Caricature time.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Trace, Jam and Wakeboarding.
Been a good week of training. On Friday I went up to the Trace Facility and had a play on the re-arranged equipment. With the arm-jump focus I trained up a bunch of exercise variants to strengthen my arms, wrists, hands and shoulders. The company was great too. Now that I know many of the APA guys personally it felt great to be welcomed by friends. People were even more forthcoming on the jokes and advice and the training, though pretty strenuous, had all the fun/goofy quirks of a night out with friends. A few of the veterans took the time ot get involved. Chippa (APA Prez), though injured, came out of his ‘office’ briefly to give me some tips. Sasha (one of the more experienced APA traceours and stunt-man) took the time to offer some conditioning advice.
The atmosphere of the Trace was relaxed, despite of the hard work being done on the premises. While people trained largely on their own, a change of equipment or a new challenged was played with by all. Everyone had a go, in a completely uncompetitive way.
Saturday I went along to the general Jam. I met Josh and a bunch of other guys there. This session was more relaxed than anything I’ve done with the APA. The meeting started on Southbank at 10. I got there a bit late. This wasn’t a problem as people arrived all the way through until mid-day. The guys were very friendly. The atmosphere was primarily social. With some people actively training and others doing no training at all. Any activities were lead by gentle prodding and example and participated on a purely voluntary basis. This is casual parkour. Despite of this, quite a number of the traciours there were at a good proficiency level and those who didn’t train showed a good general knowledge of the scene and culture.
I had underestimated the impact of the previous night’s training and quickly ran out of steam at the jam. My arms and wrists were utterly useless after only a few basic manoeuvres. Though I intended to hang around as an observer (there were plenty of those around) the day was cut short at 2pm with a phone-call from a friend who needed an urgent favour. Next time I’ll stay for the day.
I had intended to rest my arms on Sunday and didn’t go to the APA Sunday classes. But things didn’t turn out quite as I had planned. In the late morning I got an invite to go wakeboarding for free. This was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Completely new to this activity, I soon discovered that the muscles I was trying to rest were in for a decent workout. Though I had a blast, my arms and wrists ended up being more sore and worn-out than ever. I spent Monday formatting tutorials and doing a bit of sculpting – taking it easy.
Once they recover I’ll be straight back into training. Looking forward to conditioning with Smo and company later in the week and another solid Trace session. Improving little bits at a time.
The atmosphere of the Trace was relaxed, despite of the hard work being done on the premises. While people trained largely on their own, a change of equipment or a new challenged was played with by all. Everyone had a go, in a completely uncompetitive way.
Saturday I went along to the general Jam. I met Josh and a bunch of other guys there. This session was more relaxed than anything I’ve done with the APA. The meeting started on Southbank at 10. I got there a bit late. This wasn’t a problem as people arrived all the way through until mid-day. The guys were very friendly. The atmosphere was primarily social. With some people actively training and others doing no training at all. Any activities were lead by gentle prodding and example and participated on a purely voluntary basis. This is casual parkour. Despite of this, quite a number of the traciours there were at a good proficiency level and those who didn’t train showed a good general knowledge of the scene and culture.
I had underestimated the impact of the previous night’s training and quickly ran out of steam at the jam. My arms and wrists were utterly useless after only a few basic manoeuvres. Though I intended to hang around as an observer (there were plenty of those around) the day was cut short at 2pm with a phone-call from a friend who needed an urgent favour. Next time I’ll stay for the day.
I had intended to rest my arms on Sunday and didn’t go to the APA Sunday classes. But things didn’t turn out quite as I had planned. In the late morning I got an invite to go wakeboarding for free. This was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Completely new to this activity, I soon discovered that the muscles I was trying to rest were in for a decent workout. Though I had a blast, my arms and wrists ended up being more sore and worn-out than ever. I spent Monday formatting tutorials and doing a bit of sculpting – taking it easy.
Once they recover I’ll be straight back into training. Looking forward to conditioning with Smo and company later in the week and another solid Trace session. Improving little bits at a time.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I’ve just recently started practicing some of the intermediate/advanced techniques. It is always interesting to see the way my unconditioned body reacts to new manoeuvres and exercises. When I started, my lower back acted up. These were basic climbing movements. Lower body, mostly. Then I moved onto various pull-ups and upper body climb-ups. These really worked out my forearms and upped abdominal section. Slowly, these muscle-groups became more adept and better conditioned. Jogging worked up my legs and improved my stamina. It took a while to get my legs, lounges and heart up to scratch.
Each improvement felt massive, final. “NOW I’m ready,” I would think to myself. I thought that I had found all of the parts of myself that were weak, and now it was a matter of fine motor skills, experience and further conditioning. Obviously, I was wrong. As I turned to the precision jumps I discovered that my lower abdominal muscles were completely useless. It was like discovering a body part you never knew you had, one you simply never had cause to use. I was back to square one. A short period of practice would bring about the familiar pain of stress and exhaustion. Any exercise freak will testify that after a while that pain becomes a reward. Proof that you’re really training, getting strong.
My lower abdomen is still weak, but I can feel the progress. Unused muscles condition quickly. I’ve added cat-passes and arm-jumps to my training schedule last week and these new moves are helping me discover more weakness. More challenges to address. Recently, in a conversation with my new parkour friends I was told to saviour this experience. “You’ll progress quickly, there’s still so much for you to learn. It will keep thing interesting. It becomes difficult to train and stay focused after you’ve done all your basic conditioning – when the gains come a lot harder. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
I will. I am.
Each improvement felt massive, final. “NOW I’m ready,” I would think to myself. I thought that I had found all of the parts of myself that were weak, and now it was a matter of fine motor skills, experience and further conditioning. Obviously, I was wrong. As I turned to the precision jumps I discovered that my lower abdominal muscles were completely useless. It was like discovering a body part you never knew you had, one you simply never had cause to use. I was back to square one. A short period of practice would bring about the familiar pain of stress and exhaustion. Any exercise freak will testify that after a while that pain becomes a reward. Proof that you’re really training, getting strong.
My lower abdomen is still weak, but I can feel the progress. Unused muscles condition quickly. I’ve added cat-passes and arm-jumps to my training schedule last week and these new moves are helping me discover more weakness. More challenges to address. Recently, in a conversation with my new parkour friends I was told to saviour this experience. “You’ll progress quickly, there’s still so much for you to learn. It will keep thing interesting. It becomes difficult to train and stay focused after you’ve done all your basic conditioning – when the gains come a lot harder. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
I will. I am.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Consent form
Working on the phrasing of a informed consent form... Soon I'll be giving trhese out to all the parkour guys. Here's my first take:
Student/Researcher’s Name:
Department:
E-mail:
Phone Number:
Supervisor:
Department:
E-mail:
Phone Number:
Project:
VISUALISING PARKOUR
My name is Alex Pavlotski and I am studying the movement of Parkour in Australia. This is a part of my doctorate studies in anthropology with La Trobe University. By conducting this study I hope to understand the reasons behind the popularity of Parkour in Australia and write a description of the history and philosophy of Parkour generally. Also, I hope to describe the Parkour scene as it currently is, and the transformations that it is currently going through. This is a part of an ongoing effort to understand popular culture, social movements, culture and humanity in general by the discipline of anthropology.
I hope that you may allow me to observe and interview you as a part of this research. You have the right to withdraw from active participation in this project at anytime.
The purpose of gathering this information is to eventually present it as a part of a thesis, but other publications (such as journal articles, book chapters and conference papers) may draw on the information gathered here. Any personal information will be kept completely confidential and all names will be changed or withheld in the products of this study upon your request. All results and any personal information about you I have obtained will be forwarded to you upon your request.
Issue of confidentiality (please check one):
____ I would like for the researcher to use my actual identity. I realise that people who read the completed research project will be able to link my responses to my actual identity.
____ I would like for the researcher to keep my identity confidential. I realise that the information I shared with the interviewer will be used in the research project, but the researcher will use a pseudonym to protect my identity.
I _______________________ have read and understood the information above, and any questions I have asked have been answered to my satisfaction. I agree to participate in the project, realising that I may withdraw at any time. I agree that research data provided by me or with my permission during the project may be included in a thesis, presented at conferences and published in journals on the condition that neither my name nor any other identifying information is used or at full disclosure as I have specified.
Name of Participant (block letters):
Signature: Date
*Name of Authorised Representative (block letters):
Signature: Date
Name of Researcher (block letters):
Signature: Date
**Name of Student Supervisor (block letters): Date:
Student/Researcher’s Name:
Department:
E-mail:
Phone Number:
Supervisor:
Department:
E-mail:
Phone Number:
Project:
VISUALISING PARKOUR
My name is Alex Pavlotski and I am studying the movement of Parkour in Australia. This is a part of my doctorate studies in anthropology with La Trobe University. By conducting this study I hope to understand the reasons behind the popularity of Parkour in Australia and write a description of the history and philosophy of Parkour generally. Also, I hope to describe the Parkour scene as it currently is, and the transformations that it is currently going through. This is a part of an ongoing effort to understand popular culture, social movements, culture and humanity in general by the discipline of anthropology.
I hope that you may allow me to observe and interview you as a part of this research. You have the right to withdraw from active participation in this project at anytime.
The purpose of gathering this information is to eventually present it as a part of a thesis, but other publications (such as journal articles, book chapters and conference papers) may draw on the information gathered here. Any personal information will be kept completely confidential and all names will be changed or withheld in the products of this study upon your request. All results and any personal information about you I have obtained will be forwarded to you upon your request.
Issue of confidentiality (please check one):
____ I would like for the researcher to use my actual identity. I realise that people who read the completed research project will be able to link my responses to my actual identity.
____ I would like for the researcher to keep my identity confidential. I realise that the information I shared with the interviewer will be used in the research project, but the researcher will use a pseudonym to protect my identity.
I _______________________ have read and understood the information above, and any questions I have asked have been answered to my satisfaction. I agree to participate in the project, realising that I may withdraw at any time. I agree that research data provided by me or with my permission during the project may be included in a thesis, presented at conferences and published in journals on the condition that neither my name nor any other identifying information is used or at full disclosure as I have specified.
Name of Participant (block letters):
Signature: Date
*Name of Authorised Representative (block letters):
Signature: Date
Name of Researcher (block letters):
Signature: Date
**Name of Student Supervisor (block letters): Date:
Monday, May 3, 2010
The thing that scares me is MTV's track record on this kind of stuff. They've successfully commercialised a whole series of “freeform sports” way before networks like ESPN had any interest in them. MTV often leads the way for greater commercial interest and backing. This is great for a few individuals who get in on the ground floor and grab the sponsorship from the start, but it usually takes a pretty negative toll on the activity/sport itself. I’ve already mentioned feeling nauseous while watching the snowboarding at the winter Olympics, and the way the athletes feel the need to project a particular image as well as act as adverts for their boards, clothes, headphones, etc. No other competitors acted this way. It really cheapened the event. But it doesn’t end there.
The image of parkour that’s projected by MTV normalises the idea of competition and injury. It makes these things look like they’re natural elements of parkour. It also projects the idea of commercial progression. So, instead of aiming for better technique and more training, it suggests that we should be aiming at bigger stunts and moves so that we can all get more famous and better paid. The goal becomes greater showmanship, not skill: Safety, responsibility, philosophy, history and personal integrity fall by the wayside.
Finally, MTV has a mass audience. This means that the misconceptions they spread are ingested by a bigger and more ignorant audience. U$F did some serious damage to the integrity of parkour, but their reach was limited to people who were already interested in parkour/freerunning/martial-arts/break-dancing. MTV amps up the spectacle and introduces these misconceptions to a much bigger audience. We might see the day that we miss U$F’s relatively clumsy attempts and profiteering when MTV’s various teams of experienced, professional promoters sink their teeth into parkour.
THE END IS NEIGH! REPENT, ALL YE FREERUNNERS AND PARKOUR PURISTS. THE TRUTH SHALL FALL BEFORE THE BEAST AND THE WORLD SHALL BE CAST INTO DARKNESS!
MTV Summary:
10 grand, do it for the money, monkey boy! And keep an eye out for the girlfriends, hangin’ out in the background and nodding.
Contest 1: MAKE THE ULTIMATE PARKOUR VIDEO!
Videos is what parkour is ALL about! We wouldn’t be as well known, we wouldn’t be nearly as good (might have some merit there, I hear videos help lots of people), we’re the BEST in the world right now.
Two injuries! Michael Turner out with a bruised heel and a cut-up hand, King David out with a massive failed arm-jump/faceplant.
What do we learn? Uhhh…. Do big jumpz, film ‘em, you’re a superstar!
Contest 2: HIGH-SPEED RACING!
Parkour is all about point A to point B, FASTER THAN THE OTHER DUDE! Highlights: “I go faster when I almost fall!”, “There’s only one chance! If you miss, it’s over.” “This guy is gonna run the course with a hurt foot fresh stiches. Let’s hope there’s no more bloodshed.”
Daniel Arroyo, taken off in an ambulance in a neck-brace after running into a fence off a jump, headfirst. Daniel Ilbaca: “It was a choice that he make, y’know what I mean? It’s not inevitable, he didn’t just fall. It was a choice because he chose to listen to the pressure. But he’d already learned from it because he got back up, d’ya know what I mean? He got back up and carried on!”
Michael Turner hurts himself some more.
Lesson learned! Go as fast as you can, pussies plan. Go, go GO!
Contest 3: 1 freestyle run with 6 targets, hit five and LOOK GOOD DOING IT!
Highlights: “Our athletes need to brave 3 storey drops!” “This dude has a metal rod in his leg, crazy that he’s even here!” “The catness in this is ridiculous.”
Brian Orosco, nearly knocks himself out by messing up a big flip. Commentator: “Its alright, you had an awesome run going, you were nearly finished anyway, (falling on your head) isn’t going to hurt you (your score) too bad.” WHAT ABOUT HIS HEAD?
Daniel Ilbaca won the cash. Sorry for the spoiler.
MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge - Part 1 - HD
Cash, injury and fame. Commentator: “Thanks for showing us, really, what parkour is all about.”
The image of parkour that’s projected by MTV normalises the idea of competition and injury. It makes these things look like they’re natural elements of parkour. It also projects the idea of commercial progression. So, instead of aiming for better technique and more training, it suggests that we should be aiming at bigger stunts and moves so that we can all get more famous and better paid. The goal becomes greater showmanship, not skill: Safety, responsibility, philosophy, history and personal integrity fall by the wayside.
Finally, MTV has a mass audience. This means that the misconceptions they spread are ingested by a bigger and more ignorant audience. U$F did some serious damage to the integrity of parkour, but their reach was limited to people who were already interested in parkour/freerunning/martial-arts/break-dancing. MTV amps up the spectacle and introduces these misconceptions to a much bigger audience. We might see the day that we miss U$F’s relatively clumsy attempts and profiteering when MTV’s various teams of experienced, professional promoters sink their teeth into parkour.
THE END IS NEIGH! REPENT, ALL YE FREERUNNERS AND PARKOUR PURISTS. THE TRUTH SHALL FALL BEFORE THE BEAST AND THE WORLD SHALL BE CAST INTO DARKNESS!
MTV Summary:
10 grand, do it for the money, monkey boy! And keep an eye out for the girlfriends, hangin’ out in the background and nodding.
Contest 1: MAKE THE ULTIMATE PARKOUR VIDEO!
Videos is what parkour is ALL about! We wouldn’t be as well known, we wouldn’t be nearly as good (might have some merit there, I hear videos help lots of people), we’re the BEST in the world right now.
Two injuries! Michael Turner out with a bruised heel and a cut-up hand, King David out with a massive failed arm-jump/faceplant.
What do we learn? Uhhh…. Do big jumpz, film ‘em, you’re a superstar!
Contest 2: HIGH-SPEED RACING!
Parkour is all about point A to point B, FASTER THAN THE OTHER DUDE! Highlights: “I go faster when I almost fall!”, “There’s only one chance! If you miss, it’s over.” “This guy is gonna run the course with a hurt foot fresh stiches. Let’s hope there’s no more bloodshed.”
Daniel Arroyo, taken off in an ambulance in a neck-brace after running into a fence off a jump, headfirst. Daniel Ilbaca: “It was a choice that he make, y’know what I mean? It’s not inevitable, he didn’t just fall. It was a choice because he chose to listen to the pressure. But he’d already learned from it because he got back up, d’ya know what I mean? He got back up and carried on!”
Michael Turner hurts himself some more.
Lesson learned! Go as fast as you can, pussies plan. Go, go GO!
Contest 3: 1 freestyle run with 6 targets, hit five and LOOK GOOD DOING IT!
Highlights: “Our athletes need to brave 3 storey drops!” “This dude has a metal rod in his leg, crazy that he’s even here!” “The catness in this is ridiculous.”
Brian Orosco, nearly knocks himself out by messing up a big flip. Commentator: “Its alright, you had an awesome run going, you were nearly finished anyway, (falling on your head) isn’t going to hurt you (your score) too bad.” WHAT ABOUT HIS HEAD?
Daniel Ilbaca won the cash. Sorry for the spoiler.
MTV's Ultimate Parkour Challenge - Part 1 - HD
Cash, injury and fame. Commentator: “Thanks for showing us, really, what parkour is all about.”
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