Dylan Johanson

Geometry of thought →

Published July 12, 2022  ·  All posts on Jul 12

It’s really structure that I keep circling back to (note that word: circle). How do we structure our moving, changing thoughts and how do we structure the world we design and move and act in?

~ Barbara Tversky from, The Geometry of Thought | Edge.org

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This article is a delightful deep dive into how movement and thought are interrelated. This is a topic near and dear to my heart. I once had the sublime experience of having a podcast guest say that he used to think to figure out how to move, but now he moves in order to think.

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Road trip to Dylan’s →

Published November 24, 2019  ·  All posts on Nov 24  ·  ,

This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series The interviews from my perspective

Dylan Johanson / Episode 15

I met Dylan Johanson in 2013. I went to an ADAPT certification course at Kutztown University run by Parkour Generations, and Dylan came down from upstate New York. He hadn’t really had a chance to train with a lot of other people, so this was the first time that he had had a chance to be in a group of roughly 27 candidates for the course, which was enormous. He was just so happy. He was basically running, jumping or laughing the whole time because he had never found such a large group of people with the same passion.

The first day he was sort of playing the, “I’m old,” card because he was in his late 30s at the time, having started parkour after quitting his previous business life. When he eventually bumped into me, it was like, “hey, fellow oldster!” We just sort of clicked, and we wound up walking from the training spots to where lunch was and back and forth. When I started doing the podcast years later, I was always thinking his story was interesting because of—as he talks about in the podcast—his early “days of the ninja”; He would just pick a straight line through Kingston on a Sunday when everything is closed and run over fences, dogs and all that.

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Dylan Johanson | Salsa for Fluidity →

Published December 26, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 26

On Castbox.fm — Dylan Johanson | Salsa for Fluidity

What are the transferable skills between salsa dancing and Parkour, and how can they enhance physical training and movement?

Highlighting how musicality and timing contribute to better control and creativity in physical movement.

I challenge you to go and ask somebody to dance.

~ Dylan Johanson (7:20)

The conversation focuses on the intersection between salsa dancing and Parkour, exploring how skills developed in dance, such as fluidity, decisiveness, and responsiveness, translate to movement training. By engaging in salsa, practitioners improve their ability to make quick decisions and adapt to unpredictable situations, mirroring the dynamic challenges faced during Parkour. The discussion emphasizes how leading in salsa fosters decision-making, while following sharpens sensitivity to physical cues—both of which align closely with attributes beneficial to Parkour.

The dialogue gets into the personal journey of discovering this crossover and the unexpected ways in which dance has influenced balance, recovery, and flow in Parkour. Additionally, the session touches on how participants resonated with the material, recognizing the value of timing, spacing, and musicality in movement practice. The session ends with practical suggestions for incorporating salsa into daily routines to enhance Parkour skills, encouraging participants to engage in social dance events to further develop their abilities.

Takeaways

Salsa and Parkour crossover — There are transferable skills between salsa dancing and Parkour, particularly in fluidity, decisiveness, and responsiveness.

Lead-follow dynamics — Leading in salsa sharpens decision-making, while following develops sensitivity to movement cues, both of which are beneficial in Parkour.

Balance and recovery — Practicing salsa helps improve balance and the ability to recover from compromised positions, aiding in obstacle navigation.

Pacing and timing — Musicality and pacing in dance relate to the timing required in Parkour routes, contributing to smoother and more controlled movement.

Group movement awareness — Salsa highlights the importance of timing and spacing in collaborative movements, mirroring the coordination needed for group Parkour sessions.

Practical exercises — Practicing basic salsa steps or attending social dances can reinforce foundational movement skills applicable to Parkour training.

Resources

Innate Movement Parkour

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Dylan Johanson: Gym iterations, community, and self-advice →

Published July 10, 2018  ·  All posts on Jul 10  ·  

Dylan Johanson: Gym iterations, community, and self-advice

What motivates and sustains a practice that evolves personal fulfillment and builds community?

Dylan Johanson is the owner and founder of Innate Movement Parkour in Kingston, New York. A practitioner for many years, Dylan talks about his origin story and the challenges surrounding building and then re-building his gym. Then he shares some thoughts on what advice he would give his younger self.

Sometimes, I still need to remind myself to not accidentally slip onto the treadmill of traditional success.

~ Dylan Johanson (18:00)

The conversation explores Dylan Johansson’s journey into parkour, from discovering the practice to founding Innate Movement in Kingston, New York. Early topics include Dylan’s initial experiences with parkour, how it resonated with his love for movement, and his shift from solitary training to engaging with a larger community. He describes the transformative effect parkour had on his health, outlook, and life choices, emphasizing the physical and mental benefits it provided.

Later discussions focus on the process of building a parkour community, including the challenges of starting and sustaining a gym. Dylan recounts how he transitioned from hobbyist to professional coach, discussing incremental growth strategies, the importance of partnerships, and lessons learned from different gym setups. The conversation also reflects on broader themes, such as defining success on one’s terms and embracing the evolving nature of personal practice.

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