Kids' Classes Rock in Seattle.

Trey is 6. He bounces eagerly on the balls of his feet, waiting for
his turn to try the ground level precision jump. His sisters are 9
and 11 years old, polite and graceful, they patiently teach a new
student how to land quietly like a ninja. God, I love the kids'
classes.

We start the technical portion of class by running in a direction I
choose, balancing on the curbs and giggling when I jokingly reprimand
loud footsteps. Moving from there, I lead them through a slalom,
ducking and weaving through a line of pillars under a freeway
overpass. My older student, Amelie, takes the rear and helps me keep
an eye on the younger ones. One day, she plans to enter our
apprentice instructor program.

Ever moving, we tack off of trees and light posts.
When we pass a set of railings I call to the students,
"What would you do there?!" A chorus answers, all at once;
"I'd kong that, then underbar!"
"Oooh, Oooh! Gate vault, one step, safety vault!"
"Show me." I say, and they do.



We run the whole class, hitting all of the obstacles we see in a
one-stop scenario. The kids learn how to adapt to an ever changing
environment, think on the run, put plans immediately into action, and
be creative. They eat this stuff up, and beg for more. I don't know
many adults with that kind of athletic stamina.

Our shouted conversations about foot placement, parkour history, and
leave-no-trace are enthusiastic and in rhythm to the sound of little
lungs working hard. After a while, Trey and another little girl get too tired to run. Butthey make great weight vests for Amelie and I as we sling them onto
our backs and keep running. Trey squeals in my ear when I safety
vault with him, clinging on like a spider monkey. It's surprisingly
hard work to be a backpack, and I know they're still getting a work
out.

All too soon, it's time to head back to the gym and stretch out. Even
after I wrap up class and grab my hugs and high fives kids are
clinging to poles outside, trying to hold themselves in flags.

There is no doubt these kids will achieve great things.