Topic: Split-Step Kong vs. Double Punch Kong

[Jake Chess]

In recent critique of my video I was told that my kongs were good except for one thing; the foot 'take-off'.

Normally I would run and 'Punch' my feet off of the ground into a kong however, various people told me to take off with Split-Stepping.
I have been practicing a lot on this method and I can do the Split-Step almost reflexive. I am not arguing with the effectiveness or the advice of those who critiqued me but, I don't see a difference in the end-distance.
I don't believe I have been doing it wrong either.

One question I have regarding the 'Split-Step' is why is it better than the 'Double Punch'?

Edit:
Can someone also tell me the difference between a Kong and a Monkey Vault?
Is it that with a monkey you place your hands on the obstacle first and then jump, whereas the Kong you leap into the obstacle first then plant hands?

[Dan Frank]

Some people may say there's no difference between a monkey and a kong, but in general usage, monkey tends to mean a simple monkey vault, and kong tends to mean a monkey vault in which you dive. The movements are slightly different.
The split-foot take off is faster because it allows to you to keep your stride before taking off. You waste no time or energy in taking a long step, bringing your feet together, and then punching the ground. Punching (also called blocking/reverse blocking depending on the angle) results in a decrease in horizontal momentum, and an increase in vertical momentum. This is what you don't want if you want to get over an obstacle at maximal speed. If the obstacle is high enough that you have to block, then there's really no difference between one foot and two feet, but if it's not very high, then split foot is unequivocally faster. I've never seen someone with any expertise do a two-footed take off faster than a split-footed take off, and I myself am able to do a split foot much faster.

[Clint Walker]

Edit:
Can someone also tell me the difference between a Kong and a Monkey Vault?

An easy way to tell the difference is on a Kong, your feet stay behind you. In a Monkey vault, you're feet pass underneath you, between your arms.

[Dan Frank]

An easy way to tell the difference is on a Kong, your feet stay behind you. In a Monkey vault, you're feet pass underneath you, between your arms.

No, they don't. The only vault in which your legs pass through your arms in the middle of the vault is the kash vault. Your legs are the same in kong and monkey vaults.

[Scared Doggy]

Have you ever done a perfect split step over a rail? Huge difference in fluidity and speed in which you can get over them. I do think that doing a two foot punch over a longer object(like 6 feet or so) is fine because you can still get alot of post kong distance, yet the split foot will allow you to keep your momentum thus resulting in you getting over the object faster. But if you're konging over an average height and length object the split foot is much more useful because you lose little momentum.
So I do recommend trying to master the split foot on ever type of object except like Dan Frank said objects that are high enough so you have to punch.
Just one more thing, you said you didn't see much of a difference betwen the punch and split, but seriously try the split foot on rails. Rails are the objects that show you the biggest difference in fluidity between those two techniques. I hope this helped clarify things a little seeing as how I was the one who critiqued you in the first place.

[Jake Chess]

Ok, that makes sense. I will keep trying the Split-Step maybe I just haven't gotten it down yet. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

[ZacharyCohn]

I started doing only punch, and I didn't get splitfoot at all. Now, after a few years of doing splitfoot.. I use them all the time!  It's mostly a "it takes time to get used to it" thing.

The way I explain a lot of complex flow work is that parkour is all about keeping your stride. When you walk, you always step with the left, then the right, then the left, then the right. Never left, right, right, left, right, left, left. So when you're doing flow work (as a rule of thumb), always try to keep that alternating foot mindset. When doing a kong, you want to step into it to keep that flowy feeling, but what most people don't talk about is you also want to step out of it!

If you land with two feet, that's not a stride either. If you land one foot, then the other foot an instant later a step ahead, then you're already in that "running forward" position.

[matcauthon12]

+1 Zack. Split-foot takeoff also helps a lot with the distance you can get after the vault. Once you get comfortable with the split foot takeoff I can almost guarentee you'll see an improvement in your kong-precision and kong to cat hang distance.

[Jake Chess]

Right. So, for an hour I did nothing but Split-Step Kongs. I see the difference now.
There is more training I have to do with it but, for the most part I am getting more distance.

Thank you everyone for advice.

[Rowe]

It seems I'm a little late to the party, but split-stepping is also great for doing a kong directly after another vault. You fly over one obstacle, your feet come down for a quick tap-tap, and your already airborne over a second obstacle.

[Casey Boatwright]

An easy way to tell the difference is on a Kong, your feet stay behind you. In a Monkey vault, you're feet pass underneath you, between your arms.

no, definatly not,   they are fundamentally the same except for take off,        monkey hands on the obstacle while feet are on the ground   kong feet off the ground then hands touch,   both has the same final executions.

[Grayson]

Another thing also, split foot is alot easier on he joints, I separated my knee doing a punch kong over a high object.

[Rowe]

Hmm... never tried a monkey with feet and hands making simultaneous contact. I might have to try that tonight. Seems to me that it would suck up your momentum.

[SomaPK]

i just tried split take off yesterday and it's frightening how far i can go

[Dan Frank]

no, definatly not,   they are fundamentally the same except for take off,        monkey hands on the obstacle while feet are on the ground   kong feet off the ground then hands touch,   both has the same final executions.

I agree that they're the same barring the takeoff, but I certainly wouldn't say that a monkey differs from a kong in that your hands are on the obstacle while your feet are on the ground. It's just that you don't dive. That's the only difference. The dive is the only difference between the kong and the monkey.

Hmm... never tried a monkey with feet and hands making simultaneous contact. I might have to try that tonight. Seems to me that it would suck up your momentum.

It does. You would normally only ever do it if you need to get a lot of height. Otherwise it will only slow you down.

[Jake Chess]

Another question I want to ask is about the leg position during the time in the Kong vault.
How much should I tuck my leg in? Almost hitting my chest?

[Eric Tracy]

2 things:
1: the diff uses is that split-step is a takeoff more geared towards distance and the punch off is more for height.
2: the tuck is only to travel further (as you are tighter and it is farther till you hit ground/ obstacle) and to rotate yourself back into an upwards position

[Jake Chess]

2 things:
1: the diff uses is that split-step is a takeoff more geared towards distance and the punch off is more for height.
2: the tuck is only to travel further (as you are tighter and it is farther till you hit ground/ obstacle) and to rotate yourself back into an upwards position

1.I am aware of this.
2. Thanks for the help.

[mospunk]

One detail to consider is landing.  If you're konging over something to a surface that is below your starting point aka a drop, it's always safer and easier on the body to land on two feet, thereby distributing the load more evenly.  It does kill your stride, but puts you in a better position to roll out.  Otherwise, keep the stride by all means, because a two-foot landing from a kong is just plain awkward. 

[koala jackson]

i have read about split step but for got how it works pls explain. and i generaly just haul booty up to say a picknick table and i think i just jump off of both feet while staying in stride but like 1 foot is behinde the other, but i can esily go over maybe a 7 and a half ft table and not slow down a bit.  im also fine with the punch take offs but rarely use them.