Topic: I wish I knew more traceuses

[Greeeg the squiiirrel]

Pardon me if this seems a bit brash, but I think a girl doing parkour is one of the most attractive things ever. (Guys back me up on this)

Any girl who can get excited over being fit and reaching physical goals like that, is awesome in my book. But none of the girls I know are willing to give parkour a try. They all think it is too dangerous, or they aren't strong enough. Despite my best efforts of convincing them otherwise, I still have yet to see any female doing parkour in person.

Why is there this big misconception that women cant do parkour?

[Jake Garner]

I'd like to meet some too, man...

[Hazim Salem]

People think women are more for the quiet, elegant side (so not true, check out all the party girls). Plus, people call us crazy, crazy enough for energetic young men to do, so women shouldn't.

Now it's totally acceptable for a woman to practice Kung Fu, because the public image of Kung Fu is more "spiritual" than "crazy kicking monks."

[Dan Elric]

People think women are more for the quiet, elegant side (so not true, check out all the party girls). Plus, people call us crazy, crazy enough for energetic young men to do, so women shouldn't.

Now it's totally acceptable for a woman to practice Kung Fu, because the public image of Kung Fu is more "spiritual" than "crazy kicking monks."

I don't, I like a girl with personality and flare, preferably punk-esque.

[Ben Riley]

I agree, it doesn't just have to include doing parkour, I like to meet a few chicks that were just more sport inclined and had physical goals.

[Kendy]

Here's an idea, cause this is how I got my friend (she's also a girl) to try parkour:

step one: ask to hang out, somewhere outside with a few good obstacles
step two: tickle her
step three: run away using parkour

my result:
"hey how did you do that?"
"remember that parkour stuff I tried to get you to try?"
"yeah..."
"well this is it, wanna give it a go?"

As for being a traceuse on the dating front;  It's evident that most guys do parkour.  Being a minority in the art, I meet a decent amount of awesome traceurs (it's too bad that most I meet are already in a relationship).  I'm actually quite drawn to them, especially ones big into the philosophy of parkour.  Traceurs are, more often than not, very respectful, not sexist (though I will not hesitate to get in the kitchen and make a man a sammich), open minded, and care about what goes in their body; weight is just a number, so long as your healthy.  Who doesn't love a healthy person?  I guess that's what you all find so attractive about girls who do parkour =/

[Jon E]

We have many on the forums, what do they think? Is a man doing parkour attractive!

*He says already knowing the answer *

[DevintheNinja]

+20
Kendall-ann scored points by saying she will get in the kitchen and get a sammich. Hahahahahaha

[Eli]

N-n-n-n-not sexist?! Shit, I better come up with some new jokes.

[Boyce Unger]

i know a girl who is a gymnast maybe she would try out parkour i think she is amazing but im stuck in the friend zone sooo....   

[Rebecca Myers]

As for being a traceuse on the dating front;  It's evident that most guys do parkour.  Being a minority in the art, I meet a decent amount of awesome traceurs (it's too bad that most I meet are already in a relationship).  I'm actually quite drawn to them, especially ones big into the philosophy of parkour.  Traceurs are, more often than not, very respectful, not sexist (though I will not hesitate to get in the kitchen and make a man a sammich), open minded, and care about what goes in their body; weight is just a number, so long as your healthy.  Who doesn't love a healthy person?  I guess that's what you all find so attractive about girls who do parkour =/

Yes, yes, YES! Being a minority in the wrestling community I did meet a lot of guys who were totally supportive and respectful. But I met even more guys that were cocky, ignorant, dbags. I don't find that nearly as much in the parkour community. As practitioners of parkour, we learn to respect our environment and in turn respect each other. That's a big part of what makes traceurs more attractive, I feel. And let's face it. Any guy that can run away James Bond/Jackie Chan-style has gotta be cool.

[Hannah L]

Oh dear Lord.
Dudes, this was the main point behind my project on parkour and women (which I am wrapping up as we speak).  From my research, the misconceptions arise that women think they will get hurt, it is not "dainty", it's different, and it's a way that their bodies are not socially conditioned to move.
That being said, there is no reason at all in this world that women cannot do parkour. None.
Also, this fact that guys want to meet traceuses because they are "hot" is another thing that discourages girls.  If girls think that they are going to be hit on whenever they train (or because they train), then that makes them hesitant to do so, because they want to train for their own reasons and feel "safe" doing so.
It is nice to appreciate the other sex in training, but the way to do so is to appreciate people as individuals, not as groups.
And I apologize if this came across as angry, not my intention at all.
I appreciate all you guys and girls, and I'm glad to have a community like this to discuss these types of issues. And if you want to discuss this more, I'd be happy to do so; you can pm or add me on facebook 

[Rebecca Myers]

Hannah- totally got 'em.

I'll use my own experience here. I went to the LVPK All Women's Seminar last month and had an absolute blast. There were four guys there- three instructors and a camera man. The three instructors were around our age, the camera man I believe is married so we don't have to think about him in this context. The three boys, from what I saw, did not hint on any girl even once. They joked with us, played games with us, and befriended us. That's what y'all should do, too. Don't go into a situation with a traceuse thinking "Man, I want to date her." Try, "Man, I'd really like to get to know her and hey, if we hit it off, maybe we could date in the future." Girls are not just for dating, we make pretty darn good friends, too.

[J. Howard31]

I've been doing parkour for a little over a year, and i still havent seen one traceuse yet!!!  I know a lot of girls who like watching me doit, but i guess they feel their not strong or confident to do it.  Its either that or they care to much about what other people think about them. 

[Hannah L]

Well said, Rebecca.  That seminar was an excellent time for women in parkour, and I am so glad you could come!

["Girls are not just for dating, we make pretty darn good friends, too."]
AMEN, sister.

And to those who "haven't seen a traceuse" or "omg do women even do parkour I've never seen one": we're not some wild, exotic breed of bird, we're people. Get to know us. Train with us. Appreciate the differences we bring to the discipline. Respect us as people.
And we'll do the same for you.

[Rebecca Myers]

I've been doing parkour for a little over a year, and i still havent seen one traceuse yet!!!  I know a lot of girls who like watching me doit, but i guess they feel their not strong or confident to do it.  Its either that or they care to much about what other people think about them. 

Did you ever think, maybe, that some girls just don't want to do parkour? Do they have to have an excuse?

[Anne]

Also, this fact that guys want to meet traceuses because they are "hot" is another thing that discourages girls.  If girls think that they are going to be hit on whenever they train (or because they train), then that makes them hesitant to do so, because they want to train for their own reasons and feel "safe" doing so.

This.

[Greeeg the squiiirrel]

After spending years as one of "those crazy spaz kids", I don't even think of girls for dating anymore, because I know I wont get to. That doesn't stop me from being appreciative.

I think I have told 3 girls about how I think traceuses are naturally hotter, and all 3 said that was a motivation to start  . They ended up not starting anyway because they thought they were too weak and couldn't do stuff like that.

I believe YouTube might be to blame here. People post videos of the intense crowd pleasing stunts they can do, but dont put up videos showing all the times they mess up or the hours of practice they went through to get that good. This leads people to just ignore the training part and assume that parkour is all stunts and therefore unsafe.

[Hannah L]

They ended up not starting anyway because they thought they were too weak and couldn't do stuff like that.

I believe YouTube might be to blame here. People post videos of the intense crowd pleasing stunts they can do, but dont put up videos showing all the times they mess up or the hours of practice they went through to get that good. This leads people to just ignore the training part and assume that parkour is all stunts and therefore unsafe.

Yes, to the youtube thing.
Greg, I'll be sure to let you know when I finish my project-you would really appreciate it.  I tackle that myth about women being too weak.
Take care, keep training safely!

[Dan Elric]

Too much emphasis on dating girls rather than just doing stuff with them because they're fun to hang out with.  Sure, I've asked girls to go out with me to places, but it isn't because I want to get in their pants, it's because I think they're cool people and I enjoy hanging out with them.

What is this idea that going out with a girl automatically means you have romantic attachments?