Keiki Parkour at Precision Parkour
Running up the walls is encouraged at Precision Parkour's fun, new active space.
In my work life, I think a lot about the importance of taking smart risks, getting back up when you fall down, and creating an environment where goals can be set and challenges tackled with persistence and positivity. And I wonder how to pass those values on to my kids.
That’s why my ears perked up when I heard that Precision Parkour had found a new home at Crossfit Oahu in Kakaako—and that its owner, Keith Mylett, offers classes for keiki. In parkour, a relatively young sport, participants (called traceurs) turn everyday environments into obstacle courses and opportunities for physical improvisation.
It’s a literal translation of all those values I think so much about: parkour’s philosophy is that nothing helps you size up and take an obstacle like actually doing it, in a mutually supportive environment where the only person you’re competing with is yourself. And as a sport born in the urban ghettoes of Paris would be, it’s also way cool.
So we—two moms and four kids who don’t all love P.E.—went down on a Tuesday evening to check out a keiki parkour class from Precision Parkour.
The Group: Two girls, both 8; two boys, 8 and 11. The Class: Keiki Parkour. Each class runs 55 minutes long.
The space is great: huge and clean and chock-full of inviting equipment. There’s a friendly, heavy-metal vibe, complete with a thumping playlist and plenty of Crossfitters “crushing it,” but it never felt like we were competing for square footage. And the kids’ eyes got wide when they saw the mezzanine area, which Mylett sometimes uses for the class, fitted out with ropes, ladders and a climbing peg board. One said, “Whoa, this is like ‘American Ninja Warrior!’”
What about the class itself? After a warmup, Mylett and his coaching assistant led the class step-by-step through some basic parkour moves, like tic-tacs and the vault. In between, he taught crucial safety skills like landing and rolling, and then brought all the skills together for fun routines. Classes are different every time, and can include cargo net climbs, ladders, and lava tag.
Mylett teaches high school language arts by day and also has a seven-year-old son who comes to many of the classes—which means that he knows how to teach and engage kids, and it showed. By the end, our newbies were executing vaults and rolls and running up the wall, and they never got bored. When the hour-long class was over, we almost had to drag them out of there. “That was super good,” remarked the kid I thought might like it least.
At the end of every session, says Mylett, “my goal is to have them sweaty and smiling.” Goal achieved.
The Details:
What: Separate parkour classes for 5-8 year-olds and 9-12 year olds.
Pricing: Membership starts at $65 a month for one class a week. You can also drop in for $20.
Parking: Plenty. There are spaces in front of the Crossfit box and another parking lot next door with many stalls reserved for Crossfit use.
Bring: Comfy clothes, covered shoes, and water.
Precision Parkour is located at 556 Reed Lane in Kakaako. Call 398-9045 or email keith@precisionparkour.com.
