Parkour — Glossary

Every Parkour term explained in plain language: technique, equipment, rules and slang – with tips on avoiding the classic mistakes.

Committed (Slang)

The word for having fully decided before a move. A half-hearted yes in mid-air is more dangerous than the jump itself.

Dyno (Movement)

A dynamic jump on the wall where all four points of contact briefly leave the rock.

Ground Feel (Equipment)

How directly you feel the ground through your sole. Thin, flat rubber soles give you plenty of it; cushioning trades feedback for protection.

Heel Hook (Movement)

A climbing technique hooking your heel onto a hold to pull your hips close to the wall.

Parkour Roll (Movement)

The diagonal roll from one shoulder to the opposite hip. It cuts peak landing force from roughly 5.2 down to 2.9 body weights.

Precision Jump (Movement)

A jump from one exact point to another. What counts isn't distance but hitting the spot precisely and coming to a complete stop on it.

Silent Landing (Cheat code)

Land on the balls of your feet with knees and hips absorbing in stages, then use the noise as your gauge: louder only ever means harder.

Vault (Movement)

The umbrella term for clearing a wall under control with your hands on it. The entry-level version is the safety or step vault: one hand down, one foot between, step over.

General

Terms from training theory that apply in every sport.

1RM (One-Repetition Maximum) (Rule)

The maximum weight you can move for exactly one clean repetition. The reference value behind almost every training plan.

BMR & TDEE (Rule)

BMR is your basal metabolic rate at complete rest; TDEE is total daily expenditure including everyday movement and training. Nutrition targets always work off TDEE.

Cadence (Movement)

Steps per minute when running, or pedal revolutions when cycling. For most runners, 170–180 steps per minute sits in the sweet spot.

Core Tension (Movement)

Active stabilisation of abdomen, back and pelvis — the bridge that lets force travel between legs and arms at all.

Deload (Cheat code)

A deliberately lighter week with volume or intensity clearly reduced, so adaptation can catch up.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) (Cheat code)

Delayed muscle soreness 12–72 hours after unfamiliar load. Not a measure of training quality.

Knee Valgus (Movement)

The knees collapsing inward during squats, jumps and landings. One of the key risk markers in technique analysis.

Progressive Overload (Cheat code)

The one principle no training works without long-term: the stimulus has to grow over time, otherwise adaptation stops.

RIR (Reps in Reserve) (Rule)

How many clean reps you had left at the end of a set. RIR 2 means two more were available.

RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) (Rule)

A scale for perceived effort. In strength training it usually runs 1–10, where RPE 8 means you had two more reps in the tank.

Zone 2 (Aerobic Base) (Cheat code)

The easy endurance zone where you can still hold a conversation in full sentences. The base of almost every endurance plan.