I have decided that my next pair of shoes for parkour will be the 5.10 freerunners in Teak. I'm very excited to be getting a fresh pair of shoes. I have been training with a pair of Nike Pegasus sneakers and really enjoyed them. They are super light and very comfortable running shoes. Their main downside is their grip though. I have been missing the superior grip that the freerunner offers with the stealth rubber soles. Stealth rubber is quite phenomenal and allows gripping even on most wet surfaces! In Seattle that's really useful as I enjoy training in all weather. I can't wait to get 'em! Having reliable and comfortable gear always makes the experience that much better.

What makes humans unique? That we can think about the future? That we can create complex tools and analyze complex systems? What about the things that we overlook or undervalue on a daily basis? It seems that we've forgotten how to move and be physical beings. I love to move and move gracefully as well as efficiently and safely. I see movement as a necessity and a gift. I consider Parkour to be a study, training and practice of the aspects of human life that have been pushed aside all too often in a culture bent on more and more brainy work and less and less body work. Don't get me wrong, we have created amazing things and I wholly believe that we should continue our push for greater knowledge and understanding, but while we do so we should be sure to challenge our bodies equally.

Why Train Parkour?

Parkour is a great way to keep in shape, to have fun and to meet great people, but it's far more than this. Parkour has roots in a great French phrase: Etre Fort pour Etre Utile, to be strong so as to be useful. For what is the point of being strong? Why be able to run fast, jump high and be able to climb a 10 foot wall? I see these feats as being a tool, a tool that at any moment may be needed. Sometimes the need comes in different ways. It could come as a life or death need, but it might also just be a need for greater achievement. Sometimes it's not enough to be decent, normal, average or just stagnant and need arises to be someone better. Maybe it's not enough just to be the person you are when you know you can grow and become someone so much greater. I believe that all of these reasons are legitimate and they all are important components of Parkour and why traceurs train. Everyone will have their own reasons and they are all legitimate. I train because I know that I can be more than I am now. I train because I believe that being useful and prepared for the unknown is not only a good idea, but essential. I honestly doubt that I would have gotten involved in Parkour if the initial spark of fun exercise wasn't there, so I wholeheartedly embrace the reality that Parkour is fun and exhilarating. I have a blast training and I continually find more and more ways to deepen my training and get every drop of essence out of the experience. It is a continuous journey, and rewarding adventure and one that I will continue my whole life.

This last Sunday, October 18th I got to train at a gym in Kirkland. Ethan, Matt, Spencer and I all got together with Random, Matt and their helper Tara to shoot some Parkour training. During the shoot a great many things happened. Unfortunately, Ethan hurt his ankle pretty bad and had to stop training a little early. On the plus side of things though, I trained a triple kong and was quite successful at it. Keeping with the idea of Parkour being a utilitarian measure I must remark that the triple kong is probably not within keeping to this philosophy. However, I do believe that training such movements, even if directly unhelpful, can in fact train the body in very advantageous ways. The quick use of the arms in such a vault to keep the body aligned in the air for a safe landing train the arms to be quick in response to all vaults. I also found myself prepping for the vault with a very short, but very fast sprint which I often find useful in the urban environments as there is often limited space to achieve ideal speeds and angles. Overall, a wonderful day and much learned and sweated.

Etre Fort Pour Etre Utile,
Morgan