Parkour Vaults

There are many different types of Parkour vaults, including basic, intermediate, variations, extreme styles, combination and jumping styles.

A few basic Parkour vaults include:
*Speed - Jump sideways in the center of an obstacle, one hand is used to push yourself forward
*Kong - A dive motion at the tip of an obstacle, the hands are used to push up, and the legs are put into a monkey position
*Dash - A jump first, then hands are placed down to carry yourself over
*Pop - Run towards a wall and put one foot on the wall, kick upwards, grab the top of the wall and go over it
*Turn - Place one hand on a railing, usually in the underhand position, place the other hand on the railing and turn over 180 degrees

Some intermediate Parkour vaults:
*Sky Vault - A one-handed cartwheel over an obstacle
*Cast Bomb - A backwards Kong to backflip
*Dive Roll - A dive over an obstacle and a roll to compensate for the shock upon impact
*Flare - A double handed cartwheel with legs straight and together
*Star - A cartwheel over an obstacle

Variations can include:
*Thief 360 - a thief vault using a 360 degree twist, usually followed immediately with a roll
*Weave - Go through an opening, for instance two bars, and quickly come out the other side
*Cat Grab - Clinging to an obstacle in a squat position
*Blisto - A regular vault done with a 360 degree twist
*Double Jump - Use a higher obstacle to jump from to gain more height or distance

Examples of Extreme Styles:
*Spring Forward - A rail flip, but with a spring flip and legs spread out
*Superman - Kong motion without hands touching an obstacle

Click Here to Learn How to Improve Your Vaults

1. Scout the obstacle you wish to vault before you attempt it. Pay attention to both the launching section and most importantly the landing section, make sure it is flat and clear of anything that could harm you.

2. Imagine yourself performing the vault and make a plan for how you will launch yourself over the obstacle. While it is good to have a plan, don't be rigid in your execution. Allow your body to perform the Parkour vaults freely.

3. Take a moderate running start and approach the object, as you get to the obstacle do a simulated jump onto it but don't commit to the jump. Instead, notice how you naturally approached the object and see if there are ways to improve it.

4. Commit to the vault on your next try by running to the object, step into the vault and make sure you get a forward and upward jump off of your launching pad. Use one hand and kick over the obstacle with a lazy Parkour vault, use both hands to plant and bring your legs through as with a monkey vault, or you can use any combination to get over the obstacle safely.

5. Spot your landing once you are halfway through the jump and extend your body towards the landing. Keep running through the landing to dissipate the energy of the vault.

These Parkour tips barely scratch the surface of what you can do with this art form. If you have tried or seen Parkour vaults in action then you know that the possibilities are endless. Combining all of the vaults and techniques you can create your own masterpiece of athleticism. If you haven't yet started doing Parkour vaults, start your Parkour training and get moving, there is a lot to learn but the community and friendship that you can find with this noncompetitive sport is unmatched.

If you want to go beyond Parkour vaults and learn some other really cool tricks, Click Here to check out an awesome new guide.