Practical Guide to Fear - Travis Noble

[Mark Toorock]

http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/1789/1/

Discuss it here

[Steve087]

are we discussing ways to overcome fear, or asking ways to overcome fear?

[Marshall "Cent" Lewis]

I definitely agree with the part of the article on the whole visualization thing.  Every detail in your visualization is essential to trying a new move and completing it successfully.  I don't even try a move in the gym or on the streets unless I can completely visualize every aspect of the motion that is involved, such as height, momentum, amount of rotation, landing, etc.  It helps a ton!

[SafeNSure]

I definitely agree with the part of the article on the whole visualization thing.

...interesting! For me instead, visualization never really helped, even in other disciplines.
While the "baby steps" approach the he describes as physical method has always backed my progression.

It's like my body needs to try a move several times in a very controlled and awkwardly stiff way before it gives green light to my mind.
After that point it's all downhill and it feels like the body knows what to do (a sort of muscle new-memory), and the mind can focus on pushing harder, or being more precise, or else... the body starts trusting the mind and tells her: "go ahead, tell me what to do and I'll do it...".
Even bails feel safe and somehow controlled...

The only visualization I have been able to do, has been revisiting mentally some move, later at night... but that was mainly for pleasure , not to overcome fear or building up confidence.

[Marshall "Cent" Lewis]

I guess people learn in much different ways then.  I did my first standing front flip almost perfectly because of my study and visualization of the movements involved.  It's pretty cool knowing that everybody learns to do something in such different ways.

[Nik "Nik" Horvat]

Vizualization is one of my favorite tools for improving not only in Parkour, but in anything.  In my off time I try to think about improvements in form for all the sports I play.  "OK when I'm shooting a 3 I need to bring my elbow in more and flick my wrist." , "watch the hitter's eyes when going up for a block in volleyball.", or "really have to tuck my knees and bring my back higher on kongs" etc.  Going over these thing mentally in different situations in my mind produces a tangible benefit to my real world progress.

Excellent article.  Something everyone should definately be conscious of.

[Will James]

A combination between visualization and progression (baby steps) is what helps me through a movement. Visualization is a prerequisite and a supplement for progression. This combination results in intense focus for me. Thanks to Parkour, I have discovered this method and applied it to every area of my life...

Guys, I think this may be a dangerous topic for some Traceurs, so be wary of that. I think it's important for the Traceur himself to discover the
method that really works.

[Rockwell]

I personally don’t visualize at all really, I think gainer, gainer, gainer…..go.
Although I am very much a baby step person. When I was learning side flips I had to fall on my side in the gym so that I knew it wouldn’t hurt, after that I could commit and walla! The only problem is I can’t do this outside so I’m kind of at a dead end lol.