pedagogies andpost modern approaches could have for the university population.  Many people just see it as another movement to exploit.  To me, what i have received from Parkour is another step in my movement quest.  It has in away made me feel more complete as a movement artist.  I don't intend tobe the best in the world I just want to be the best that I can for myself.  After dance and acrobatics Parkour kind of showed me how to slow down and really focus on training progressively, safely, and to understand why I was moving.
 
It was not easy at first.  I wanted to have the class outside and went through a ton of red tape to try and get the student health and safety department to see things my way.  Of course this didn't happen as the main concern was of course possible injury and Property damage.  Even with the leave no trace policy and reassuring that I had certain safety protocols I follow when teaching to avoid malpractice injuries the department did not know me as an individual and that played a toll on their trust in me.
 
After several talks with the group that I train with regularly we thought it would be a good idea as a way to recruit new practitioners byhaving a practice time within the gym where we could start people out with basics and conditioning.  The health and safety department agreed that this would be a better start for us and pointed me in the directionof the SRC, Student Recreation Complex at ASU.  A couple of email exchanges with the Event Planner later and I was soon to have a personalmeeting with her to talk about what we would be doing exactly in detail.
 
At first i did not think about having a class where people pay to come in. I wanted to exchange teaching time for possible gym time in the judoroom.   However, after thinking about how I could make it work the class idea seemed like a better approach.
 
To make it  a little simpler these are the steps I had to follow:
 
Make sure I knew what i was talking about
Take it slow, and build as trust builds
Your going to be a teacher now, so you have to be professional and presentable
COMMUNICATION is key,  always communicate
Be on time
Sometimes to get your way you have to go out of your way.
 
 
I think a couple of things that set me apart from others is that.
 
I have a BFA degree in education
I have a wide variety of movement background
I have what is said to be an "impressive resume" for someone my age
and I know how to talk to people.
 
This gave me some Credibility.
 
 
Because I had graduated from the University I had some backing for what Iwas about to do from my professors.  I did my capstone senior performance project on Parkour, using the movement and the ideas of viewing the world to create a video of a four person team. 
 
 
It's kind of a game you have to play if you want to do things of this nature within a University.  They will not invest in you if they think that there is more risk then gain.  that gain can be many things: student support, image of the school, health benefits, mental and psychological benefits.  
 
 
You can't be stubborn about the way it must be done,  I believe that over time and after the university sees that you know what you are doing, that you have the trust of the students and the faculty and staffthey eventually they will let you begin to venture outside so long as you follow guidelines and rules.   I know what some people are thinking though "Parkour has no rules"  We I will be honest I think that is childish and quite frankly a hard statement to make.  Because no rules in the right hands can be a great thing, but no rules in the wrong handscan be a very bad thing.  A little black and white but I think you get the picture. 
 
I am not saying you have to abandon your personal beliefs of Pakour, Free Running, or ADD.  No one will ever be able to take your beliefs away, but that is just it they are your beliefs.  When you get to a university setting you have to realize something.  That sooner or later everyone has to make up their own decision about how to act using what they have learned.  In Parkour, especially in teaching Parkour I think the same concept applies.  Your a teacher yes but your not teaching whatis wrong and what is right, you are teaching possible ways to approach asituation, right and wrong must be figured out by the individual.
 
 
In any case I am hoping that by starting these classes at the universitythey will open doors for others to do so as well.   I believe however, that those individuals need to not only be highly trained and disciplined in their art, but that they need to be a patient, well trained, open, and improvisible teacher.  Because believe me when I say this "Nothing is ever going to be the same when your a teacher"
 
Francesco