Parkour Generations

#74
The Tao of Parkour

By Dan | posted on 12 April 2010 | 8 comments

The Tao of Parkour

Much has been made of Bruce Lee�s enduring concept of Jeet Kune Do, across myriad different activities, art-forms, sports and disciplines. Often it is applied quite wrongly, of course, flourished with bravado in a slapdash attempt to justify some sort of unstructured and unresearched approach to training or development. Nothing could be further from what Lee intended with his concept, or indeed more removed from his own path towards personal liberation.

However, a strong and meaningful analogy can be drawn between Lee�s concept and our own discipline of parkour (As always, I use the words parkour, freerunning and art du deplacement as interchangeable terms that describe the same base activity. For simplicity�s sake I will use the word parkour throughout this article). In fact, parkour is a prime example of Jeet Kune Do (JKD) in action. To explain this, it is necessary to define first what Lee meant by the term Jeet Kune Do and how he applied it to his own training.

Jeet Kune Do, despite the existence of many schools and clubs teaching to the contrary, is not a style. It is not a system, not a collection of techniques, nor even an amalgamation of effective movements from disparate martial arts. It is not boxing mixed with Wing Chun mixed with Muay Thai. It is certainly not the simple imitation of the movements of Lee himself.

Jeet Kune Do is simply the concept of functionality. It is the stripping away of anything that does not serve one�s purpose which, in Lee�s case, was to become the best and most complete fighting man he could be. Lee applied this concept ruthlessly to his own training, and recommended others do the same, so that one is left with only what actually works, only what is directly functional in the pursuit of one�s goal.

The Paradox of Freedom

This means, almost paradoxically, that Jeet Kune Do is at once extremely liberating and extremely rigid in its approach. Liberating because it has effectively only one rule � if it works, use it � and rigid in that it excludes anything that is extraneous to its singular purpose of producing an effective end product. Anything for show, anything �flowery�, anything that serves only to look good and boost the ego of the practitioner � instantly discarded. Jeet Kune Do is truly a ruthless guiding principle: which is what makes it so effective, of course. Its core can be found in Lee�s four guidelines, which were:

* Absorb what is useful
* Reject what is useless
* Research from your own experience
* Add what is specifically your own creation

Parkour is much the same. Not a collection of techniques or movements, not a restricting system or tradition-laden paradigm or dogmatic training methodology, not rules-based in any way other than one: if it works, use it.

Parkour, like JKD, is a concept one applies to one�s own training. It�s not even so much a way of thinking as it is a way of learning to think about one�s movement, learning how to train in order to reach one�s own self-established goals: a stark philosophy of facing the truth of where your ability is now and seeing exactly how and what you have to do in order to reach where you want to be.

Again, this means a form of liberation that does not equate to simply doing whatever you want. That was not at all what Lee intended with JKD, quite the opposite in fact. For him, the reality of combat defined his training � so he forced himself to stare that reality squarely in the face and see exactly what he had to do to master it, whether he liked it or not, whether he wanted to do it or not. It meant hard training, continuous research, intensive self-examination and critical analysis. It required enormous discipline and attention, and a supreme effort of will and clarity of focus. Lee realised that his liberation would be a product of a great deal of hard work.

In truth then, applying the fundamental principle of JKD � or parkour � is far harder than mastering any set syllabus of movements or techniques, or sticking to a collection of pre-defined rules. Harder precisely because it puts responsibility for one�s personal growth firmly and completely on the shoulders of the individual. But this is also what makes it � or them � so very empowering.

Fighting Spirit

In parkour, as with JKD, there is no one and nothing else to blame for failing to find a solution to one�s own dilemmas. With enough commitment, drive and perseverance a way forward can always be found. If one had to identify one value as being the most central to parkour training one could confidently put forward that inner resolve, that refusal to quit or be beaten, as a strong contender.

With that mindset, the concept of JKD becomes an endlessly applicable and almost inevitably successful tool. Given time, a combination of good research, practice and review will usually lead you to the answers you seek in any chosen field. Now, of course that research and practice process can be made more or less efficient depending on a number of factors, including access to good information (through teaching, guidance, knowledge and experience of others, etc), sensible application of said information and rigorous self-discipline, but the vital component is the resolve to see the process through � the commitment to do whatever is necessary to realise one�s potential. This Lee prized above all, saying

�Persistence, persistence, and persistence. The power can be created and maintained through daily practice � continuous effort.�

This fighting spirit, this indomitable, endlessly adaptive willpower, is the essence of both parkour and Jeet Kune Do. Capture it and one can achieve anything, for it bestows the only freedom that really matters � the ability to create yourself.

�The void is that which stands right in the middle of this and that. The void is all-inclusive; having no opposite, there is nothing which it excludes or opposes. It is living void, because all forms come out of it, and whoever realises the void is filled with life and power and the love of all things� � Bruce Lee, 1940-1973

Labels: Experiences, Psychology, Training

#73
Parkour Freedom - Parkour Libert�

By Forrest | posted on 19 March 2010 | 3 comments

Parkour �Freedom�

Is �practising Parkour� the solution to feel free in your body and your mind? Or is this quest of happiness, this discovery, this blossoming that we all have been looking for since we did our first steps on this planet?

For me, �The When� and �The How� you start the journey in Parkour cannot be dictated by somebody else and/or just be justified by a series of actions such as balancing on a railing, vaulting some walls etc... In my opinion �parkour� is something personal. Yes, you share some moments, some actions, some feelings, some knowledge, some training, some obstacles etc... But your perceptions, your expectations, your discoveries, your willingness, your rhythm... are personal and internal.

I started playing a bit more with the environment only 7 years ago, however, �my parkour�, this quest for the well-being, this continuous discovery to become stronger, this value�s learning process, this respect for yourself and for the others and this understanding of being honest with yourself started 35 years ago, as soon as I was born. My parents, my education and my different experiences in art and different sport activities that I have been involved with, for the past 30 years, were and will always be my best guide, they are my foundations to my way of approaching obstacles. In my eyes, parkour (moving in any terrain) is just another physical activity, such as football, swimming, dance etc... where I can express myself in the environment in a certain way and where I can learn more about myself. My vision, my definition, my approach of �parkour� is not necessarily the same than everyone else�s. I don�t consider it as �a way of living� or as a particular �philosophy� but: does it mean that I am wrong? Does it mean that I cannot practise, learn, develop and teach some skills to move in the surrounding safely and more efficiently? Personally, I don�t practise any sport to please the expectations of others. The way I practice and see it satisfies me. I don�t want to copy the parkour journey of somebody else...

For me parkour is another tool, like everything we can use to learn and progress. Doesn�t matter the tool I use and the way I use it, when I teach somebody, my aim is not to make him/her become me, my aim is to help to discover his/her own potential and make all my students progress. Each person is a unique whole with his/her own emotions, feelings, visions, expectations, definitions etc... Some of them are capable to learn by themselves, by the environment, by discoveries, but others need to be guided, need to be managed, need to be shown, need to be explained. It shouldn�t matter which approach is used to improve how to move in this environment. It doesn�t matter when and how you experience parkour, important is to be able to adapt without any limits and find your own way. This is what makes me feel free and eager for practising more.

Expectations and goals should never be judged, as this is different for each individual. We all start practising parkour for different reasons and with different goals. I believe every judgement, would be in contradiction with the freedom and this capability to adapt that parkour offers.

Do you really know when your� Parkour journey� started? Do you know exactly this moment when you began this relationship with yourself, with the others, and with the environment, to be able to go through �obstacles�?

Is there a one and unique true parkour?

Parkour�Libert�

Est-ce que �faire du parkour� est la solution pour se sentir libre dans sa t�te et dans son corps? Ou est ce cette qu�te du Bonheur, cette d�couverte et cet �panouissement que nous recherchons tous � partir du moment o� nous faisons nos premiers pas sur cette plan�te?

Pour moi, �le Quand� et �le Comment� tu commences ce voyage dans le parkour ne peut pas �tre dict� par quelqu�un d'autre et ne peut �tre justifi� par une simple s�rie d�actions comme marcher en �quilibre sur une barri�re, franchir des murs etc...Mon opnion est que �Parkour� est quelque chose de personnel. Oui, tu partages des moments, des actions, des sentiments, des �motions, des connaissances, des entra�nements, des obstacles etc...Mais tes attentes, tes d�couvertes, tes vouloirs, tes rythmes... sont personnel et interne.

J�ai commenc� � jouer un peu plus avec l�environnement, il y a seulement 7 ans , cependant �mon parkour�, cette recherche de bien �tre, cette constante d�couverte de devenir plus fort, cette apprentissage des valeurs, ce respect vis a vis de soi et des autres et cette compr�hension � �tre honn�te avec soi-m�me, je l�ai commenc� il y a 35 ans, lorsque je suis venu au monde. Mes parents, mes �tudes, mes diff�rentes activit�es artistiques et sportives que j�ai pu pratiquer ces 30 derni�res ann�es ont �t� et seront toujours mes meilleurs guides. Ceux sont mes bases dans ma fa�on d�approcher les obstacles. A mes yeux , parkour(se mouvoir sur tous les terrains)n� est juste qu�une autre activit� physique dans laquelle je peux m�exprimer d�une certain fa�on et je peux apprendre un peu plus � mon sujet. Ma vision, ma d�finition et mon approche du "parkour� n�est pas forc�ment la m�me que tout le monde. Je ne le consid�re pas comme �une mani�re de vivre� ou comme une �philosophie particuli�re�, mais: est-ce que cela veut dire que j�ai tord? Est-ce que cela veut dire que je n�ai pas le droit d�apprendre, de d�velopper et d�enseigner des comp�tences pour pouvoir bouger en s�curit� et de mani�re plus efficace dans l�environnement? Personnellement, je ne fait pas du sport pour satisfaire les attentes des autres. La fa�on dont je le pratique et je le vois, me satisfait. Je n�ai pas envi de copier sur quelqu�un d�autre cette experience du parkour.

�Parkour� est pour moi un outil comme toutes les choses que l�on utitlise pour apprendre et progresser. Peut importe l�outil que j�utilise et la fa�on dont je l�utilise, lorsque j�enseigne � quelqu�un, mon but n�est pas de lui/la faire devenir moi, il est de l�aider � d�couvrir et � d�velopper ses propres potentiels et de faire pogresser tous mes �tudiants. Chaque individu est une entit� � part enti�re avec ses propres �motions, sentiments, visions, attentes, d�finitions etc...Certains ont cette facult� � apprendre par eux m�me, par l�environnement et par leurs d�couvertes mais d�autres ont besoin d��tre guid�, d��tre dirig�, d��tre montr�, d��tre expliqu�. Cela ne devrait pas �tre important laquelle de ces approches est utilis�e pour progresser. Ce que je comprends du parkour, quelqu�il soit �le comment� et �le quand� il a d�but� pour chacun d�entre nous, c�est: la facult� � s�adapter, et ce, sans limites, �trouver sa propre voix�. C�est ce qui fait que je me sente libre et que je sois toujours demandeur pour en faire plus.

Les motifs et les buts ne devraient jamais �tre jug� sachant qu�ils sont propres � chacun d�entre nous. Nous commen�ons tous � faire du parkour pour diff�rentes raisons et diff�rent objectifs. Je pense qu�etablir un jugement est en contradiction avec cette libert� et cette facult� � s�adapter que le parkour nous offre.

Est-ce que vous pouvez vraiment d�finir ce moment o� votre �voyage dans le parkour� a commenc�, le moment exact o� vous avez commenc� cette relation avec vous-m�me, avec les autres, avec l�environnemnent pour �tre capable de surmonter les obstacles?

Y�a t�il un seul et unique vrai parkour?

Labels: Experiences, Psychology

#72
Learning to Learn

By Thomas | posted on 12 March 2010 | 7 comments

(Originally posted on www.thomadventures.blogspot.com)

Learning to learn, what does this mean? When a new discipline or activity catches our attention, to the point that we decide to devote a tremendous amount of our time and energy to it, instead of focusing entirely on the content do we actually question ourselves enough, if at all, about learning (i.e. the process of absorbing and making ours new skills and knowledge)? What if learning was not just a question of time and effort, but a matter of clarity and vision as well? What if learning was a skill in itself? Wouldn�t there then be a way to optimise every ounce of effort we put in the aquirement of a new technique, and therefore acheive results faster without extra effort?

In any discipline or activity, there are always those who train hard for years only to acquire mediocre results, and those who seem to fly over every difficulties in their way, is it human nature, or just a different kind of perception that one could unlock ?

This is an attempt to explore these questions...

Being in the moment: the right here right now equilibrium.

The philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote : �May one examine their own thoughts, and they will find them all focused on the past or the future. We almost never think in the present, and when we do, it is only to shed light on what to do with the future�.

We live in the present, it is our only field of action, and it is only then that we can interconnect entirely body, mind, and environment to create a sense of pure awareness; but how often do we actually do this? What Pascal wrote has never been so true: most of us have grown up and are still immersed in a world of distractions: television, cell phones, advertising, work, social activities, internet, games... the list is endless.

From birth we become accustomed to the habit of being constantly distracted, it is for most of us a normal thing that we accept and agree with entirely, our rare moments of boredom are those that we find awkward and that we will strive to fill with more mind-absorbing activities.

How is this related to learning? I had a student who was a very slow learner and had grown to accept it as part of his nature: he would make the same mistakes many times before understanding the lesson, and he would sometimes learn only to drop back into those old mistakes again. I didn�t really know how to help him until I realised something essential: that even when training his mind was constantly drifting away in thought, absorbed in the past or future, inconspicuously slipping out of the �right here right now equilibrium�.

I understood that one�s learning is clearly improved by being in constant connection with one�s present sensations.

Sensations are feedback, they tell us if what we do is right or not, they show us what we should improve on and how to do it at the condition that we pay attention to them. Repetition alone is pointless if there isn�t constant attention to what is being done, just as it is being done. Learn in real-time, be awake and aware, feel and analyse what you are doing. Trying again doesn�t mean doing again; every attempt is a new opportunity to do better, based on the knowledge and experience of past tries.

So avoid any type of distraction when you are training, let your entire self be directed towards what you are doing and all your energy, all your qualities, all that you are made of will cease to be dispersed and wasted but, instead, will work for you towards one clear goal that you have chosen, like a whole army marching in unison towards one unique target.

I took the time to explain these things to the student, letting them slowly soak in over time, and he has since then made tremendous progress and is now one of the quickest learners I have ever taught to!

Constructive criticism: the positive vision

Collecting feedback and endlessly integrating it in what you do is a major element of learning to learn, but doing so with absolute positiveness is the key principle that will create the alchemy. When we try and fail, we try harder, but if we fail again, most of us will tend to get upset or irritated, and our emotions conquer us and corrupt the positive learning mindset we were in. It is then very easy to slip into negative criticism and to start asking ouselves the wrong questions, such as �why am I so bad at this?�, or even �why can�t I ever get things right?�
The mind, in these cases, is bluntly stupid in the way it works, as it searches for a direct answer to these questions; for instance: �you�re bad at this because it�s not your thing�, or �you can never get things right because you�re not meant to be talented at this�. The answers it gives us are often conveyed on a subconscious level, and thus we unknowingly hypnotise ourselves into failure.

Therefore, one must ask themselves the right questions if one wishes to find the right answers: �How can I improve on this?�, �How can I avoid doing these mistakes?�, �What is holding me back from complete mastery?�

Condition your mind for positivity and you will get positive results. A positive vision is one that can picture a clear objective and a list of ways to reach it, regardless of what stands in the way. And any resistance in your progress, instead of being a source of frustration, will become a call for a new accomplishment, a treat of self-exploration. You won�t need to ignore your frustration, it won�t be there anymore, transformed into a new exciting feeling of challenge!

Training, as intense as it may get, is never but a game so don�t take it too seriously, even if you�re at it every day for hours, be relaxed about it, inner tension will cause outer stiffness, let it flow inside and it will flow outside. Lightness is key.

Discovering rather than manufacturing: the blossoming flower concept
�When I and my students think of strokes as being discovered rather than manufactured, they seem to learn the game much faster and without frustration.� Timothy Gallwey, The Inner Game of Tennis
I will humbly paraphrase this great book here.

As explained earlier, a major part of the process of learning is directly linked to how we visualise things. Manufacturing skills would imply that there is you + all that you�ve learned. Like costumes worn over each other, your skills are not connected to who you are, they are merely added to you in a very impersonal way. Progress, in this mindset, appears as having no end and worse, as being perishable...

Now, let�s talk about flowers... flowers don�t grow, they blossom: from the instant they exist as a tiny seed, they are already the future flower that they will turn into, just like a new-born baby is already in essence the future adult it will become.

They constantly express themselves as flowers and day by day, instant by instant, they become a little bit more their blossomed selves, what they were right from the start is now fully expressed and they are purely themselves.

If you visualise all your skills as being within you right from the start, on standby, waiting to be discovered and released, you will get rid of a lot of the pressure that athletes face with intense training because it means that you are simply learning to express yourself, zeroing in ever more on your true self. One could almost call it a process of enlightenment. In this case, nothing is really learnt, everything is simply revealed and therefore it is an undisociable part of you.

Progress is not an addition of bits of knowledge and skill like Lego pieces stacked on top of each other, it is only the elimination of what is keeping you from expressing your true self.

Conclusion: expanding the horizon
Throughout this article, I�ve never once mentioned parkour: the reason is that �learning to learn�, once acquired, is a skill that transcends any activity it may be applied to. One who understands it may use it in any field equally.

As a matter of fact, in order to explore a single discipline one is required to branch off continuously into other fields, as no knowledge is ever completely isolated.

A samurai once wrote about his art: �The practice cannot be confined to swordsmanship, if one limits it to that, they will not even know swordsmanship�. The same warrior added: �I have applied the lessons of my art to every other discipline I have encountered, therefore in any discipline I am my own master�. The road that leads to the mastery of one discipline will lead to the mastery of others; following one is close to following them all because, more than just the discipline, it is ourselves that we learn to explore and know through our practice. The discipline itself is never the end, but the means to a more noble, meaningful and everlasting end: our blossomed self.

Labels: Experiences, Psychology, Training

#71
Parkour, a Journey

By Johann Vigroux | posted on 18 February 2010 | 15 comments

2010, Parkour is known all over the world ! One of my dreams came true... We can see practitioners every where, people are more and more used to see people "jumping around". The discipline is growing quickly, so quickly, and what I am trying to do is to help passing on this art to the future generations...

In contrary to the time when I met parkour, we now have tons of different techniques, moves and jumps. We have dictionaries and tutorials for every move. We are told where to put our feet in order to do a specific move, in order to clear a specific obstacle.
I can see that sometimes the first things we teach to beginners are basic vaults, or combinations. I feel that we miss something by teaching techniques at the very beginning.

Why?

Because I believe that parkour is an invitation to meet our environment and to have some reflection. When I met it, and what moved me the most, is that parkour was a big and long journey. Our daily goal at the beginning was to discover our environment, having a new way of looking at the space. We had to go from a wall, to a lampost, trough 2 fences and over a staircase, etc... Every time we were facing new obstacles, and we had to use or find some techniques to overcome it.

Today, I feel like most of the time we show parkour techniques, moves and combinations to the beginners who wanted to learn parkour.We are telling them how to pass an obstacle, we show them where to do it. I feel that we are giving all the keys and solutions before that the practitioner even knows the obstacle. Maybe if we hadn't tell them to do a speed vault onto this wall, they would have never seen this wall as an obstacle.

And in the other way, you could ask somebody to reach some place, knowing that he will have to get over a wall, then the person will have to think about how to overcome the wall, and he may find it by himself, without you, or may need your help, but at least he would know he has to learn this or that technique... And the solution will be much more meaningful.

We are not letting them finding themselves face to face with an obstacle, looking for solutions, trying some moves, falling, missing, and then maybe succeed, or asking us for help.

My point here is to remind practitioners and teachers, that parkour is basically a long journey. In this journey we may find difficulties, obstacles that we will have to overcome. You will all have the time to learn parkour techniques anyway, so it's better for you to learn it when you know why and when you will have to use it ...

Thank you for reading,

Johann

Labels: Behind the Scenes, Challenges, Experiences

#70
Watch Out Below

By Chris 'Blane' Rowat | posted on 8 January 2010 | 16 comments

It's not easy keeping a solar-powered watch fully charged during a British Winter. Come to think of it, it's not exactly simple in the 'Summer' here either.

Anyway, when at home my watch sits on the handle of my window, hoping to soak up any stray sunray that might be floating around on an island like this, and when I opened my window this morning, I carefully balanced the watch on top of the handle, taking extra care to make sure it wouldn't fall. It didn't. Not for a while anyway.

It was about two hours or so later that I heard my window blowing wider and a quiet clunk, followed by a few seconds of silence and finally another clunk further away.

Ah. My watch had gone for a walk.

Now I live on the first floor of a tall house and on the ground floor lives a grumpy old man who enjoys nothing better than to drink himself in to oblivion and come home in the early hours of the morning to blast Magic radio out to the street. That man, despite having a good (but untimely) taste in music would not hesitate to steal my watch, believe me.

So I did what seemed the right thing to do. I went downstairs, knocked on his door and planned to ask him for the watch from his back garden. If he refused then I'd think of something. But the old man wasn't home, of course he wasn't.. he was in the pub deciding whether to set his radio to Magic or Heart later that evening.

So there was only one thing left to do.

There's no access to the gardens from the front of these houses. There are no alleyways to get down the side and there's a big factory behind the houses that doesn't allow easy access from the rear so my only option was to climb out of my bedroom window and descend in to the garden below.

Now with the snow and ice outside thick enough to completely conceal my watch somewhere below, the first task I was faced with wasn't an easy one. The only way down was to jump from the icy window ledge, to my left, on to a shed... thing. Standing nine foot or so high, two feet below me and five foot away, it was a menacing sight and with all of the ice covering both surfaces, I did NOT want to jump on to it.

But I had to. I had to get my watch before the grumpy man came home and claimed it.

Sigh.

COME ON! Jump. This is what you've been doing for the past six years.. jumping from stuff, to stuff.

I jumped and landed, slipped a bit but stayed on the roof, and had done what I knew was actually one of the easier bits of this mission. I still had to get back up there.

Hanging from the shed, I dropped to a lower wall and then on to the ground. Reaching in to the watch shaped snow hole, I grabbed the watch and didn't even check to see if it was still working. Of course it was. When the bombs fall, all that will be left standing are the cockroaches.. G-Shock watches and... Yann Hnautra.

Right, so I need to get back in that window.

I climbed back up on to the shed which now I was aware was covered with three inches of snow. Turning around and looking at the jump back to the window ledge, I was suddenly aware of what was below the window ledge. Two large sliding glass doors.

Glass. Doors.

Nice.

Knowing damn well that jumping from the shed and grabbing my window ledge would probably result in two Nike Darts ploughing through a plate of glass.. I was going to have to find another way. My only other option was to jump from a lower position, the lower wall I had used to climb down from earlier.

It was quite a jump to grab the window ledge and the take off was loose, icy brick. Add to that the fact I had to grab a snow-covered window ledge and somehow avoid the two glass doors.. things couldn't get much worse. Until the light came on behind the glass.

Ok, don't panic. I've seen enough movies and been on enough night missions to know that anyone inside a bright room looking out at darkness can see nada.

But he was home!

I had to get my ass out of his garden and the only way was to forget about how slippy the take off was, how icy the window ledge was, how far the jump was and how likely I was to smash his doors and shower his drunken self with shards of glass.

Taking a deep breath and counting down from five, I looked up and jumped.

It was further than I thought. I grabbed with only my left arm and turned my legs sideways, keeping them together and trying to slow them down as I aimed for the wooden panel between the glass doors. The contact was surprisingly light and I wasn't actually expecting my hand to hold the ledge, but it did.

Scrambling up on to the ledge I climbed back in my window, heart racing, and with a massive smile on my face I looked at the time on my watch and as expected, it hadn't missed a beat.

Two minutes later, Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen filled the air and I knew he was none the wiser.

-Blane

Labels: Challenges, Experiences

#69
New Year, New Commitments

By James | posted on 2 January 2010 | 7 comments

It's 2010 now. A whole year ahead of us to fill great parkour experiences and training progression so I thought I'd share one of my many training commitments for the new year. I wouldn't consider these to be resolutions because resolutions tend to be very general and don't state step by step how to achieve the changes we want, where as these commitments are specific and will be easier to achieve.

"Work out what my greatest weakness is and focus on improving it"

All too often I become comfortable with a movement or standard of strength, for example cat pass precisions, and neglect it to focus on something new and exciting to only realise that suddenly what I considered to be a decent level to be falling behind in comparison to my other attributes. Of course it's more important to have a solid foundation and skill set rather than being amazing at something specific and only be able to do that one thing well. This can depend on the person and be highly subjective but this is my approach to my training.

To actually make changes I've written down what areas I feel I'm weakest in, physically and technically speaking, and decided to dedicate more time to improving these and the best approach in doing so. I also decided that every three months to reassess my weakness.

There is a second side to this and I could write a seperate blog about this but keeping it brief and cut it down to one sentence:

Sometimes the things you hate doing the most are the things you need to work on.

I noticed when I first started training my fear of heights was tremendous and being on a 2 foot raised wall would conjure the most frightening images of injuring myself however irrational they were. Looking back I realised because I was so scared of heights I never practised training at heights. Thankfully my good friends, especially Alli, eased me out of my comfort zone on many occasion and I noticed because I was so uncomfortable I didn't have the same skill level at ground level as I did at height.

So train outside of your comfort zone more often. It could be something as simple as being able to speed vault on both your left and right with the same proficiency.

So my suggestion to you is to have one new training commitment and stick with it for as long as possible. Trying as best to your ability to keep doing it for the whole year, provided it's productive and will progress your training in a manner you wish, the process is sometimes more important than the goal itself. It's okay to fall off the path you wish to walk provided you can get back on track and walk the path once more.

James

Labels: Experiences, Training

#67
Hi, have you met Parkour ?

By Johann Vigroux | posted on 29 November 2009 | 13 comments

July 1998, I come back from holidays and my brother Stephane was really into a new sport, I didn't know what it was, he didn't talk much about it... I had the opportunity to watch a video called SpeedAirMan, it was about a crazy guy who was flying around, and this guy actually lived 5 minutes driving from where I used to live ! I looked at the video, I was amazed but nothing more really.

One day, Stephane and a friend of mine, Ken, went to train with this man, David Belle. They asked me if I wanted to join them, and without knowing at all what to expect, I said yes. So here we are, in Lisses and I meet this strange man, who I don't know anything about... I stayed very quiet, and listened to everybody.
Then the session starts, we had to follow David's lead. At this time I didn't know anything about this discipline, if it had a name or anything, I was just following a man... We ended up in facing the famous cat leap at the gym staircase. David and some other people jumped. I didn't even think that it was possible for me to get there, so I wasn't scared !! For me it didn't even look like something I could reach one day...
So David helped me getting on the roof by carrying me and then we continued our journey...We finally arrived at a big grass square, after the bridge, next to the swimming pool, for those who know Lisses. It was a grass square, surrounded with rocks and trees. The idea of the game was simple : start on one rock, and finish the lap, keeping our feet off the floor...

I couldn't manage to finish the lap, even if everything looked like I could do it, I felt it was something possible. Then the session finished and I told to myself that I would come back every single day to this spot, until I could finish the lap...

It took me about 3 months to be able to finish ! During this time, I didn't think about what parkour could or couldn't be ! My only goal was to finish this single route because I knew I could do it !

When I started being more confident, I gave a try at the Dame du Lac, where I found my brother, David, and other people who would become my friends... I was the most beginner from all of them that I had my eyes wide opened and tried to learn from all these guys. In this group, there was Sebastien Goudot, Michael Ramdani, Jerome Lebret and others that had my age. So I started practising more and more with Seb and Mike, and we became very close together.

In Lisses, there was the group of the elders (David, Romain, Stephane, Cisco, etc..) and the group of the younger (Yo, Seb, Mike, Jeje). We were training apart and sometimes we heard about what one of the other group did, and we had to check it out ! Sometimes the 2 groups met and it was like : hum, let's play !

This is how I started practising parkour, this how I met it and this how I used to live it during 5 years. Every day was a different journey, which only goal was to have an encounter with my environment and share it with my friends, my parkour family.
At this time, there was only this feeling of going out, explore the environment and find ways, paths, obstacles, solutions, joy, tears, pains, falls, friends, love....

I really feel grateful for having met parkour at this period. Parkour awoke all these things I had, sleeping in my heart. Today I want to give it back to parkour, by sharing my experience and art, with any and all who would like to.

Love,

Johann

Labels: discovery, Experiences, Training

#63
2008: Ma plus grande lecon 2008: The biggest lesson

By Forrest | posted on 6 October 2009 | 6 comments

Nous sommes le 4 Avril 2008, j�entraine Annty et ma femme Agota au Ch�teau de la pr�cision( Wandsworth ), je passe par dessus une barri�re, mon pied reste coinc� sur le haut de celle-ci, je tombe au ralentit en arri�re. Au moment o� je touche le sol, j�entends clack clack. Le r�sultat sera: rupture du ligament crois� ant�rieur du genou gauche. L�op�ration a eu lieu le 11 novembre 2008...Tout c�est bien pass�

Le dimanche 13 Avril 2008, je suis gentiment allong� sur mon sofa quand le t�l�phone sonne, apr�s quelques minutes de conversations, je me l�ve pour chercher une info sur mon ordi lorsque que je sens comme un �tourdissement. Je n�arrive plus � fixer l�image d�Agota et ma fa�on de parler est un peu trouble. Inqui�te, ma femme appelle les urgences. 10 minutes plus tard les infirmiers sont l� et me font diff�rents tests. Ils m�emm�nent alors � l�hospital o� je fait des examens medicaux plus approfondis IRM, CT scan... Le r�sultat sera: un petit AVC dans la partie arri�re de mon cerveau. Le docteur me dit en souriant� Vous avez eu de la chance, vous n��tes pas mort et rien n�a �t� endommag� que ce soit sur le plan physique et moteur ou sur le plan psychologique, vous n�aurez aucune paralisie mais nous devons vous garder ici pour faire tous les tests n�cessaires. Ils m�ont d�couvert un souffle au Coeur, c�est peut �tre une des causes de ce qui est arriv� mais rien n�a �t� prouv�.Apr�s 10 jours pass� � l�hospital, le 23 avril 2008, je me suis fait op�rer du Coeur pour fixer ce souffle.

Durant tout ce temps pass� � l�hospital pour mon cerveau, mon Coeur et mon genou, j�ai du faire face �:

DES PEURS, pourrais-je �tre capable d��tre � nouveau physiquement actif, refaire du sport...?

DES DOUTES, pourrais-je continuer � vivre normalement, �tre un bon mari, un bon p�re, un fr�re, un fils, un ami...?

DES DECEPTIONS et DES SURPRISES, pourrais je pardonner � ces gens qui se disaient proche de moi et qui m�ont laiss� tomber? Et pourrais je suffisamment remercier ceux dont je ne m�attendais pas forc�ment qui m�ont tendu la main avec plaisir...

DES DOULEURS, pourrais-je oublier? La douleur physique s�estompe avec le temps, elle n�est rien compar�e � la douleur morale. Cela fait beaucoup plus mal de se rendre compte des vraix intentions de certaines personnes � ton �guard ET decouvrir qu�ils seront l� pour toi seulement lorsque tu as 100% � donner mais lorsque tu es un peu en dedans et que tu aurais le plus besoin de support , ils ne serons jamais l� pour toi...

DES RENCONTRES pourrais-je etre plus courageux? J�ai fait la rencontre de Drake, cet ado qui se bat contre le cancer et qui a �t� pour moi une source d�inspiration et de courage.

DES PENSEES POSITIVES, pourrais-je �tre plus heureux? Le Samedi 9 aout 2008, la c�l�bration religieuse en Roumanie de notre marriage avec 250 personnes venant de 15 pays diff�rents, quel Bonheur!

DES ENERGIES RETROUVEES, pourrais-je �tre plus conscient de mes forces et de leurs origines maintenant? C�est un r�confort de savoir vraiment d�o� l�on vient, qui l�on est et o� l�on veut aller. Je ne laisserai plus jamais personne d�cider pour moi ce qui est bon pour, ma famille, mon sport, ma carri�re, ma vie future...

L a vie n�est pas toujours �un long fleuve tranquille� MAIS c�est la vie. Il n�y a pas de bonnes ou mauvaises exp�riences, il n�y a que des exp�riences et nous apprenons tous les jours � y faire face. Ce qui ne tue pas rend plus fort...
Ma le�on: �Tu ne pourras jamais r�ellemment t��panouir dans la vie et �tre vrai avec les autres si tu n�est pas capable d��tre honn�te avec toi m�me? Ne jamais abandonner, ne jamais perdre espoir et ne jamais laisser les autres ou le contexte te voler ton sourir mais apprendre � relativiser sont pour moi des r�gles d�or.
Mes parents m�ont toujours dit:�Apr�s la pluie vient toujours le beau temps, m�me si cela peut prendre du temps �:-)

2008 THE BIGGEST LESSON

(English Translation)

It is the 4th April 2008, I�m coaching Annty and my wife Agota at the precision�s castle (Wandsworth), I go above a railing, my foot stays stuck on the top of the railing, I fall backwards in slow motion. As soon as I touch the floor I hear clack clack. The result is my anterior crucial ligament in my left knee is torn. The operation is scheduled for 11th of November 2008... Everything went well.

It is Sunday 13th April 2008, I�m gently laying on my sofa when the phone rings, after a few minutes of conversation, I stand up to check some information on my computer when I start feeling dizzy, I can�t fix anymore Agota�s image and my way of talking is a bit slurred . My wife is worried, she calls 999. Ten minutes later the ambulance arrives, they do tests to identify what is wrong. They drive me to the hospital where I go through loads of further medical tests such as MRI scan, CT scan etc... The result is: a tiny stroke in the back part of my brain. The surgeon says with a smile:�You were lucky, you�re not dead and nothing has been damaged in your body and your brain. You won�t be paralysed nor have any other damage but we have to keep you here to do all the necessary tests. They find a hole in my heart, it could be one of the reasons for the stroke but nothing has been proved. After staying 10 days at the hospital, I had a heart surgery to fix the hole.

The entire time I spent at the hospital regarding my brain, my heart and my knee, I had to face:

SOME FEARS, will I be able to be physically active again, to do sport again...?

SOME DOUBTS, will I be able to carry on living normally, be a good husband, a good dad, a brother, a son, a friend...?

SOME DISAPPOINTMENTS AND SURPRISES, will I be able to forgive all those people who pretended being my close friends but they let me down? And will I be able to thank enough the ones that I did not expect to support me but they did with pleasure?

SOME PAIN, will I be able to forget? The physical pain fades with time but it�s nothing compared to the emotional pain. It is more painful to see the real intention of some people AND realise that they are only there for you when you give 100% but not when you are down and you need them the most.

SOME ACQUAINTANCES will I be able to be brave? I met this teenager, Drake, who is fighting against cancer. For me he is a real source of inspiration and courage.

SOME POSITIVES THOUGHTS, will I be able to be happier? On Saturday 9thAugust 2008, the blessing ceremony of our wedding in Romania with 250 people from 15 different countries, oh happy days... !

SOME REFOUND ENERGIES will I be able to be more conscious of my force and where it comes from now? It�s such a comfort to know where we come from, who we are and where we want to go. I will never again let anybody decide what is good for my family, my sport, my career, my future life etc...
Life is not always �a quiet long river� BUT it�s life. There are no good or bad experiences, there are only experiences and we learn every day how to face them. What does not kill you make you stronger...

My lesson
� You will never really be able to blossom in life and be real with the others if you�re not capable to be honest with yourself. Never give up, never lose hope and never let somebody else or a context steal your smile but learn to put things into perspective.� All these are some golden rules for me.
My parents said:� after the rain comes always sunshine� even though sometimes it can take a while�:-)

Labels: Experiences, Psychology

#62
Gambatte Naoki!!!!!

By Dominic | posted on 28 September 2009 | 2 comments

I originally had a different post for this month and may end up putting that one up in a few days also but for now I just wanted to make a big shout out for a friend of mine who was recently injured, Naoki Ishiyama.

For those of you who are not aware Naoki is a Japanese practioner who has spent a great deal of time training both here in London with pk gen and also in France with majestic force as well as everywhere and anywhere else he finds himself. As I�m sure most of you reading this will already be aware of the situation he faces himself in I won�t go into too much detail here suffice to say he faces some challenging times ahead but I am completely confident that he will more than rise to surpass them as that is the kind of person he is. Without a doubt one of the friendliest and nicest guys I have had the pleasure of meeting as well as a great tracuer.

But for anyone who does not know I ask that you check out (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125726156594) and lend you support. It means so much to him and is a great comfort to know that he is in the thoughts of so many people who wish him a speedy recovery. Even if you don�t know him personally or have never met him before I ask that you show him your support during this time! Already the response from the community has been brilliant and it�s a real comfort to know and be a part of such a good and strong spirit, which is not just here for him but here for us all!

Labels: Experiences, Injuries

#59
Learning to teach. Teaching to learn.

By Andy | posted on 12 September 2009 | 8 comments

How do you truly get better at something? Through human history we have developed a multitude of methods to educate ourselves in whichever disciplines we desire. Obviously there are techniques that work better than others, depending on the personality traits of the individual doing the learning, but personally I have always found that "hands on" training allows me to understand and comprehend concepts much faster than any other method I've tried. That said, I also feel that given enough time I am also able to learn just as well through simple observation and understanding. Clearly this was a mistake.

In 2008 I had been training with Parkour Generations for a few years at the academy and had naively felt comfortable enough in my abilities to believe that I was at a point in my parkour career to be able to pass my experience and knowledge on to others through teaching and coaching. Obviously I had been taught by Forrest and Dan as well as many of the others in the team and seen how they conduct the classes, so I'm sure I have the ability to do it, right? Hmmm....

I remember my first few classes quite vividly. One word. Disasters. I had suddenly entered a whole new realm of parkour and teaching. All of the training that I had done for myself was a fraction of the experience and understanding I needed to be able to teach it. So many questions had instantaneously entered my brain... The most simplest of things had now become the most complex! For instance... A step vault. Can I accurately explain every aspect of the mechanics behind the step vault? Do I know why we do it that way? Why not with the other foot? Other hand? Which foot do we lead with? Which foot do we land with? Where do the hips have to be? How do I teach a ten year old this? How do I capture the attention of a ten year old to be motivated to do this? How do I break this down for someone with little strength and experience? How do I progress, streamline and offer tips on the same technique to veteran traceurs to help them improve? What's the most likely place people will fall? Where do I stand to spot them? How do I get an entire group, of different abilities, to do this? How do I organise this? How do I make sure they all understand the correct way to do this? What must they watch out for? What are common mistakes? How do I deal with someone who just doesn't understand? What the hell is going on!?!?

Oh dear... I know nothing. My respect for the entire team had suddenly been multiplied by a thousand in a matter of about twenty seconds. I now understood the skill and experience it takes to teach an Academy class of fifty people while answering any questions and queries, reacting to different situations, ensuring everyone is safe, gaining maximum potential out of everyone, allowing everyone to have fun and keeping the classes upbeat and enjoyable!

Through the following year, along with the rest of the team, I have, on a daily basis, been put into many different and varied teaching scenarios which have tested all aspects of my parkour and teaching abilities. Some have gone better than others, but all of these situations have taught me more than I had ever hoped about myself, the discipline and my colleagues. Now I am beginning to feel more comfortable with teaching, but know I still have an eternity of learning to do.

The initial fears and frustrations have now faded away but the simple fact is that the more I teach, the more I learn and the more I learn, the more there is to be learnt. Being someone who thrives on knowledge, I guess this is a pretty good situation to be in. I'm just glad that I am in an environment that allows me to learn in the correct way.

There are a million aspects to comprehend and I think it is imperative to have the physical fundamentals, spirit and ethos firmly cemented into your subconscious by spending time with those with the experience to make sure you are on the right path... otherwise, there is just too much that can be skewed, misinterpreted and misunderstood. For these reasons I'm glad that the new A.D.A.P.T qualification is on its way. It's something that will give developing traceurs/traceuses and athletes around the world the option to learn how to TEACH properly and ensure that parkour, as a discipline, is advanced further in the best way possible for all of us as a community. This, I completely believe, is a great thing.

As for me, I'm just excited to find out what we're all going to learn at class tomorrow. :)

Labels: Experiences, Psychology, Training

#75
With apologies to Alan Moore

By Chris | posted on 12 July 2009 | 5 comments

It is September 2003. I am watching Frenchmen doing something I have only witnessed before on a BBC ident.

It is May 2006, I am training with Harrow with friends. I watch them do a precision I can't bring myself to do. We all do a running catleap, across an alleyway, by a pub I haven't been to for a year. We laugh at the idea of doing it standing. I spy an archway across a road, high enough that double decker buses can comfortably drive beneath. I joke about wanting to traverse across it, over the road. I don't mean it.

I'm in Norwich. It is July 2008 and I've been teaching for well over a year now. My foot has twisted on the corner of a flowerbed. I've managed to catch the wall I was trying to precision in an arm-jump, but it's obvious that's the end of my training that day. 10 minutes later after some foolish attempts at quadrapedal on the stairs with only one leg, it becomes obvious that that is probably the end of my training for the next week.

It is July 2006. I am trying to do a handstand on a rail in Barcelona. I flip over and land on the edge of the road, but it's at a bad angle and my ankle hurts. 2 and a half years in my future I hold a handstand for a minute for the first time.

It is spring 2007. I am standing in front of a class. I am telling people to rotate their shoulders to my count. One week previous I was rotating my shoulders to Forrest's count.

It is June 2008. I am in Harrow, training with friends. We do a standing cat leap, across an alleyway, by a pub I haven't been to for years. We laugh at the idea of doing it running. On the way home we pass below an arch, and I make a familiar joke. I'm not so sure I'm joking.

The sun is so hot. I'm inspecting a temporary park made for us to teach and demonstrate on. It is August 2007 and I am going to be here for much of the next 9 days. In 2 days time I will be doing another demo, but my stomach will be filled with butterflies. The reassuring presence of another of �my generation� will be gone, and the prospect of doing a demonstration with two second generation practitioners is filling me with dread. 3 days in my future I no longer care who I will be teaching with. I know we'll be fine.

It's March 20th 2009 and I'm in tears of laughter. Blane is laughing so hard he can barely breathe, and a room full of people are glancing at us with suspicion. When one of us stops, the other will set him off again. I have been doing muscle ups for the last 3 years.

May 2009. I am walking through Victoria station. 2 hours in my past I ate a slice of pizza. 5 minutes in my past I am broken, the 37th slice nestling in my belly, unable to watch Gise put away his 40th of the evening.

It is September 2009 and a surgeon is drilling a hole in my left ankle. 3 years in my past I am landing on the edge of a Spanish road.

It is March 20th 2009. I have spent many hours travelling to Rome, and I meet Gise for the first time. In six hours time I will be crying with laughter so hard I fear I may never stop. In 2 months I will be doing press-ups with my new friend after truly heroic amounts of pizza. Sometime between now and then I will be training at Earlsfield with a friend. Making an unexpected stop in Harrow on the way home I decide to see what the arch feels like. I am halfway up before I realise I have decided to climb across. I do it again to be sure I am confident with it.

2 and a half years after I discover parkour, I am in a park, practising my muscle-ups. One week ago, I was in the same park, at the same climbing frame, and I couldn't muscle-up. 3 years in my future I am making noises and faces that should not be seen or heard by most other human beings. I'm doing my 20th muscle-up in a row and it is killing me. Form broke down some time ago, now it's just about getting over the bar.

I am at a barbecue, surrounded by friends. They are giving me weary looks, and wondering exactly what it is that is making me laugh so much. I am 4 months away from lying unconscious in an operating theatre, and 3 years in my past I am making noises and faces that should not be seen or heard by most other human beings. I'm doing my 2nd muscle-up in a row.

It's Sunday 2004! I have gone to Southbank to train. It could be any Sunday. I have arrived at Waterloo shortly before 11, as I have done, and will do, all year.

It is Autumn 2007. I am meeting Johann to check out a new sports centre we'll be starting a new class at. 4 years in my past I am watching Frenchmen doing something I have only seen once before in my life. Someone called Johann Vigroux is on my television screen, jumping across roofs. 18 months in my future Yo is telling me to keep going, just one more, as I make noises and faces that most other human beings should not have to endure.

Labels: Experiences

#74
Improving through non training

By Johann VIGROUX | posted on 9 July 2009 | 3 comments

Hey
everybody,

This time I would like to talk about non training. I know one we start parkour it takes place in your life, your heart, your time, everywhere !

When I started, 10 years ago, I was training every single day, right after finishing school, and I kept this rythm for years.... There was so many things to discover that I couldn't stop training even 1 day, it would have been a waste of time ! This was the "Fire" period, the incredible energy which keeps you in very good shape and makes you train all day everyday :)

After a little while, I got injured and had to reduce my training ! (it's the case for many of us !). When I got back in shape, as I achevied a lot of things about performance, my goal was to enjoy my practising but also being safe, healthy, I didn't want to feel injured anymore ...

So I started thinking about my training and how to be smart (can be hard !). And finally, with time I understood that I didn't need to train all day like a furious man ! I could do regular average physical trainings to stay fit but for the techniques I improved a lot by not practising. The movement became clearer, my touch became better, my vision became more calm and I got more confidence in what I do....

The thing that I learnt is that I improved more this past 2 years than during my first years of practising. I call it experience. This is not something you can rush, it comes with time and no matter if you training everyday or not, your experience improves by itself.

I feel very grateful for the experience I have now, and I believe that training everyday, all day is not the only solution to become better, I had to train a lot with my mind only, which can me done anywhere, at any time....

Here are my monthly thoughts !

Peace,

Johann

Labels: Experiences, Injuries, Psychology

#73
Remembering 7th July 2005

By Kiell | posted on 7 July 2009 | 2 comments

(Originally posted on metafilter on 7.7.05.)

I've just had quite an interesting day. Nothing compared to some, I grant you, but I hope some find this worth reading.

I heard the news (at my flat in Stepney Green, a 20 minute walk from Aldgate East) when I finally crawled out of bed this morning at about 9.30am. I had just ignored a call from one of my flatmates who is up in York and was ringing to check on my situation. Unfortunately, by the time I learnt what was going on and tried to call back, the phone networks were down.

I sat on irc (ircnet, #london) with the radio next to me and kept track of everything that was going on, periodically trying to check on my flatmates, one of whom was due to take a train from Kings Cross this morning. I finally got through to them both at around midday. (I hate watching breaking news on television - it's a frustrating experience and you can learn a lot more a lot quicker online.)

Shortly after noon I received a text message from a friend who had arrived in London from Birmingham this morning for a job interview. She doesn't know the city at all and sent me a slightly worrying message that simply read "I'm somewhere in central London and really scared. call me as soon as you can." Of course, with the phone networks down I then spent 20 minutes trying to call her.

Eventually I got through and managed to figure out that she was somewhere near Piccadilly and a little confused. She heard one of the blasts go off this morning and didn't have a clue what was going on.

I packed a rucksack and set off into central London on my flatmate's bike. The rain was chucking it down. I passed by Royal London hospital where ambulances were pulling up, being closely tracked by various news crews. Then on, past aldgate east and Liverpool Street, having to continually check my route and cut south to get around the road closures. The police were calm and incredibly helpful.

The roads were empty of cars. Lots of people were walking around the strangely quiet, wet streets, and occasionally a couple of police cars and bikes would fly past me, sirens blaring. The bars and cafes were pretty full with people watching the breaking news. I made my way long the river and cut north at embankment. The usually busy streets around Trafalgar Square were empty, save for the occasional emergency vehicle. The weather was improving and on tracking down the right Cafe Nero at Piccadilly, I caught up with my poor friend, Flick, who was quite relieved to see me. She couldn't get in touch with her Aunt in Greenwich with whom she is staying tonight.

The atmosphere then was a little strange. From what I saw, away from the bomb sites, things seemed to be rapidly returning to normal - en route I had seen tourists piling onto their coaches parked up on Victoria embankment. At Trafalgar Square, where we sat for lunch, people were gradually going back to doing regular weekday stuff, taking photographs, chatting, having lunch. The only difference was the lack of traffic and large numbers of people walking everywhere.

After lunch we wandered down to Charing Cross to see the situation with the trains. Hundreds of people were flooding into the station and it will take some many hours to get home tonight. Continuing east along the river, I put my friend on a ferry to Canary Wharf where hopefully she can get the DLR to Greenwich where she's staying with her family.

One of the strangest moments occurred at around 4pm when suddenly O2 (who appear to have been worst affected) returned to 100% and delivered 7 voicemail messages. Various friends and family had been calling me this morning and had been unable to get through.

The cycle ride back to Stepney Green was surreal. The traffic picked up as I approached Tower Bridge and turned into a mixture of empty and then gridlocked streets as I approached Aldgate. I assume that the police were having to hold off traffic so that emergency services could get access to wherever it was they were going. I have no idea what sort of incidents they were responding to or where they were headed, but a few convoys of emergency vehicles screamed past me in both directions along the empty streets, and squeezed through on the busy ones.

I stopped next to the cordon near Aldgate East and listened to a news reporter talking about the traffic, trying to find out some information as I hadn't heard a news report since leaving the house. He was saying that the roads were empty but traffic was starting to pick up. He was right in that the road he was stood on was empty, but two streets away, the traffic wasn't moving.

A guy handing out religious leaflets was not having much luck.

All the roads around Liverpool St and Aldgate East were cordoned off and there was no view of what was happening from where the police line started. I didn't hang around, preferring to get back and catch up with what was going on. Heading east along the A11, the traffic was being carefully controlled - emergency vehicles were still moving about and I assume that the flow had to be monitored to ensure that police and ambulances were able to move around freely.

The A11 was empty outbound (heading east) as I cycled along. The traffic was stationary in the opposite direction. I have no idea why people were trying to head towards the city centre. I passed people waiting at bus stops and told them that there was very little heading out of the city. People will be standing at bus stops for several hours. The 25 bus to Ilford is overloaded at the best of times, so unless people start walking, I don't know how some of them will get home.

I passed the Royal Hospital again. A few ambulances were pulling up as I passed, and a few news crews were still there. I assume they continued to film those being carried off ambulances.

It's amazing how calm the city was and how quickly it seemed to be getting back to normal - bar the huge number of pedestrians. I've never seen so many people walking across Waterloo Bridge, even during rush hour.

In all likelihood, I will be having beers in the west end tomorrow evening and I will be down at London's South Bank on Sunday, training just like last week. There's no point living in fear or changing what you do. Be vigilant, yes, but don't let the terrorists affect how you live.

Of course I'm no expert on security operations or emergency responses, but the impression that I got from the police was that (as much as they could be) things were under control and there was no cause for alarm. I've heard people praising them for their work today and I would like to express my thanks also.

Labels: Experiences

#67
A Training Session in Lisses

By Chris 'Blane' Rowat | posted on 21 June 2009 | 4 comments

Photo by Brian Appiah Obeng 2009

I was fortunate enough to spend yet another few days in Lisses with some of the guys from the team last week and as you might expect from a trip to one of the birthplaces of Parkour.. it was awesome! I'll leave the majority of the details to some other happy blogger though, I just want to talk about one of the training sessions I had.

It was late afternoon and very wet outside but having been blessed with excellent weather thus far I wasn't too surprised when it stopped raining and brightened up as soon as we left the hotel.

After realising it was the last full day and knowing we planned on taking a trip to an 'all-you-can-eat' chinese restaurant later that day (yes Chris, you missed out!), I decided to train a bit harder today.

I started with a 20 minute run and found a series of long staircases for some sprint training, which consisted of sprinting up a flight of stairs, jogging down the other side and running to the next set of stairs, which were to be found every 40 metres or so. After 20 sprints or so I was feeling good and felt it was time to work my legs with bodyweight squats.

It has been a few weeks since I'd done a large number of squats without rest and I didn't want to totally destroy myself so I settled for 500 repetitions and began the process. Looking out over the lake to the dame and the trees beyond I found it was a much more peaceful experience than the days spent at Vauxhall doing the same drills. I finished 20 minutes later and ran back in to central Lisses to try and find the guys.

Having decided today was going to consist of more endurance based work I decided I'd now complete 10 lengths of quadrupedie along a 25 metre stretch in front of the lake, 5 forwards, 5 backwards. But when I reached 6 or 7 I realised 10 wouldn't be much of a challenge so wanted to double it and do 20.

Getting to 20 took a bit of time and in the humid and hot air I was dripping from the training so far, but I found myself to be really enjoying it and wanted to continue.. 25 should suffice!

Upon reaching 25 lengths I found myself heading for the 26th and listening to my body to see how it was coping with more quadrupedie than I think I've ever done in one go. I felt tired, a bit sore and very hot but generally I was fine.. could I do the same again? Could I make 50 lengths?

The lengths between 30 and 40 seemed to be the worst. The muscles stopped hurting though and there was just a dull ache in my wrists from the constant pressure from the past hour. Somehow the last 10 never seem so bad when the finish line is in sight!

I reached the 49th length and decided as is usually the case to do one extra after this for all my friends and family, and for those who couldn't be with us in Lisses.. but wait! I'm not completely exhausted yet, maybe I could do a few more? The 50th length was hard but I could do a few more, I was sure.

So I did another one for Brian who had given me some support throughout the ordeal by willing me on and joining me for a portion of the crawling. Then one for Alli who couldn't be there for the last couple of days.. then one for Dom and one for James who I'd listened to teaching themselves French by my side for the past hour and a half.. and finally one for Shirley, who deserves an honourable mention for planning most of the trip and putting up with us for five days!

56 lengths of 25 metres = 1400m of quadrupedie, so a few short lengths short of a mile.. which I guess is my next goal! I felt like I could have continued for a lot longer but would have been tempting potential wrist problems, I figured stopping there and coming back another day was the best course of action.

On reflection the one thing that surprised me the most was how the body went through a phase of feeling the pain then finally realised it was useless trying to get me to stop and just settled in for the ride..

Mind truly does rule over matter.

Labels: Challenges, Experiences

#66
Everyday Life.

By Andy | posted on 18 June 2009 | 3 comments

It's funny, only five years ago you could probably count the number of times parkour was used in the mainstream media on one hand. There was the famous "Rush Hour" BBC Ident featuring David Belle that inspired so many people and obviously District 13 (or Banlieue 13 for our French counterparts) had come out in 2004 that not only inspired practitioners but gave many media industries a new perspective in what was possible with the human body. Lets also not forget the seminal 2001 movie 'Yamakasi' by Luc Besson which is arguably the spark that ignited the entire movement.

Flash-forward today and I literally cannot go through a single day without seeing something directly or indirectly influenced by parkour. Ok, I'll admit that yes, my life is about the discipline and I guess that any practitioner would also agree that their eye is trained to notice these things more, but I'm just talking about what you pass in the street, read in the newspaper or see on the TV or games consoles. The really interesting part is that it has no signs of slowing down and has now become more accepted within society than ever before.

Just have a read of Dom's post (Number #64) and notice that all of the responses that are quoted gave the impression that the speaker had some form of familiarity with what he was doing. There is a lot less "What on earth is he doing?" anymore, or "Does anyone know whats going on here?"... It's more of the "Oh, that's that jumping thing isn't it... I can do that... :)"
This all suggests that the populace are becoming more comfortable with what they see us doing, some might still not like it, but the important thing is that it is more recognisable than ever.

I could be wrong, but I'd wager that recently one of the biggest welcoming industries of parkour would have to go to computer games developers. Through their products I think that parkour has reached millions of children and adults alike. Initially in a diluted and subtle form, but now a more direct representation of parkour (albiet usually over-exagerated). You can look at the early Tomb-Raider games to see the first generations of this. Today, there are too many games to count... Assassins Creed, Mirrors Edge, Prototype, Splinter Cell, etc... And the future has even more on the way. (Splinter Cell Conviction, Assassins Creed 2, Beyond Good and Evil 2, etc.)

As for movies and the silver screen I'm sure many of you get excited, like I do, when you see parkour moves integrated into chase scenes or the usual infiltration clips. Hollywood and the media are becoming more and more comfortable with using professional practitioners to supplement their action sequences to the point that most viewers take it as normal practice now.

For a community I think it is good news that so many people are getting to see and experience parkour on one level or another, but we need to make sure that the correct spirit and ethos is also delivered to the general public. Its the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the message of safety and training hard in the right manner is the only way that these professionals are able to do what they see.

I feel that now, more than ever, every traceur and traceuse, as an ambassador of parkour, needs to be extra vigilant with ensuring the understanding of being respectful to others, your environment and yourself is an absolute priority for our community.

As for the future, who knows? I think it's fair to say that Parkour is here to stay and I for one am excited to see what the future holds.

Labels: Experiences

#58
Connections: Coaching Parkour

By Dan | posted on 1 June 2009 | 5 comments

We teach. Lots. As Parkour Generations we run several classes every single day of the week, all year long, both in the UK and internationally � recently we have held seminars in Spain, Italy, Portugal, USA, France, with more coming up in Denmark, France, Italy again, and requests for the same in Turkey, Kazakhstan, Chile� the list goes on. The coaching we do ranges from private one-to-one tuition to the regular London Parkour Academy classes to weekly sessions for schools in the UK to corporate workshops and special event seminars. It�s non-stop.

And it�s a huge responsibility. I have taught in several different fields for over 15 years now, from lecturing at universities to martial arts instruction, but this is a vehicle by which to reach people like nothing I have ever seen � crossing all boundaries, be they of culture, creed, age, ethnicity, class, etc� parkour has no political agenda, and is a transformative practice truly open to all. And every one of the Parkour Generations instructors I work with brings something special and unique to the passing on of the art, over and above being excellent, dedicated teachers themselves.

So why teach? We are all happy to practice for ourselves for the rest of our lives, even were we the only ones on the planet doing it. Is it to pass on specific training methods, or see people become fitter and stronger, or to fight the cotton-wool culture much of the western world finds itself ensnared by? Or for social reasons such as combating obesity and ill-discipline?

Probably not. Although those are great by-products of learning this powerful art, I would hazard a guess that they are not the main motivator for people who wish to pass on parkour.

No, for me it is about connections. Anyone who has ever taught seriously in any field will know that the most rewarding part by far is the connection formed between you and those you share your knowledge and experience with: the joy of seeing someone benefit from something that has brought so much to your own life; the reward of watching sparks of understanding become a blazing fire within another; the bonds and friendships that arise from it all.

Life is always connection of course: nothing exists in a vacuum. We all of us are connected to everything and everyone else on all sorts of levels, physically, fundamentally, psychologically� truly no man or woman is an island. Teaching mirrors this truth � for it is far more than just a process of conveying raw information or data from one body to another: machines may communicate in that fashion, but humans are far removed from such mechanistic approaches. Were we not, all learning could be done via books or from simple audio instructions, yet it is clear that there is no substitute for live, personal contact time with a teacher.

Most sports instruction is done through modelling � which is simply watching someone skilled perform an action, and then attempting to perform the same. In fact, many studies have shown that modelling alone, with no verbal instruction, is an incredibly powerful teaching tool. Too often we attempt to think through things we are trying to learn, when the best way can be to get out of our own way and let our body instinctively carry out the task. But it still needs that model, and the better the model, the better the knowledge that is conveyed. To attempt to teach a physical practice without being able to demonstrate that practice competently would not only be lacking in all credibility, but would also likely be met with little success. Further, as no two people move exactly alike, every instance of modelling is unique to the particular individuals involved. Slight nuances in technique, posture, stride and so on that are specific to that one instructor will be taken in by the viewing student and either assimilated or used as a reference for their own attempts. Again, the individual connection at even this basic visual level is all important.

The connections we form are, of course, far more than merely the transmission of raw information from one person to another. That information does not exist independent of either the one doing the transmitting or the one receiving it; our knowledge is always coloured by our own experience, our own perspective, flavoured by the subjective nature of all things. Indeed, what is transmitted is affected by both sender and receiver each time it is transmitted, making every �teaching� connection a two-way phenomenon and truly unique in and of itself.

I would suggest that it is that which makes coaching such a compelling and enjoyable experience for those of us who are drawn to it. Not just the meeting and interacting with so many individuals around a subject we are passionate about, but the quite unique and unpredictable nature of each of those connections. That is certainly what draws me back to it, time and again, and what I hope will be discovered afresh by every new generation of guide and practitioner of the discipline.

Labels: Behind the Scenes, Experiences

#55
...

By Yao | posted on 24 May 2009 | 2 comments

Ezanville
� Cergy

Courir autours du p�t� de maison a pleine vitesse ; courir le plus longtemps possible ; marcher sur une barri�re ; marcher en hauteur ; parler anglais ; parler pour ne rien dire ; faire des squats ; faire des pompes
Donner des coups de pieds ; bloquer avec les mains ; renforcer les abdos ; se faire mal au dos ; frapper a la t�te ; casser les couilles ; se ronger les ongles
Dormir ; se r�veiller ; se reposer ; se fatiguer

Chercher ; trouver ; rechercher ; retrouver ; chercher � nouveau
Perdre ; perdre ; perdre ; gagner

S�entrainer ; s�am�liorer ; gagner ; prendre du poids ; perdre du poids
Entrainement ; comp�tition ; victoire ; photos ; m�dailles ; haribo ; groupe
Entrainement ; comp�tition ; victoire ; photos ; m�dailles ; haribo ; groupe
Entrainement ; comp�tition ; victoire ; photos ; m�dailles ; haribo ; groupe
Entrainement ; comp�tition ; victoire ; photos ; m�dailles ; haribo ; groupe
�a devient habituel

Champion de France ; champion de France universitaire ; quart de finale de championnat d�ile de France ; champion du val d�Oise ; 80 kilos ; -78 kilos ; jamais -72 kilos ; petit ; gros ; noir ; grosse cuisses ; championnat de France N2 � Lyon

Kilburn

Grange park ; football ; basket-ball ; barbecue ; taekwondo ; housemates ; Australian ; south Africa , Lebanon ; Scottland ; Brazil ; training

Party ; party ; Volvic ; Badoit ; no money!!!! ; Gordon Ramsey ; shit ; restaurant ; shit ; no money!!!! ; Absolutely spotless ; no money!!!! ; more money ; butler ; more housemates ; more restaurant ; cheyne walk ; money!!!! ; the temptations ; songs ; CDs; predator-Yao ; music prod ; gig in France ; Laila ; spoon ; Joel ;

SON DE BATARD ; NOS STYLES ? ; Fanfan, Doums, Jeap, Jacky, Yao

London ; sport ; expensive ; restaurant ; emile�s mother ; emile ; parkour !

Dan & Forrest ; �

Labels: Experiences

#47
Meditation and thought processes

By alli | posted on 11 May 2009 | 8 comments

The sun cowers behind an ominous cloud, the wind carries an icy chill, and the sky starts to weep cold rain, but I am on fire! My muscles are tight, they are awaiting further demands. I�m breathing consistently, inhaling through my nose and exhaling from my mouth. I can feel my heart start to accelerate; it fuels an adrenaline that courses through every part of my body. I wipe the fear from my face, look down and realise it was just sweat. Leaving my physical processes alone for a minute, I notice, that the longer such a quandary goes on for, gradually the closer my destination seems to the wall I�m standing on. I have jumped a few times and fallen short on purpose, I don�t know why.

But now I must break these habits. I have decided, I�ve sworn to overcome this obstacle. I am no longer uncertain, there is no if or maybe, only yes or no, do or do not! Once I have this in mind, I cannot be disloyal to myself, there is no turning back. �I must do this perfectly, I can do this�. I�ve repeated this several times to myself, but it�s just psychological. So, I stop. Everything stops. Slowly I am overcome by a sinking feeling. All the sounds start to fade, as if I were under water, my eyes are obscure to all but my destination, My heart starts to slow to a normal pace, I can feel my body jar forwards to a 45c angle, I�ve released a loud exhalation, my arms rush upwards and toward my target, my knees spring into action, I am airborne in just a fraction in time, but everything seems to be in slow motion, I haven�t taken my eyes off the mark. As I am directly above it, I begin my descent, the balls of my feet pound into the wall first, they absorb all the impact, lastly my arms come down and I place my hands onto their landing spot and contract violently. I pause for a moment, I have an overwhelming sense of euphoria, my heart quickly accelerates again, my breathing is heavy, my body is numb. It was perfect.

Then as my surroundings start to vanish, I slowly open my eyes and wait for everything to reset. I am still lying in the same place, I can hear the pebbles patter on the concrete next to me, and the sound of a distant mumble, the bystanders think I�m dead. Light from the sun starts to break through the dark cloud, and casts a halo onto the surfaces. A new lease of life consumes me. I stand onto my feet and dust myself off.

�I�m ready. Now I have to do it for real!� .

Labels: Challenges, Experiences

#08
Good people and good incentives!

By Tracey | posted on 27 July 2008 | 6 comments

I've been prettybusy this last week, and on the first chance I've had to post a blog, I wanted to share the events and thoughts of my slightly odd day... Five years ago, I could hardly jog 200m without collapsing in a useless, wheezing heap! These days my fitness, stamina and my asthma have all seen massive improvements and one of the benefits of this was hammered home today.

Chilling in my quiet local park in the sunshine, with tunes in my ears, absorbed, I didn't see the guy stealth up behind me. As he grabbed my bag I heard him smugly whisper "See ya later.." The nerve! He could probably have picked an easier target. I was up and a

fter him like a shot, shouting at him, attracting attention, and carrying a bottle of Evian which I proceeded to throw at him as he was crossing the dual carriageway next to my park..! The pursuit continued at full sprint long enough for me to realise that I would not have been capable of it even three years ago. When the fiend dropped the bag and ran off, I was almost surprised to realise I could've run much further at that speed. I was though, probably much more surprised to turn back and see a guy with a guitar and a guy in Speedo's had also joined my pursuit of the bag thief! I can only imagine how it would have looked to passers-by; a furious girl in bare feet and bikini, throwing things and closely followed by my two friends!

I was very thankful to get my stuff back, and I want to express my thanks, again, to the two lovely guys that ran to help without a second thought. The moral of this story? Your training will serve you well, and there are good people everywhere - even when you don't see them...

Labels: Experiences