Movement Innovation & Sustainability
The peel-out is one of the gnarliest falls in parkour because it often leaves a practitioner falling towards their head, neck, and spine with difficulty spotting the ground. Peel outs are especially dangerous because most swings take place on bars or branches at least 2 m (6 feet) above ground level.
Read moreAddressing the Peel-Out: One of Parkour’s Most Heinous Falling Scenarios
Photo by Rain Duran (instagram.com/raintostay)
Written by Amos Galileo Rendao
Original on November 4, 2010, Revised April 16, 2017
As parkour practitioners, we often interact with clear cut concepts and objects, like concrete walls, basic physics, trees, point A and B, but have you ever asked yourself, “Is this wall real?” “Am I actually climbing this tree in reality, or is this all a dream?” There have been times when I’ve questioned whether or not I’m awake after accomplishing a physical feat that I recently thought impossible, and rightfully so, because I have in the past awakened after such an experience.
Read moreThe Science of Movement: Logic As a Reflection of God, Parkour As an Act of Praise
In my book Parkour Strength Training, I go into detail about the differences between the hard and soft landing techniques (AKA depth drop when used as a strength training exercise). Without going into a long explanation, know that depending on the circumstances of a drop (and your training goals), you may want to stay stiffer and taller in order to rebound quickly (hard landing) or you may want to absorb more deeply and silently (soft landing).