Fear is often present when practicing Parkour; whether you are breaking a large jump or trying a new move, it’s there. The big question is, how can we overcome it? That is a particularly tricky question due to the fact that each one of us is different; so we all need our own technique for beating fear that works best for us. I have outlined a few different things you can do in order to vanquish the foul entity that is fear.
Fear can be overcome by understanding the move, make sure you have the knowledge of how the move works and what is going to make you successfully land it. Although you should understand the move, it's also very important that you relax and don’t over think it. Over thinking a move will make your movements become mechanical. Not to mention it may cause you to fail. Make sure you progress at your own pace in order to be comfortable with what you face next. Everyone was a beginner at some point so don’t feel ashamed if you can’t quite complete a move or trick.
By far the most important step to overcoming fear is knowing your body; you have to understand how your body will react under a variety of circumstances. The best way to achieve this self awareness is through many new experiences over a long period of time. Push yourself out of your comfort zone on a regular basis. Your brain will take more vivid memories when you are experiencing new or novel things, so by going out of your comfort zone often, life will seem more rich and enjoyable to you.
Lets talk about doing a move you already know. Perhaps it is in a new unfamiliar location, or maybe the jump is just bigger than the ones you have previously done. The most important thing is to know you are capable of this jump. If you don’t feel like you are capable of a move, don't do it. Nine out of ten times you will fail if you try something you are not capable of mentally or physically. So how do I become capable of making a large jump you may ask, the answer is simple: drill the previous progressions that lead up to what you are facing. If it’s a 10 foot precision, make sure you can do a 9 foot precision because it is the prerequisite to the 10 foot.
If your issue is trying a move in an unfamiliar place, you are not alone. This fear can happen to the best of us. We humans like routine, doing what we are used to in an environment that we know. But it is important to explore and try new things often in order to grow. So be sure to travel regularly to find new and exciting training locales. Once you get used to this ever changing training environment, you will become more confident in trying moves in new spots.
We most often face fear when trying to learn a new move. As I mentioned before, progression is key when doing something new. If you can’t do side flip, do a cartwheel, if you can't do a cartwheel, do a handstand. Start small and slowly work up to the big stuff. If you are still scared when trying a new move, find a technique to prepare yourself for what's about to happen. Be sure to find what best works for you; whether that be just going for it, or breathing techniques, or even tricking yourself into believing you have done this new moves many times and have no need to fear. I find that breathing techniques work best for me. Finding a technique that works for you may take a little experimenting on your part but it will be well worth it when it helps you to pull off a move you never thought you would be able to do. I hope you learned a thing or two today, feel free to comment about anything you think I missed and I will do my best to go back and patch it up for you. To wrap things up: Fear is in our minds as a reminder. It tells us that there is danger present and we should take account of it. Remember, the fear is an illusion but the danger is very real. Next week I will be posting about how to take more attractive Parkour pictures and videos; until then, train safe.