Parkour and Life Decisions

I hear way too often the question "Hey, how do I get better at Parkour?".

How does one answer that sort of question? A question with that implicit meaning of physical progression in individual movements? How does one help another to understand that Parkour can go (and does go) way beyond the empirical athleticism that is the only thing apparent when observed... that it is not just one move after another, in staccato sequence... that there is much philosophy, judgement, reasoning, discipline, rationale, and conduct brought forth in and out of training that will most always be invisible to the naked eye. From an outsider's or a beginner's perspective, the Traceur is "jumping around", possibly with some potential intent in mind but not much else being run through the brain. This is not the case, though. What can't be seen is the fact that the Traceur's mind is actually moving at a rate much faster than his body is. But, when the Traceur stops moving, does it mean that Parkour has stopped until next time? Physically, maybe, but does Parkour stop for the Traceur?

A person has to experience the culture of Parkour to truly understand what it is all about, and how to "get better". Though aspects can be explained and highlighted, it is not something that can truly be taught out of a textbook. No knowledge is sometimes better than some knowledge. In this case, it's very true.

"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance."
Unfortunately, the internet can't be a person's only source of guidance. It is always recommended to go out and seek others of more experience for tangible guidance. But guidance and tutorials can only go so far. Getting better physically will mean nothing if it can't be backed up mentally. You have to be able to answer the question of why you want to get "better". If it is specifically and only for personal gain, you may wish to rethink your ideologies and reasons for choosing Parkour. Parkour has become a community, one that gives to and should receive from everyone involved.


Choices:
You can't move towards something without moving away from something else. Every choice you make creates a completely new path, through elimination of other paths. If you decide to stop, you have eliminated the decision to go explore.... if you choose to move, you pass by all the opportunities put in front of you that you would have experienced if only you had stopped to observe. Decisions are constantly being made in life. Decisions to gain something new... or expand on something old. But how often do people truly stop to understand what it is that they will be giving up?

I have made some choices recently. Certain specifics are beyond my current knowledge, but the decisions have been made nevertheless. Going forward with certain things means moving away from other things as well and although it may be hard to deal with passing by and giving up certain opportunities, I know that what I will be getting in return will be far greater.

I will live in the moment, and someday I will look back and my actions will appear to be no more than another story or life experience. But they will be more than that. They will be valuable, to me. They will encompass all the decisions that I had made, and all the opportunities that I gave up to experience what I did. What I had done to become the person that I had become.

People strive to create a life where nothing can ever go wrong, where they never have to face giving up something for an uncertain consequence. I call that a vaccuum. Because the only place where nothing can go wrong is a place where there is nothing else at all. That isn't life. You make choices, and you have to deal with what you receive or miss out on. To go out of one's comfort zone is an invaluable feat and is something that every person should pursue in their lifetime. Make choices, don't avoid them. Change is a positive and natural part of life, yet it can still somehow be one of the most frightening things a person will ever have to face.