Technique and Methods - Bay Area Parkour2024-03-29T13:59:03Zhttps://baparkour.ning.com/forum/categories/2070047:Category:15922/listForCategory?feed=yes&xn_auth=noDecent descenttag:baparkour.ning.com,2013-06-03:2070047:Topic:1101192013-06-03T08:06:44.859ZSafeNSurehttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/SafeNSure
<p>...or <em>descente</em>, as they say in <em>France</em>.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p><br/>6 years ago I saw this "move" in an old 90's clip of David, and now (this is from a 2009 Remington commercial) it still impresses me.</p>
<p><br/>Also I don't see anybody doing this like that.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ev-n-AQKws0?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p>
<p>...or <em>descente</em>, as they say in <em>France</em>.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p><br/>6 years ago I saw this "move" in an old 90's clip of David, and now (this is from a 2009 Remington commercial) it still impresses me.</p>
<p><br/>Also I don't see anybody doing this like that.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ev-n-AQKws0?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</p> Coaches Associationtag:baparkour.ning.com,2011-11-26:2070047:Topic:980652011-11-26T06:32:47.467ZRyan Fulmerhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/RyanFulmer
<p>If you've been involved in the SFBay area Parkour scene in the past few months you've probably already heard of Parkour Connections. We started PKC to create an organization to legitimize and consolidate the parkour coaches in the Bay Area, as well as develop a strong coaching program, build training equipment, and run parkour-related events.<br></br><br></br>We've done well over the last year, holding some huge events, birthday parties, workshops, outdoor classes, and a bunch of other things. Many…</p>
<p>If you've been involved in the SFBay area Parkour scene in the past few months you've probably already heard of Parkour Connections. We started PKC to create an organization to legitimize and consolidate the parkour coaches in the Bay Area, as well as develop a strong coaching program, build training equipment, and run parkour-related events.<br/><br/>We've done well over the last year, holding some huge events, birthday parties, workshops, outdoor classes, and a bunch of other things. Many of you have come out to help us set up, spot kids, and teach, and - I can't say this enough - we couldn't have done this without you. Parkour Connections was never meant to be just us. From the beginning, one of the major goals was to create a Coaches Association where we could share lesson plans and coaching ideas with other parkour instructors as well as spread what we've learned to traceurs who would like to begin a coaching career.<br/><br/>We're getting to the point where we feel we have enough information to share and enough events going on that we are ready to start a real Coaches Association, and we're inviting you guys to join in. This isn't for everyone; coaching is an entirely different skill than just doing parkour. While we expect parkour coaches to be active traceurs, we will also be stressing the importance of time management, kinesiology, safety, public speaking, group management and other skill sets that go beyond everyday training. We hope that as a group, we will be able to learn together and create highly effective coaches that can start a parkour program in any gym.<br/><br/>For now, please check out our site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.parkourcoaching.org">www.ParkourCoaching.org</a> to sign up. We may not be able to accept everyone at once, but if you sign up we will get back to you with an application in a few weeks, and let you know how the Coaches Association is going to work.<br/><br/>Thanks!</p> Parkour and Earphonestag:baparkour.ning.com,2011-10-03:2070047:Topic:915322011-10-03T16:19:30.383ZKristoffer rønnhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/Kristofferroenn
Hello fellow traceurs !<br></br><br></br>I'm currently studying Industrial Design and I´m doing my final project about Parkour and the use of earphones/headphones. I would appriciate if you would take a look at a survey which aims to get a broader analysis of people who do parkour and similar activities. <br></br><br></br>Link:<br></br><br></br><a class="postlink" href="http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=7ba844f9-ace9-47df-8713-a967171246a3">http://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx? ...…</a>
Hello fellow traceurs !<br/><br/>I'm currently studying Industrial Design and I´m doing my final project about Parkour and the use of earphones/headphones. I would appriciate if you would take a look at a survey which aims to get a broader analysis of people who do parkour and similar activities. <br/><br/>Link:<br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=7ba844f9-ace9-47df-8713-a967171246a3">http://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx? ... 67171246a3</a><br/><br/>Thanks in advance to all who choose to participate ! I'm only 15 and already have weak knees?tag:baparkour.ning.com,2011-02-16:2070047:Topic:734612011-02-16T03:17:17.033Zxxx xxxhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/xxxxxx
It started about six months ago, I found it getting harder and harder to do squats and other similar movements. Standing up causes stinging pain for a few seconds. thoughts?
It started about six months ago, I found it getting harder and harder to do squats and other similar movements. Standing up causes stinging pain for a few seconds. thoughts? Parkour Shoestag:baparkour.ning.com,2011-01-16:2070047:Topic:714302011-01-16T03:00:40.795ZZufruhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/Zufru
<p> </p>
<p> Hey everyone! I'm glad to be apart of the BAPK team, but I have a bit of a brain buster here. There is everyone with their opinion on the correct or favorite shoe. Out of the ones listed what do you know about? I'm trying to hurry up and get the correct shoes so I can start with this wonderful sport. I tried searching the site for by typing in shoes, but nothing came up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>ADIDAS- ZX 500 <~~~~~ Is cheaper in price and…</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Hey everyone! I'm glad to be apart of the BAPK team, but I have a bit of a brain buster here. There is everyone with their opinion on the correct or favorite shoe. Out of the ones listed what do you know about? I'm trying to hurry up and get the correct shoes so I can start with this wonderful sport. I tried searching the site for by typing in shoes, but nothing came up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>ADIDAS- ZX 500 <~~~~~ Is cheaper in price and I can get faster then the rest below. Still lend your thoughts!</p>
<p>K-Swiss- Ariake</p>
<p>Five Ten- Green Alien</p>
<p>Five Ten- Chase</p>
<p>Your personal fav</p> Nutrition??tag:baparkour.ning.com,2010-12-16:2070047:Topic:699862010-12-16T08:45:22.807ZByronhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/Byron
<p>I have very bad eating habits, and was wondering if anyone had a good nutrition plan. I'd like to know what would be good for breakfest, lunch and dinner. Any help is appriciated.</p>
<p>I have very bad eating habits, and was wondering if anyone had a good nutrition plan. I'd like to know what would be good for breakfest, lunch and dinner. Any help is appriciated.</p> Sore Muscles Won't go Away!tag:baparkour.ning.com,2010-12-08:2070047:Topic:693392010-12-08T19:53:41.972ZPhilosofisthttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/mizu
My entire body is very sore from a recent Sunday training session, in particular my legs hurt around the hamstrings and quads when I sit, stand, walk, or move pretty much. The soreness has lasted 4 days. Does anyone have any insight or reccomendations to improve the soreness?
My entire body is very sore from a recent Sunday training session, in particular my legs hurt around the hamstrings and quads when I sit, stand, walk, or move pretty much. The soreness has lasted 4 days. Does anyone have any insight or reccomendations to improve the soreness? S#!t happens... be prepared!tag:baparkour.ning.com,2010-11-15:2070047:Topic:684042010-11-15T07:05:39.004ZSafeNSurehttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/SafeNSure
<p>[<span style="font-style: italic;">note: if the intro is too long and boring, skip to the triple stars</span> <font size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">***</span></font>]<br></br> <br></br> I didn't choose my screen name by chance: I was three months into my gym training back in 2007, and I said to myself "<span style="font-style: italic;">alright: if (</span>and it was a big 'if"<span style="font-style: italic;">) I'm gonna do this outside, I'm gonna stay…</span></p>
<p>[<span style="font-style: italic;">note: if the intro is too long and boring, skip to the triple stars</span> <font size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">***</span></font>]<br/> <br/> I didn't choose my screen name by chance: I was three months into my gym training back in 2007, and I said to myself "<span style="font-style: italic;">alright: if (</span>and it was a big 'if"<span style="font-style: italic;">) I'm gonna do this outside, I'm gonna stay <span style="font-weight: bold;">safe</span>, and won't do anything until I'll feel <span style="font-weight: bold;">sure</span>... sure that, at least, if something <span style="text-decoration: underline;">is</span> going to happen, I won't be blaming myself for being reckless. Aside for the fact of being outside, moving and pushing the envelope a bit, of course...";</span> which was something I was doing anyway, in my more traditional physical and recreational type activities.<br/> <br/> Nevertheless, I had my share of wake up calls: <a href="http://baparkour.ning.com/video/2070047:Video:3832?id=2070047%3AVideo%3A3832">bouncing back from a catleap</a> and falling on stairs (swollen forearm and pain to the <span style="font-style: italic;">ulna</span> for weeks), hitting my knee straight into a square post (three stitches and annoying <i><a href="http://baparkour.ning.com/profiles/blogs/anterior-knee-pain-syndrome?id=2070047%3ABlogPost%3A25248">patellofemoral stress syndrome</a>),</i> sliding on wet grass while demonstrating rolls (minor collarbone fracture, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavicle_fracture#Epidemiology">the most common bone to break in the human body</a>), beside the regular wear-and-tear of a bruise and a scrape here, or a cut and a <a href="http://baparkour.ning.com/profiles/blogs/calluses-or-worse-rips-anybody">ripped callus</a> there. <br/> <br/> So, even with this little <span style="font-style: italic;">repertoire</span> (which frankly didn't impress me much: I could, and in fact I did, suffer most of this injuries before, mountain-biking, playing outdoor basketball, or running after cats with a little-toy-gun as a kid...), I consider myself fortunate: I had nothing holding me down for too long, and I always walked away with my legs.<br/> But I learned to be prepared.<br/> <br/> <span class="font-size-7"><font size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">***</span></font></span><br/> Two recent, unrelated and quite random episodes, though, prompted me to start this discussion and <span style="font-weight: bold;">(a.)</span> share with you my feelings and this bit of experience, <span style="font-weight: bold;">(b.)</span> try to identify injury prone situations, <span style="font-weight: bold;">(c.)</span> strongly recommend some behavioral improvements.<br/> <br/> <span style="font-weight: bold;">a.)</span> In two very different type sessions back-to-back, I had to use my first-aid kit to its fullest extent to treat fellow traceurs, and we had to decide together if I should have driven them to an emergency room, or even if we had to involve paramedics on site.<br/> - "Guy A" hit his inside knee against the sharp wall edge, while progressing (<span style="font-style: italic;">too fast, too self-confidently?</span>...) on his weak-side speed vault; he didn't even fall, "<span style="font-style: italic;">stock!</span>" was all we heard and his skin gashed open, requiring six stitches from a willing doctor friend. Guy had no health insurance to get sutured at the emergency room.<br/> - "Guy B" hops down to the wet ground (<span style="font-style: italic;">with maybe too much momentum?</span>...), after a well executed 3' high precision; landing on the wet/slick tiles, his feet sliding right up, and the back of his head hitting forcefully down on the granite ground: again "<span style="font-style: italic;">stock!</span>" (louder), and I thought he cracked his skull open; but instead the very quick swelling bump was treated with an ice-pack, and after an hour and some painkiller, he was able to drive home, and eventually be fine. At first he wouldn't get up for like 5 minutes, and we probably would have preferred to see him checked, but (again) no insurance to visit the emergency room.<br/> <br/> <span style="font-weight: bold;">b.)</span> Both traceurs could be considered being at least at an "intermediate" level, fit and strong, with a good athletic background, confident but not at all reckless, nevertheless with one "fault" (something that in sports is considered a fault ONLY in Parkour, as far as I know...): they were -as I was too when I had my above described accidents- overeager to progress, a bit too confident given the specific circumstances. They knew what they were doing but they were playing on the limit of their awareness (not their capacity!): they simply didn't foresee the accidents coming.<br/> Accidents are not really foreseeable, but there's a difference between being surprised, and instead being completely unprepared...<br/> We need to understand why we talk about <span style="font-style: italic;">progression</span> (baby-steps), why BApk recommended multiple times <a href="http://baparkour.ning.com/forum/topics/2070047:Topic:17369"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">slow</span> progression</span></a>, not because we think we may not "have" a transition, but because we believe that it's optimal to gain the necessary muscle memory and coordination, and to understand the fine mechanics of how <span style="text-decoration: underline;">our</span> body moves, which will be different from how yours or anybody else's does. We need to remember why people have been preaching to train, not until you know a movement well, but until you don't know how to do it wrong anymore...<br/> That slight difference can be worth six stitches, or a concussion.<br/> <br/> <span style="font-weight: bold;">c.)</span> A short list of recommendations:<br/> - be <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">aware</span> of your physical conditions, your level of fatigue, the difficulties and risks of the techniques you are progressing to, the safety margin you are maintaining while attempting new and old techniques, the ever changing conditions of the obstacles and their surroundings at all times;<br/> - do whatever you can to have even a cheap <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">health insurance</span>: I had to ask the question twice in three days, and we had to make decisions based on that... DESPICABLE!<br/> - make sure you <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">tetanus boost</span> is up to date;<br/> - if you consider yourselves traceurs, (<span style="font-style: italic;">please!</span>) carry with you, in your backpack, on your scooter, bike or car, a minimal <span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">first-aid kit</span>: band-aids in different sizes, a disinfectant, clean gauzes, surgical (paper) tape, one instant ice pack, some over-the-counter painkiller... <u>it may end up not being for you: how would you like <i>being strong, but being <b>useless</b></i></u>, when a fellow traceur needs your help?<br/> <br/> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><font color="#F00000">UPDATE!</font></span> <font color="#F00000">(<span style="font-style: italic;">suggestions from the discussion</span>)</font><br/> - watch out also for <span style="font-weight: bold;">simple movements</span>, don't underestimate the risk involved<br/> - use the <span style="font-weight: bold;">buddy-system</span>, and if you're alone don't "push the envelope"<br/> - if by yourself, have a <span style="font-weight: bold;">cellphone and proper ID</span><br/> - listen to your <span style="font-weight: bold;">body's signals</span> and self-assess your condition<br/> - for large injuries pause for a second and <span style="font-weight: bold;">get creative</span> with what available (clothing or other improvised equipment)<br/> ALSO: <a href="http://baparkour.ning.com/page/page/show?id=2070047%3APage%3A9455" target="_self">YOU ARE <strong>RESPONSIBLE</strong></a> FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS AT ALL TIMES!<br/> <br/> Feel free to add more recommendations in the thread.<br/> Stay safe and be ready!</p> "The Stride Revolution" (from TK17)tag:baparkour.ning.com,2010-09-03:2070047:Topic:659602010-09-03T19:54:06.256ZBay Area Parkourhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/BayAreaParkour
...we gladly received, and we happily re-publish:<br></br><br></br>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Concielian; FONT-SIZE: 28pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Concielian; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Stride Revolution…</span></font></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></p>
...we gladly received, and we happily re-publish:<br/><br/>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Concielian; FONT-SIZE: 28pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Concielian; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Stride Revolution</span></font></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">(that somehow never happened)</font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Every traceur understands that parkour is a process and a mindset, not a list of movements you can memorize and check off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> An athlete who just goes out and masters ten or fifteen different techniques from Youtube videos isn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">really</i> one of us, we say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Yet even as we say it, it’s hard to stop that list from rattling around inside our own heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> We all know it … it goes something like:</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in 274.5pt 292.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> PK roll (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">roulade</i>)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> •<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Precision (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">saut de precision)</i></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in 274.5pt 292.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Catpass (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">saut de chat</i>) a.k.a. kong<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> •<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Gap jump (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">saut de détente)</i></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in 274.5pt 292.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Speed vault (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">passment rapide</i>)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> •<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Drop (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">saut de fond)</i></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in 274.5pt 292.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Wall run (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">passe muraille)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span></i> •<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Underbar <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">(franchissment)</i></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in 274.5pt 292.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Arm jump (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">saut de bras)</i> a.k.a. catleap<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> •<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span> Tic Tac</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">… and the more level-headed of us don’t forget to include running at the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> But whether level-headed, borderline, or just plain PK-crazy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">nobody</i> seems to be including a little technique that a few young traceurs in Cambridge like to call “the stride.”</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font color="#000000" size="3"><img width="721" alt="" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/93643269?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></font></span></p>
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<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'">Phil Doyle executing a stride in Cambridge, England</span></i> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'">(Photo credit: Scott Bass)</span></font></font></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">It’s a relatively recent invention, at least the way they’re doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Not quite running, not quite jumping, and not quite a one-legged precision, it’s turning out to be one of the most powerfully explosive and efficient movements the parkour world has ever seen, eating up distances hitherto reserved only for running gap jumps and leaving even the swiftest vaulters in the dust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> It’s incredibly adaptable, too … in the recent Ampisound video “Professor Longhair, Big Chief,” Kie Willis and Phil Doyle stride up, down, and forwards on rails, benches, pillars, walls, and rooftops, all without the slightest break in momentum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">With results like those, you’d think that every traceur in the world would be scrambling to get outside and start striding, but the buzz so far has been inexplicably nonexistent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> It’s not catching on, and it should—in fact, I propose that the stride deserves a place in every traceur’s toolkit, right alongside those classic French techniques that come to mind so easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Blasphemy, I know, but it’s blasphemy I’m prepared to defend.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calligrapher Regular'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Calligrapher Regular'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: CS" lang="CS" xml:lang="CS"><font color="#FFFFFF">Objection #1: All you’re doing is linking running jumps!</font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">To some extent, this objection has merit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> It’s true that the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">conceptual core</i> of the movement is just that—do a running jump, and follow it up with another one, instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> But for one thing, similarity doesn’t stop us from differentiating wall runs and tic tacs, and for another, there’s a lot of technique to the stride that isn’t really found anywhere else, making it a distinct movement in a class all its own.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">With ordinary running, the focus is on rhythm, lightness, and speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Each footfall is essentially identical, and whether you’re running heel-toe or ball-heel-ball, you lift your leg upwards from the ground and thrust the knee forward, allowing the lower leg to flash ahead to the next point of contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> And with ordinary running jumps, the focus tends to be on throwing your arms forward for the takeoff, tucking in midair for control, and reaching out with both legs to absorb and cancel as much momentum as possible.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">The stride, on the other hand, requires a completely different approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Once you get past the fact that your feet are moving left-right-left-right, most of the overlap with running disappears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Your only two priorities are hitting your next step precisely, and maintaining your forward momentum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Footfalls can change from step to step (typically, you’ll land on the ball when descending, and smoothly roll from heel to toe when rising or moving horizontally), and there’s no point in trying to find a consistent rhythm when the next five walls might be at radically different distances from one another.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Also, while strides frequently involve a normal running motion, they just as often require you to let your rear leg lag behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> By keeping it back and keeping the knee fairly straight, it becomes a counterweight that you can swing forward to pull yourself to the next obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Naturally, that means no tucking between steps (arms don’t tend to swing together, either), and the typical sink-and-deep-bend that traceurs use to cancel momentum is completely absent, since the whole point is to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">keep moving forward.</i></font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: -1.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in; tab-stops: 1.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calligrapher Regular'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Calligrapher Regular'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: CS" lang="CS" xml:lang="CS"><font color="#FFFFFF">Objection #2: It’s unnecessary … I can cover those obstacles with REAL parkour movements!</font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Again, a legitimate concern—all of the obstacles in Professor Longhair can (and have been) tackled with more traditional movements like single jumps, arm jumps, and vault combos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> But in each case, the end result was much slower when the traceur relied on his or her hands than when Kie and Phil used their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Classic techniques tend to involve a lot of up-and-down motion, as traceurs transition from the ground to the air and back, and they rely more heavily on arms, which are inevitably weaker than legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> That means the classic techniques take more time and energy—time and energy that are translated into speed when you simply glide right over everything in your path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> For a true traceur, the choice is obvious.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Plus, it’s important to remember that there is nothing sacred about the classic techniques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> They’ve stuck around because they’ve proven to be highly efficient and adaptable to a wide range of obstacles, but in the end, they are only as good as they are useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> David and the Yamakasi were no older than the Cambridge traceurs when they developed them, and arguably had less knowledge about movement, since this generation has benefited from the successes of the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> The high-level practitioners who are using strides (and they are many—see the videos of Danny Ilabaca, Blane, Livewire, and the Vigroux brothers, to start) know that what matters is the end result, and if strides do that job better, then they become your best tool.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: -1.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calligrapher Regular'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Calligrapher Regular'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: CS" lang="CS" xml:lang="CS"><font color="#FFFFFF">Objection #3: Strides look like they put a lot of stress on the legs … they look like they’d be easy to mess up … they’re dangerous and untested.</font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Untrue—they’ve cropped up here and there for years, albeit not to the level shown in Professor Longhair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> And while single-leg techniques definitely have greater potential for injury, that doesn’t necessarily make them any less safe to a traceur who is willing to put forth the effort in conditioning and careful progression.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">As it stands now, no one can speak to the safety or dangerousness of strides except for the tiny handful of traceurs who are practicing them regularly, most of whom seem confident enough to use them on rails or at height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Just like with the original parkour moves, the only real way to be sure is to see what happens with time—how well do practitioners hold up after weeks and months and years of training them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> To answer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">that</i> question fully, we need to have the whole parkour community involved, to have all of our gurus and experts swapping ideas and looking out for each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> We need <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">you</i>, in other words—we need you to think about it, and experiment with it, and see if there’s a way for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">you</i> to do them safely, so that you can share your experiences with the rest of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Until we give it a shot, we’ll never know—just as no one knew whether an arm jump could be done until the founders worked up the strength and the courage to try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> This doesn’t mean we should rush into it, and it doesn’t mean it has to be done recklessly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> But if we’re really searching for the fastest way—if we really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">mean</i> it when we call ourselves traceurs—then we owe it to ourselves to take a crack at it.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: -1.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 1.5in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calligrapher Regular'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Calligrapher Regular'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: CS" lang="CS" xml:lang="CS"><font color="#FFFFFF">Objection #4: So what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Let everyone else try … I’m not interested.</font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">In the end, every traceur will make his or her own choice on this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> As always, you are in control, and there is no one right or wrong answer to a given obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> But if I haven’t convinced you yet, consider this one last thought before you make up your mind.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">In parkour as it exists today, we use our hands for nearly everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> We place them on the ground for PK rolls, scrape them bloody for wall runs and arm jumps, give them blisters with underbars and lachés, and slap them onto every surface imaginable for vaults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Our feet, on the other hand, barely go beyond what they’d do if we were playing football or basketball or any other sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> We use them to run, to jump, and (every once in a while) to stick a precise landing, and that’s about it.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">Part of what drew me to parkour in the first place was its promise of completeness, the way it seemed natural and balanced in a world that tries to separate us from our Paleolithic bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Yet the founders, for all their hard work, did not leave us with a complete discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> They never intended for parkour to stop growing and changing after a few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> We are unbalanced, relying on hands and arms while our stronger feet and legs languish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> Strides can help fix that imbalance, returning footwork to a place of equal importance with dexterity, making us truly rely on our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">whole bodies</i> once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> When I watched Professor Longhair, I felt once more that sense of wonder and excitement that I’ve lost through my years of practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> I felt that there was something <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">new</i>, something that could take my movement to a whole new level, that would be difficult and frightening and ultimately rewarding in a way that nothing has been in five years.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">I felt, in other words, that there was a new obstacle before me, and I yearned to get started conquering it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span> If you feel the same way, then it’s time to shake things up—time to take a great stride forward with a new style of training.</font></font></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Book Antiqua'"><font size="3"><font color="#FFFFFF">- TK17</font></font></span></p>
<p><br/><strong>Professor Longhair, Big Chief:</strong></p>
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<p><br/><br/><br/> </p> Speed vs. Powertag:baparkour.ning.com,2010-07-05:2070047:Topic:640662010-07-05T05:03:09.617ZBay Area Parkourhttps://baparkour.ning.com/profile/BayAreaParkour
<p>[<em>originally posted by BApk co-founder Chris, a.k.a. Kaos, at his East Coast community site <a href="http://neparkour.ning.com/page/2257390:Page:187">NEpk</a></em>]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Learning when to use speed and power is one of the most important fundamentals in Parkour. Appropriate use of these two elements can often mean the difference between success and failure, and safety and injury. Too <u>often people use speed to compensate for lack of technique</u>, when properly timed power…</p>
<p>[<em>originally posted by BApk co-founder Chris, a.k.a. Kaos, at his East Coast community site <a href="http://neparkour.ning.com/page/2257390:Page:187">NEpk</a></em>]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Learning when to use speed and power is one of the most important fundamentals in Parkour. Appropriate use of these two elements can often mean the difference between success and failure, and safety and injury. Too <u>often people use speed to compensate for lack of technique</u>, when properly timed power would be more effective.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>The faster someone runs at an object, the more difficult it becomes to <u>gauge the timing of his jump</u>. As he approaches with increasing speed, he decreases the amount of time he has to decide when to jump. <u>Once that short window of opportunity is missed the traceur</u> ends up jumping too close to the obstacle, and <u><strong>must</strong> slow himself</u> down so that his speed does not carry him directly into it. All the power used in the approach was wasted, when it could have been applied to the jump.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>When using the power technique you can jump closer to the obstacle and push off of it because you have less speed directed into it. This in turn allows you to push off the obstacle and increase your distance. <u>When jogging up to an obstacle, you have long time to gauge the distance and the amount of power you want to use. You are only committed to the jump in the final steps when you apply most of your power. That commitment is essential. Once you have decided to put all your power into the jump, there is no turning back</u>. Conversely, using the pure speed technique you are committed from the very beginning. When running full speed at an obstacle it is very difficult to stop yourself. Not allowing any room for error makes a jump very dangerous. If you do not have your timing down perfectly, you could easily clip the object or simply crash into it.</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>The majority of the time, even for ... advanced traceurs, a properly timed power burst is the most effective technique in surmounting an obstacle.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://neparkour.ning.com/page/2257390:Page:187"><strong>read the whole article with examples>></strong> </a></p>
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