The Leg Hook

Once upon a time, there was a man who enjoyed Parkour. One afternoon he felt fatigued. He decided to walk and listen to a podcast. Approaching a building, he noticed a safety rail — perfect for vaulting. For some reason, a question appeared in his imagination. He wondered if he could vault the rail, turning one hundred and eighty degrees, landing a narrow ledge on the other side, but facing where he started. More specifically, he felt the urge to “one bang” — Parkour speak meaning first attempt. He had vaulted this rail before, though he was not yet proficient to the point of an effortless one bang. The rail was pretty high. He was fatigued. Smacking your knee on rails hurts. But still, his inner dialog was clear — let’s do this. Lengthening his spine, he stepped hastily towards the obstacle. He felt time slow down. His hands grasp the rail — one palm up and the other down. His knee drives towards the sky. This part feels a lot like kneeing someone in the head. His second leg jumps — now he is suspended above the rail with all his weight on his hands. He is about halfway through the vault. But then something goes wrong. His second leg is not going to make it over. Or maybe one of his hands does the wrong thing. In any case, he enters bail mode. The man reacts unconsciously to the situation. As if to hug the rail behind his knee, his second leg hooks before passing over the top. The hook saves him. He swings him back to his feet — elegantly coming to an upright position where he originally jumped from. Pausing to understand what just happened, he realises he just discovered a new vault! For lack of a better name, he calls it a 180 leg hook. After repeating his newfound vault, he continues his fatigued walk. Though now he feels different. He is energised. For accidental discovery is one of those rare moments in life we crave.