This blog deals specifically with the games based aspect of coaching. I recommend using a model of explicitly teaching skills and then combining this with purposeful practice drills. With primary school children, that almost invariably means playing games.
I often mention parkour, FreeRunning, and Art du Déplacement and I just wanted to take a moment to mention that there are a ton of people (myself not included) who take teaching it very seriously. If you’ve ever wondered how it’s taught— well, here you go.
What is the balance between explicit instruction and fostering natural play in effective teaching methods?
Examining the contrasts between structured education and natural play in learning.
The takeaway I want to give to people and the question I want them to ask themselves is, which parts of my class are actually effective? And which parts of my class am I doing out of habit?
~ John ‘Hedge’ Hall (6:50)
The conversation centers on teaching methods, particularly in the context of Parkour coaching. Two critiques of education are explored: a Neo-Marxist view, which critiques traditional teaching as overly authoritative and facts-based, and a libertarian perspective emphasizing the importance of natural play and minimizing intervention. These frameworks guide a discussion about creating self-aware, critical thinkers while respecting the natural role of play in learning.
The surprising discovery is that explicit instruction, often seen as unappealing or overly rigid, is highly effective for establishing foundational understanding. This enables learners to engage in problem-solving and develop complex skills more effectively. The dialogue also addresses how nervousness in new students impacts learning and the importance of clear, actionable cues during instruction.
Takeaways
Explicit instruction — Foundational teaching through clear and structured guidance significantly enhances student learning outcomes.
Natural play — Recognizing play as a natural and critical form of education, especially for children, and balancing it with structured instruction.
First-class experiences — Highlighting the importance of designing initial learning experiences to build confidence and engagement.
Critical awareness — Fostering self-critical thinking and the ability to question systems as key educational goals.
Rote learning — Revisiting rote learning as a misunderstood but powerful tool for building essential skills.
Habitual teaching — Questioning and assessing habitual teaching practices to ensure their effectiveness.
Intervention limits — Exploring when and how much intervention is beneficial in the learning process.
Resources
Access Parkour — A Parkour coaching organization focused on accessible training programs.
What lessons can parkour teach about culture, education, and personal development?
Craig travels to Edinburgh, Scotland to interview John “Hedge” Hall about the culture of parkour, his ideas on how Scotland views parkour, and his own personal movement journey. Hedge unpacks how different cultures and societies adapt parkour to fit them and the impact of cultural norms on their practice. Touching a bit on coaching, Hedge discusses the impact of educational environments on his students.
Parkour is shaped like the hole that people feel is missing in their society.
~ John ‘Hedge’ Hall (12:00)
The conversation explores the cultural nuances of parkour, showing how it adapts to the societal needs of different regions. It examines the contrasting competitive nature of parkour in the United States versus its integration into daily life and education in Scotland. Insights from anthropological studies are discussed, highlighting how parkour serves as a response to societal gaps, shaped by local culture.
The discussion shifts to pedagogy, with an emphasis on using parkour as a tool for inclusive education. It explains the value of teaching novices through inflexible concepts while gradually introducing flexible ones as they gain experience. Practical examples include introducing parkour into schools to foster natural play and physical development. The speaker also shares personal reflections on self-improvement and the importance of honesty in building habits, tying it to broader life lessons.
Takeaways
Parkour and culture — Parkour adapts to the unique cultural norms of each society, reflecting local values and needs.
There are two important takeaways from this idea. The first is that this is a sliding scale not a pair of absolutes. Almost everyone sits somewhere between. Secondly, by virtue of their position, teachers coaches and educators will always be experts. They have deep domain specific knowledge about an issue and understand it in a very different manner from the novice learners they are invariably teaching.
I am not a parkour coach. But John most definitely is. He gave a wonderfully lucid and thought-provoking discussion at the last Art of Retreat which has left a permanent idea/mark/lesson in my mind about the “journey” each of us goes through in our learning process. (Just because I feel I learned the lesson, doesn’t mean I’m necessarily any good at passing it along.)
Anyway, John has a lot of really good thoughts on inclusivity in practice!