The Parkour Magazine

[Dan]

So guys, as you may or may not know - we are soon to be releasing an IN PRINT magazine purely for parkour. This magazine will be deliverable anywhere in the world, and our aim is to make it a voice for the global community.

This means we need YOU to contribute - each issue will include readers' photos, submitted articles and thought-pieces, features on great training locations, reviews of events, interviews with practitioners of all levels from founders to those just starting out... in fact, it can include whatever you, the community, want to see and put in it!

To that end, what would YOU like to see in the magazine?

[Eppu]

So does this mean we are gonna get this magazine even here at Finland?

[Rayuko]

Awesome.
It'd be nice to see some parkour trainee insights and experiences. Thoughts of people who are new to the urban sport and thoughts of those who are progressing through it.

[Dan]

Eppu, it means the magazine can be ordered from anywhere in the world yes - if you go to our homepage now you will see a button to click for worldwide orders for the February issue of SPIKED, which has a 25 page feature on parkour. Even Finland

[KriegerPiloto]

greetings 4rm Karachi -Censored-.......
very few ppl know about parkour here in -Censored-
its great to have a parkour magzine
as we dont have any parkour gyms here so i want to c some related articles consisting of how to DO IT without any rugs n matress

[TheHulkGuy]

It would be good if you had a section about training areas which aren't really known about. You could also have like a page with a list of jams and gatherings over the month or so and people could add to it on here. Might also be good if you had advice in there for how practitioners could work with there local comunities instead of them looking at us like some asbo kids or something. And it wouldn't be a parkour mag without a section on shoe reviews

[Eppu]

Wow, cool even in Finland, I'm gonna pre order it for sure.
I'd like to see some shoe rewievs and info about Jams all over the globe.
And like someone alredy said it would be cool if there would be some kind of training section so people unfamiliar with parkour could learn some easy stuff and get involved in parkour

[Dan]

Thanks guys, this is exactly what we want to hear. Keep it coming!

[BradMoss]

I would like to see nothing in a magazine.

I would like information to be distributed for free such as the internet is currently doing.

I know the internet is not always accurate but good information is out and will be out on it's way continually.

Interesting to see that Blane now practices "free running" according to the 'getspiked' sites' profile...

Using means other than that of 'for Parkour and using Parkour', I feel conveys a warped image of what the practice is about. We need to be doing everything ethically and morally right in relation to Parkour and it's practice to be the good example of the Parkour Way.

There's little but more misconception about Parkour through buying the book, the dvd, the t shirt, the magazine, the shoes, the training classes. When did Parkour become synonymous with money? Should it be? What happened to the love of the practice?

We must understand that the way things are in the world aren't right and that Parkour is a vital tool we can use to combat these obstacles, not fitting it in with the ideals of the world but changing the world through what we do.

I fear many are losing an important aspect of the practice, for self and others for the love, and for the knowledge that Parkour is right.

[Dutchtraceur]

Well, I'm excited about the magazine coming up.
The main thing is proper information about starting and the philosophy behind it.

I think you NEED to tell people that Parkour and FreeRunning started out as the same disciplines, because a people think that the two are barely connected or be like "Ew, you do flips, you nasty freerunner".

Of course, interviews, some stuff on weight training...and I bet alot of people are interested in a detailed piece where the famous guys now like you, Stephane, Blane, Belle and all of Generations started out with training and what their difficulties were and maybe still are. People might get it then that you guys are human too, it is possible to reach your level. Everyone has to start somewhere! That's it for now:)

[TheHulkGuy]

I think you should also have a section about how brad always puts a downer on things and only sees the negative side

[BradMoss]

I think you should also have a section about how brad always puts a downer on things and only sees the negative side

In finding the obstacles and issues we can develop ourselves and progress, creating more effective solutions.

[TheHulkGuy]

True but you have to admit that there can be a lot of pros to having a magazine about parkour it's not just all cons

[Kev]

Normally I agree with Brad, but this time I don't.

The only thing I would like to see in the magazine, probably won't happen. It's the things that people can't, or at least don't post...hard hitting journalistic pieces on stuff like the social issues of Parkour, how the diverse and rapid growth has contributed to diluting original messages, investigative pieces on certain companies (Parkour performance ones, shoe manufacture or any Parkour Product manufactures) etc. Those kinds of things I'd love to see, and even help out with.

The reason I'd like to see those things, is because it would create certain revelations, challenge certain trains of thought and provide a more indepth view into the Parkour sub-culture. Those things, along with Parkour scientific studies I would love to see in a magazine.

Some things I'd prefer kept on the net, but at the same time can't see the harm in their inclusion.

[Dan]

Kev, that is precisely the sort of thing we want to see in there and will put in there. As I say, we want this to be the voice for the global community - we aren't doing it to pander to what a nice glossy magazine 'should be' or 'should look like', we are doing it because we want to be able to communicate the actual values/views/thoughts/desires of the parkour community (from top to bottom, founders to beginners) in a publication that is generated and managed by that community rather than the usual agenda-led journalists we deal with.

And the internet resources are available already, yes - and should be. But being in print and on shelves can help reach a whole other audience, helping to re-educate that audience as to what the discipline is - especially needed after all the misinformation resulting from 'championships' etc.

We've thought about it for a long time, and we now have both the vehicle and the resources to make it a reality. Kev, if you want to see that stuff in there, I don't think you will be disappointed. And if you want to provide such content, don't be shy..

[Hsad]

I would like to see a comprehensive stretching guide, because I have been using running stretches which completely ignore the upper body, and when I went to Primal Fitness I promised to remember the stretching routine, but, alas I forgot it. Hopefully it would include static, dynamic, and isometric stretches.

Also a short section on filming would be great to help people on their movies.

I would be happy to help with either of these because I have Photoshop. (especially the stretching guide)

Dash K

[Dan]

Thanks Dash. Good suggestions. Julie Angel, Kiell and Mike Christie will all be contributing to the mag, so there will be plenty of video and photographic know-how flowing through it...

[Hsad]

I think I'll give a shot at writing an essay about living in an area with few training areas, and no city's nearby, and see if it's up to snuff for the magazine.

[Sam]

The Global Community bit sounds like a really good idea to me.

It'd be cool to have a section on the basis of Parkour e.g. conditioning, safe ways of training, knowing your physical capabilites; difference between your fear and what you're physically not ready to do etc. Mainly for new comers to the sport so they know it's not all bish bash bosh and to begin into their new sport safely and head into a good progression with confidence.

Also another idea that may appeal to both new comers and practionars; knowing how to train. e.g. your training goals & how to acheive them with certain exercises, dealing with your fear (what may help clear the fog in your mind), parkour games etc.

And of course the original; knowing why you're training. Maybe help some people see why they are going out on cold nights, in the rain etc. to train; their intentions, passions etc. This may help some people hit a sudden realization and feel more assured and confident in their training.

I know it's just a magazine and not some high educational 'how to do' book but I'm guessing the chances of someone who doesn't practice Parkour ending up reading it and becoming appealed to this 'Parkour' thing would be in need of a good idea on how to begin safely and know the ways of training and progression etc.

Hope this helps!

Sam

[LuizMartinez]

Sounds good guys...

considering sending up pictures and articles, but I'd like to know what's needed, simple .doc or .txt for the text I suppose... and what about pictures size?

I travel a lot and enough to have tons of good quality pictures and some nice parkour tales that may fit in a sports mag

About Brad's post:
I agree that the good information must be free and will continue to be free, maybe an online version can be an option for this.
But as a global community, having a pressed media is a way to show people that we are serious about our discipline. And having image and ideas pressed is a really strong way to make a point with ruling authorities, also for the designers and photo and writing and everyone involved, having something in a pressed mag is considered published material and can help a lot in the resume of new artists/writers/athletes... and there will be always the option of standing away from it and doing your own business...

And you know... there is another mag from other group coming soon, so... one can even choose which one to help or to rant about... I'd like to see some of your own articles printed, along with some nice pictures... Hell, I would even pay for that!

Cheers from Brasil!