Tag Archives | Parkour

Parkour From Scratch #1 – Shoulder Roll Tutorial – How to start Parkour

Hey guys! As you know, we’ve been looking for ways to really develop your acrobatic base and all your acrobatic skills. In this series, you will be getting the information you need to start in parkour from scratch! The first tutorial is all about the Shoulder Roll.

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The first thing you want to do is focus on rolling out from your shoulder to your opposing hip. More specifically, you should start rolling from your trap or scapula and not the deltoid.

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The next thing you want to do is either crunch or tighten your abs. That way you have a rigid surface to push off of the floor!

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When putting it all together, create a diamond shape on the floor, pull your arm in, crunch abs, and roll forward from your shoulder to hip!

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There you go guys! Here is the full video for you.

Tumbling Illustrated
Tumbling Illustrated on Amazon

Acrobatics are about autonomy and being mindful of your own movement. The Advanced Bridging Course February sale is almost over so don’t forget to grab it in order to build that strong and dynamic core necessary for acrobatics. To get the course, click here!

Stay Inverted!
-Coach Jon

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Acrobatic Attributes: A GMB Elements Review

So, we’ve been talking a lot about foundation recently. Especially on how to get your body accustomed to all types of 3d movement. It can be scary, I won’t lie. Its a constant cycle, but after the initial work gets easier like the progress from walking, to running, to sprinting. Take myself for example, when I started on this journey of movement I was just like how most of you probably were in the beginning. NO IDEA what to do or which direction to take. Even with all the quick info out there, its hard to pull everything together in an easy to follow manner. Luckily you’ve got people like Logan who’ve done the hard work and can help you reach that level that you want to achieve.

The work is consistent but its a gratifying journey. The reason I’m talking about this is because i want to open you up to a way of making this body skill passion easier. As you know, our friends over at Gold Medal Bodies have been at the body skill game for multiple years. In their big pot of experience and talents, they’ve narrowed down the necessary attributes needed to develop any acrobatic skill. This information is compiled together in their Elements Program. Which we use of inspiration for our evolving outlook on handstand and hand balancing development.

I’ve always been a person about simplicity and the Elements Program accomplishes this by having you focus on 3 movement patterns in a progressive fashion over the course of 7 weeks. Even after a few days, I began to understand the value of the information. Although not just myself; my own clients have benefited with their own hip mobility and stabilization, which for some of them has been 2 years of work. Every piece of information is meticulously detailed and compliments each other.

As I said, the program is broken down into 7 weeks with 6 days of training. The main goal is to build necessary strength and conditioning, but more importantly to understand your body. As the weeks go by, Ryan and the GMB team start adding more tweaks as well as give you the guidance to work on your own free flow floor work.

Learn How to Back Flip in 31 Days
Learn How to Back Flip in 31 Days on Amazon

If you’ve never been inverted or have never tried any acrobatic feat, be sure to pick up the GMB Elements Program. I can’t recommend it enough!

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Stay Inverted!
-Coach Jon

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Parkour Flow Drill

Today’s video comes from my friends the Tapp Brothers and it’s all about improving your flow and creativity in parkour.

Learn How to Back Flip in 31 Days
Learn How to Back Flip in 31 Days on Amazon

The point of this and similar drills is to get used to natural movements so you don’t have to think much when you actually end up in a high stress situation; and avoid possible injuries at the same time. Aside from that, you’ll boost your creativity, agility and coordination if you perform the drill on a regular basis.

If you’re just getting started with parkour, the Tapp Brothers will teach you this and many other crucial things in their Parkour Crash Course.

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Lil Donnie’s Freerunning Compilation

Today we have another video featuring a kid, a ten-year-old Donnie who shows his own free running style. The video start slowly with relatively simple tumbling moves, but young Donnie goes on to show his abilities while performing backflips, front/back handsprings, wall spins, front flips and much more.

Trampoline Handbook
Trampoline Handbook on Amazon

Donnie says he trains to express creativity and chooses songs which inspire him for the videos himself. It’s never too late to start training and become as good as you want to be at tumbling. Click here to start your tumbling training.

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How to Perform a Wall Spin

The wall spin is a great flip to start with if you are just getting into parkour and tumbling. Even though it is a basic parkour movement, most people can’t figure out how to perform it on their own.

Here’s a great tutorial by Ryan Ford on how to do it. After you’ve found an appropriate wall with something soft beneath it (like grass, a mat, etc. ), you’ll want to hit it at the right angle – 45 degrees works the best. As you’re running towards the wall, you need to jump off with both feet about 4 ft (or arms length) away from the wall. Make sure to keep your top hand pointing towards the movement, while keeping your other hand pointing towards the ground.

Ultimate Guide to Handstand Pushups
Ultimate Guide to Handstand Pushups on Amazon

At this point you’ll want to lean forward and once you’re in that upside down position, move your top hand out of the way to avoid falling down. At the same time, keep your bottom hand on the wall and basically use it as a pivot point. The momentum will take care of the rest if you applied enough force in your jump and you should be landing safely on your feet.

At some point all of us wanted to learn how to do backflips, handsprings, aerials, somersaults and other tumbling movements. Why not learn all these awesome movements now? Check out Tumbling and Acrobatics Starter Package and start moving your body in amazing ways.

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Brick Mansions Trailer

Check out the new action parkour movie Brick Mansions.

Hand Balancing Made EasyHandBalancingMadeEasy_on_Amazon

Here’s the description:

“In a dystopian Detroit, abandoned brick mansions left from better times now house only the most dangerous criminals. Unable to control the crime, the police constructed a colossal containment wall around this area to protect the rest of the city. For undercover cop Damien Collier (Paul Walker) every day is a battle against corruption. For Lino (David Belle), every day is a fight to live an honest life. Their paths never should have crossed, but when drug kingpin, Tremaine (RZA) kidnaps Lino’s girlfriend, Damien reluctantly accepts the help of the fearless ex-convict, and together they must stop a sinister plot to devastate the entire city. With stylized action featuring thrilling Parkour stunts (David Belle is the co-founder of this physical training discipline), “Brick Mansions” puts an entertaining twist on the action genre.”

 

 

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Bridge Acrobatics and Tree Climbing

The acrobatics start around the 2:30 mark. They do some bridging acrobatics. This is different from the gymnastic or wrestler bridging exercises, but instead involve some tumbling, hanging, and handstands on a bridge.

Walking and Jumping On Your HandsWalking and Jumping On Your Hands on Amazon

This is followed up by some interested tree climbing. Instead of going up the base they start at a branch and move across to another one.

At 5:30 they say they’re starting with some parkour. What it really is is jumping off a tall building into some crash pads. Although this move wouldn’t take much skill I’d still say many people would be afraid of doing it.

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Overcoming Fear in Parkour

My friends the Tapp Brothers have just released a free video that shows you what it takes to overcome your fear.

This is the biggest thing to hold you back in doing Parkour, gymnastics and even hand balancing sometimes.

It’s something that I personally addressed in a recent workshop, because it’s that important.

You’ll also find out exactly what you need to learn the Kong Vault.

Check it out here.

This is the best quality and most step by step parkour material I’ve seen, and they’re just getting started.

The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing
The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing on Amazon

Go watch the video now.

Parkour Academy

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Damien Walters 2011

This video was just released today. It features Damien Walters, one of the greatest acrobats and free runners alive today.

Want to see more? Check out these two videos as well.

Damien Walters 2010
Damien Walters 2009

Trampoline Handbook
Trampoline Handbook on Amazon

To get to this level you’ll need lots of practice. Having a facility like his wouldn’t hurt either. And professional coaching would be best.

But to get you started I’d recommend this Tumbling book and Parkour Crash Course.

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How to Roll After a Jump

If you have ever jumped in your life, you may have noticed that it is only the beginning of your journey. Depending on the length of your jump in the air you might need to change balance or reposition yourself. Once gravity starts pulling you down, you need to think about how you want to land.

If you are performing a long or high jump, landing is the most important part because executing it properly will keep you safe from injuries. In the video, you are able to see one of the Parkour pioneers David Belle, perform some of his jumps and effectively executing the roll.

The important thing to notice is that after landing on his feet, he rolls over his shoulder. This way, he effectively transfers the momentum and the energy that was used for his jump transfers to the roll.

By landing only only on his feet, he would risk injuring his ankles, feet and legs. The roll allows for flexibility that keeps him safe.

Try practicing on flat land, then from higher platforms and ultimately from a wall. Also work up to harder surfaces but start on something soft.

Even with these simple moves you can move up to a huge level of master. For more Parkour Training info click here.

Tumbling Illustrated
Tumbling Illustrated on Amazon
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