FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
What is Parkour?
Parkour is a non-competitive discipline originating in France, encompassing a set of principles combined with a way of moving within your environment and overcoming obstacles of any kind, be they physical or mental.
The physical aspect of Parkour involves practical movement techniques guided by the notions of escape and reach. For example, Parkour teaches you ways to move that can be used to gain ground on a pursuer during an escape.
Parkour methods involve running, crawling, jumping, climbing, and other methods of catching yourself, grabbing and hanging, rolling and balancing, applied to all environments both urban and natural. The Parkour practitioner aims to become highly proficient in all the above methods so they can be used in an emergency situation.
A Parkour practitioner is defined not by the way they move, but rather the application of movement with regards to the philosophy and purpose of parkour.
More detailed information can be obtained from the Parkourpedia.
What will I learn in a class?
In our classes you learn about; Parkour and its principles, fundamental movements and training techniques, as well as strength, conditioning and fitness.
Classes have a strong emphasis on safety – everything is taught at ground level and students are never taken to dangerous heights or locations. The ultimate goal of classes being that you are eventually taught how to train without the need of a class.
Who can attend a class?
The Origins classes are especially suited for absolute beginners. There are no fitness or experience prerequisites, and the class is open to males and females of all ages. There are classes that also cater for the more experienced, who will focus on improving and refining techniques as well as strength and conditioning and the mental aspects of Parkour.
Do I need to book or register before I come to a class?
Unless otherwise stated, you don't need to book, register or let anybody know before you come to a class. Just turn up.
Who will be teaching me in a class?
New Zealand Parkour Association instructors are amongst the most talented and experienced practitioners in New Zealand. Instructors use methods shared throughout the Parkour community in New Zealand as well as knowledge and techniques sourced from around the globe.
What else do I need to know about classes?
You will need to wear comfortable clothes and suitable shoes (closed shoes e.g. running shoes).
Bring a bottle of water or two – more if the weather is hot. It is highly recommended that you bring sunscreen to all outdoor classes.
Arrive ON TIME. If you cannot arrive on time, notify an instructor. If you do not notify the instructors of your late arrival, the class may move from the meeting place without you. You may also miss vital intstruction and valuable training time. Late individuals must still pay full price for the class.
How much do classes cost?
Classes are subject to change depending on class type and/or city. Please check local details regulary for changes.
When and where are the classes held?
Check the local details for specific up-to-date details on the classes in your area.
When will you be teaching us how to do flips and tricks?
Flips and tricks are not part of Parkour. For this reason, they are not covered under our insurance policy and they will not be taught in classes. Secondly, while many instructors are capable of acrobatics, few are qualified to teach them. If you wish to learn about L'art du Deplacement or Freerunning read this in the Parkourpedia.
Should you wish to learn these other arts your most effective way to achieve this goal is to learn Parkour initially, your grounding in Parkour will give you the right spirit and training techniques for your further training. From there you can go to a gym and learn flips in a safe environment from people who best know how to teach them. You can then combine the two out on the street.
I’m really sore after Class, is this normal?
It is perfectly normal to experience muscular pain after classes. This is called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and is caused by sudden changes in physical activity and muscular loading. It usually lasts for 3-7 days. As your body adapts to the training and becomes stronger and your conditioning increases, you will feel less and less discomfort after classes. This muscle soreness can be reduced with a thorough warm-up and cool-down before and after activity.
Remember, this pain signals that your body is adapting and getting stronger.
How do I treat this post-activity muscle soreness?
DOMS generally subsides in less than a week (and up to two weeks), but there are several ways to reduce the discomfort:
RICE treatment (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) of the affected area. Gentle stretching, gentle low-impact exercise, and gentle massage. If pain does not show signs of improvement in 7 days, consult a physician.
When do I get to do rooftops and big stuff?
The New Zealand Parkour Association discourages dangerous drops. The classes will not take students to do big rooftop jumps, or other dangerous activities. The classes are about teaching you the basics, not putting lives at risk. The NZPA does not endorse dangerous behaviour and will not tolerate it during classes. If you insist on performing dangerous stunts, you will be asked to leave the class.
Should I train outside of classes?
This is strongly encouraged. If you only isolate your training to classes you will take a long time to learn and improve. Classes are here to guide you and give you a base to start from. Ideally we want you to reach a point where you no longer need classes and have learnt to teach and train yourself. The best way to do this is train as much as possible outside of classes.
What can I do if I don’t have a city to do Parkour in?
Parkour can be done almost anywhere that you can find obstacles. It is a common misconception that Parkour is only practiced in the city. The first traceur's trained extensively in the forests of France as they developed Parkour. It can be done in all terrains and environments that you find objects that impede your ability to move from one place to another. New Zealand has many excellent places to train in a natural environment.
I’m very unfit and/or old. Should I start Parkour or come to a class?
Yes you should. We have had people in their fifties and older who attend classes and enjoy themselves, and excel in some areas. Also, unfit people attend as well. Initially you may find some difficulty with being unfit but if you persist and take what you learn and train outside of classes you will become fitter and more confident. The best way to get fit for Parkour is to do it!
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