Topic: Need Motivation and maybe a place to train.

[skyler yeatman]

So I've been at parkour for almost 2 years now and I really love the movement and what it stands for, I have some friends that sorta tag along with me, but since I've been at it for longer than them I've been assigned "leader" a title I don't want, deserve, or think that is necessary for a parkour group. Where I live, Finger Lakes NY, is to be modest, completely stagnant of parkour with the exception of RocPK in Rochester, which is over an hour from my house, making a commute impossible. I've had steady progression for a while but its just been getting slower and slower for me, and I've lost a lot of motivation for parkour, not because I don't love it, but because I don't have anyone to push me, or teach me something new. Basically I just want someone to tell me that teaching myself will get me somewhere or maybe that by some miracle there is a parkour group in my area. anyway, thanks for reading.

[Derek]

As for finding places to train, imagination is key. As for motivation, that has to come from within. You have to find within yourself a drive that will make you want to continue. A motivator only helps you find and single out that drive. That's really all I can give you.

[Sam Dutton]

If you don't usually train in public, try it. There might be other practiononers who you only don't see training because they are too embarrased to train in public alone.

[skyler yeatman]

Thanks for the words of wisdom, and I do train in public. I just live in a really small town though, one which for some reason has a collective mind (at least amoung students) that parkour is quote "gay and stupid". No offense to gay people I hold nothing against any group!

[James Bell]

Thanks for the words of wisdom, and I do train in public. I just live in a really small town though, one which for some reason has a collective mind (at least amoung students) that parkour is quote "gay and stupid". No offense to gay people I hold nothing against any group!

Just wait 10 years. Some/Most of those collective minded students are going to be stuck in that same small town, with that same mindset, for the rest of their lives. While you are out seeing the world and meeting new and amazing people because of Parkour. (IF you do not get discouraged, and stick with it. Despite people thinking that it is "gay and stupid.")

Edit:

which is over an hour from my house, making a commute impossible.

Nothing is impossible.
I train with someone who is in high school who takes an hour+ long bus ride from Sooke down to Victoria, just to train with a group on Sundays. Although recently he has been taking a ferry over to Vancouver to train with their local group, a trip which takes even longer.

[skyler yeatman]

well thank you you know I think I'm gonna look and see if there are any buses in my area that do that...

[Jason C. Astor]

I've been taking every chance to push my thoughts on others... and this is no different.
Go out into the woods and practice, it really transforms the way you see things and it gives your Urban Parkour much more Depth

[Crosion_5]

I think there is no greater experience in Parkour than in training alone.  When you train alone, you know you are committed, and motivated, and there is a sense of solitary might that cannot be stifled.

But training with others is usually preferable.  Learning from others and having that support group is useful.

[DeAndre Walker]

For a little motivation here are a few of my favorites:
Daniel Ilabaca-"Choose Not to Fall" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRSOe-rDa9Y
Chase Armitage-"Free Running Inspriration" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_HvozJiQw
Tim "Livewire" Shieff-"Imagination Is Everythng" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrulLtPTcjw&feature=relmfu
Hope they help!

[Nick Fernandez]

I have some friends that sorta tag along with me, but since I've been at it for longer than them I've been assigned "leader" a title I don't want, deserve, or think that is necessary for a parkour group.

At least SOMEONE gets it! Not everyone who practices parkour together has to be in some sort of team. It was completely ridiculous when I saw some of my friends start a team and come up with codenames for each other, lol.

I agree with everyone else. It makes sense to go out and just sort of....show you're there to the public and hope you can fish out some other people that practice too. If they don't already, maybe you can get them interested and either way you'll have some training buddies. You'll have a bit of trouble finding them, though, if most people there think that way about parkour.

Go out into the woods and practice, it really transforms the way you see things and it gives your Urban Parkour much more Depth

Sucks for us who live in the desert...