How to: Flag Pole Parkour

Performing the flag pole hold is challenging even for seasoned fans of parkour, the athletic art of moving from one point to another making efficient use of your body's physical strength. To achieve the flag pole hold, you will latch on to a vertical object and hoist your body so that it is perpendicular to the ground, simulating a flying flag. Once you have found a solid vertical object that will support your body weight, you're ready to practice the hold.

Things You'll Need

  • Solid, grounded vertical object (street sign pole, staircase rail, parking meter or similar)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stretch. One of the key principles of parkour is to avoid injury, so do not skip this step. Target the muscle groups in your back, arms and legs. Engage your abs to support your spine, as your core is key to performing the flag pole move.

    • 2

      Place both hands on the vertical object so your palms are facing away from you. Spread your hands 2 to 3 feet apart and find a comfortable grip. Make sure both hands are vertically aligned with each other.

    • 3

      Kick up into the air using your leg that is farthest away from the vertical object. Bend your leg slightly at the knee. Keeping it bent ensures the muscles in your leg are relaxed, thereby focusing energy in the upper body. Kick as high as you are able.

    • 4

      Push down hard on the vertical object with the hand closest to the ground. Grip firmly with your other hand. When both arms are fully extended, lock them at the elbows.

    • 5

      Kick your other leg up, also keeping it slightly bent at the knee. Both of your legs are now pushing skyward, while your bottom hand is pushing toward the ground. Aim to have your entire body horizontal to the ground, or perpendicular to the vertical object.

    • 6

      Maintain the hold by keeping a tight grip on the vertical object with your arms locked at the elbows. Engage your core muscles to support your spine and lower body, particularly your legs.

    • 7

      Maintain the position for a few seconds, or as long as you are able. The duration of your flag pole hold will increase as your body strengthens.

    • 8

      Dismount from the flag pole position by maintaining control of your body's weight with your arms, then slowly lowering both legs to the ground. Maintain the vertical alignment in your body to prevent injury.