Craig Constantine

Rosy Noguchi: Coaching, gender, and travel

What factors contribute to the longevity and success of community-driven parkour programs?

Rosy Noguchi discusses her involvement in PK Move, coaching, and why she is passionate about what they are doing. She shares her thoughts on the DC Women’s community, and why it’s been successfully running for 6+ years. Rosy reflects on the benefits of traveling for parkour, and closes out with her experiences with gender and intergenerational training in parkour.

I just thought it was cool, man. You’re only as old as you act and nobody was acting that old.
~ Rosy Noguchi (22:30)

The conversation explores the journey of Rosy Noguchi, a coach and board member at PK Move, and how her initial exposure to parkour through her mother led to a leadership role in the community. She recounts the origins of PK Move, a nonprofit aimed at making parkour accessible to diverse groups, and the progression from casual participant to co-founder. Rosy highlights the importance of inclusivity and the intergenerational nature of parkour, drawing connections between her experience training with both teenagers and older adults.

Rosy also discusses her involvement in the DC Women’s community and the structured nature of the monthly jams that have contributed to their sustained success. She emphasizes the role of leadership, mentorship, and collaboration in maintaining engagement and fostering growth. Additionally, Rosy reflects on the PK Silver program, which tailors parkour training for older adults, and shares personal insights on how her mother’s perspective on aging influences her coaching philosophy.

Takeaways

PK Move’s origin — How the organization evolved from an idea into a nonprofit driven by community needs.

Intergenerational training — The benefits of mixing age groups in parkour, fostering inclusive learning environments.

Women’s jam structure — How structured parkour classes during women’s jams enhance retention and encourage participation.

Mentorship and leadership — The influence of dedicated leaders and volunteers in sustaining long-term community programs.

Inclusivity in parkour — The importance of creating spaces that cater to newcomers and returning practitioners alike.

PK Silver — Tailoring parkour for older adults, emphasizing adaptability and safety.

Barriers to participation — How cost, time, and novelty affect attendance at women’s parkour events.

Support from larger organizations — The role of APK in providing space and legitimacy to community-led initiatives.

Travel and parkour — How traveling to jams strengthens community bonds and encourages personal growth.

Aging and representation — Addressing stereotypes about aging and promoting activity through inclusive parkour programs.

Resources

PK Move — The nonprofit organization co-founded by Rosy Noguchi to make parkour accessible to all.

APK (American Parkour) — A parkour organization that supports the DC Women’s community by providing gym space and infrastructure.

Urban Evolution — The parkour gym where Rosy began her training and encountered intergenerational parkour classes.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

PK Move: Community partnership, programs, and seniors

What factors contribute to the success of PK Move’s mission to make Parkour accessible to underserved communities and older adults?

PK Move founders Nancy Lorentz, Jean Lam, and Rosy Noguchi sit down to discuss everything PK Move; how they started, the challenges they face as a non-profit, and the unique relationship they have with their community. The team explains PK Move’s mission, the specific groups they serve, and the programs they run, including their PK Silver seniors program. They unpack the details of the recent study conducted on the PK Silver program before delving into the pop-up playground program, and their current goals and opportunities.

We wanted to go to them, people who had some barrier to getting to the gym. Sometimes it is financial. Sometimes it is being intimidated.
~ Nancy Lorentz (10:50)

PK Move’s founders discuss their nonprofit’s mission to bring Parkour to underserved populations, particularly seniors and communities with limited access to traditional fitness facilities. They detail the origins of PK Move, describing how personal experiences and a shared passion for Parkour led them to develop programs that focus on inclusivity, confidence-building, and strength development. A major part of their work includes the PK Silver program, designed for older adults, which offers step-by-step Parkour training tailored to the needs of participants with low fitness levels.

The conversation explores the challenges PK Move faces as a nonprofit, such as fundraising and obtaining grants. They explain how they forged partnerships with local governments and community organizations to provide free and low-cost classes. The team highlights the success of their recent study, which demonstrates the effectiveness of PK Silver in improving cardiovascular health and strength among participants aged 60 to 80. Additionally, they touch on their pop-up Parkour playground initiative, which brings portable Parkour equipment to community parks to encourage physical activity in children and families.

Takeaways

PK Move’s origin — The nonprofit was founded to bring the transformative benefits of Parkour to underserved communities.

PK Silver program — A structured Parkour program designed for older adults with low levels of physical activity.

Community partnerships — PK Move collaborates with city parks and recreation departments to offer outdoor and indoor classes.

Fundraising challenges — The organization relies heavily on grants, community donations, and volunteer support to sustain its programs.

Accessibility focus — Classes are held in public parks and community spaces, ensuring accessibility for participants who may feel intimidated by traditional gyms.

Pop-up playground — PK Move created a portable Parkour playground to engage children and families in physical activity in underserved areas.

Health benefits — A university-led study demonstrated improvements in cardiovascular health and strength among PK Silver participants.

Volunteers’ role — The majority of PK Move’s classes and programs are run by volunteers, including experienced Parkour coaches.

Future goals — PK Move aims to expand to more cities and conduct additional studies to solidify their evidence-based program.

Resources

PK Move official site — The nonprofit’s website with information on programs, events, and ways to donate or volunteer.

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) — The organization where PK Move’s study was presented, promoting health and fitness research.

Marymount University — Partnered with PK Move to conduct the PK Silver study on older adults.

Del Ray Business Association — A local business association that supported PK Move with fundraising and community outreach.

Movement Creative — A Parkour organization that inspired and mentored PK Move, providing equipment for their pop-up playground.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)