Superfly Monkey Dragons Parkour Freerunning FAQ
If your question is not answered here please feel free to contact us via our contact form or via our feedback form.
Firstly here are some quick links to answer some of the basic questions:
1. Is Parkour For Me FAQ
- How fit do I need to be to start parkour?
One of the most common things we hear from people considering parkour is “Wait till i get fitter, give me some time to go to the gym and train up”. The truth is, you are ready now. If you really want to train parkour, start now. There is no level of fitness required. You can start training from whatever level of fitness you are at, whether you have not exercised for 10 years or are an active marathon runner. Of course the fitter, stronger and more coordinated you are, the easier it will be to pick up but you can start at any level, and the best way to get in shape for parkour is to start training parkour!
- Can girls do parkour?
Definitely – Parkour is for everybody, no matter your gender, age or level of fitness.
- How old do I have to be to attend a class? Can kids join your classes?
Currently we have students from age 5 to over 50. All ages, from kids to elderly, are welcome. Generally we’ll say 8 and above, but we don’t like to put limits on people, so if you or your child is really keen, the best way to see if they are ready is to take a trial class, and we’ll be able to assess if you or your child is ready and able to train with us!
- Will I get injured or break my bones?
This is one of the most common comments or questions we get. We have conducted over 750 classes and no one has broken any bones. Occasionally bruises and scratches perhaps. No one likes to get injured and just like any physical exercise, we cannot guarantee you will not get injured – however there are 3 considerations that one can keep in mind to minimise injury based on the most common reasons for people getting injured:- Do not attempt movements that are beyond your current ability. This is all about getting to know yourself. Probably one of the most common ways to get injured is being overenthusiastic, or wanting to impress. Be patient and be humble.
- Do not train / attempt to do movements where there is a risk of injury due to physical or mental tiredness. (eg jumping or any movement where there is a chance of falling and hurting yourself). Once again, know your limits.
- Always check surfaces and objects you are planning to do movements on – to ensure they are stable and clear of any sharp or protruding objects that could cause injury.
If you follow these basic guidelines, your chances of injury are very small, and you can enjoy uninterrupted training!
- I’m afraid of the high impact nature of the movements.
If you’ve been watching all the incredible parkour videos on Youtube, it would seem to be that way. However, there are 3 important points to consider:- Parkour training actually focuses on minimising impact, and training your body to be light and learning how to absorb impact in the most efficient way – which is why rolls are often used for big jumps. This is direct contrast with say martial arts, which focuses on creating maximal impact.
- A lot of training is also focused on developing your body armour and strengthening not only your muscles but your connective tissue – tendons, ligaments and joints, so they are able to withstand the larger impact movements – This is why conditioning is an essential and important part of parkour training.
- Parkour for the most part is about you, your body and learning how to move. there is no one else involved and therefore you have total control. There is no risk of someone else striking you as in martial arts, or suffering a bad tackle or colliding with others competitors in team sports. Safety is always a number one priority – Part of the training is learning about your limits, your abilities and being confident in what you can do, and not attempting anything when you are not ready.
2. Parkour Classes with Superfly FAQ
- What do you actually cover in a class?
Check out our class structure and curriculum!
- What is the difference between Parkour Conditioning, Parkour, Parkour Flow and Parkour Family?
Generally all the classes will involve some parkour movement, which involves interacting with your urban environment with intention and control. They will also engage students in basic conditioning and core exercise. The intensity of each component however, will vary according to class types.- Parkour Conditioning:
This class will explore and impart basic parkour techniques, but also have a greater emphasis on strengthening yourself to execute movements more effectively. Stamina, repetition of exercises and dynamic calisthenics feature strongly in the class time.
- Parkour:
This class has a greater emphasis on parkour techniques, though it is catered to students at the level of practice they are at. There is conditioning in this class, but slightly less than the morning conditioning classes.
- Parkour Flow:
The 2-hour class on Sundays has the goal of teaching students how to connect their movements together for coherent maneuvering. This class will push you to combine your techniques and strength into applicable situations and scenarios.
- Parkour Family:
This class is catered more toward children, but anyone is always welcome to join! This class focuses more on encouraging creativity and teaching the students how to interact with their environment. All classes are open to students of any level of experience. The class structure allows students of different levels to push themselves wherever they are.
- Parkour Conditioning:
- Where do you train? Is it indoors?
At present, all our parkour classes are conducted outdoors in public locations. These are commonly used spots by local practitioners that offer a wide range of movement for both the beginner and the more advanced student. These are our regular class locations – though occasionally we do take students exploring!
- What happens when it rains?
We train in all conditions, and work out how to adapt – whether it means finding covered spaces to train, or working out how to train in the wet! Wet training is part of the training. its important to know how to deal with all conditions!
- What should I wear?
Anything that you are comfortable in, that doesn’t limit your mobility! Many of our students opt over time to wear sweats pants – they offer mobility and simple protection against minor scrapes and grazes – but it certainly isn’t a hard and fast rule. Shorts or leggings are alright if you are comfortable.
- Do I need any special equipment? How about shoes?
It is entirely up to you – but we feel that parkour is approachable without any special padding or joint guards. These can impede you feeling your environment effectively or limit your mobility – and are not very practical for your everyday use! We encourage parkour as a discipline that can be used as part of your regular lifestyle, if need be. There are dedicated shoes designed for parkour, but we also generally recommend not relying on special shoes too much, unless you intend to wear them everywhere in your daily life.
- Do you do private classes or workshops for private groups or companies?
Absolutely! Superfly Monkey Dragons has experience in doing workshops and classes for various corporates, social enterprise organisations and even children’s birthday parties or private individuals. Contact us here if you have an idea or project you would like us to be involved with!
3. General Questions about Parkour
- What is the difference between Parkour and Freerunning? Are flips parkour?
Parkour explores the idea of efficiency, speed, power and functionality, from Point A to B. There is also an emphasis on usefulness and readiness in its philosophy! Freerunning is understood to be more about play, self-expression, creativity and engaging your environment. Along those lines, flips generally can be understood to be an expression of freerunning but not parkour. However, many practitioners of movement do both! We would like to express that names at any point, especially at an introductory level, are no matter of concern. What is important is that you MOVE and enjoy every single bit of it!
- Is it illegal?
We understand that practitioners of parkour can often be seen as unnecessary risk-takers that go where they are not allowed. It is our hope to nurture a generation of traceurs that respect themselves as well as the community around them – that are actively a force for good in the society we live in. We believe that you can push boundaries while respecting authority at the same time, and hope to work with them more in the future to raise awareness of what we do!
- Should I learn from videos?
Never say never! Youtube videos are a great source of learning parkour history, being inspired and filling some gaps in your technique knowledge. Always however bear in mind that nothing substitutes learning from an experienced mentor in front of you – videos are never the entire story. Also always remember to learn from each other, as well as yourself.
- What are the values of parkour?
Many traceurs will express the ideas of “Be Strong to Be Useful” and “We Start Together, We Finish Together”. These are values passed on about being functional, useful with what we do, and having teamwork and togetherness. There is also emphasis placed on the idea of “finding your own way”. To check out the values that we hold at Superfly Monkey Dragons as a family and a school, check out our About Us page!
- When should I start?
Right now! See you in class!
