In order to be safe in parkour, you need to know what to do when you fall from a height, or when you screw up a move and you're about to eat it. YouTube is generally suggested for the moves, but if you learn via reading, here you go.
So, you've just jumped from your roof, possibly a ledge, or maybe even a tall fence. Or maybe you just screwed up your Lazy Vault, clipped your foot on your Obstacle Vault, or freaked out just before executing a Front Tuck. What do you do? Eat the dirt? Stick out your chest to protect your face? Possibly your arms? Wrong, wrong, almost wrong! You keep your cool, land on your feet (or arms, if you need), tuck in, and roll over your SHOULDER TO YOUR HIP. NOT YOUR SPINE.
Now your probably wondering, "How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Simple. When your legs hit the floor, bend your knees and waist 90 degrees, and fall forwards. As you're falling forwards, place your hands down and bend your dominant elbow more than your other elbow. Momentum will carry your legs over. Tuck them in until you feel your feet hit the floor, otherwise you're just flop onto the ground like a fish. If you bent your elbow, you will naturally go over that shoulder and will roll to the opposite hip. Obviously tuck your head in as well. A rule of thumb about flips (which isn't parkour), tucks, rolls, and spins. The tighter the tuck, the faster it happens. So stay in a nice tight ball until you feel your feet hit the ground, then spring out and go.
If you must do a Dive Roll, just skip planting your legs and worry about tucking your head and rolling over your shoulder.
Please do not try doing this from heights and/or on a hard surface right off the bat. Start soft and on the ground and work your way up. Remember, not only is parkour about getting from point A to point B most efficiently, it's also about progression and doing it without injury.
Two YouTube videos I recommend are by Jesse LaFlair and Ronnie Slavis.
Forgive for the lenghty delay, but data limiting sucks. I shall try to upkeep with my posts. Our next article: Getting the Vision
