I think this is just so incredibly impressive, and I would love to learn to do a little bit of tricks like this… But how should I train to learn that stuff? I can’t just directly start with what those guys are doing, I would kill myself…
Do you think that anything I do in the gym could translate to stuff like those guys are doing?
there should be some free running/parkour forums on the net that should have more info than this site, best to look there.
Everything will help, strength is strength. Plyometrics and balance work more directly. My suggestion is to find a playground and try it. It’s a lot of fun, and one hell of a workout.
One thing to know, there’s a reason that most of the guys doing this are 150 pounds or less. It’s hard to get to that level as a normal guy, let alone trying it if you’re 200 lbs or more.
But, I don’t really think that the strength training is much different for these guys. The guys that do this (traceurs or whatever they’re called) pretty much do this and the basic pull ups, push ups and eventually hand stand push ups. Some of them will have lifting routines no doubt, but most will be bodyweight stuff.
To learn the flips and all that, join a gymnastics club.
An intense protocol of rhomboid shrugs and foam rolling will allow even the most uncoordinated of oafs to perform such feats.
There is a pretty good Parkour training program in this video:
Its already been said but it is very hard to be this acrobatic when you are a more muscular guy but it is certainly possible. I saw one gay who was in the 250 range do some really impressive moves.
both of these guys i think hover around the 200lb range
the guy in the black pants and shirtless who does the trick at :12 and then you see standing on the left side is like 220lbs lean and can do some impressive shit. there’s a better video of him ou there but can’t find it now. if i remember correctly he was an extra in the 300 movie as well. but i mean dude is doing standing fulls and shit, pretty effing acrobatic.
a few months ago i weighed like 230lbs and i picked up a backflip in 3 days, while it’s nothing on these guys in the video (which is freaking awesome) i think just like anything, if you put some time and effort into it you should be able to pick it up
This is David Belle, the father of modern Parkour. He certainly doesn’t look like he weighs ~150 lbs, and he’s one of the most agile and impressive Frenchmen I’ve ever seen.
Strength training, particularly through the back, shoulders, and legs, are tremendously helpful.
I take at least two days out of the month, usually more, to focus on agility training. I’ll make sure I can front roll, back roll, break fall from all angles, etc, on a mat, as a warm up before going out side to kong jump, gap, tictac and the rest at a playground or on some steps.
If you look at training from any kind of functional stand point, Parkour and MA are the two best things on earth. That way, when/if your fight or flight kicks in, you’re ready for anything.
Also, Youtube has an assload of of ‘How to’ videos. Search for Parkour and look through the results. And check out District B13. It’s got a weak plot and shitty acting, but the stunts make it worth sitting through.
Parkour, involves just a sh*tload of practice, technique. The reason 150 lbs or less dudes do it because they seem to be the catogery of dudes, that don’t seem to hit the mainstream sports e.g. football, basketball, etc. Big dudes spent most of their time, scoring ass, eating, sleeping, whatever
Parkour, tricking, and tumbling is really about a fear game, because it is super un natural… if you are semi-athletic, then with proper technique (constant practice!) you can get good.
That being said, most of the guys here at T-Nation (who train intense, condition, etc.) could easily trick with learning proper gymnastics technique. But again you need to be motivated to do so.
For parkour, it depends on your athletic base… if you’re strength, cardiovascular, and flexibility base sucks, then you better work on that. As a former wrestler and weightlifter at 190 lbs @ 12 % bf, I find parkour easy for me, in respect to athleticism required. But you better train the technique: vaults, climbs, jumping, etc.
Technique is one thing, but without conditioning you will suck. Those 150 lbs dude suck when it comes to conditioning, trust me… they are just fearless.