Traceur Robert "Rocket" Schild

Statement:

Parkour ist für mich die Art der Bewegung, die sowohl fordernd als auch befriedigend ist.

Ziel:

Mein Ziel ist nicht, der beste Traceur der Welt zu sein, sondern einfach Spass an der Bewegung zu haben und eine Herausforderung für meinen Geist und meinen Körper zu erfahren.
Oder vielleicht mal der weltälteste (aktive) Traceur zu werden! ;-)

Mein Parkour Training:

Parkour trainiere ich am liebsten im urbanen Gelände - vor allem, wenn die Witterung eher frühlingshaft oder gar sommerlich ist.

Leider komme ich selten dazu in der Gruppe Parkour zu trainieren und dann in der Gruppe von parkour-vienna.at, wo ich zum ersten Mal im Juni 2006 mit Parkour hautnah in Berührung gekommen bin und als blutiger Anfänger mal mitbekommen habe, was Parkour ist.

Wenn die Zeit für ein ausgedehntes Training nicht reicht, dann versuche ich zumindest die Zeit zu nutzen, indem ich auf dem Weg zur Arbeit und auf dem Nachhauseweg die U-Bahnen und Strassen unsicher ;-) mache.
In Wien ist immer eine Gelegenheit zu finden, wo man auch mal zwischendurch Parkour trainieren kann.

Der Vorteil von Parkour ist, dass es reicht sich seine Turnschuhe anzuschnallen und dann kann´s eigentlich schon losgehen! Mittlerweile sind meine Parkour-Schuhe (derzeit : Hummel Parkour 1 / Kalenji Ekiden) mein ständiger Begleiter ;-)

Interview:

What led to you to start with Parkour and what was the first contact to parkour?

My first encounter with parkour was in may 2006.
I watched a report about parkour on television where Andreas Kalteis (a pioneer and local hero in Austria) talked about parkour and he and a few traceurs doing moves and Andreas explained what’s parkour and the fascination doing parkour movements.

I was very impressed, but I thought, that this will be more for younger and agile kids, than mature men.

After a few weeks, in my office, a colleague, working on a project for an opening of a sports & fun hotel, was investigating, what kind of event would be good.
And she showed me some clips on youtube with parkour related stuff.
And I recognized that this is Parkour and said to my colleague (not in a serious way) : “Yes, that’s good – that’s parkour – that is what I gonna do next!”. And she looked at me an respond : “Oh-cool, when do you start to train?”. I didn’t answered, but I thought to myself : “Yes, why not, just give it a try”. So I searched in the internet, if there is someone in Vienna, who is practicing parkour – and I found a group with a 2 tracers. We arranged the first training / meeting with 5 tracers end of June 2006. My first steps were very poor and I didn’t imagine at that time, how it could be possible eg. to climb a wall so quick and easy. But after a few trainings I felt the spirit of parkour and start to improve my skills.

Do you see any difference of parkour and freerun?

Of course there are differences, I think. Parkour is just a core of the efficient and safety way to overcome obstacles. Freerunning is like the extension of parkour – it’s the most creative way. Both have intersections – eg. Basic movements and parts of the philosophy. But Freerunning has more opportunities for movements. Both are great!^^

Is something special for you to train with younger generations?

The very special, when I train (with) younger traceurs, is, that I can give them some of my experiences – not only related to parkour. And they act very respectful when I talk to them and try to give younger people some message, motivation or spirit for their own life. And I feel younger!

What is your philosophy of parkour?

For me the philosophy of parkour fills my life. It gives me the ability to overcome obstacles. Those obstacles can be in the environment as physical objects like walls, or obstacles in your head, like problems, solution finding, sorrows, doubts, different feelings like hate and fear.
My life is (a) parkour and parkour is my life. It’s a part of my life – it’s penetrating my life.
I’m always practicing parkour. This means the philosophy characterizes my behavior. I try to help people, talk to people and not to ignore them, taking care of the environment, be strong, but not overwhelming, … While reflecting on the philosophy of parkour I would say, that one important thing is like the famous Casey Kasem’s quote : “Keep Your Feet On The Ground And Keep Reaching For The Stars”. This means, that you have to gain more abilities, more strength, but you have to think about, what you are and what you want and how you do it, without losing your humanity, your roots and repect. And as Chris “Blane” Rowat has stated that “Power Is Nothing Without Control” – and so parkour is like Yin & Yang – You have to keep your life balanced, or you will fail!

What is your job and do you connect it with parkour?

I’m working as a webdesigner, IT-Consultant and other IT related stuff. The only connect is that I have a website www.le-traceur.net (relaunch is pending) where I give information to beginners and try to connect the community (also over facebook) and bring some tools – like my spots map app – to the community. And of course the philosophy of parkour takes part in my job!

What your society saying about it?(family, friends, associate...)

When I started to train and live parkour, it was very different. My wife & my kids were a little bit bewildered, when I jumped over some obstacles or rolling on the floor :) , when walking on the street or waiting for the bus, etc. I did that, because I wanted to do that. And other people didn’t understand what & why I was doing that … This was sometimes a problem. If kids doing that – it’s “normal” – but not when mature guys do that.  But some of them talked to me and I explained – Parkour & Freerunning was not very common a few years ago – now they see me move and they associate that movements to parkour or freerunning. Last year I did a wall run and a 38 years old guy, watching my successful move over a 3.40m high wall, came to me and asked : “How old are you?” – I thought : “Woohoo! – what does he means? Does he means, It’s ridiculous, what I’m doing? Is it inappropriate, when I train in public … in my age …?“ … I answered: “I’m 44! Why you asking?” … After a second – it was like an hour for me waiting for that, what comes next. - he replied : “Oh! … You gave me a future, now I know what I have to do!” – Then he went away. And moments like this are enough answer, why I have to go out and train!

Have you any inspiration or model? (for example Chase armitage, Buddha, Chuck N=))...)

Well, there are some guys in my mind and they inspire(d) me : Sascha “Cionn” Hauser is a friend of mine and he gives me motivation as I give him motivation too, I think. He has a great skill & such good style.
Daniel Ilabaca, Chris “Blane” Rowat, .. there are many traceurs and big names in the world of parkour and freerunning, who gives me inspiration. But there are many more people all around the world – in the UK, in Mexico, Spain, Ukraine, Russian Federation, … It doesn’t matter, if they are “famous” or not. You will find several video’s on YouTube – such as Minh Vu Ngoc’s “Shine” which inspire(d) me.

Have you any health problems of training?

Sometimes I have problems with my right ankle – I had an injury 2 years ago - after a precision jump, my ankle was broken and so sometimes it troubles a little bit – especially when it’s cold outside. Also my knees and my back are sometimes stressed – but nothing special. I always had troubles with my knees and back, when I was young – But it’s getting better, when I train and move continuously.

Did you do any movement before parkour?

Not really much – I tried some kind of sports, but that doesn’t fulfill my life. But I always was moving in different kinds – I like(d) swimming, go for a jog, practicing 2 years of Thai Chi (before Parkour), did some kind of martial arts training … but nothing special.

You are speaking „if you ... you can do parkour“ and it is very motivation for many runners and traceurs. Tell us something about this philosophy.

Yes, I think, that’s the core!
Often, people are writing to me. They want to start with parkour or freerunning, but they say, they can’t … because they are too young, too old, too fat, too slight, too little, too weak, too busy … or does not have the ability or possibilities to train (eg. They live in a godforsaken area with no obstacles), etc.
The first time I was standing in front of a 2.30m wall, I didn’t have any idea, how I (!!!) can climb over that wall, like a traceur. And my first tries were not very successful :( - But after the first success, I realized, what can be possible!
Ok, I don’t have high levels skills after 5 years of training as some other traceurs, who trains just half a year or a year - I know my limitations – but I always try to improve that skills and find new (creative) moves. But this is a fact that doesn’t matter. Parkour is for you and you are the benchmark for what you want to achieve. It’s hard to accept (if others are “better” than yourself), but it helps to find the right way for YOUR life!

There are so many different causes why people start to train:
They are weak and want to get strength and become powerful.
They are busy and want to think about something else, than their business.
They are fat or slim and want to shape their body.
They struggle with their life and want to gain control of their life.
They have no future and want a future.
...
So why others don’t do it? If you want it – do it!

It doesn’t matter, why you do parkour, or start with training. It doesn't matter, who you are, and where you come from. It doesn’t matter, what you do, but it does matter, how you do it!
You can change your life and your future and you can change the world!
This sounds pathetic, but when you can find a solution for your life, why don’t find a solution for others?
But you always have to reflect on yourself, check if your way is right or false and one step forward means success or fail! If you fail, you have to stand up and think about, why you failed. Then choose a new path in your life. If you succeeded, double check that success and apply that for your life.

Have you any dream and purpose?what? It may not be only parkour...

I don’t know what’s in the nearest future (eg. The next 5 years). How will my training be? Or will I be able to train? I hope!
But I dream of a great (Parkour)Park, with multiple possibilities for sports that I manage :)
And :
I dream of people, they have learned to think about, what makes sense and what’s peanuts.
I dream of people looking behind the “Matrix”.
I dream of people not losing their faith and find a bit (more) of modesty.

Parkour doesn’t make better people – people make better people!

Tell some what you want to us:)

Whenever you want to start with parkour/freerunning – do it. If your progression stands still and you become frustrated – review why?! Is it a mental problem or a physical or …?! Find that movements, that are suitable for you – train the basics. Feel the spirit of parkour! If you open your mind, your body will follow! Stay calm and keep concentrated, while practicing parkour! But also have fun!
Live your life, not someone other’s life!

It’s great to see, how many are part of the spirit of parkour!
As I said, it does not matter, who you are, where you from, what’s your political view or religion.
If we all are with the spirit – we will be on the right way!

So, keep your mind open – train save and have fun!