Organisation, crew's

1#

I think the direction that Parkour is going it is almost required that there are organisations dedicated to Parkour. Parkour needs ambassadors to deal with the media etc. I live in Glasgow, which has a strong Parkour Generations support base with 2 ADAPT certified coaches, the classes here have actually had a very positive impact on the community. Lots of new people becoming really strong balanced traceurs. Also, our relationship with Glasgow City Council is very strong though this. Glasgow Parkour have helped out in anti-drugs campaigns and many other things to do with the government, we get no hassle from the local government.

2#

I believe it is fine to ask for payment if you are COACHING, but not simply for a training session. Not sure if thats what you were asking, but here the GPK coaches only ask for money for an actual adult coaching class (the youth classes are free if i remember correctly). If you send them a PM and ask for a training day they'll definitely come out for free and have a mess about and share ideas. I dont know whos asking for money to train but thats not right to be honest.

I agree with David on the first point - parkour is still at a somewhat delicate stage in its development with the 'Outside World'. Thus, the experienced and knowledgeable traceurs should make an effort to ensure that the progression of the art is beneficial, and in adherence to the origins of our discipline. Without these groups being set up, I fear parkour would be defined and dictated by the sensationalist media we are barraged with via newspapers, the internet etc. The important question truly arises when we try to establish what qualifies as "experienced" and "knowledgeable" - it is here that MF, PKG and the ADAPT Certification come into play.

On Point Two, I think Aurelien has hit the nail on the head. As a parkour coach, I have no issues whatsoever with being paid for my services. However, as David rightly said, I'll come out training with anyone simply for the joy of the art. In these training sessions, I will gladly assist and guide, giving knowledge and advice, but I will also focus on my own training and leave my partner to their own devices. This situation is so far removed from leading a class of pupils, for whom you have assumed responsibility, that it doesn't bear clarifying. Coaches of a professional level, and who handle it accordingly - as a profession - deserve payment.

To those who say that accepting money for parkour instruction is "against the parkour spirit" etc., I pose one question. Why, then, do Majestic Force/Yamakasi and members of Parkour Generations (including Stephane/Johann Vigroux, Seb Goudot, Kazuma, Thomas Couetdic) - in other words, the men who founded and built this thing we do - have no issue with it? Who is more qualified to define their brain-child than themselves?

Peace.
Train hard, move easy.

Dopefish

Coaches of a professional level, and who handle it accordingly - as a profession - deserve payment.

A professional level of parkour training? A wierd sentence because the essence of parkour is:"no rules, freedom etc."

no rules in movement, freedom of movement.

A professional in anything is defined to me, foremost by how they gain their main income or spend most of their time. If most of your time (or spare time) or income in related to the practice and teaching of parkour I would define you as a professional. In football, there are thousands of coaches who spend their own money to get qualified and who spend their spare time helping to coach a football team of kids, some even do this full time as part of a school, by setting up an amateur football club etc. Those who set up their own football schools are professionals and have been accredited by those responsible for the sporty in that country, my dad for example is a registered and accredited referee and coach for children and adults with the SFA.

Nobody can claim to have invented football (yes, technically the english can but thats beside the point) or to own football and there are a number of organisations around the world for football. In the same manner, there are a numberof parkour organisations all over the world but not many of these have the respect and authority/background to set up accredited coaching courses. obviously the ADAPT awards help distinguash between the professional and the amateur.

i think it all comes down to what YOU want, and what YOU decide to do.

#1 - if you feel more comfortable in a group, then join one. but if you dont realize that sometimes you should train alone too, for your own development, then thats a flaw in YOUR understanding and YOU have to work it out.

some people wanna train alone all the time, some people prefer groups and less training lonely. it all comes down to the individual in the end, in my opinion.

#2 - depends too. if you PM me you wanna train with me, damn you can stay at my place, eat my food and train with me thats cool. but thats training TOGETHER.

but if someone explicitly wants a SERVICE, he doesnt want a friend but a teacher, then he has to pay for it. i went to france in 2004 the first time, people welcomed me so nice and friendly, trained with me and showed me stuff and nobody wanted a penny. and i will give the same openness to any friend wanting to train with me and learn some things. but if someone wants to be coached, wants me to actually step back on my own training and training with my friends to focus on him, it will cost him something, i think thats a fair way to handle things. if people wanna be people, its free. if people wanna be clients, itll cost.

so again its down to the individual. are you cool with just training with friends like everyone else, its free and thats your choice. do you want individual attention and coaching, it costs, and thats your own choice too.

so i think its all down to the individual, again.

andi

oh EDIT:

#1 i think, at first it needs intelligence. if your stupid, you need a trainer/guidance right away to stop you from doing stuff that will hurt you and is dangerous. if your intelligent, i think its better to learn the basics yourself to get a better understanding and feeling for the movements and your body and your limits and your abilities - and then later get some guidance to help you advance when your eached a plateu..