Topic: Embarrassed and Doubtful

[J Kyle Smith]

Today I found a great place to practice...but ended up not practicing. You see, I can't drive and hopping out of my moms car to go do parkour on a playground just seems embarrassing. Not to mention, I doubt my skills and feel like anybody can do what I'm doing. I have been practicing for a month now, and I feel like I've gotten nowhere. And it doesn't help that my parents laugh at me...

Advice please? And yes I know how lame this sounds.

About the embarrassment part, don't worry I've been doing parkour for about 4 or 5 months and I went through the same phase, in fact I'm just now coming out of it. You will see significant improvement when you start to focus on what you have and not what others have, and also tons of strength and conditioning. Remember parkour isn't about being better than the others, but improving what you already have.

[Cody Bolen]

Dp you have ground where you live? If yes then you have a spot for broad jumps, handstands, QM, rolls, flips, and for running!!!

As for the embaressment: This is going to sound shallow, Learn a flip or two. This might sound stupid, but to the outsider a flip looks very impressive, and they are super easy to learn. Almost anybody can learn some type of flip

If your outside I'd recomend front or side flip because if you fail you can still do a sorta dive roll out

When you go to the playground the next time train, if you feel  people are starting to look down on you do a handstand or a flip. Then continue with normal training.

My parents used to be over protective too, remind them that you have ___ years till you're going to be living on your own and you think that they are sheltering you too much from the world, and that you don't feel that they have adaquatly prepared you for the time when that day comes.
or
You could wait it out, they'll become less protective over time

[-Ash-]

Plenty.

That's an OK idea, but what happens if I land on my head? 

[wlf]

Plenty.

That's an OK idea, but what happens if I land on my head? 

well look at it this way, you probably wont know that you landed on your head till you wake up in the hospital

[jp2ykz]

Yeah, just be on your toes and ready to catch yourself. It has never as bad as you imagine it.

Regardless get some pads or couch cushions at first and watch as many tutorials as possible before hand. 

Train hard and stay safe.

[Drew H]

5v1 aren't good odds...

Jump, Spin-kick... It takes out 5 at one time 

Ya, hi, I'm sarcastic. I just make jokes and don't offer too much help...


But ya, the others have made good points, I agree with them! <---- My contribution...

[-Ash-]

Hey guys! I did much better today. I went out to one of my practice areas, and there were a lot more people than normal. I just went ahead and did my thing, no matter how bad it looked.  And...it felt great. I worked on vaults and precisions with a whole new confidence. The only problem I encountered was that  my feet still get hurt when I do a wall-run. About how many days of ankle conditioning do I need to do?

Thanks everyone. 

[Dylan Antonsen]

Almost every problem you'll run into that you call lame almost everyone here has had and doesn't think it's lame in the least. It's kinda a natural traceur thing, I honestly believe it builds good character when you get over that obstacle.

[WoodlandGhillie]

Hey guys! I did much better today. I went out to one of my practice areas, and there were a lot more people than normal. I just went ahead and did my thing, no matter how bad it looked.  And...it felt great. I worked on vaults and precisions with a whole new confidence. The only problem I encountered was that  my feet still get hurt when I do a wall-run. About how many days of ankle conditioning do I need to do?

Thanks everyone. 

Congrats bro! I hope to meet you at a jam in the summer

Remember calf raises and do some ankle joint rotation.  Look around youtube or the Fitness forum. Also, check out eatmoveimprove.com for some extra various info.

[-Ash-]

That'd be cool. 

I've been doing calf raises, but I'll start on the ankle rotations.

[jp2ykz]

Lean slightly against the wall facing away from the wall. Then flex your toes toward your knees (Dorsiflexion).
 
Do about three sets of 20 per day.

There is a vid somewhere called Iron ankles or indestructible ankles or something. I couldn't find it for some reason??

Someone here should know where to find it   

Also I have used a wobbly disk in the past and there are some good rubber band exercises if you look around.

Don't forget RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. You should only exercise it when all of the swelling is gone. 

[wlf]

Don't forget RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. You should only exercise it when all of the swelling is gone. 

haha, dude i just learned that in health class

[-Ash-]

Lean slightly against the wall facing away from the wall. Then flex your toes toward your knees (Dorsiflexion).
 
Do about three sets of 20 per day.

There is a vid somewhere called Iron ankles or indestructible ankles or something. I couldn't find it for some reason??

Someone here should know where to find it   

Also I have used a wobbly disk in the past and there are some good rubber band exercises if you look around.

Don't forget RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. You should only exercise it when all of the swelling is gone. 

Thanks, I'll do that. And I saw the ankles vid, and I do those...what are they called? Yeah, Iron Ankles I think.

There is no swelling. Just pain.

[Charles "Fel" Harageones]

Does the ankle pain feel like bone? ligament? or just the ankle area in general?

I know for a fact that I am deficient in calcium, and I have horrible joints. I've been remedying that by taking a calcium supplement in my diet. A deficiency (especially for long periods of time, bonewise) can mean that your bones might be stressing under relatively unusual strain. when doing vaults, do your wrists or elbows ever hurt?

[NOS - from Parkour Mumbai]

The video in question is called Titanium Ankles by Dogen.
Here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B1XvEbJUKE

[Stephen Westbrook]

Remember, it's all about quality, not quantity.