Topic: Training Partner question?

[aarontp]

Me and my best friend have been doing Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Zhao Bao Tai Chi for like...7-9 years (it's been so long since we started), and we're both interested in learning Parkour.

Would us just going to a school and running around (our martial arts studio taught us as a white belt how to properly roll to not get injured, so falling isn't really a problem) work? cause that's what we're planning.

Otherwise, what do you suggest (we don't really have much money...)

[Erus de Parkour]

Hm. Well actually, I wouldnt suggest that at all. Unless you have a ton of money to spend, which from what you said, you dont, i would suggest just goin to a play ground, or a abandoned building. The best teacher is experience. I havent been in parkour very long, and others might say something different than me, but i would just try to go to a park or something, because 1. its cheaper, 2. they do have a lot of stuff for you to use (ususally) and 3. its just downright fun!!

[aarontp]

I think you missinterpreted. we ment literally a SCHOOl. like a high school. And getting on the rooftops

[Ryan Nicolai]

I think you missinterpreted. we ment literally a SCHOOl. like a high school. And getting on the rooftops

The height of your high school isn't a problem? How high would that be? The high school in my area is several stories high. Have fun rolling out of that. That's not even looking at all the possible legal problems from being on the roof of a school.

Short version-Don't get on the roof.

It sounds like you're brand new to Parkour. Take it easy and keep it simple. Condition a lot. Your body needs to be strong to handle the beating it will eventually take. Run, lift weights, lots of pull-ups, QM, precisions on your sidewalk. Parkour is all about progression. Start slow to learn your limits, then proceed with caution and excitement.

There are all kinds of articles on the forums dealing with starting out and discussing proper form. Just do a quick search on the site and you'll find them. Also, there are several video tutorials on the main site.

Be safe.

[aarontp]

seven-nine years of martial arts lol. We're a belt away from black. Continuing going to Martial Arts takes care of the conditioning. Were do you suggest we start, then? Like, you have to start somewhere...maybe a park/playground?

[Ryan Nicolai]

A park/playground, your backyard, woods nearby. The beauty of Parkour is that it really has no limits. Sometimes you'll find an area where you can only practice a few skills, but that let's you lock in on those skills and drill them without getting distracted to try another skill. It all depends on what you're looking to get out of your training. Normally though, playgrounds are awesome for just messing around and working on a variety of techniques.

[JoeSkull]

Go to the main site and look up the tutorials then practice just all the moves in the tutorials. Playgrounds should have places to do most of them. Once you can do the moves shown you can start looking for more places to use them and expand from there.

[Alec Furtado]

This doesn't appear to be a question about training partners, lol.


Every time you get on a roof, god kills a kitten.

Do what you want man, but realize that the forces absorbed by your body from drops are enormous and I doubt your body is prepared for that, and better safe than sorry if it is. I wouldn't consider myself and expert yet, but I don't see myself ever training drops (you can do them, but don't train them if you know what I mean... anyone can fall but there are much better ways to build leg strength) even if I had been training for 20 years. I'm really glad to hear you have a training partner. It's been one of the key resources for me personally.

So...
Find and try the APK workouts of the day.
If possible, meet up with other traceurs if in your area.
Get friendly with Youtube and finding tutorials as well as just inspiring videos of some of the top traceurs/freerunners. UrbanCurrent's tutorials are a great starter.

[midnight46]

Every time you get on a roof, god kills a kitten.

true dat,parkour isnt just running around on roofs like so many people believe and u dont have to start somewhere(as in a specific location) anywhere u can train is good i practice in my living room alot u can find places to train almost anywhere

[FreeStyleFox]

There is a time and place for roofs guys.  When your just starting no matter what martial art you take or what belt you are you have no reason to be up there.  When your on a roof or in a situation where you can be hurt or killed your taking your life and well being into your hands.  You don't send a white belt into a MMA fight.  And you don't enter an MMA fight with out signing on the white line saying you know you could die or get hurt.

[Andy Keller]

seven-nine years of martial arts lol. We're a belt away from black. Continuing going to Martial Arts takes care of the conditioning.

Not so fast. You do weighted squats in martial arts?

Sounds to me like you think you're more prepared than you really are. We're not trying to down-play your MA experience, but we are going to tell you our honest advice. The fact that you suggested training on a roof at a school as the first thing to do far outweighs any past experience you might have, in my opinion. I'm not trying to be harsh [and sorry if it sounds like I am], but I really do want to help you guys.

PM me or ask here if you have more questions! I'm here to help.

[Macgyver 0.]

I think you missinterpreted. we ment literally a SCHOOl. like a high school. And getting on the rooftops

POSSIBLE TROLL DETECTED

WHERE IS THE ROOF POLICE?!?

[FreeStyleFox]

POSSIBLE TROLL DETECTED

WHERE IS THE ROOF POLICE?!?

There are two mods posting in this tread I think we have this covered.
kthxbye

[BRR]

I dont know if you have checked out similar posts and the "What is Parkour" link on the main page. But When I teach people who come out training with me different movements this is the general order that I think is best.
Landing- Rolling, sounds like you feel you have that down.
Precision Jumps
Kong Vaults
Lazy Vault
Speed Vault
Turn Vault
Pop Vault
Cat Leap
Tic Tac
Wall Run
Climb up- Muscle Up.
This is a good selection of movement that are very versatile. And the general progression will teach you different specifics of the physics of movement to help you as you go down the list. I don’t mean for the list to be a checklist of perfection, and I think you can flip the order a little, if you want to learn a lazy vault before a Kong be my guest. But I think these movements and this progression would be a good starting place. Check out tutorials online to find how to do the movements properly.
And Welcome to the discipline, be safe, and have fun.

[Andrew Mumu Trahum]

POSSIBLE TROLL DETECTED

WHERE IS THE ROOF POLICE?!?

How is he trolling by saying the truth?

[FreeStyleFox]

Wiki.

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.[2] In addition to the offending poster, the noun troll can also refer to the provocative message itself, as in "that was an excellent troll you posted". While the term troll and its associated action trolling are primarily associated with Internet discourse, media attention in recent years has made such labels highly subjective, with trolling being used to describe intentionally provocative actions outside of an online context. For example, recent media accounts have used the term troll to describe "a person who defaces internet tribute sites with the aim of causing grief to families."[3][4]

[Ryan Nicolai]

POSSIBLE TROLL DETECTED

WHERE IS THE ROOF POLICE?!?

Hopefully I won't be overstepping my bounds since we have two mods here;

The problem with your post is that you insulted someone without knowing all the information and then added nothing. By stating that it's a "possible troll" shows that you don't know who this guy is. It's very likely that he is an honest newbie that is asking for advice. His post count is low and he hasn't said anything too crazy/inflammatory/rude, which leads me to believe he is simply a newbie.

Did he have a bad idea? Yes, but at least he came here and asked questions before him and his friend did something that could have ended with legal problems or a fatality. Your response did nothing to help the situation and the next time he has a question he may choose to keep it to himself. That would be a real shame.

Now, even if he is a troll, maybe some new Traceur will come strolling by and see this thread and the good advice that has been posted. 

[Tex__]

Martial arts or not, you are still new to parkour and should start out small and progress up like everyone else. Roof training is for the very experienced, not someone just starting out.

[Macgyver 0.]

I'm sorry.  Just really, saying, "We just started should we get on the rooftops of our school".

[FreeStyleFox]

Yes... but read his replies to our calm and respectful comments to what he had to say.  Now I don't like having to say this to new people a lot. 

Thing is we don't need 5 people to tell a new person the same thing.  Just don't be hostel be helpful.  In years past I have heard the complaint from people who got on apk when they were first starting and said one thing a bout a roof and never returned to APK because they were slammed by every one saying Get Good Kid and stay off roofs.  Our job is to educated best way to do that is not though raging at every time a roof is brought up.