Traditional Parkour training began as calisthenics, strength and mobility training, as well as challenges for mental toughness, resilience and physical endurance. The self-confidence that emerged from training in this traditional fashion gave many practitioners the ability to “see” more challenges and interesting movement opportunities in their daily life, and thus helped to keep their physical fitness routine fresh and interesting.
A typical parkour class for adults involves breaking down a specific movement pattern, such as crawling on all fours (“quadrapedal movement”), running up walls (wall runs and climb-ups), various types of vaults over obstacles, or building precision and safe landing technique with jumps. When drilling these types of movement, the ratio of technical skill to physical strength can be adjusted, so that large movements can be leveled down to focus on specific elements (e.g., take off or landing), and small movements can be drilled repeatedly for physical endurance and body conditioning.
A large part of Hawaii Parkour’s classes involve games of some kind, which help foster a social element between our participants. Co-operative or competitive play is part of a well-rounded and fun parkour class.
As one becomes more skilled with parkour movement, there comes with it a sense of confidence and accomplishment. A student could take their lessons from class and expand them into concepts for daily living. Being strong enough to climb a wall could mean that in a dangerous scenario, one could help themselves get to safety. In building mental toughness and body conditioning, one could also perhaps help another person during times of high stress or emergency. And a practice we like to encourage at the beginning of class is to Leave No Trace; leaving a training space better than we found it, which could be applied to everywhere we go in life.
Parkour as fitness and fun has many valuable applications, whether you’re in it for just a monthly class, or you are a dedicated student of movement, cultivating a strong body and mind to help you and your loved ones navigate life and its ups and downs.
We invite you to join a monthly adult class with us, where we spend 90 mins not only moving our bodies and playing games, but strengthening our spirits and connection to each other and the places we live in.
Hawaii Parkour 