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'Build the community': Nebraska Parkour opens gym off 84th and West Center

"We wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," owner Mitchell Tillwick said.

'Build the community': Nebraska Parkour opens gym off 84th and West Center

"We wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," owner Mitchell Tillwick said.

DEDICATED TO PARKOUR IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS MEMBERS AND COACHES WANT TO GROW THE SPORT BY TEACHING KIDS FAMILIES AND ADULTS OFF 84TH AND CENTER NEWSWATCH SEVEN AT NINES ALEX MCCLUNE SHOWS US HOW THEY WANT TO WELCOME PEOPLE TO THE SPORT. SARAH THE OWNER WANTS TO PROPEL PARKOUR AND STOP THE SOCIAL STIGMA BY COACHING PROFESSIONALISM VERSUS RECKLESSNESS. AND GETTING THE FORM DOWN IS A LOT HARDER THAN IT LOOKS THE GOAL OF THE GYM IS TO BUILD THE COMMUNITY, NEBRASKA PARKOUR GYM OWNER MITCHELL TILWICK WATCHES BEGINNERS AND NOVICES ZIP FROM POINT A TO POINT B DURING SATURDAY’S GRAND OPENING ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. IT CAME TO A POINT IN TIME WHERE THE THE COMMUNITY EITHER DIED OUT OR SOMEONE HAD TO TAKE IT ON AND I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT THAT TIME HE WAS ABLE TO THAT AND SO I JUST MADE THAT COMMITMENT MITCHELL MADE A COMMITMENT TO GROW THE SPORT AFTER ANOTHER GYM SHRANK BECAUSE MEMBERS LEFT AND WINTERS HIT HARD. THIS SPOT IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND BECAUSE IT’S FULLY DEDICATED TO PARKOUR OTHER GYMS SHARE SPACE WITH DANCERS AND GYMNASTS AND THESE ATHLETES CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. IT’S VERY FREE, ESPECIALLY SINCE MEDIA CERTAIN WAY AND PARKOUR YOU CAN DO ANYTHING THE WAY YOU WANT FROM STUDENTS TO COACHES AND FAMILIES THIS JIM PRIDES ITSELF ON SAFETY STARTING WITH THE EASIEST MOVES AND WORKING UP. ARE THEY THEY SPOT YOU? THERE’S MATHS THEY THEY’RE SAFETY INVOLVED IN AS THE FORMER BENNINGTON WRESTLER. MITCHELL HOPES EQUITY PROPELS THE SPORT WE CHOSE THE FACILITY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO PROVIDE ACCESS IN THE CITY TO NORTH O AND SOUTH OH AND BE ABLE TO REACH THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LOWER INCOME AND PEOPLE OF COLOR DANCING WITH OBSTACLES. THIS GYM WANTS TO PUT PARKOUR IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I’M OKAY, IF ANYONE CARES YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR CLASSES OR BECOME A COACH B
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'Build the community': Nebraska Parkour opens gym off 84th and West Center

"We wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," owner Mitchell Tillwick said.

Nebraska Parkour owner Mitchell Tillwick watched beginners and novices zip from point a to point b during his gym's grand opening Saturday.The former Bennington High School wrestler said he was driving home from practice and thought about free running. He Googled a group, and his enthusiasm took off."The goal of the gym is to build the community," Tillwick said. "About three years ago it came to a point in time where the community either died out, or someone had to take it on."Tillwick took on a commitment to grow the sport after he says another gym shrank. Members had left and winters hit hard.The gym off 84th and West Center is the first of its kind, according to Tillwick, because its space is fully dedicated to the sport. Other gyms share space with dancers and gymnasts, some of whom were bouncing around parkour boxes and mats Saturday."It's very free especially since we were gymnasts before and all these flips and stuff we did were very strict and had to be a certain way," said Daniel Medina Hernandez, a student at the gym with two friends.These students and coaches and the owner say the gym is safe."They spot you, there's mats there's safety involved," student Nick Isaacson said.The owner says coaches progress students from easy moves to more difficult movements. Spaced mats offer a soft landing. Tillwick also hopes equity propels parkour."We chose this facility specifically because we wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," Tillwick said.Sign up for classes or become a coach by visiting Nebraska Parkour's website.

Nebraska Parkour owner Mitchell Tillwick watched beginners and novices zip from point a to point b during his gym's grand opening Saturday.

The former Bennington High School wrestler said he was driving home from practice and thought about free running. He Googled a group, and his enthusiasm took off.

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"The goal of the gym is to build the community," Tillwick said. "About three years ago it came to a point in time where the community either died out, or someone had to take it on."

Tillwick took on a commitment to grow the sport after he says another gym shrank. Members had left and winters hit hard.

The gym off 84th and West Center is the first of its kind, according to Tillwick, because its space is fully dedicated to the sport. Other gyms share space with dancers and gymnasts, some of whom were bouncing around parkour boxes and mats Saturday.

"It's very free especially since we were gymnasts before and all these flips and stuff we did were very strict and had to be a certain way," said Daniel Medina Hernandez, a student at the gym with two friends.

These students and coaches and the owner say the gym is safe.

"They spot you, there's mats there's safety involved," student Nick Isaacson said.

The owner says coaches progress students from easy moves to more difficult movements. Spaced mats offer a soft landing. Tillwick also hopes equity propels parkour.

"We chose this facility specifically because we wanted to provide access in the city to North O and South O, and be able to reach those communities that are lower income and people of color," Tillwick said.

Sign up for classes or become a coach by visiting Nebraska Parkour's website.