What motivates someone to push beyond personal limits in dance, Parkour, and other movement disciplines to achieve mastery?
Emily Tung shares her journey and goals in both breaking and parkour, as well as the differences between those two practices and communities. She also discusses her diverse movement practices, from stunt work, contortion, to pole dancing, as well as her lesser known skills in puppetry. Emily finishes by unpacking her thoughts on coaching, unsolicited advice, and speaking up for yourself.
For me then, it’s not about what is the correct or right way. It’s, what is your goal? And what’s your body like? And what can I do, and what applies best, and I have to decide that I have to be strong about that. I think that was another plateau. I had it back in my old life where I always listened to exactly what I was told.
~ Emily Tung (56:13)
The conversation explores how committing to ambitious goals reshapes personal habits, training, and overall lifestyle. Emily recounts how a decision to pursue world-level breakdancing battles triggered a broader transformation, leading to better nutrition, rest, and learning from mentors. This commitment highlighted the importance of focus and intentionality in practice, contrasting with periods of stagnant growth when goals were less defined.
The discussion also touches on the cross-disciplinary nature of movement arts, showing how Parkour, dance, and martial arts influence each other. Emily reflects on how Parkour provided a sense of community and freedom not always found in the dance world, fostering creativity and resilience. The journey through stunt work, puppetry, and contortion further illustrates the diverse ways movement disciplines intersect, shaping not just physical skills but also mental perspectives and personal identity.
Takeaways
The value of clear goals — Committing to ambitious targets reshapes training, habits, and lifestyle.
The importance of mentorship — Seeking knowledge from those already on the path accelerates growth and insight.
Cross-disciplinary learning — Parkour, dance, and martial arts inform and enhance each other, enriching overall movement capacity.
Community impact — Parkour provides acceptance and connection, contrasting with more judgmental environments in dance.
Injury prevention — Understanding progressions and conditioning transforms how to train sustainably and avoid long-term damage.
Stunt work insights — Success in stunts relies on spatial awareness, timing, and the ability to “sell” movements realistically.
Adaptability in movement — Flexibility and contortion expand creative possibilities in Parkour and dance.
The challenge of unsolicited advice — Navigating unwanted input from less experienced peers requires tact and boundary-setting.
Resources
Brooklyn Zoo Gym — Training facility where the guest developed contortion and Parkour skills.
Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre — Puppetry venue where the guest performed.
Caitlin Pontrella — Organizer of women’s Parkour events in New York.
HRC Crew @hrchybridcrew — Influential dance crew in Taiwan, significant to the guest’s early inspiration in breakdancing.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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