5 Tips for Your First Parkour Jam
At the beginning of the month a buddy and myself made the 14 hour trip out to Denver, CO for the huge Nat Jam held by APEX Movement. This was the first major level jam either of us had been to and we were unsure what exactly to expect. Throughout our experience we learned some things we thought might be well worth sharing for any of you who are thinking about going to a big parkour jam. Lets get started. 1. Don't Go All Out On Day One. Most jams are going to be over a weekend, which means multiple days of training. It is very tempting to get to the jam and go absolutely crazy your first day, especially if you get to train at a sweet indoor facility such as APEX Denver or Boulder. However, if you are not used to all out training for days in a row, you will likely burn out quickly and not be able to enjoy the entire jam. So pace yourselves. 2. Just Try Things To be honest, the entire weekend at Nat Jam was quite overwhelming. From the massive training facilities, to the insane outdoor architectural training spots, to the sheer amount of athletes...it was a lot to take in. At times I found myself standing still and just staring not knowing where I should start, but the key is to just start. Don't worry about going out and nailing that 16 foot lache to precision. Start where you're comfortable and work from there. But start trying things. 3. You're Not In The Way With so many talented athletes at such high skill levels, there were times where I felt as though if I went out and tried something small I would just be getting in the way of their insane lines/moves. The thing is, everyone willingly takes turns. If two people want to try something different in the same area, one will gladly wait for the other and vice versa. Everyone is completely understanding and willing to work around each other, so don't worry about being in the way...just always watch where you're walking and your head. 4. Ask For Help See somebody do something you want to try? Want a tip on how to do something better? Ask. It can be very intimidating to train next to some of the top parkour athletes in the country. However, just keep in mind they were at your level at one point and had someone help them. If you ask someone for advice/tips, they will likely be more than willing to help. And if you don't ask, you definitely won't get help. 5. Meet People One of the best parts of the experience of a parkour jam is making new friends. Approach as many people as possible. Get out of your shell and comfort zone. And when people go out after the day of jamming, join them! You can also use social media outlets to make some contacts before you even get to the jam. I actually met up with someone from a phone app called PKLive who was from California, only having conversed a couple times through messages. Even if you don't know anybody when you first arrive at the jam, everyone is so friendly you will easily come out of the jam with many new friends. If you've ever wanted to go to a major parkour jam, do it. They have them all over the United States throughout the entire summer. It's an experience any parkour athlete, begginer or professional, can benefit from. Written by Taylor Washburn
