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So...Parkour. (Read 284 times)

mab411


Proboscis Colossus

    I've been interested in parkour for awhile - just seems like a good skill to have in an emergency, being able to get from "here" to "there" as quickly as possible.

     

    Thing is, I don't really have the background that I understand most practitioners have that sort of leads into it.  No gymnastics/tumbling, no martial arts to speak of, can't even do a flip.  Plus, I'm old..  Or at least, older than most of the guys and girls I've ever seen doing it (that aren't longtime vets).  About the only thing I have going for me is the endurance thing, and perhaps slightly higher-than-average body strength.  PerhapsSlightly.

     

    So, does anyone here practice parkour, and/or have any guidance for how to get started without injuring myself?  Classes to take, and such?  Or have I pretty much missed the boat on this one as a 37-year-old?

    "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people

    zoom-zoom


    rectumdamnnearkilledem

      You're 37, you're not old...

       

      Sorry, no practical advice.  Every time I see parkour I think "hey, that looks like something I could do if I wanted to break some more bones, particularly the ones in my neck."

      Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

      remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

           ~ Sarah Kay

        We were in DC for the weekend, our hotel was in Rosslyn.  We were on the way to Georgetown, when we saw a bunch of Hipsters doing cartwheels in the park.  Turns out, it was a Parkour tournament.   I had no idea what it was.   A great group of people.  One of them just came up, and explained what it was. Maybe becuase I had a dumb look on my face. Very cool stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        My husband, ( who is 51 ) wanted to do it.  I told him to hold off, because  I didn't want to spend the weekend in the ER. :-)

         

        Parkour is the coolest thing ever. And we were lucky to see about 200 of them at once.  I would say they were mostly in their late teens or early twenties.  Awesome to see live!!!

        - Anya

        RunJasonRun


          I've been wanting to get in on this ever since I first saw the movie, Casino Royale, back in 2006.  Keep us posted on what you find!

          Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.

          jeffdonahue


            If you are in Massachusetts, there is a Parkour gym in Westwood I think - maybe do a google search and see if there is a similar one in your area.  They can probably teach you the skills in a safe controlled environment, and you wouldnt have to go straight to jumping from one building to another.

             

            http://neparkour.com/

            http://www.nesacademy.com/

            mab411


            Proboscis Colossus

              Keep us posted on what you find!

               

              No, see, "what I find" is supposed to be here!  Random internet strangers giving anecdotal advice, that's the best way to get into Parkour, I'm sure of it!

               

              Zoom-zoom - thanks for the reminder about that Holy Grail scene!  Makes me feel a lot better!  Smile  But like I say, I doubt if I do find a Parkour gym or club or something, there will be many my age.  And yeah...that is one thing I'm going to have to ready myself for, mentally, if I do start getting into Parkour, the dramatic increase in my chances of injury.  That's why I'm not necessarily aiming to get into the "chased by British Secret Service" ranks.  Just enough so that if I have to get to the other side of campus in a hurry, I have to run around as few things as possible.

               

              I'm in East Texas, and Google isn't turning up any nearby gyms.  There's one over in the Dallas area, but that would be quite a drive.  So I guess I'm looking for, like...what would be a good starting point?  Taking some gymnastics or martial arts (though I'm sure there wouldn't be many my age in a gymnastics class, either)?

              "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people


              Not dead. Yet.

                What jeffdonahue said.  Some neighbor kids go to a parkour gym and practice all kinds of stuff with the safety of mats and instruction.  Take a class and have some fun.  If you like it, keep going.

                 

                MTA:  I see you already tried to find a gym.  Seems like tumbling/gymnastics classes would be the next best thing.

                How can we know our limits if we don't test them?


                an amazing likeness

                  Just take a second at the end of your building jumping routine...when you throw your hands up in the air and stick out your front side to impress the judges....to tug down your cute little outfit, we don't need to see your ass cheeks.

                  Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.


                  Not dead. Yet.

                    Just take a second at the end of your building jumping routine...when you throw your hands up in the air and stick out your front side to impress the judges....to tug down your cute little outfit, we don't need to see your ass cheeks.

                     

                    Ouch

                    How can we know our limits if we don't test them?

                    mab411


                    Proboscis Colossus

                      Just take a second at the end of your building jumping routine...when you throw your hands up in the air and stick out your front side to impress the judges....to tug down your cute little outfit, we don't need to see your ass cheeks.

                       

                      Oh yes you do.  You just don't know it yet.

                      "God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people

                      jeffdonahue


                        Taking some gymnastics or martial arts (though I'm sure there wouldn't be many my age in a gymnastics class, either)?

                         

                        See, again, check google because there is a gymnastics place near me as well that has adult classes twice a week.  I am thinking about giving it a shot this summer because i always wanted to do that in High School but my school didnt have a gymnastics team.  So check the local gymnastics centers and see what theyoffer.

                        Jnfr Jogs


                          You're in East Texas?  Hell, save your money - just find your local auto salvage/junkyard, climb the fence after dark, and let the guard dogs get a whiff of you.  You will quickly become quite the expert at leaping up onto various makes & models of vehicles and jumping from roof to hood to trunk with the added incentive to NOT slip and fall as you make your way towards freedom.

                           

                          Even better, take some buddies and talk about it a lot while drinking lots of beer outside the junkyard. Size up which one of 'em you think would demonstrate the most entertainment value and triple-dog dare him to give it a try.  You could then observe and pick up valuable training ideas and tips, as well as make a little cash with side bets among the remaining buddies. Big grin

                           

                          Anyway, I thought the point of running in a race was to be able to "get from here to there as quickly as possible."

                          AmoresPerros


                          Options,Account, Forums

                            Jnfr Jogs for the win!

                            It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.

                            joescott


                              A couple of my kids seem to enjoy watching parcour failures on YouTube.  You might want to avoid starring in one of those videos.

                              - Joe

                              We are fragile creatures on collision with our judgment day.

                              EpicErin


                              Epic Runner

                                I've been interested in parkour for awhile - just seems like a good skill to have in an emergency, being able to get from "here" to "there" as quickly as possible.

                                 

                                Thing is, I don't really have the background that I understand most practitioners have that sort of leads into it.  No gymnastics/tumbling, no martial arts to speak of, can't even do a flip.  Plus, I'm old..  Or at least, older than most of the guys and girls I've ever seen doing it (that aren't longtime vets).  About the only thing I have going for me is the endurance thing, and perhaps slightly higher-than-average body strength.  PerhapsSlightly.

                                 

                                So, does anyone here practice parkour, and/or have any guidance for how to get started without injuring myself?  Classes to take, and such?  Or have I pretty much missed the boat on this one as a 37-year-old?

                                 

                                I've been interested in Parkour too but I'm terrified of hurting myself! If you can't find a gym nearby, I bookmarked this page a while ago which has some tutorials of certain moves, maybe this will help?: http://learnmoreparkour.com/category/parkour-moves/

                                Do Epic Runs

                                http://www.doepicruns.com/

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