Hey- im new, i want to start parkour

[alucardvred]

Hey i'm new to the whole concept of parkour, first off my name is Jordan, and my friend and I want to learn parkour. Is there any tips/ advice that you guys can give us for people who don't know anything about this sport?

[Andy Keller]

Welcome to APK! You found a good place for help getting started.

Check out our How do I get started article!

Feel free to message me or ask specific questions here if you have any.

Happy training!
~Andy

[GeorgePK]

Welcome to Parkour!

Well first things first: follow Andy. lol He knows his stuff
Figure out the philosophy behind parkour by researching it.  Check out articles on APK about why we do it.  It'll give you so much more motivation if you know the reasons behind the sport.  Personally, the thinking behind parkour is what makes the centerpiece to my daily life.

Secondly, don't jump straight into it.  Progression is key.  Start off small and work your way up.  Youtube has a lot of videos that can help you out.  If you check out the UrbanCurrent channel on Youtube, you'll see a lot of helpful videos to get your technique down.  Once you have the basic understanding of specific moves, you can turn it up a notch.

Third and most important, HAVE FUN!! One of the main points of parkour is self expression. Don't be limited by what others tell you. Only you know you and what you do and why you do.  So don't worry about what others think and enjoy it. 

Good Luck!

George:)

[alucardvred]

thanks, i looked at the article and its really helpful, but i have another question. Where can i practice? i live in a suburban area and the grass is muddy this time of year. Should i try parkour in public places(e.g library parking areas)? or somewhere where it isnt illegal, i don't want to bother the security/police.

[Huntero10]

pie

[alucardvred]

pie??

[Andy Keller]

[Pie? No idea why he wrote that...]

Anyway, yea, definitely train only where you're allowed. If you have any issues with police or security, be respectful and follow their instructions.

[Huntero10]

sorry trying out my sig

[Andy Keller]

sorry trying out my sig

Not necessary.

Your sig in every previous post is updated every time you change it.

[GeorgePK]

Like Andy says: be respectful
I've had a few instances where security would come over and ask me what I'm doing.  There was only one time where I had to leave the area.  However, most of the time, when I explain, they don't mind.  You just gotta help them to understand that what we're doing isn't intentionally harmful.  Remember, the usual reason they want you off their property is that if you do get hurt, they are liable to get sued.  Obviously don't try and break anything.  Check the obstacles you're working on.  If you see that they're flimsy or unstable, don't use it.  It'll help you stay safe as well as keep a good name for yourself and parkour.

[alucardvred]

Is there any place where there are good places to practice though? I don't know any areas that are for suburban people >.<. I can't really see the spots yet, or opportunities.

[SethH]

Benches, rails, walls, stairs, trees, ledges, poles, you name it. Once you get into Parkour for a decent while, you'll start seeing things differently, thinking as such.

*See's a bench*
"Hey, I should kong vault that!"

Your mind will see it once used to Parkour.

[GeorgePK]

Like Seth says, it's a mindset. Everytime i walk past a wall or concrete ledge, my mind starts to think of all the things i can do on that.  If you watch online videos of practitioners, you'll start to see what they use.  Take that same information and apply it to your surroundings.