Okay, so my folks are not so happy that I’m interested in Parkour. They’re afraid mostly that even if I practice Parkour exclusively in public parks I might still be violating some law and get arrested. Does anyone have any information on this that might reassure them? They’re also worried that I’ll break my hands and louse what chance I have of a career in music. So, some reassuring information on safety would also be much appreciated. I’m turning 18 in October anyway. . . but it would be nice if they came to be more excepting of parkour before then.

I think what would really help Parkour the most here would be if we could somehow set up a jam session/talk session with the police department. We could help educate them about the sport, they would learn we’re not vandals, and the Parkour community could learn from them where and how they would prefer us to practice. (It would also really reassure my parents. ) It looks like this has been done other places: http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/999/243/

Anyway, probably the first step to setting something like this up would be for someone to arrange a meeting with the county police superintendant?

First the police deal is not going to be a simple thing like contacting the department and setting up a session. Primal Fitness is working with the police because they have a gym and certified people training. We have not much of any backing currently, and would look like a bunch of kids wasting their time.

That's not to say nothing is being done, first we need to build some credibility, hence the PNWPA.

And as far as getting arrested in a park for practicing parkour, not going to happen unless you are on rooftops or are chasing little children menacingly... Parkour is going to be as safe as you make it, if you don't want to break your hands, then don't...

When the PNWPA site is launched it will have some good info for concerned parents.

I'm almost 22, live alone, and yet my parents are still skeptical about me doing PK. I think it's because they truly don't understand what it's all about. All they see are the big jumps and don't realize that the big jumps only make up a small percent of parkour. And they don't realize all the time, training, and preparation that goes into the discipline.

yeah. . .I am working on my parents interview/opinion. they said sure, but they also have a tendency to forget. For context, tsyon sent me an email asking if I could get my parents to say a few things of why parkour is so worthwhile. I could probably have it by next week. I will post it when I get it O.K.?

hehe. Tiny bit of a miss understanding. My parents thought that concered parents would ask questions, and my parents would answer them. Sounds good methinks.

In the mean time, I've posted our draft FAQ for parents on WAPK so that you all can use it as a resource.

PNWPA's Parkour FAQ for Parents

Sdedalus, and others, please let me know if you or your parents have any feedback on this FAQ. I'd love to know what other questions we can include to make it more comprehensive.

My parents are actually really supportive. Maybe beacuse i dont actually do any other sport, so they like that i have something to keep me active.

ditto!!

well my parents are curious about PK but they want me to not kill myself
so they tell me to do everything in moderation.

My parents love parkour! They think it's awesome that they do it and they try to make me tell all they're friends about it. Which gets tiering after awhile.

the advice i can give is to show your parents videos like jump westminster. jump westminster is an excellent documentary by Julie Angel showing the Parkour Coaching guys working closely with the local council to provide training for local youths. The local police chief, a social worker for the council and some of the local are interviewed and they all cannot praise parkour and the Parkour Coaching guys highly enough. you can find the full version at http://www.parkour-videos.com

I've got a pretty serious problem: My parents will not allow me to attend any parkour jams. I have no idea why, but they talk about ridiculous stuff like the dangers of the areas we practice in, and the fact that it is 'not an organized sport'. I'm only 14 and therefore cannot come without their transporting me, so I'm dependent on their decision. Normally I'd be able to convince them to let me go, but this time they seem pretty adamant. Any help would be much appreciated because I have no idea how to convince them to allow me to go and I'm not going to give up on this. Thanks.

Show your parents the http://pnwpa.com website, especially the FAQ for parents (feel free to have them contact us). Then talk to them about the gym jams and clinics and see if they will come with you to those.

Tyson - I think you meant http://www.pnwpa.com not pwnpa.com. *Tyson: fixed thanks!

BTW - The site looks great!

Good news, the ideas you gave me worked, thank you very much, anyway, I may or may not be able to attend the jams this week, but at least I'll be coming during the subsequent weeks. Thanks very much everyone .