Feb 1st 2017: February Updates!

Please find below the link to our February update detailing planned class changes for February and more information about our next Junior Beginners Course, which at the time of this post has only 1 space remaining.

February Update here: http://preview.mailerlite.com/o3u1h4

Classes will run as usual over the February Half Term with the addition of daytime sessions at Hadleigh Park (they're handling these sessions), visit this link for info - https://www.facebook.com/events/718127688346843/ 

Missed out or found this out too late? Subscribe to our email newsletter to be THE FIRST to receive updates about new classes, class changes and exclusive offers. Subscribe here: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c7b9x4 

September 1st 2016: We're almost there!

Apologies for the slight delay in having the September Term Time Schedule up and out to you. We will definitely be live by this weekend (latest) and available for booking.

So far we can confirm:
Adult (16+) There will be no changes to the adult classes on a Weds or Sat.

Junior Classes:
Friday night classes will remain at St Bernard's both brought forward by 15 minutes. (Foundations starting at 5:45pm and Intermediates at 7:15pm).

Tuesday night Tiny Traceurs classes will remain at 5-6pm at Chalkwell Hall Junior School for ages 5-7 years.

There will be new weekly classes opening up at Hadleigh Park for at least Junior Beginners and Foundations levels ages 8-15 years.

Keep posted via this page, our news page via the website and subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you don't miss out! Please hold out for the new schedule and newsletter which will explain it all :) - Thanks

18th July '16: Summer Update!

Hi all, real quick update to restate the summer schedule details and add a little more information which will continue through/on to our social media sites and classes/booking page of the website shortly.

Please remember: During our Hadleigh Park Classes, the Parkour area will be closed to the general public for the duration of the class.

We have class changes/additions from the 23rd July with summer schedule officially launching on the 27th July: See below for details:

From the 23rd July:

Saturday: Adult (16+) Beginners Class at Hadleigh Park - 9am start 
NEW WEEKLY CLASS continuing past summer!

From the 27th July:

Wednesday 27th July:
Adult (16+) Outdoor Class - Southend -7pm - Meet at Southend Vic (As usual)

Thursday 28th July:
Hadleigh Park Sessions - Book via: www.hadleigh-park.co.uk (Booking available soon)

Friday 29th July: 
- Junior Beginners (8-15 years) - Hadleigh Park, 10am.
- Junior Foundations (8-15 years) - Hadleigh Park 12pm (Must have been invited by coach from beginners)
- Junior Intermediates (8-15 years) - Meeting at Southend Civic Centre 2:30pm (Must have been invited by coach from beginners/foundations)

From Tuesday 2nd August:
- ParkLives with Active Southend - "Parkour in the Park" - 10:30am - Chalkwell Park (Targeting ages 12-24) 
- Tiny Traceurs (5-7) Chalkwell Hall Junior School -  From 1:30pm - 

Except for our adult classes, all other classes will cease by the 3rd September and our Term Time schedule will start back up on the week commencing 12th September 2016

4th May 2016: May the fourth be with you.

We've just sent out our May newsletter with details about new classes coming to Southend, including a 5-7 years class, an 8-15 years beginners class and a continuation of our Girls only St Bernards Students sessions!

Click here to read this newsletter.

Click here to join the mailing list to get future updates straight to your inbox!

28th April '16: Big update on it's way... still...

Hi all, I just wanted to message to again let you know, new classes are in the works but we're pushing for some final details which will mean we can confirm it all in one whack rather than in pieces. Our new classes, of which, information will be going out via our newsletter (Sign up here), Facebook and Twitter AS SOON AS AVAILABLE.

While posting, don't forget our next ADULT indoor session for beginners and regulars is happening THIS SATURDAY! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND BOOKING! - Your chance to #GiveParkourAGo

Apologies for the extended wait but we want to get ALL info out to you in one shot. Please sign up to our newsletter and news will Parkour it's way over to you as soon as finalised. Apologies for the wait but we believe it'll be worth it! - Thanks all! Brad

12th Feb 2016: Shoes, glorious shoes!

From day one in the UK scene, one of the first few questions when getting into Parkour is "what shoes should I get" and while the question itself does have some merit and value, it's a very loaded question with so much that could be said and considered.

Some of my current students have been asking questions recently on the subject so I thought I'd make a quick post sharing my suggestions/guidance for both current and future students to make an informed decision.

As much as the information below is here to help and inform, shoe choice is still a very personal preference to use this information as you see fit based on what and how you train.

1. Protection, Feel and Grip.

Protection: We're not built for hard surfaces so shoes offer protection against artificial textures and terrains which we wouldn't have experienced hundreds/thousands of years ago. In today's urban environment shoes support the protection of our feet against numerous hazards like glass, sharp stones and other rough/sharp objects, as well as certain movements which may hit, bruise or damage skin, joints or bones.

Personally, I have spent some considerable time training barefoot (Inside and outside) as a challenge, to toughen the skin on the feet, strengthen the feet and ankles through HAVING to use them more. This also helped develop a better understanding of my body's limitations in relation to the environments used. What you would and wouldn't do in terms of certain movement's/impacts really gets you thinking about what's best for your body both in and out of shoes. (If you plan to try going barefoot, get used to walking and strengthening the skin of the feet first, this can take weeks/months of committed bare-footing from my experience, as ever, do some googling and do some research!)

Some movements used in Parkour can include impact and sliding utilising the foot (think arm jumps), so having some protection when doing this on wood, bricks etc is useful, if not essential for some situations/larger impact movements. This is why it's generally always a good move to think smart about your movement and keep impacts lower/softer where possible to protect yourself.

Feel: As much as protection and an amount of absorbency (cushioning) is useful, we should also be making decisions about the suitability of each movement ensuring our choices are working WITH our body, not just using (and for some, abusing) it. Having an amount of sensitivity or "feel" through your chosen trainer is very important when surfaces/textures are vastly different from one terrain to another. A hard-solid sole for example would be difficult to wrap around a narrow bar/rail during balancing. Too much cushioning can/will also dampen the amount of feel and your sensitivity to your environment which may negatively affect your movements based on feel or the lack of.

Grip: This is perhaps the most focused on thing with a newer practitioner, mostly as strength and technique are still developing and techniques are being found difficult. Grip absolutely helps, however all surfaces will differ from one another, further affected by weather, temperature, paint types etc.... it's very difficult to find something that would grip (at all times) so it's important to note the limitations of our footwear and grip. Moving yourself effectively utilising what you've got rather than having the "perfect shoe" to depend on, I believe is a better approach. Strength and technique will improve your ability to use a variety of shoes so I'd suggest thinking about this rather than shaping your training/movements around the shoe and your dependence on it.

2: Examples of footwear:


As pictured above here are a small selection of preferred shoes currently. You will notice that all of these have some protection/abrasive resistant qualities around the toe/nose of the shoe which can be useful in protecting the toes from unplanned impact (Stubbing toes) and can stop the material developing holes exposing the toes to the elements.
------------------


Merrel/Vibram Shoes:
I picked these up in TK MAXX for around £20, Merrel are generally an off road,trail running company quite thick and beefy shoes. I found these slimmer, fitted shoes and was interested as they'd teamed up with Vibram for the sole of the shoe... they provide a number of soles for varying applications but you may have heard of their "vibram fiverfingers" and as such, pride themselves on creating a "natural feel" with regards to the soles of a shoe.

You will notice the soles look very "foot like" in shape with a very low profile/low cushioning and reasonably thick rubbered sole across the majority of the sole albeit in a few separate sections (Left to right: Orange heel section, yellow and orange forefoot). The fact that you have a grippy rubber sole for the width and length of the foot means wherever you land on your underfoot, you should have some grip. The separate rubber sections (not one solid piece) around the forefoot provide a very flexible shoe, moving well with the foot itself during crouching and (on-toes" movements, however, during certain movements (arm jumps), some sections of the yellow grip have pulled away from the shoe which could trip you up/ruin the shoe if not glued back down and repaired. Due to this happening often if you have separate sole sections, I tend to look for a whole grip sole such as in Fieyue's or seen in the Puma Naritas. That being said these are very comfortable which again, is an important element in general, if you feel comfortable it should translate into your movement.
---------------



"New feel" trainer from Decathlon:
I bought these out of necessity during my Level 2 Parkour Coaching certification week. I wore some very simple, light, shoes (Fieyue's: discussed later) and needed something with a bit more protection due to the amount of physical work being completed over the consecutive days. I was quite surprised how good I got on with these, as they were only around £15.

These shoes velcro-up which might not give as much stability at laces but fits well. There is good sole "rubber" coverage across the shoe apart from the arches but we shouldn't be landing there in general. The main thing to ensure is not hard plastic sections in the arches, because if you DO happen to misplace a landing on a rail and make contact with the plastic, you are either cracking it, or more likely sliding which rarely ends well when you are trying to grip/stick it. Again, a low profile good sensitivity and does the job for feel, grip and protection.
 

Puma NARITAS V3:

My favourite shoe at the moment, hands down. A very low profile sole/heel which supports a good sense of feel/sensitivity of your surfaced is futher supported by 2 large thin rubber soles which provide excellent grip (helped me up the warped all on Ninja Warrior UK) without running the risk of the soles pealing off like I mentioned with the Merrel shoes above.

The thinner cushioning and sole mean that with rail balancing you can really wrap your feet/toes around the bar to get better purchase and feel of whatever you are on. The only limitation I have found with these is that the soles grip (groove) are not too deep so can become slick after a few months which affect the grip in wet/slippery conditions moreso than when they are now, so be away when the pebble grip becomes worn.

Honorable mention for all.....
Fieyue Martial Arts Shoes: 

These are often used for Wushu, Tai Chi and other related martial arts, however, Parkour practitioners have adopted these as the are cheap, offer fantastic grip and feel, while having a low profile, feeling very natural on the foot.

American Parkour sell them via their site and in my opinion are the perfect blend for protection, sensitivity and grip. They force you to land better due to the limited cushioning and as long as you are listening to your body can support in strengthening the feet and ankles due to their basic nature. They stretch out to fit the foot quite well, once you find the perfect size for you, enjoy! The only real limitation is the sole can degrade quite quickly if you are doing big slidey arm jumps and wallruns, so these are more for small, technical movement training.

In conclusion:
"Barefoot is the best shoe" has been stated by David Belle and in my opinion, holds some merit, if you wouldn't do X, Y or Z movement out of shoes... perhaps you should be thinking about the impacts you are taking and is it the best thing for your body.

If you're looking for a shoe I recommend:

• Low profile, low cushioning to ensure a good "feel" of your terrains. 
• A solid, flexible, rubber sole that can move with your foot when flexing, and extending the toes and ankles.
• Avoid shoes with plastic in the arches of the shoe.. plastic + metal = slide. (Not that you should be landing there anyway)
• Avoid shoes with smaller glued sections of rubber sole, a larger one or two piece shoe (like the naritas) are less likely to pull/peel off. Make sure the rubber sole is on the majority of the soles.
• Make sure you're comfortable in them.
• Have a look at the build if you see things that might pull off, rip out or wear through quickly, perhaps keep hunting!

While there are some companies pushing out Parkour specific shoes, in my opinion, they often fall short and are pricey, the following options should be cheaper and fit for purpose.

Useful links:
Fieyue's: http://www.taichifinder.co.uk/products#!/Feiyue-Shoes/c/632653/offset=0&sort=nameAsc
(I've always had a very positive and prompt experience from these guys)

Puma Naritas: http://www.sportsdirect.com/SearchResults?DescriptionFilter=puma%20naritas (Sports Direct Link)

30th October 2015 - Southend Parkour recognised by Southend Sport Awards.

Southend Parkour wins the Innovation Award at the 2015 Southend Sport Awards 2015! Below are some social media posts from the night! (It might take a few seconds to load the embedded posts and images)

Posted by Southend Parkour - Parkour & Freerunning Coaching on Friday, 30 October 2015

Thank you everyone who came 2 #sossportsawards last night. Fantastic eve recognising local sporting talent #Southend pic.twitter.com/ylzPuQ3dXO

— activesouthend (@activesouthend) October 30, 2015

Congratulations to you all :) https://t.co/KEsce9Fyhf

— AGE Concern Southend (@ACSOSSouthend) October 29, 2015

Why Coaching Matters, Part 1: 10th October 2015

It has been just over a year since starting coaching sessions in the Southend area for adults and it's been great to see so many people giving Parkour a go and exploring movement. Things have progressed from 1 adult class class to 4+ classes a week for children and adults (with more opportunities planned). This clearly shows the interest and the need for quality Parkour learning opportunities in the local area and further across the UK, being met by a growing plethora of dedicated coaches.

For this blog series, I wanted to share some experiences from training and coaching over the past decade and share some thoughts about Parkour coaching, guidance and it's importance for learning through a practice as diverse as Parkour.

Coaching & The Internet:
When I first started Parkour, we had Snail-paced internet and no YouTube. We shared ideas, questions and videos via forum links and YouSendIt.com (Shoutout!). We often left things on download while we'd head out training for the day sitting ready for us to watch by the time we got home!

Given that Parkour was 'new' to the UK, only a handful of mostly forum based websites existed to help each other learn together, Parkour.net (A focused Parkour forum) being a primary resource of current information and discussion... and Andi. ;)

Without the internet, we wouldn't have had opportunities to meet up, formulate ideas, learn about the history, share experiences, discuss techniques, organise communities, learn from more experienced people and formulate our own views and opinions based on the evidence and discussions available at hand. Internet forums were a searchable, ever evolving resource, documenting the ongoing learning and evolution of Parkour, predominantly focused on movement aspirations stemming from a tiny pool of videos, interviews and literature of the early pioneers.

A few words I use to describe these videos and those in them: raw, powerful, simple, fast, strong. See what I mean? 


Today, the internet is the first port of call for information, it is a massive part of our lives, our culture, our businesses, our learning.... however it needs to be remembered, it is all still very young.

It's still learning how to effectively share and regulate information and we're still learning how it affects us.

Today, with any subject, anyone has the means to create a "how-to" video and share it; on occasion this content may is good and help things develop, but mostly, content shared lacks in the intricacies which may need to be conveyed, this content neglects the hours and hours of training and failures and focuses on the end-result, the spectacle... and this is the best of the bad stuff.... the rest may be viral-focused, views-hunting, subscription-wanting video content .... "junk-food", pushing stuff which more often than not, malnourishes the practice and those searching for it. 

The internet is unregulated, anyone can post and say anything, experienced or not. At least with coaching in the UK and learning in person with a qualified coach, there have been steps and in reality, years worth of checks and balances put in place to ensure experience, understanding and a good level of coaching ability. These skills have been developed and assessed in order to provide students with a good level of information and guidance. This provides instant feedback, opportunities to be challenged and supported to learn and grow in that moment, there and then alongside a high degree of care and accountability.

I'm not knocking the internet at all, it's such an amazing resource to share and learn through and it has helped massively in the growth and development of Parkour; nor am I saying "old content" was the perfect example, but with the community being smaller and having less available, there was or seemed to be a greater level of accountability. We had pages and pages of forum comments following a video and generate further, worthwhile discussion on the positives and negatives of the video's content, realising the benefits and limitations of what was being shared so that we can all grow and learn together (this is far removed from the youtube trolling comments from people that may or may not care about Parkour).

The speed and ease of distribution of information may be more of a hindrance to real knowledge than a benefit as is often assumed, in particular individuals who do not question information presented.

The unregulated nature of today's content; the impressionability of young people and for beginners who may not know any better, can be a potentially harmful thing.

The information we feed the mind and body, manifests in our lives and actions, the higher the quality and greater balance of information taken in, will provide a greater, more rounded and healthy understanding of the whole practice.

For some, the internet may well still be the primary option for learning... so as long as you research, challenge and question what's provided, it can absolutely help you on your journey. If you have the opportunity to access a coach nearby, (certified, experienced and clearly lives by what they teach) it make's a lot of sense to use them, chances are they've been there and done it and will guide you to find your own way of doing things and help you in find what's important, in both training and life.

With great power comes great responsibility. Question it all, challenge it, explore it.

16th June '15: My Ninja Warrior UK Experience.

Having taken part in the first Ninja Warrior UK show which aired through May/June 2015, I wanted to write and share a few thoughts from my experience. This might give interested readers a bit of an insight into the show and hopefully dispel rumours/ add some points to any future discussion about the show.

If you like, please read, share and/or comment.

You only get one shot.

One of the questions I get asked a lot about the show is "do you get a chance to practice?".
Quick answer is no! Each run you see on the show is as it happened, give or take any course malfunctions, (only happened once on the show from what I saw) and the runner would start from that obstacle at the time they got there, as stated in rules (Remember this happened with Makoto Nagano one year, it's no big deal, it happens).

Your one and only run, which could be at the start or end of the filming session (A few hours long) is the first chance to attempt the obstacles.

It takes a particular type of training and mindset to be able to deal with the physical adaptation of new movements/obstacles/surfaces, keeping calm and composed to make positive choices for your course approach and how you tackle each obstacle. Some people manage to wing it and that's a great part of the show too!

We did get a chance to walk alongside each obstacle to see course testers show a few options for obstacle approach and to brief us on any Health and Safety precautions, however, that's as much and as close as you get.

If I had the chance to practice with a few runs, I'm certain I could have brought my time to at least around the 30-45 second mark, but practice isn't a luxury you get on Ninja Warrior.... or in a real-life.

To have the chance to experience a 'real', one-chance situation like this was great as a Parkour practitioner. Being cautious but confident and where possible, having a back up plan to fix an error and keep moving forward. "Just going for it" might work and might have worked for some, but is it worth the risk? Its your choice ultimately but as a Parkour coach, with over 10 years of Parkour experience, my choice was slow and methodical, you only get one shot.

As for my semi-final slip-up, after waiting around backstage for hours, watching attempt after attempt I was tired and I think, let nerves get the better of me; I rushed the chains and either my hands were too sweaty or the chains were wet; either way, no grip and a slow slip. :(

This is a reason I train Parkour and why I believe practitioners are well suited to Ninja Warrior, not only do we spend a lot of time practising overcoming obstacles but many practice and play with odd and awkward movements. During training, we ensure any time spent practising is to high standard, being strict, being consistent and ready to adapt learned movements if and when required.

A broad experience within movement will keep you calm, confident and (hopefully) on your feet!

Comparisons to Japan and American Ninja Warrior

There has been some criticism around the course suggesting that Ninja Warrior UK is 'watered down' or too easy. Although I can understand the points raised, I feel that the series did a good job in baring the Ninja Warrior name and for the UK audience.

The UK is a silly country when it comes to TV, look at soaps and prime-time shows, generally it's all very over the top and silly. British people do like to have a laugh at others, most people do...  and for the first series, viewer-ship is required to get anywhere near making another series.

I agree that Ninja Warrior UK was a little, "lighter" in terms of how it was edited and commentated. However, during the show, both filming and backstage, everyone there was there to have some fun, OR really give the course a go, much alike the Japanese and American versions. Gladiators and the Crystal maze are great examples, they were a show and entertaining but it was very respectful and they favoured the successes, hard work and determination over painting it with the same tongue-in-cheek entertainment brush.

Participants make the moments; encourage, support them and let them. Make the course test them.... and I mean really test them, from heats to finals, and you'll see something amazing.

Having been a NW fan for many years,as I'm sure the majority of participants were, in the heats and during the semi-finals, the focus was very much excitement for having the opportunity to try a purpose built obstacle course, similar to the ones we've seen people attempting for many years. Personally I would like to have had each heat more difficult, but again, for the first series, I think there was a good balance of obstacles and challenges with even the practised course testers taking a plunge during the briefings! Things ARE bigger than they look on TV.

Lastly, the great thing about the global Ninja Warrior movement are the people who come and try, their stories and their abilities. The global Ninja Warrior opportunity has pushed people to improve their lives, help others and share their stories of overcoming obstacles faced both on the course and in their lives. Father and son attempts, Nanny-ninja attempts, professionals wanting to test themselves further, pushing the limits of age, injury or disability etc.

In this respect Ninja Warrior UK did the show justice. I'm proud to have been part of the GLOBAL Ninja Warrior community and will aim to go further to complete the course for next series. Determined, experienced and ready.

Suggestions for the second series.

In the way the show was aired, it feels like it tried a little 'too hard' in some respects. Voice-over's trying to add 'hype', trying to make it intense and exciting, visual effects to make it look flashy, when really, it doesn't need it!

Katie McDonnell hanging on the ring slider for minutes was exciting, Dion and Geoff Trigg's father and son story of Ninja Warrior was moving, the near misses, the families, the incredible performances of real athletes who live and breathe this stuff like Toby, Tiege and Tim. No need to add hype, challenge is entertaining enough.

What I'd like to see in the next season:
- A more difficult course from the start, if ITV can "build it..... they will come" and get better TV from it, both in terms of the 'successes' and 'failures'. One of the best things about Japan is how notoriously hard the course is! There are more people in the UK who do 'this stuff' than I think, is assumed. Look at OCR, Parkour and MovNat participation figures....

- Keep the editing simple, Japan and America's versions keep a good balance of respect, encouragement and fun without poking too much fun at anyone in particular; sometimes, less is more. It doesn't need to try and entertain, there's plenty of excitement happening already.

- The jump from the Heats/Semi's compared to the second stage of the final was BIG leap. The time restraint was very tight in watching and knowing how challenging those obstacles were, it would have merited either no time (like Japanese version). A reasonable time limit for the 1st Heats would have been a good idea to add a little pressure to keep moving and not take too long.

Thanks for reading, agree or disagree? Comment below and share!

Related articles:
http://www.muddyrace.co.uk/news/thoughts-on-ninja-warrior-uk-from-the-expert/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11527767/Ninja-Warrior-UK-review.html
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2015/apr/10/ninja-warrior-itv-sasuke
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/John-Woodhouse-TV-Review-Ninja-Warrior-UK-8211/story-26314242-detail/story.html
http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/11/11-moments-which-explain-why-ninja-warrior-uk-might-just-be-our-favourite-new-programme-5145956/
http://www.ninjawarrioruk.com/blog/4589009546

18th May 2015 - Update!

Hi all!

Quick update with what's going on at SP-HQ this week!

Classes:
Meetings and setting up new options for both adult and junior classes, both indoor and out! The aim is to have these ready for delivery and launched together in one schedule update.

As soon as they're good to go, details will be up on the website and shared via social media, so make sure you're following "Southend Parkour" on facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube.

Video:
We have a new video up, showcasing our Junior Indoor Classes and what happens in them! 

As mentioned, we are very busy at the moment with classes being booked up to a week in advance. With new class options available soon, this should improve and lead to better availability. Again, thanks for your patience,  Click here to book online in advance to avoid missing out! 

Subscribe to the youtube channel and don't miss a video update!





Shirts and Merchandise:
We will have a limited supply of adult and junior size Southend Parkour T-shirts available this week. Shirts will be black fabric with white print and yours for £15. Very limited quantities available to both junior and adult students, first come first serve at classes this week. Working on a few other cool bits of kit too, and again, will be shared as soon as available.

Ninja Warrior UK Semi-Finals:
This coming Saturday (23rd May) my semi-final heat for ITV's Ninja Warrior UK will air at 7pm, see how I get in when I take of the "toughest obstacle course on TV!".

It was a great experience and a fantastic opportunity to challenge myself with like-minded individuals, sharing a passion for obstacles and movement!

I'll be training hard for next year and who knows.... hopefully I'll be joined by a few students who've been developing their skills through the classes!



Be sure to tune in at 7pm on Saturday!