Frequently asked questions
Don't you guys get hurt doing this stuff?
Not too often. As long as you practice proper forms/ techniques and don't try to push yourself past a limit you are not 100% sure you are ready for, then things should remain relatively safe. Safety is something we work on foremost with beginners and first timers, so of course we are not going to have people jumping off of 10 ft. walls on their first day. We work our way up, starting from ground level, focusing on technique so that, not only do we as instructors feel comfortable, but the student feels good about doing the things we have them do.
Do you guys do competitions?
Every once in a while. Sometimes we host them, sometimes we join them. Most competitions are split into 3 categories: Style, Speed, and Skill. There are kids competitions and adults, male division and female divisions. But, Parkour is more about self improvement than trying to be better than someone else. Better yourself everyday; if you are working to be better than someone else, you are setting a bar. Try not to limit yourself and familiarize yourself with the fact that every BODY is different.
What do you need to wear? Are gloves okay?
Wear whatever is comfortable for you. Wear tennis shoes that fit, preferably ones with rubber bottoms. Styrofoam and fabric can be slippery on many surfaces. Shorts or pants? That's up to you. Pants offer a little bit more protection against small slip-ups, but either is fine. With gloves or other padding: We try to condition the body to adapt to the movements that we do. Gloves won't allow a person to develope calluses or good technique. If you are relying too much on pads to stop you from getting hurt INSTEAD of techniques, you aren't learning how to be safe in the long run. Just think, you won't ALWAYS have your pads with you, but that shouldn't stop your from doing Parkour.
Do you guys do this stuff outside?
We do and you can, too. Of course, wherever we do decide to train, we try to respect laws/ rules and respect our environment. Most of the places we practice are public access. When we are outside we really have to make sure things are safe. We check walls and surfaces to make sure they won't break or fall apart when we land on them. Usually, whenever you see any of us training in Gym, it's to ready ourselves for what we are trying to do outside. There are also Facebook groups in which you could couple with to find good training spots and maybe get some pointers. Look up Orlando Parkour groups.
What is parkour