Topic: A Bad Parkour Environment

[FireFly]

This has been bugging me, ever since I moved. Around where I live now, there isn't much for parkour. I'm still an amateur, so I thought I would need more of simple obstacles (i.e. fences, short walls, etc). But because that I hardly have enough obstacles, I don't know what I could do to train.

And it's not only where I live, but almost EVERYWHERE here in this city. If you need me to, I could get some photos of the environment around here, so you could give me some tips. But what advice at the moment could you give me about this problem?

[CyanideSoda]

There has been alot of these types of threads. Do you live in or near a town? Do you live near or in woods? Get some pictures.

[FireFly]

I'll try to get some as soon as possible. Just give me some time, I'll have some by the weekend. Besides, I have to wait for my mom to come back from vacation, since she has the camera.

[Kyle]

My town is the same way, the only place I can do anything is on rooftops or at the schools, other than that it is either just cars, houses, and open road.

[RuKuS]

i was like that for around 3 months before i realized what wood, screws and a drill could do

not only building things, but find some stuff. we were using barrels, ropes, pipes (welding clas pays off) and other things we found in the woods down the road from my old house. we also found two halves of a hot tub (the woods used to be a trash dump) to practice kings and other distant vaults on.

when you find an environment to practice on, your limited to what is already built and your imagination. when you build your own area, you know whats there, your imagination helped build it, and you odnt have to worry about people telling you to get of their property...

[Potato]

ya, i have a question about that, how do you get on the roof tops

[Ace]

Climb, pop vault (if is low enough), cat leap, just to name a few.

[Potato]

can u explain some of the moves

[bobbshields]

I'm still an amateur, so I thought I would need more of simple obstacles (i.e. fences, short walls, etc). But because that I hardly have enough obstacles, I don't know what I could do to train.

If you're still a noob, then i think that getting on rooftops would be a very bad idea.  I've been training with some friends for about a month now, and mostly we work on strengthening our bodies (mostly legs) and getting an idea of how to fall properly. 

I train in trash dumps (there's one with an awesome brick wall around it), in parking decks, at city hall.  There's a pretty cool park that we run at, and its got lots of downed trees.  There's a spot there, kinda out of the way, where there is an excellent hill for jumping down.  It provides soft ground, so we can jump from a fair height and learn how to fall, compress and roll.

I haven't even put the first thought towards getting on a rooftop.  That'll be a year or two for me.  I suggest you look a little harder for what's available on the ground.

[Blarg]

At least you're not in a desert or something...

[Muhammad]

Someone just showed me a video where a guy takes something as simple as a single handrail, and just works it in every way possible that he can think of. You don't really need alot of obstacles to drill your parkour skills. Check this out. This is an excellent example of how to approach this issue.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TawZ9ExB9I0

[BloodStallion]

At least you're not in a desert or something...

unfortunately... I am. im in Lake havasu AZ... its not super big and i havent found any good spots yet... i will post some pics when i get the chance

[Zachary Cohn]

Check out Jereme Sanders' "Unconventional Training Grounds" articles. http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/2683/1/ here's the latest.

[bryan]

i have an idea, get ur dad to build u a hand rail out back or where ever, and make it real dense of handrails so u can practice on the whole area and not just one spot. thats what i got my dad to do lol

[Shane Warren]

You really just have to make sue with what you have unless you have the resources to build obstacles.
ask cyanide soda here in Kentucky there really aren't that many urban areas close to most people i train alot in the woods occasionally i can catch a ride down to MSU campus

[Elet ET]

No trees?

[Dan Frank]

ya, i have a question about that, how do you get on the roof tops

Don't. It's dangerous and illegal.

[edgey]

I came to realize that a rail was a gift from god

[Dan Elric]

I came to realize that a rail was a gift from god

A single rail offers unlimited possibilities.  And it will get your basics down.

[JC*]

This has been bugging me, ever since I moved. Around where I live now, there isn't much for parkour. I'm still an amateur, so I thought I would need more of simple obstacles (i.e. fences, short walls, etc). But because that I hardly have enough obstacles, I don't know what I could do to train.

And it's not only where I live, but almost EVERYWHERE here in this city. If you need me to, I could get some photos of the environment around here, so you could give me some tips. But what advice at the moment could you give me about this problem?

Sounds to me as if you have not seen TK's video "pilgrimage". He demonstrates that open roads and clear spaces are the most neglected of all obstacles. I recommend the viewing of that video bud. As stated a single rail is a great place to train. Maybe its not the enviornment but instead your personal view on the obstacles around you.