What can we learn about the intersection of philosophy, personal growth, and structured systems within the practice of parkour?

Sandro Widmer discusses ParkourONE’s TRUST concept, his current research and movement journey. Along the way he describes his time in America, and the struggles of studying parkour coaches. Sandro also reminds us to walk through this world with an open mind, as we can never fully understand each other’s experiences.

“I think what’s most important is to walk through the world with an open mindset. Be tolerant, be open-minded, and have a smile on your face.” ~ Sandro Widmer (27:00)

The conversation explores the philosophy of ParkourONE, focusing on the TRuST concept that emphasizes values such as respect, modesty, and trust. This philosophy is visualized through the fingers of a hand, representing key principles like “no competition” and “courage.” ParkourONE’s unique approach to training and community building in Switzerland and Germany is discussed, highlighting the organization’s layered membership process and the responsibilities of its members.

The discussion transitions to Sandro’s master’s thesis on how personal philosophy influences coaching methods. He shares his methodology for collecting data from Swiss parkour coaches and explores topics such as open versus closed exercises and how parkour principles can be translated into broader life lessons. The conversation concludes with reflections on cultural exchanges during international training events and the importance of maintaining an open and tolerant mindset.

Takeaways

No competition — ParkourONE emphasizes non-competitive practice to foster inclusivity and personal growth.

Be cautious — Practitioners are encouraged to respect their physical limits to ensure sustainable training.

Respect — Respect is shown to the environment, fellow practitioners, and the discipline of parkour itself.

Trust — Trust in oneself and others is a cornerstone of both practice and teaching in ParkourONE.

Modesty — Humility is key to recognizing the continuous challenges within parkour.

Membership as responsibility — ParkourONE’s membership process is selective, emphasizing community contributions and adherence to shared values.

Cultural exchange — Parkour fosters a universal culture of openness and tolerance, as seen in events like American Rendezvous.

Influence of philosophy on coaching — Sandro’s research explores how a coach’s philosophy shapes their teaching methods and practice.

Open versus closed exercises — ParkourONE values giving students space to explore and develop their own solutions.

Sustainability in movement — Long-term physical and mental health is prioritized to ensure lifelong mobility.

Resources

ParkourONE — Philosophy and values behind ParkourONE’s training approach.

American Rendezvous — An event fostering cultural and training exchanges among parkour practitioners.

ADAPT Qualifications — Certification system mentioned in comparison with ParkourONE’s coach training.

Johanna Herrmann’s Thesis — Research referenced in Sandro’s master’s thesis on parkour philosophy.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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— Hello👋 I’m Craig Constantine.

In the Movers Mindset podcast, I talk with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. I’m interested in the nature and philosophy of movement and in exploring themes like independence, self-direction, and human excellence. My interests color each conversation and provide some structure to Movers Mindset. But since I like to take the scenic route, every conversation ends up going somewhere unique.

The purpose of Movers Mindset is to create and share great conversations with movement enthusiasts. Each conversation feeds my insatiable curiosity, but I share them to turn on a light for someone else, to inspire them, or to give them their next question.

I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted.

— Thank you!

My personal mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And Movers Mindset is one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by https://craigconstantine.com/ for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more.

The Movers Mindset project grew from conversations I started having as part of my personal journey rediscovering movement. The project started late in 2015, and it was initially simply a web site that shared others’ writing. The project grew, and in 2017 I started the podcast. I’ve worked extremely hard, but none of this would have been possible without so much help from so many people.

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