Always glad for other people to give their opinions.
I hear what your saying David but I still think barefoot has more advantages.
Quote:
| When training in Parkour this sensitivity grows, but to take it straight to barefoot training without a foundation in training sensitivity for these basic movements can be dangerous and a step too far for most people begining there training. |
When I say basic movements I'm meaning really simple things such as - 1-2ft drops, lazy vaults, two handed vaults, very small cats. Depending on the person's strength - climbups.
The above can all be picked up very quickly, if the traceur is barefoot it will take him longer to become comfortable using these movements but purely because of the fact that they're shoes previously masked the fact they used to 'move bad, clumsy, heavy and with bad posture.' Drops from this height will be uncomfortable the first few times due to a bad technique but your body will learn quickly whats needed to land properly. Then the traceur will develop these movements. Learning them correctly the first time.
Compared with a traceur who starts with shoes. He quickly manages the basics listed above, doesn't have the bio-mechanical feedback the barefooter does and thinks that his landing is good - when in reality it's placing undue strain on the ankles and knees. He then feels he has mastered these and will move on to the next thing, then the next. His confidence grows and as his landings don't limit what he should be able to do he will try bigger and bigger things. His shoes absord the impact that his feet would feel however his joints still get stressed during these 'landings'
Then after a year+ or so of this he is likely to get a injury or develop joint pains and realise his mistake. Lifelong joint problems can be developed through repeated bad landings. A backoff period will occour with a emphasis on relearning the basics making sure they are controlled, with good landings. At this point he has to unlearn his ingrained mistakes, and step way back from the skill level he was at.
Quote:
| These changes ought to be gradual, manageble and not too uncomfortable to you. |
Continuing with my example above. The barefooter starts off slower than the shod traceur,
However he learns things correctly the first time round.
His progression is gradual, he will spend more time on each movement.
It's manageble as I suggested 3-4 20min blocks throught the week. Due to the low intensity of the movements being practiced this will hardy effect the skin.
It's also comfortable - As I said above correct technique is learned very quickly this way.
After a week or 2 of barefooting the traceur will develop a better understanding of landing - that will stay with him as he develops.
Furthermore he will learn quickly that parkour isn't about doing big thing after big thing, but mastering all the little things.
These skills will be kept when the traceur then begins training with shoes on. He can then safely take advantage of the newbie gains.
Shoes shoes shoes :) 
Linear Mode
