Smoothments School of Parkour and Movement
Officially the first school of parkour, ever! Well, in this country at least. As it stand WorldWideJam have not managed to locate one that has been open anywhere else in the world so for now, it's the first school in the world.
Starting 16th May 2008, 4pm at Mount Tamar School, Row lane, St Budeaux
Plymouth, PL52EF
Background Info
Parkour is a physical and psychological discipline, more akin to a martial art than a sport. It is indeed an art in it's own right. It is all about freedom, control, efficiency and confidence. It is the 'pursuit' of the ability to be as efficient in any emergency situation such as evade, capture and rescue. However, obviously, we hope we never have to actually use it for any of those reasons!
The aim of this school is to change people's lives for the better. It will not teach you how to jump from building to building or run away from police but will in fact teach you things you never even knew were out there. The aim is to teach you who you are, where you're from and where you're going. To have complete control over your emotions, thought processes and your body.
You will learn what the world you live in is really like, you will learn to see things you never even knew were there, you will learn how to interact with your environment to the best and most fulfilling degree possible, you will learn to resect your fellow man and that we are not at all in competition, nor is any one person better than the other. We are all born equal and our minds and bodies are testiment to this. We should be living and working together, helping and supporting each other, not trying to beat each other and win over anyone else.
There is a deep philosophy at the core of parkour which you will learn over time and will choose your own path from. There is a lot more you can know and the school will not only show you those things but also how to discover new things for yourself. At the end of the day, having confidence in our gym is one thing, but what good is that when you're faced with a scary situation in real life when you're alone? We will show you that you're never alone, and how to tap into internal strength.
The shaolin monks have a saying :
"It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop.'
You will learn the meaning of this. This is a motto of the school. You will learn other 'pearls of wisdom' too, and their meaning. Parkour, and the school, will teach you everything you need to know to fully realise and understand that you are indeed alive and are capable of anything you put your mind to...
"I have my own personal saying which I live by strongly :
"You don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing."
Parkour is for everyone, not just children. The masters are thirty somethings, so there's no excuses for not joining in.
If all of that sounds like some old skool, buddhist, philosophical mumbo jumbo, I challenge you to come see for yourself. The sessions will not be set up like you're in a monestary or some ancient training ground but will in fact be quite simply like you're in a gym having a laugh with friends and training hard. However, it's the little steps you take doing so that count and make the difference. Before you know what's going it will change you're life... If it wasn't true, I wouldn't have dreamt of the school for the last five years, and I wouldn't have worked to get it for the last 15 months (!!)"
All in all, deep stuff aside this is the only school of it's kind anywhere and we're making history. Even if you're completley sceptical and aren't down with that mad philosophical stuff, at least come and give it a go because it's the best way of getting fit, and conditioning your body, that there is. It's better than swimming!
It won't just be parkour you'll be learning, it'll be exactly what your body and mind is and how to use them both efficiently, on their own, and together. Included in the learning will be gymnastics and basic self defence. It really is the best and most fun way to really get your body where it's supposed to be...
Date & Time
Anyways, rambling over, here's the score :
As it stands there is only room for 120 members and about 30 or so places have already gone so you'll have to be quick to get a place.
There are only 6 sessions available until the school's summer holiday, (it's based in a school's gym) then there'll will be plenty more to accomodate additional people.
These sessions are :
Monday 4.00pm to 5.30pm
5.45pm to 7.15.pm
7.30pm to 9.00pm
Friday 4.00pm to 5.30pm
5.45pm to 7.15pm
7.30pm to 9.00pm
There will be a (non-refundable) £10 joining fee to cover insurance and each session will be £3 a time.
You will not need anything except yourself, a willingness to try, and some loose clothing. Trainers are a must though cos shoes and boots just don't cut it. However, most of the time we'll be in bare feet so 'bare' that in mind...
Rules
Jewellery's a no-no but if you can't remove it then tape it up - that's your responsibility not ours, if you're wearing any and cant' remove or tape it, you're not training, simple as.
Hygeine - as a famous club once stated to their members :
'We want you to leave all hot and sweaty, but don't turn up like that, that's just not good hygeine.'
Please respect the other members and remember, once you join, you're in a new family - you :
DO NOT put down any other member, at any time, for any reason whatsoever.
DO NOT try to put members off when they are training as accidents happen, this means physical things like getting in their way or verbal things like shouting 'boo' just as they're about to jump, which although can be funny, is only funny until someone loses an arm...
Repeated examples of either of the above will get you banned.
You do:
Just try. That's all I ask. It doesn't matter if it takes you 6 years to gain an extra inch on your jump. The fact that you tried for 6 years far outweighs anything else and is an achievement in it's self.
Support each other - CONSTANTLY - parkour is an individual discipline so if someone is struggling, help them, it has no effeect on you whatsoever how well, or not, they're doing. This can be done by cheering or egging on or just general nice chattery...
Also, please also bare in mind that while parkour is physically demanding, you don't have to be physically adept or fit to start. Just turn up and the school will take care of the rest. Remember, we started just like you once but we stuck at it, that's why we're here, not because we're anything better than you, but becuase we wanted to get here. . If I can do it, you can too...
If you want to join please message/email the address below and I'll send you out an application form. They're only little don't worry, it's just a formality.
If you bothered to read all that, cheers - if you didn't, you probably have no idea what you're getting yourself in to ha ha, on your head be it...
For more infomation email Rob Green: smoothments@hotmail.co.uk