Are you interested in parkour? You want to know how to overcome obstacles quickly, precisely, and with agility. You may want to start parkour if you are interested in learning how to overcome obstacles with speed, precision, and agility. This guide will cover all the information you need to start your journey to mastering the art and movement.

What is Parkour?

It is a discipline where you use your body to navigate your environment with speed, fluidity and agility. It is often referred to as a form urban gymnastics because it involves acrobatic moves to overcome obstacles within the urban landscape. It is not just an athletic pursuit, but also a philosophy, as practitioners aim to achieve a state where they have mental and physical control over their environment.

Get Started with Parkour

If you are new to parkour and want to learn more, your first step should be to find a local community or gym. You can connect with other parkour practitioners, learn new skills in a safe setting, and get feedback on your movements. Many cities have established parksour communities, which offer regular training sessions and workshop. You can find a local community by doing a quick Google search.

Parkour Equipment Required

The beauty of parkour lies in the fact that it does not require much equipment. All you need is a pair running shoes with a good grip, comfortable clothes, and a positive outlook. As you improve, you may discover that certain equipment is helpful. Some of the most popular equipment pieces used by parkour enthusiasts include:

• Gloves: Protective gloves can help prevent injury to your hands when performing movements such wall runs and cat jumps.
• Parkour Shoes: Parkour shoes are specially designed to provide better support and traction for your feet when you perform parkour movements.
• Knee pads: Kneepads can protect your knees when you jump and land.
• Wrap your wrists to provide extra support during movements that strain them.

Parkour Techniques for Beginners

It’s important to start with the basics when starting parkour. All beginner parkour practitioners should learn the following techniques:

• Safety Roll: The Safety roll is a technique that reduces the risk of injury and absorbs the impact of a falling. It involves rolling diagonally along your back, shoulder and hip when you hit the floor.
• Quadrupedal Motion: Quadrupedal motion involves moving on all 4s, for example, crawling or climbing over obstacles. This movement is important for developing upper body strength and balance.
• Precision Jump: A precision leap is a controlled jump from one point to another. This technique is widely used in parkour, and requires good spatial awareness and balance.
• Vaults are a technique that is used to navigate obstacles by jumping over them with one or both of your hands on the obstacle. There are several different vaults including the kong vault, speed vault and monkey vault.

Parkour Drills For Beginners

It’s important to practice parkour drills to build strength and technique. These drills are perfect for beginners in parkour:

• Wall Runs: Wall Runs involve running up a wall and using your momentum to get you over the obstacle.
• Cat Leaps – A cat leap is a jump from one obstacle to the next while holding onto the second obstacle. This technique is used to navigate between two obstacles.
• Box Jumps: A box jump is a jump onto and off a box, or another elevated surface. This drill is excellent for increasing leg strength and explosiveness.
• Balance Beams are narrow platforms that you can use to practice your footwork and balance. Try walking on them backwards and forwards. Also, try to stay as long as you can.

Conclusion

Parkour is a challenging and exciting discipline that anyone can master with the right mindset and guidance. Start with the basics and connect with other practitioners. Practice often. You’ll be amazed by what you can achieve with time and dedication.