Topic: What makes American Parkour special?

[Brian Amin]

So I was talking to some friends over shores about Parkour, and styles of it. How different areas use parkour differently, and is affected by the culture in that certain location.
The French focus on discipline and you'll always find them in high places
Russian parkour is more of a dance.
Etc.

But the United States is much different. Its a big bowl full of different cultures, different architectures, which leads to different ways of moving.

So, what makes your style unique?

[Skinny]

I like this question, it would be interesting to hear how each community around the US trains. 

In Minnesota we are largely influenced by the Russians and how they simply go out and play.  We aren't very conditioning based at all.  Our idea of training is playing different games like Add on, the ground is lava, or any other stupid ideas we come up with.  We are still able to get a suitable amount of condition through this.  If there is something we feel we need to work on conditioning-wise, we'll make a game out of it to make it more enjoyable. 

In summary, we just mess around a lot and have a hell of a good time.

[Sam Dutton]

I personally do a lot of route training, especially in tree tops, as that is what I have around me. I do a good amount of conditioning. I'd say my training is more similar to the Frenches.

[Conner McGillvray]

I have to say I train a mix... I think about efficancy and purpose, but also love to just play with my environment....

[NICK DAGGER]

I like this question, it would be interesting to hear how each community around the US trains. 

In Minnesota we are largely influenced by the Russians and how they simply go out and play.  We aren't very conditioning based at all.  Our idea of training is playing different games like Add on, the ground is lava, or any other stupid ideas we come up with.  We are still able to get a suitable amount of condition through this.  If there is something we feel we need to work on conditioning-wise, we'll make a game out of it to make it more enjoyable. 

In summary, we just mess around a lot and have a hell of a good time.

This made me happy! 

[Brian Amin]

I personally do a lot of route training, especially in tree tops, as that is what I have around me. I do a good amount of conditioning. I'd say my training is more similar to the Frenches.

I do a lot of Tree parkour as well. Keeps you always alert with every new obstacle that lays ahead of you.

[Shaun]

I do a lot of Tree parkour as well. Keeps you always alert with every new obstacle that lays ahead of you.

You do parkour in trees???

[Sam Dutton]

Oh yes. Lots of precisions. Cat leaps. Laches. And general climbing.

[Daniel]

Hey Sam how would you climb if a branch is high out of reach of another one hold the tree and stand up?

[Sam Dutton]

It depends on how far apart the branches are. You can do lots of dino type movements, but if you can't get high enough, yeah muscle up and then stand to the next branch.

[Will]

I train in woods aswel.  Its amazing how you can improvise, like using felled trees as obstacles, perfect to learn different vault techniques!

[Jake Lessin]

I pretty much go until I can't do something, then I condition for it.

[Zack]

In southwest Virginia we just have lots of fun. Parkour games are the best! Parkour tag and parkour hide-and-seek are always good for laughs :] I'd also like to have a game of parkour capture-the-flag but you need a fairly large area and traceurs of a fairly similar skill level

[gravity]

I personally do a lot of route training, especially in tree tops, as that is what I have around me. I do a good amount of conditioning. I'd say my training is more similar to the Frenches.

would you mind going into more detail on that ?

[Sam Dutton]

I try to move between trees without touching the ground. While doing this, I try to be silent and calm, while still moving quickly. The conditioning I do is mostly body weight, but I try to use things around me to add more weight. Sometimes I just wear a backpack with a lot of stuff in it while training.

[Dan Elric]

I live in the Midwest so I just run really fast in straight lines.  Yup, maximum efficiency.

[Intern]

lol +1^^

Im in north carolina, we have several pretty individual groups here, one that focuses mostly on acro, one that focuses more on power moves and then a couple more who are more into crossfit/conditioning/speed and flow.  Most of those guys dont even like to flip, although i train mostly on my own I consider my self to be part of the last group,  After 2-3 years of training im begining to learn acro, but ONLY for the performance aspect, it really honestly isnt that fun or satisfying to me.  I can't stand training in gyms, makes me loose confidence.

[Sam Dutton]

I agree about flips not being very satisfying. They also give me headaches.

[gravity]

i think i will learn the front and backflip and thats about it for flips with me

[7Erik7]

I rarely do acrobatics. Sometimes, but I rarely practise it. The reason why I started was because it was a mental challange not because everyone else was doing it. If I did that I would not express myself honestly either..For me that's just for fun. Besides the fundamental aspect of parkour, I am more interested in martial arts than acrobatics.