The Emergency Mindset
All too often do I come across a traceur with an all too familiar mindset. This mindset causes a number of misconceptions in terms of how to train in Parkour, and how to prepare your body for the future. I seem to encounter that a lot of people consider Parkour as preparation for an emergency. You know, a german shepherd chasing us, having to escape someone by jumping from rooftop to rooftop, etc. But the fact is, while Parkour can indeed is a useful skill for surviving emergencies, we need to look at a bigger picture, and understand the best methods for preparing for that one-in-a-hundred situation.
I was shown a conversation, recently, where a traceur explained his training method. He chose not to warm up or stretch, but rather treat his workouts like a surprise, not giving the body or the mind a fighting chance. After all, is that not how we'd be in an emergency? When that dog is chasing us on the roof, we can't be like, "Hey, Dog, one second. I need to stretch out my hamstrings, here!" His goal was to make training as realistic as possible, to prepare for that emergency. At first thought, this makes sense. When we do get caught in that emergency, we won't have time to stretch or warm up! So shouldn't we be preparing our bodies to deal with that situation?
Another hot topic along this mindset is the big drops discussion. Many people in the community find it acceptable to practice drops from large heights. Their reasoning is that should they ever have to perform a big drop in a real life situation, they want to know how their body will react. They want to see how their mind works in that situation. After all, if we never try that drop, how will we know if our legs are going to break or not? We need to know whats going to happen so we are prepared for that emergency. That's the argument. Seeing a pattern yet?
All these thoughts rotate around the concept that Parkour is about preparing for an emergency situation. But is this really the case? Do we really train for when that monkey steals our bracelet and we need to chase him through the forest? How about when a man is chasing us with a knife in a city? How about when zombies attack? When a building is about to blow up? When you need to pull a lady off the train tracks? To catch your runaway chiwawa?
The fact is, we can never really prepare for a specific emergency. Why? Because we don't know what's going to happen. Whats the point in hurting our body by training drops if the only emergency you ever get into is ground level? What's the point in training endlessly on walls and rails to overcome obstacles, and the only place we have to run away is an empty parking lot? Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. Preparing for a specific situation is nearly impossible, if we don't know what will happen. The only way to prepare ourselves is to make ourselves as broadly able as possible.
And that is how Parkour training prepares us for emergencies. Through intensive training, our legs become stronger so we can run, jump, and land more effectively. Our core has more strength. Our upper bodies become toned we can support our weight with more ease. Our cardiovascular system becomes more efficient to help us last longer in any situation. Our minds become relaxed and fearless, so that we can think clearly in any situation. Our morals become more distinct, as we give value to things like hard work, dedication, responsibility, and discipline. These are the tools we use in our lives. Not only in emergencies, but in every day life to help us make it through our challenges, big and small.
So if your reason for Parkour is to prepare for an emergency, that's fine! But think broadly. If you want to be ready for any emergency, the best training method is a safe one. You want your body to be as healthy as possible so it can adapt effectively to the situation. A sprained ankle or a painful knee does not do well in any situation. If you want to be ready for emergencies, train smart. Stretch before and after your workouts. Always warm up, always condition, always listen to your body. Be kind to your body. Keep it safe. In return, your body will keep you safe. Our body is an amazing machine. Like a car, we need to take perfect care of it so that when we truly need its power, it is ready for us, ready to serve our needs.
Be responsible with your body. You will have it for all of your life. Make it a strong tool. Like bamboo, give it strength, but flexibility. Like water, give it flow, but power. Know your anatomy, know your limits, stay on top of your health, and that's the very best you can do to prepare for any emergency.
-Adam McC
Lehigh Valley Parkour
