16/Dec/2009
BEGINNER GUIDE TO PKTO
The goal of this guide is to show a first-time user how to navigate this site and make sure they get the most our of their experience. Since many of our users are young or impatient to start moving, they often miss obvious information, become discouraged, and think that beginning is harder than it actually is. This section aims to help both young and old to make sure nobody misses out on what this site and its community offers.
How to Start Parkour with PKTO
This is a fool-proof 3 step system that will give you the basic information you need to start training Parkour with PKTO.
Step 1. You have already found us, which is great. The first thing you should do is read about Parkour in the FAQ. This section should answer most of the common questions you might have about Parkour.
Step 2. After following the link in step 1, you should sign up for the FORUM and take a look at the CALENDAR. Right away you'll be able to see if anything is going on in your area!
Step 3. Once you're signed up to the forum, say Hello! to the community in the INTRODUCTIONS section and tell us who you are and where you are from. It's like a bulletin board that other people in your area can use to find you and help you along! After saying hi, search the forums for the regional wedge that best represents where you live. Post that you'll be coming to a meet and get those running shoes ready!
A side note
If you are looking for something different from this site, you are totally lost, you hate using internet forums, you have no interest in group learning, or any other problem, feel free to CONTACT US and hopefully we can help. Please note that the most commonly asked questions can be answered by reading the site FAQ. Remember, you can usually get quicker answers if you check the FAQ before emailing.
How to navigate this site
This site is broken up into various sections in order to keep similar things together. Below is a picture of the site layout with numbered sections. By clicking the corresponding number under the picture, you will be given a detailed outline of that part of the site.
(#1) COMMUNITY TOP BAR
Home � This tab will always return you to the PKTO mainpage.
Message Board � This tab will bring you to the global message board. The area is the best place to post general parkour inquiries and introductions. On the message board, you will be able to access general forums as well as the regional sub-forums which allow you to find local training meets and talk directly to members of that sub-community.
Communities � Clicking this tab links you to a directory of the active community-wedges supported by PKTO. This section helps connect you with active practitioners in your area.
About Us � If you�ve ever wanted to know exactly who or what PKTO is, this tab will tell you what you need to know.
Contact Us � This tab is for questions that can�t be answered on the site and forum. All inquiries relating to business, performance, general matters, or questions from people who aren�t comfortable using forums, should be forwarded through this section. Since PKTO receives hundreds of unique e-mails per week, we strongly suggest that you search the forums and the FAQ for answers to Parkour related questions before e-mailing the site staff.
(#2) PARKOUR SIDE BAR
Parkour FAQ � If you�re new to Parkour or even this website, the "Parkour FAQ" is an excellent place to begin. You will find answers to most common questions here. This should be one of the first places you check out.
Tutorials � Though parkour is about finding your own way, there are specific movements that are more or less universal. This section provides in depth photo and video tutorials that can help ease your transition into Parkour training.
Training � The foundation of Parkour training is strengthening the body and mind to overcome all obstacles. In this section you will find training exercises, ideas, videos and more to help you find the best approach to your training.
Articles � The Articles section provides a medium for practitioners to share their knowledge and ideas about Parkour and responsible training. Whether you are new, bored, hungry for more Parkour information, or just curious about what other people are thinking, this section is the perfect place to learn about our community's take on Parkour. In this section you'll also find some of the best newspaper and magazine print articles that PKTO has been a part of.
Eyecandy � The Eyecandy section is PKTO�s picture archive. When a user submits pictures they usually end up in this section. As with any website, PKTO has certain quality standards so not all pictures end up here and those others can be found either on the forum or the community wedges.
Media � When Parkour is reported in the media, we like to know! This section is a collection of some of the most liked TV reports that community members have been involved in. Here, you will also find videos made by and about the community. If member submitted videos represent the community spirit found within this site, they end up here.
(#3) LATEST NEWS SIDEBAR
The 'latest news' side bar links directly to the forum that deals with news topics. This section can be found HERE. Think of this section as your heads up to the big events and important news that are happening in the Southern Ontario Parkour community. This is the place to watch if you don't want to miss out on the big events. If there is something we should be reporting on from your community, please let us know through the SUBMIT CONTENT section of the website.
(#4) QUICK LINKS BUTTONS
Beginner � You are currently in this section. If you have been reading, you know what it's about. If not, it is a section that helps beginners use and navigate the site in order to get the most out of their time here. If you scroll back to the top of this page you can read more about that.
Calendar � It's a quick link to the meets people post around Southern Ontario. When a member creates a public meet on the forum, they have the option of including it on the calendar. When you click on a link in the calendar, you are brought to the forum thread of the same topic and you can see more details on the event and who from the community is going.
Classes � The classes section gives an extra option to people who may not be interested in joining the forum, interacting directly with the community, or simply groups/individuals that want private instruction. Details, dates and locations can all be found within.
T-shirts � We receive constant e-mails from people asking us how they can support the PKTO website and community. By buying a t-shirt, you can support our community and receive a material reward for your donation. 100% of profits from t-shirt sales go directly into this website and the community in order to keep it and our events running. Our t-shirts are screen printed locally in Toronto by a member of our community.
Submit � The submit, or better known "help us" section, is what essentially makes the community aspect of the webpage grow. Without member submissions we wouldn't have become who we are today. Everyone is given an equal chance to help fuel this site and its growth. We continuously welcome people to offer their critiques, content, and whatever else they can think of. This site is here to serve the Parkour community and we try to show this with everything we do by involving as many people as possible in the process.
(#5) LATEST EVENT MEDIA
This section, found right below the quick links, gives you access to pictures and videos of the latest community events. From our big summer meets, to smaller training meets, to proactive community center outings, we like to document and share what we do. Hopefully, this section will inspire you to come out and be a part of whatever big events we hold in the future!