011-02-23:2070047:BlogPost:741662011-02-23T01:56:31.000ZChrishttp://baparkour.ning.com/profile/kaos
<p>I've been in Seattle for two weeks and it has rained literally every day. However, there were some partly sunny patches in which I got some fun stuff done. There are several great training spots including Freeway Park and Gasworks Park where you will not get bothered at all.…</p>
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<p>I've been in Seattle for two weeks and it has rained literally every day. However, there were some partly sunny patches in which I got some fun stuff done. There are several great training spots including Freeway Park and Gasworks Park where you will not get bothered at all.</p>
<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167023?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167023?profile=original" width="720" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167029?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167029?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167058?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167058?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167111?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167111?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167035?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/72167035?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a><br/>
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The downside to these places is that they are probably wet and grimy and inhabited by homeless people.<br/>
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One of the coolest things I found was a FREE outdoor rock wall and bouldering spot. They only ask that you don't kill yourself. I went there a couple times and on a day that no one else was there it made for a good spot to practice safety rolls.<br/>
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Airfare was only $140 round trip, so if you've got a few extra bucks and want to check out a cool town with completely vacant training grounds then go to Seattle. The weather would definitely make me go insane if I lived there, but it is a cool place to visit.Celebrate Parkour Community Diversitytag:baparkour.ning.com,2010-09-15:2070047:BlogPost:664582010-09-15T12:00:00.000ZChrishttp://baparkour.ning.com/profile/kaos
Tracers in the SF Bay Area are among the luckiest in the country. Not only do they benefit from an abundance of diverse training grounds, they also benefit from an abundance of diverse approaches to the discipline of Parkour. These practitioners are privileged enough to have two large distinct communities within the Bay Area that hold regular training sessions. Each community plays host to a variety of personalities and methodologies, and each caters to a different mindset. While the…
Tracers in the SF Bay Area are among the luckiest in the country. Not only do they benefit from an abundance of diverse training grounds, they also benefit from an abundance of diverse approaches to the discipline of Parkour. These practitioners are privileged enough to have two large distinct communities within the Bay Area that hold regular training sessions. Each community plays host to a variety of personalities and methodologies, and each caters to a different mindset. While the differences may seem subtle or even pointless to some, they are very important to the growth and enjoyment of many. The key is that different types of sessions provide different atmospheres. It is within these varying atmospheres that different types of progression can occur. Sure its fun to get big groups together once in while, but when we all train together all the time we eliminate several of those atmospheres. The benefits of diversified training are too great to ignore. Why eliminate something of value? We should celebrate our diversity. Bay Area tracers have the option of participating in one or both communities, and can glean valuable lessons from each. One of the great things about San Francisco is its cultural diversity. How fitting that the city be host to multiple culturally diverse groups of Parkour practitioners.<br/><br/>
The idea that we all always need to be training in the same place at the same time is silly. It should not be taken as an affront when training sessions at different locations are held on the same day. It is a triumph! As a whole, both communities are providing multiple paths for the practitioners. Not to mention the fact that big groups attract more attention. By spreading out into smaller groups we lower our impact on the environments where we train and cause less of a nuisance to the inhabitants of the area. These are just some of many unintentional ways that these two communities are working together. These things need to be taken into consideration after the recent ban on Parkour in certain parts of New York.<br/><br/>
Ultimately we are all sharing something together. This occurs whether or not two people are training in the same location. Why not celebrate the diversity we have, celebrate the options we have, celebrate the different atmospheres we create, and not get annoyed when one group decides to train elsewhere, but instead recognize that the differences in each community's training sessions can actually compliment each other. Such practices can only help the community grow as a whole.Jump Sky High!tag:baparkour.ning.com,2009-02-19:2070047:BlogPost:389942009-02-19T04:32:34.000ZChrishttp://baparkour.ning.com/profile/kaos
Recently I went to <a href="http://www.jumpskyhigh.com/index.asp">Sky High Sports</a> in Santa Clara and I highly recommend it. It was only $9 for an hour of jumping which turned out to be more than I bargained for. I got on the trampolines and started bouncing all over the place continually. I went up and down as high as I could, did front flips, back flips, jumped off the walls as far as I could, and finally I was completely exhausted. I had to bend over and take a breather. My lungs burned,…
Recently I went to <a href="http://www.jumpskyhigh.com/index.asp">Sky High Sports</a> in Santa Clara and I highly recommend it. It was only $9 for an hour of jumping which turned out to be more than I bargained for. I got on the trampolines and started bouncing all over the place continually. I went up and down as high as I could, did front flips, back flips, jumped off the walls as far as I could, and finally I was completely exhausted. I had to bend over and take a breather. My lungs burned, I had a cramp, and my shoulders were sore from throwing my arms up. I asked Lindsay how much time was left and she said, "55 minutes." "What?!...It's only been 5 minutes?" I said. I had a lot of jumping ahead of me. I decided to suck it up, make the most of my time, and get a good work out by jumping my ass off. And so I did....and it was awesome. Now here I am two days later and the muscles in my upper body are still sore. Amazingly my legs didn't get sore at all. I had an absolute blast challenging myself with different tramp to tramp combinations and various other jumping challenges. A few times I took a short break by launching myself into the foam pit, but other than that it was an hour of non-stop jumping.<br />
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Here are some tips if you decide to go:<br />
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Go late! The later the better, because that means less little kiddies to avoid. I went at 5-6 pm and there were still tons of kids. Eventually they learned to give me space because I was going so big, but I almost killed a couple of them.<br />
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Reserve your time slot in advance. If you know for sure when you will be there, you can reserve your spot online. Otherwise you might have to wait around for 30-60 minutes when you get there.<br />
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Be careful! It is very easy to roll your ankle at this place so make sure to apply the progression method!<br />
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<p style="text-align:left"><img src="http://www.jumpskyhigh.com/images/jump_sky_high_2.gif"/></p>How to Practice Parkour: A guide for those about to take the first steptag:baparkour.ning.com,2008-06-19:2070047:BlogPost:80852008-06-19T07:12:44.000ZChrishttp://baparkour.ning.com/profile/kaos
Before beginning to train Parkour, you must consider your physical condition. You should not attempt any technique that your body cannot handle the consequences of. You need to either build strength, endurance, speed etc. before you start training, or progress at such a slow rate that your body is conditioned by your training process.<br />
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There are many different ways to train Parkour, most of which are valid and useful depending on the practitioners intentions. One of the original methods of…
Before beginning to train Parkour, you must consider your physical condition. You should not attempt any technique that your body cannot handle the consequences of. You need to either build strength, endurance, speed etc. before you start training, or progress at such a slow rate that your body is conditioned by your training process.<br />
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There are many different ways to train Parkour, most of which are valid and useful depending on the practitioners intentions. One of the original methods of training is the simplest, often the most fun, and overlooked by many practitioners. The method goes like this: pick a point off in the distance and do whatever it takes to get there. Keeping your personal limitations in mind, start with a slow safe pace. Trace a path between two points over and over until you are a master of your territory. You should notice a gradual increase in your speed, endurance, and the ease with which you transition between obstacles. This progression can take hours, days, and even years depending on the path you choose, your natural ability, and several other factors. The important thing is to continue progressing no matter how slowly. This method is the essence of Parkour, and will lay the foundation to understanding it.<br />
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Once you have practiced the above method for a while, you will begin to develop a personal style. You will approach obstacles in a way that is unique to your body and abilities. This is an important step in the early stages of training, because it will combat the mentality that Parkour is a set of “tricks” or “moves” that is often instilled in beginners by Youtube videos and other popular yet misleading websites. The common movements employed by others do not necessarily make sense for you. That is precisely why it does not make sense to rely on videos as a way to learn. Once you have overcome this mental obstacle and risen above the poor standards set by many others, you can take your training in many different directions.<br />
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<b>Self Exploration</b><br />
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One such direction would be a continued development of the skills you have learned through self exploration. When you are in tune with yourself, no one knows what works better for your body than you. You can begin to drill the techniques that you have created, establish new ways of moving through experimentation, and find new paths and environments to master.<br />
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<b>Small Group Training</b><br />
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Another direction, which can be complimented by the one above, would be to start training with other people. Getting together with a small group (2-4 people) can shed new light on your training regimen. New people offer new ways to move, different paths to take, and constructive criticism of your methods. Since you have already developed your own style, the ideas offered by new people can only expand your possibilities.<br />
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Beginning your training as a genuine collaboration within a small group of people can be effective as well. If you start off this way, be sure that ideas are not stifled and no one person sets the bar of what should work for everyone. This method works best as a creative discovery between friends. One the other hand, if you followed someone else’s methods from the beginning, you could be stuck with a style that does not actually make sense for you.<br />
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<b>Large Group Training</b><br />
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As mentioned above, learning Parkour in a group works best in small numbers. This is true because larger groups too often succumb to a herd mentality. While large gatherings have the potential to be an extension of the smaller training and discovery sessions, too often they devolve into a roaming herd that quickly grazes over obstacles looking for the next big trick. Understanding Parkour through self discovery is the sure way to avoid falling victim to this useless practice. Personal experience makes a traceur and his Parkour unique.<br />
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<b>Coaching</b><br />
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Finally, another direction you can take would be to get a Parkour coach. This option can be helpful to someone who does not know how to condition or prevent injury. However, I highly recommend experimenting by yourself first. By entrusting your early development to a stranger, you run the risk of following a path that is completely wrong for you. Again, it would be wise to develop an understanding of Parkour through training before seeking out a coach. If you insist on finding a coach, be very cautious when choosing one. As Parkour gets more popular, there is an increasing number of people trying to cash in as coaches. Be wary of anyone who does not offer their services for free at least part of the time. A coach who is still connected to the community through free outdoor training sessions is a good bet. A good coach will set you down the path of discovery, while a bad coach will set you down their own path.<br />
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<b>Summary</b><br />
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If you have already started training, and you realize now that your path may be narrow or restricted, you may want to start over from scratch. Remember to stay safe by not attempting anything beyond your body’s means. Also, the most fundamental understanding of Parkour comes from the personal challenge of tracing from one point to another. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran it would be wise to make that a part of your training. It is after all, at the most basic level, the practice of Parkour.The Importance Of BAparkourtag:baparkour.ning.com,2008-05-15:2070047:BlogPost:36142008-05-15T01:21:20.000ZChrishttp://baparkour.ning.com/profile/kaos
Our name is a little deceiving. We are called Bay Area Parkour, but in reality we have the best representation of active practitioners in the city of San Francisco. We have an amazing group. We help each other, we look out for each others safety, and we train together...a lot!<br />
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Last weekend at the end of our session, we were roaming and jamming. I performed very technical and slightly dangerous cat leap. Dimitri, who is always eager and confident, gave it a try. He came up short being no worse…
Our name is a little deceiving. We are called Bay Area Parkour, but in reality we have the best representation of active practitioners in the city of San Francisco. We have an amazing group. We help each other, we look out for each others safety, and we train together...a lot!<br />
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Last weekend at the end of our session, we were roaming and jamming. I performed very technical and slightly dangerous cat leap. Dimitri, who is always eager and confident, gave it a try. He came up short being no worse for wear, but I saw the potential for injury. So when he quickly stepped up to try it again, I suggested he get down. Being the determined guy that he is, he insisted on trying again. That was when I said I knew of a great spot to work up to it, and insisted he try it there first. I can be a bit pushy at times. He took my advice, and we made our way to the spot I mentioned. He was able to progressively try cat leaps of increasing size, and quickly realized the benefit of what I had insisted upon. He is now much better prepared to try the more technical cat leap. I felt good that I had been insistent/pushy and Dimitri felt the same.<br />
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The great thing about BA Parkour is that the large majority of us share this mentality. We are always looking to advance our training, but are willing to put in the hard work of slow progression. This group does not take any short cuts in their training. We are smart, safe, and strong in that regard. This 'beginner' mentality is so important. We are all beginners...even me. Training this way forever will allow for longevity in parkour. Because, what use are we if we are injured?<br />
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Another great thing about BA Parkour is that decisions are made in groups outdoors by active practitioners. Directing the scene in this way ensures that the people who are out there training every week benefit the most. This site is not about the ideas of any one person, it is about all of us.<br />
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While some still feel that the scene would be better off having only one website, I couldn't disagree more. The two sites have completely different directions. The ideas behind each site are so different that separation is a must. Without passing any judgment, compare the paragraphs above to these actions: encouraging people to train without health insurance, offering prizes to anyone (even beginners) who perform certain highly technical and dangerous stunts, showcasing excessive drops (often to crowds of beginners). While the other site may mean well, their goals simply do not align with the majority of active people in the city. That is why this site (baparkour.com) is so important. People need an alternative.