Vault (parkour) - Basic Vaults

Basic Vaults

• Monkey vault: Both hands are placed on the obstacle; both legs are pulled up in a squat position with the hips raised and the traceur pulls himself/herself over.
• Lazy vault: One hand is used to swing both legs over an obstacle and the other is placed behind your body to create stability and a way to further propel your body.
• Kong vault: A monkey vault, except that you dive parallel to the object - only placing your hands down at the end of the obstacle. The hands are then used to push down and the legs are put in a monkey position. Also known as the King Kong or the dive Kong.
• Dash vault: Jump first, then place hands down to carry oneself over. The result will be a sitting position halfway through the vault, with the arms used to push off the obstacle.
• Kash vault: A combination of the Kong and dash vault. The execution is similar to a Kong vault, except at the end of the vault, the traceur pushes himself/herself up in order to give some space for the legs to exit as a dash vault.
• Two-handed vault/Side vault: Both hands are placed on the obstacle and the body goes alongside the arms, with the legs parallel to the obstacle.
• Safety vault: Similar to the two-handed vault, except easier. Place both hands on the obstacle, then the outside foot is placed on the obstacle and the inside arm is then released, while the outside foot pushes the traceur off the obstacle.
• Speed vault: A jump sideways but in the center of the obstacle, while one hand is used to push oneself forward. This is similar to the lazy vault; however the inside hand does not touch the obstacle.
• Thief vault: Same as the speed and lazy vaults, except the inside hand touches the obstacle and the inside leg goes over first. This is usually used to reverse directions over a rail/wall fairly quickly.
• Double Kong vault: Similar to the kong, but the traceur pushes himself/herself off the obstacle twice before finishing the vault. This is used for especially long obstacles.
• Turn vault: Place one hand on the obstacle, preferably in the underhand position, place the other on it normally, then turn over 180 degrees.
• Two-step vault: Plant one foot just below waist level and thrust yourself upwards. When high enough put the other foot on the top of the wall then push yourself over the wall. This can only be performed on a wall that is waist level to chest high.
• Pop vault: Run towards an obstacle and place one foot on it, kick upwards, grab the top of the obstacle and go over it.
• Reverse vault:place one hand upward and one hand curve and spin.
• Barrel vault:place one hand and both leg up.
• Italian job:going into a lazy vault but spinning back into a starting position.
• Reverse kong:going into a dash but turning and pushing the obstable.