Topic: Lack of Progression

[Britney 'TriptychPK' B.]

Figured I would post this to see what the community would say.

I feel like I haven't progressed at all since this summer. It's pretty depressing, and I've been wondering if I should just stop training altogether. I've been trying to dabble in Freerunning and Tricking, and I've been getting very close actually doing the various movements I want to do, but nothing has been coming to fruition. The guys I train with have been trying to help me figure it out, but it gets frustrating when they say the same thing over and over again and my body just doesn't comply. On the parkour side of things, I've been training for a year and a half now, and I'm still not as good as I'd like to be. For example, it took me a whole year to get my kongs outside, and they're still very iffy. I feel like I should be at a higher level than I am now. I want to have fun when I train, but it's not fun if I can't do anything.

What do you guys think? Should I suck it up and change the way I train or just quit altogether?

[Ryan Sannar]

Change the way your train. I say go somewhere alone (bring pepperspray, etc...) where there is a bar. Put on some classical music and then just move. Don't think about how it looks, don't think about what its supposed to be. Just move. Film yourself and then watch it after, you'll be surprised how smooth certain movements can look.

[unipsycho]

Suck it up.  Change how you train.  Pick some different goals, repeat and smoothen out what you do know.  Train for some strength that is within reach, work on balance, work on comfort with heights, there are tons of things to train for that give you a break from certain movement you are stuck on.

[Spencer Young]

Change your training routine. Don't try to do too much too soon. You'll burn yourself out. Be happy with you progress. You'll get there. Try finding a spot where you know that nobody would bother you and work on your movement. After one hour of jumping over the same object then you'll see improvement.

Plus check out all of the female PK films on YouTube for notes and inspiration. 

[MedvisP]

Most of the time the solution to this is "get stronger".

[Shane Sperling]

We all hit a plateau at one point or another. Take the time to forget about the big picture every once and a while and focus and take pride on the little achievements you make along the way. Don't think, It took me a year to get kongs oustide, I must have a problem with my training. Instead, focus on the fact that you are now able to do them outside! Make small goals, such as: This week, I want to be able to kong an obstacle that is half a foot longer than I can kong right now.

Even if you didn't achieve it, at least you made progression, and at least you put your heart into it and made a good, honest effort, and come back to it some other time or just keep working on them. Everyone handles different movements differently, and you won't always get it right on the first try. Realize where you want to be, and then forget it for the time being. I use it as a reference point, such as: When I'm incredibly awesome at parkour/freerunning, I want to kong gainer. So then I choose a time when I feel is right, and start making progressions up to that goal.

In short, no, don't quit.

[Sinbad-STORMKING]

We all hit a plateau at one point or another. (and other good stuff)

These are all reaaallly good things and they sound nice.  buuutttt,

Stop

Not forever.  Let yourself get away from forcing it, wait it out, just until you feel that itch that says to you "Hey.. go do some Parkour." I can bet that once you go and run a bit you will notice the positive changes.

I feel like this might be a crappy post. -1


pstscrpt; Parkour in a gym for some, is a bit more difficult to maturate skill and transfer into concrete.  it's that sense of security that comes with the soft and fluffy landings. It becomes embedded in the brain and some say it's difficult to cut loose.  I wish you the best.

also, read this.  Just cause it's cool.