Parkour: Kong Vault Progression over a Plinth Top

A kong vault progression: the hands push off the obstacle and the body passes tucked between the arms. It builds from a bunny hop on the floor to clearing a low plinth top.

How to play

1. Bunny hops on the floor: hands forward, feet landing between or behind the hands (5 min).
2. Bunny hop to the top: hands on the plinth top and feet up onto it; then feet landing past the plinth without going between the hands (6 min).
3. Tucked pass: from standing, hands on the top, push and bring the feet through the arms onto the mat (8 min).
4. With a two- or three-step run, only for those who own the standing version (7 min).
5. Check-in: everyone writes the phase they're in and what feeling they need for the next one (4 min).

Rules

• Low obstacle (plinth top or one to two sections) and a crash mat on the landing.
• If the feet don't clearly clear it, go back a phase: never fix it with a faster run.
• A spotter at the side holds the arm and hip on the first tucked passes.
• Hands push and leave; nobody stays leaning on them.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wrist or shoulder injury: bunny hops on fists or no hand support, and help as a phase observer.
• Nervous students: stay in phase 2 with a crash mat beside the plinth.
• Blind or low-vision students: stick to phases 1 and 2 with a tactile check of the plinth edge before each try.

Learning goals

• Coordinate the arm push with the leg tuck.
• Clear a low obstacle with a front-on push vault.
• Respect the progression to avoid falls.

Equipment for a class of 25

• plinth tops: 3
• plinths: 1
• mats: 10
• crash mats: 1

Teacher tip

The plinth top alone on a mat is ideal: low, wide and padded. The classic mistake is diving head first: cue the shoulders only slightly past the hands and eyes on the far end of the plinth.

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