Topic: Welcome Ladies

[Mark Toorock]

There are many women out there practicing Parkour, some just don't feel comfortable joining the forums due to the somewhat less than mature average intellect of the average PK forum member. Hopefully this will provide a bit of a safe-haven for you, as only the ladies will be allowed to post in here. If you're a girl practicing parkour, we'd love to hear from you, it lets the other girls know that it's OK 

Guys, you can read in here all you want, but please do not post unless you are specifically asked to in a certain topic. Even if you have good input, if it is unsolicited the mods will delete it without question, that's the only way to keep it fair, we won't try to judge wether what you said was helpful or useful, only if your opinion was asked for or not.

[Muse_of_Fire]

I split this thread and stickied M2's post to kind of organize the Women's forum. If anyone feels I have used my powers for evil, please let me know, and I'll change it back.

[FreeRunnerHopeful]

I'm compleatly utterly new to PK. Any ideas on where to start?

[Phytolith]

Hi Hopeful, welcome to the forums!  Glad you're starting parkour.  There are several good tutorials on the website, check out http://www.americanparkour.com/smf/index.php?topic=6974.0.  I also recommend working on rolls, and working on good jumping and landing form.  Squats and other physical training like the APK workout of the day, stuff in the "Training tips for women" thread, and in the General Fitness section are all good to check out and read.

Good luck!

[LAKonkel]

hi. I am VERY new to parkour. I have no idea where to start and how do to anything!

[Phytolith]

Hi LAKonkel,
Welcome to the forums and good for you for checking it out! There's a lot of good information here on APK that you might want to look through, including an article that will give you some advice on how to start: http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/887/417/. The other topics in the FAQs will give you a lot of good information, and the tutorials http://www.americanparkour.com/content/category/4/60/377/ include written descriptions and videos of some of the basic moves. And as always, feel free to ask questions here or on the main forums!
-Amanda

[Ashley McC]

Welcome ladies! I agree with Amanda at looking at those links she provided. Enjoy your journey and don't hesitate to ask questions because I'm sure will get wonderful answers to them.

[LAKonkel]

Thanks! they really helped. And i have another question. im really afraid to do the roll. like terrified. i looked at all the videos and all the forams, but, im still scared. HELP?

[Ashley McC]

Well I bet one of the more experienced traceuses have a better answer but what worked for me was just pushing through the fear.

[Hannah L]

Hey LAKonkel-
As far as rolls go, there are some great tutorials you can check out.
For example, this one was created by a friend of mine who also created the local community in our area.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6I1J0zmE7U&feature=PlayList&p=907429D158AE522F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=27
Sometimes you need patience, but other times you need to just push through it, like Ashley said.  You have to play with rolls, too.  Everyone's roll is different, and you have to find what works for you.
Hope that helps, at least a little

[Anne]

Hello, I'm Anne.  I'm also a newbie to parkour and currently in college.  I haven't found anyone here to train with, but I've still been working.  Mostly I focus on the fundamentals, running, jumping, climbing, balance, stealth and touch/sensitivity (as written in Dan Edwardes The Parkour and Freerunning Handbook).  I've got the roll down already since I learned something really similar to kung fu and I started a few basic vaults, but I have a problem and I think it's one other women would understand.  Since i'm by myself, I get really self concious about practicing my vaults and rolls in public.  I know no one really cares if I'm jumping a wall and rolling around, but I still can't bring myself to do those things in front of strangers, so I just try to find sucluded spots and wait until no one's around, which not only limits how much training I do, but also makes it hard for me to find places.  Anyone else have this problem?

[Hannah L]

Hi Anne! 
Welcome to the Women's section of the forums-glad to have you with us
Where are you located?  Perhaps you could find some traceurs/traceuses to train with in your area, and that could help some of your issue.
But to answer your question, I do get a little self-conscious when I train by myself.  I am fortunate enough to have a really great community at the present, but I know when I transfer schools I am going to be training solo.  I guess the best thing to do is recruit someone to train with you: roommate, friend, curious peer and see if they get any interest.  Other than that, keep training and building your confidence
Good luck!

[Anne]

Well I live in EP but I go to college in Nacogdoches.  I should be fine in El Paso, but right now I'm in Nacogdoches and I haven't found anyone.

[Phytolith]

Anne-
Welcome to APK and the women's forum! Good for you for working on the training! I also get shy when I'm on my own in public. The trick for me is to find a place where other people are also working out - jogging or skateboarding or whatever. When people see you in that context they assume you're working out and not "getting into trouble". Hope that helps!
-Amanda

[Anne]

hm, that's a good idea, I'll have to try it when it stops raining and this cold front goes away   I feel really unproductive right now though because of the weather, all I've been doing is working out in the rec center, I know it's not my fault the weather is the way it is, but it still feels like a lame excuse oh well

[Cheryl-MimiIBlonde]

Hey, um, so I don't know why I feel weird, I mean I'm a girl just talking to a bunch of other girls about this but, I've been studying Parkour for weeks now and have finally made the decision that I want to be a Free Runner..well, be involved in Parkour...wow..a different word every time...but anyways back on topic, I kinda know where to start...like on rolling and stuff...but where in the city to start. I'm not sure if in my city, they frown upon Free Running/Parkour. So it's been kind of hard for me to figure out where the best place would be.

[DioTheory]

Hey everyone!
I'm Danielle, and super new to all of this. My boyfriend (who's actually a member here also, Jeff Ferguson) dragged me out to practice with him and now I can't stop going. XD
But here's the problem. We only have men to train with, so they can't help me with any of the problems I'm having. My proportions make some of the movements a good deal more difficult.

Here's hoping you ladies have some input, or better yet, that one of you might be nearby! If any of you are in the West Tennessee area, give me a call. Like I said, I'm pretty new, but it's still fun as hell.