I was cruising the .net archives looking for old Hebertiste [Erwan Le Corre] posts
Check this out:
You must first build stronger feet :
By walking barefoot very often you will develop more flexibility and enhance your attention, peripheral vision and proprioception.
By running barefoot same as above plus better running technique, better work out of feet muscles and all related muscles, strengthening your joints too, and thickening your natural sole much more (4 times your body weight on each foot every step when running). It is more or less painful depending on the kind of ground you're running onto, and above all depending on the quality of your running technique.
Jumping barefoot can be very challenging, but to me you shouldn't start doing parkour in a urban zone before you've first build up stronger feet, which does take MONTHS.
Most kind of barefoot training is much easier in the nature, now rocky zones should be avoided in the beginning as well.
Just like anything, you should start and learn the basics, and be patient before you try more challenging moves or type of ground.
Even when you're well trained, you can get hurt bad, simply because barefoot training can be totally challenging depending on the type of ground, weather conditions and what you do. It demands gradual conditioning both physical and mental.
You also have to admit that you'll never do as well as when wearing shoes which are designed to protect your feet. On the other hand, the reward is the ability to cope with a "shoe-free" situation, and also the fantastic natural feel of running barefoot.
And yes, if you think the picture below is scary, indeed don't get mistaken and understand it definetely demands a warrior like kind of mindset if you actually want to train that way instead of only asking questions :-D
