Topic: Feeling uncomfortable when interacting with us "youngin's"

[ZacharyCohn]

Mark is 39.

[Timothy Chen Allen]

Mark is 39.

I forgot to mention: I'm 45.

[Mike Patella]

And still going strong!

[dilet2e]

Well, I'm 47. 

OTOH, I don't quite consider myself a traceuse yet.

[FrostySTL]

I know this isn't a new thread, but hey, I'm old, cut me some slack! Besides, all this is very new to me. 

Guys my own age really don't seem to remember how to have fun. 

It always amazes me how true this really is! Somehow most people just forget what it was like to grow up. It's like they were born at 25. Just the other day, a guy I know had to get off the phone with me to call his landlord, so he could complain about the kid below him playing his music loud enough that the base was bothering him. I was thinking... you don't wanna come over here then!

For the last 4 years of my life, I played the dreaded "World of Warcrack". It was a nice diversion, and I met a lot of really great people, many of which I actually met in real life. Most of them are also in the 13-20 age range. I never kept it a secret how old I was, and I was BY FAR the oldest player in the group I hung with. (The sad thing is, I was also in better shape than most of them) But other than some good natured ribbing about me having baptized Moses, or living on the other side of Barney Rubble... I think at one point I had something to do with crawling out of the primordial ooze... there was never any issue with age at all. And trust me, for every joke they came up with about my age, I would always agree, and continue adding to it! So just like Parkour itself, it is a mindset. If you act like a kid around kids, they will take you in as one of their own. Usually in awe that you do still act that way. If you act like an adult, and tell them to keep off the grass, don't expect much love. (And if you planted grass for it not to be walked on, why not just pour concrete and paint it green? It's much easier to care for!)

Oh, and speaking of mindset... I don't know if dilet2e is still around, but yes, you ARE a traceuse! From everything I've been reading, you are not required to get through a set of obstacles as efficiently as David Belle can to be doing Parkour. All you have to be doing is thinking about it, and be doing it as efficiently as YOU are able. If that means taking the stairs instead of tic-tacing to a face plant, then so be it. Hopefully you are trying to improve, though! LOL

[dilet2e]

Hi! I'm sorta still around... thanks for the kind words!

I worked on conditioning over the winter, but right now that's still about all I can do... having a lot of trouble with my right foot. (arches falling, which caused me to pull a muscle...  )

The last parkour event I went to was in Chicago. I'm positive I was the oldest person there. A 19-year-old asked me how old I was, and then said, "And you're doing this?" I just said, "Well, it wasn't invented yet when I was 19!"

[FrostySTL]

Ouch! Yea, I'm a little worried about my arches, actually. When I was born, I apparently had flat feet, so I was put in orthotics to correct it. They did TOO good of a job, and now I have high arches. I've always worn shoes with good arch support, and at all times. I never walked barefoot. When I was a kid, my dad didn't allow it, and I never built up any tolerance for it, so I can't now. I can't stand that! and I'm finally working towards fixing it.

I just got a pair of the Asics Tiger's, and they are a lot thinner than what I'm used to. Gonna take some time for my feet to adjust to having to actually do their job, instead of wearing a brick on my feet all the time. (i.e. standard running shoes)

So how was the 19 year old after that? You two get along?

[Muhammad]

Most of the guys from Majestic Force and Parkour Generations are mid 30's and up, and they are all still world class athletes capable of doing parkour that would blow your mind. Some of them have been training for 20 years now!

Take a look at this video of Chau Belle for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUKsNjOcVno

Or this video of Yann Hnautra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwOvTA8bAnA

If any of you want to experience training with these people, who are the founders and early pioneers of parkour, you should come to the American Rendezvous event in Columbus, Ohio during the Memorial Day weekend. We will have three guys from the original Yamakasi (Yann Hnautra, Chau Belle, Laurent Piemontesi), and at least three from Parkour Generations (Stephane Vigroux, Dan Edwardes, Chris Rowat). Check out this site for more info: http://american-rendezvous.parkourhorizons.com

[FrostySTL]

Unfortunately, being unemployed means I can't make that. 

I might be able to squeeze the money for gas for the drive, but no way could I afford a hotel.

Beside, being brand new at this, it would probably be lost on me. LOL

[dilet2e]

Did I say I "pulled" a muscle in my foot? My podiatrist says I TORE a muscle in my foot... and then I tore it AGAIN doing aerobic floor exercises in crappy shoes.  

I'm supposed to be doing these daily stretches & foot exercises... they take so long... I know, quicher whining & get it done! The foot always feels a lot better.

As for the 19-year-old, I didn't mind! I'd rather he asked than just wonder to himself.  

[Muhammad]

Unfortunately, being unemployed means I can't make that. 

I might be able to squeeze the money for gas for the drive, but no way could I afford a hotel.

Beside, being brand new at this, it would probably be lost on me. LOL

On the contrary, this is an excellent thing for beginners. We strongly encourage all beginners to come. There will be something for everyone. We will probably divide the people up roughly according to experience, and then each group will get a couple of teachers to help them out. The groups will be rotated so everyone gets a chance to train with all the coaches.