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How to Get Started (Read this first!)
Getting started in parkour may seem daunting at first.Parkour is hard work, and it is challenging, but it is also accessible to everyone, regardless of age or gender. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Parkour is the body's natural way of moving. Humans have been doing parkour for thousands of years. Our ancestors had to move this way to gather food, escape predators, migrate to better territory, and access resources. Modern times have eroded our memory of how to move in this way. Parkour training is simply a means of reawakening that sense of movement. In other words, trust that somewhere, your body knows what to do.
Start slow, start safeAlthough parkour videos often feature spectacular movements, bear in mind that most of those individuals have been training for years, and most started very simply. "Small" movements are the foundation of parkour. Recall that parkour is a way of moving through your environment, nothing more. Therefore, "simple" movements like balancing along a curb or railing as you walk to the bus stop are examples of parkour. Focus on developing broadly-applicable skills, such as balance, strength, and endurance; versus a narrowly-applicable set of techniques such as a front flip.
Get out and play!Parkour is about moving through your environment. Yes, parkour requires strength, balance, power, and endurance. But ultimately it is about navigating obstacles using your body. Going out to a playground for an hour and simply climbing around on the equipment is a great way to reawaken your body's natural sense of climbing, jumping, and balancing, and it will also help you build strength in the process. Plus, it's fun! While it may not feel like "parkour," it is definitely contributing to your foundation of movement.
Develop skills and techniquesProper conditioning will help you develop the necessary skills of balance, strength, power, endurance, and coordination. Exercises such as squats, pushups, pullups, and running are appropriate for this. The specific program will depend on your goals. Practicing a few parkour-specific techniques will help get you comfortable with using your body to navigate your environment. Techniques such as vaults, precision jumps, and wall climbs are useful and important, but remember that parkour is not simply a list of techniques. It is a way of movement. Vaults and the like are a means to an end, but they are not the end in and of itself.
Now that you have an understanding of the proper approach to training, you are ready to get started moving!
Please click here for a beginner's program. |
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