#04What makes a traceur tick...
By Dan | posted on 22 July 2008 | 14 comments
Thomas and I spent the day at the SPARC labs at Roehampton University, helping to devise a series of physiological data research tests to be carried out on the team over the next couple of months in an attempt to understand the effects and benefits of good parkour training on the human body. Working with Dr Andrew Head and Bridgitte Swales, two of the best in the country when it comes to sports research, we looked at impact from landings, balance and proprioception, and how to test and evaluate the biomechanics of parkour movement.
The results, even from today's intial guinea pig trials and test creation process, were quite revealing. On a simple balance test Thomas was subjected to, where the subject has to keep an elaborate wobble-board device in balance for as long as possible over 30 seconds, the data astounded the researchers: on average, a 'normal' person can hold this board in balance for around 2-4 seconds of the 30 second test. A good, athletic individual for 10 seconds. Professional dancers average around 20 seconds. Thomas held it for 28 seconds of the 30 on his first attempt...
Working with a pressure sensor pad, it was discovered that an experienced traceur's impact from a landing (of a certain standardised jump distance) is only around twice his bodyweight. The norm is apparently 4-8 times the bodyweight! Needless to say, we are very much looking forward to working on further tests and getting more such data - we'll announce when it is released, of course, so stay tuned. Tomorrow sees Forrest getting involved at the lab, which I am sure will produce more fascinating results!
Labels: Event Coverage
About the Author : Dan14 Comments:
Very, very cool! Can't wait to hear more about this. Some really ground breaking stuff.
By 
, at
7:16 am, July 22, 2008
Ya this could be a big help to organizations worldwide if it gets published, there really aren't many respectable sources of parkour's effect on safety out there. Great job guys!
By 
Tyson, at
7:31 am, July 22, 2008
Thanks for posting these interesting results. Especially the twice of the body weight when landing.
I wonder how loud Forrest can shout, we can hear him from Glasgow, when you take workshops in London.
I look forward to more clinical proven results.
Zeno
I was reliably informed by Mr Spidet last week that if you shout "diamond position" in Finland, everyone drops and gives you twenty. Amazing.
By Kiell, at
8:46 am, July 22, 2008
Yes, the findings will be published by Dr Andrew Head when complete and we will make them known to the community as soon as we have them. It's effectively just confirming what we already knew about the benefits of good training, but it's great to see the academe verifying our experiential understandings.
By Dan, at
11:09 am, July 22, 2008
This comment has been removed by the author.
I think this will be very helpful to clear many doubts about the relation Parkour X human physical capacity, especially doubts from people who're starting their Parkour trainings. Really nice work guys.
Can't wait to hear the findings and see some pics/video of the testing. Fascinating stuff.
By Unknown, at
12:07 am, July 23, 2008
i was there yesterday tuesday 22th july all day with thomas to complete the tests.
J'etais la bas hier toute ja journee le mardi 22 juillet avec Thomas pour faire tous les tests.
it's very interesting to see the accuraty of the mesurement taken.
c'est super interessant de voir la precision des mesures prises.
i managed to stay in balance on the wobble board 29.92 sec.
j'ai reussi a tenir en equilibre sur la wobble planche 29,92sec.
for the rest of the results u will may wait for them a bit but promise i will let you know.
pour les autre resultats il faudra attendre un peu mais je vous promet de vous les communiquer.
it's still in experimentation state but i'm sure it will become a very usefull tool in parkour context.
c'est encore a l' etat experimental mais je suis sur que cela deviendra un outil tres utile dans le monde du parkour.
voila! talk soon. a tres vite. Forrest
By Forrest, at
8:43 am, July 23, 2008
Sweet mother of god... Forrest on the internet! He'll be on the forum next if we are not careful..!
By Dan, at
5:33 pm, July 23, 2008
Nice work, Forrest. Multi lingual posting, too. Ace. ;)
I sense some competition emerging amongst the team with this wobble board thing... ;)
By Kiell, at
9:40 am, July 24, 2008
Intriguing. Anticipating your future posts with regards to more findings.
PicPac
By X, at
3:09 am, August 08, 2008
I am always interested in sports science and how the body adapts through sport. I cant wait to see the next instalment
By , at
5:34 pm, April 15, 2009
Maybe it's too late for asking, but there are any news about this article composed by Dr Andrew Head?
Thanks, Francesco
By , at
1:43 pm, December 21, 2010
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