"I get knocked down, but I get up again" Wouldn't get out of my head as I read that post. Great write. I suffered through the same thing. I felt like I wasn't progressing like I should, that there were no obstacles in my vicinity that I could mess around on. I worked on my rolls, but they were so terrible I had to do them on padding, on carpet. Yeah... Eventually, I kinda lost my steam. I kept reading APK, because I like the forum atmosphere, and I hoped that in time, I would be able to rise with new hope and purpose. It wasn't till National Parkour Day on June 6th that I realized something I hadn't in a long time. I really wanted to do this. I was at the local elementary school, just walking around, doing a roll or two, when I thought "Hey, the last time I tried a roll on cement, I hit my head... I wonder if I can correct that." So, in the fastest, most daring way possible, I jumped down from a 6 foot wall with glory in my heart. I landed, pushed forward, and executed the best roll I had ever done. Ever. I felt so exhilarated that I had to feel it again. So, on the barkchips of the playground, I drilled. 20. 30. 50. I did 100 rolls in that hour. I felt so tired, but so accomplished, something I hadn't felt in a long time. Before that, my grades were slowly declining, I was on my computer more and more, and I just felt horrible. But then, I felt so amazing. I went into the parking lot of the school, crouched down, and rolled. I came up, not realizing what I had just done. I hadn't felt a thing. On cement... It was euphoric.
Later that day, I was looking online, and found out that ADAPT, a local training center, was holding a parkour class. I asked both parents, and they reluctantly agreed. I went there, and a ton of people I knew from school, friends, and a ton of others were there. I was astounded by all the stuff they were doing. Dive kongs, speeds, hell, one guy was doing wall flips. After that, my eyes slowly started to open. I saw more and more oppertunities, more and more goals to set, and more and more to keep pushing for.
Thanks to parkour and that feeling of total achievement, I've started feeling so much better about myself. I'm doing great in school, I'm more confident (I can talk to women, something I couldn't do before. Lols), and just feeling like I can conquer anything.
Also, I don't work a billion hours a week. I have 4 days devoted to a little bit of parkour a week. Saturday, Then Tues/Wed/Thurs. I get like, 4-5 solid hours of training in a week.
Sorry for being a thread jacker, but every time I see a thread stating "I'm new, what do I do?" Or "I'm losing motivation", I feel compelled to post this story, but I normally only post bits and pieces. This is the first time I've told the whole story, because I'm so comfortable around everyone here, that I feel like they are the family that is always beside me, no matter what.
^_^ Thank You APK and everyone else in the World!
