Advanced Vaulting Techniques Explained: Mastering the Art of Overcoming Obstacles

Vaulting is one of the most versatile and efficient techniques in parkour, allowing practitioners to overcome obstacles with speed, control, and precision. But what exactly is vaulting? At its core, vaulting is the act of using your hands—and sometimes your feet—to navigate over an object.

Unlike jumping, vaulting minimizes the need for significant vertical motion, keeping your center of gravity low and reducing impact on landing. This makes vaulting one of the most efficient ways to maintain forward momentum while overcoming obstacles.

But what happens when you take this foundational skill and push it to the next level? That’s where advanced vaulting techniques come into play. These include movements like double vaults, combination vaults, and twisting vaults—each requiring exceptional strength, control, and creativity. Whether you’re looking to improve efficiency, add flair, or push your technical boundaries, advanced vaults are a must-have in your arsenal.

What Makes a Vault Advanced?

Caoch zeek doing a travel kong

Advanced vaults typically involve one or more of the following elements:

1. Doubling: Performing the same vault in succession, such as a double kong.

2. Combining: Linking multiple vault types together for style and complexity.

3. Twisting: Adding spins or rotations before, during, or after the vault.

4. Dives and Drops: Tackling vaults that involve significant height or distance.

These elements take vaulting beyond basic functionality, requiring mastery of physics, body control, and air awareness.

Doubling: Amplifying Power and Efficiency

One of the most iconic advanced vaults is the double kong, a movement where the practitioner performs two consecutive kong vaults over a long obstacle.

Why It’s Advanced: A double kong requires enough power and technique to keep your body horizontal between vaults, maintaining a low center of gravity and significant forward momentum.

Coach zeek doing a double kong

Practical Use: Double kongs are especially useful for clearing obstacles that a single kong cannot, such as long tables or gaps between objects.

Benefits: When executed properly, double vaults often result in increased acceleration on the other side of the obstacle, making them both efficient and visually impressive.

Combinations: Linking Movements for Style

Combination vaults involve stringing together multiple vault types in a single sequence, such as a kong to dash or a reverse step vault into a standard step vault.

Why It’s Advanced: These movements demand seamless transitions and a high degree of air awareness.

Example: The kong front dash, where a powerful kong vault transitions into a front flip and ends in a dash vault, is a perfect example of a combination that prioritizes flair over functionality.

Challenges: Combination vaults often sacrifice efficiency for creativity, requiring precise timing and immense confidence to pull off.

Twisting: Adding Complexity to Vaults

Twisting vaults incorporate spins or rotations to add visual flair. For example, a 360 dive kong involves diving into the air, spinning a full 360 degrees, and transitioning smoothly into a kong vault.

Why It’s Advanced: Maintaining horizontal momentum while incorporating spins requires exceptional body control and spatial awareness.

Visually Stunning: Twisting vaults are less about efficiency and more about making an impact, showcasing the artistry of freerunning.

Coach Tad doing a dive roll vault to pre

Dives and Drops: Elevating the Challenge

Dives and drops push vaulting into extreme territory, where height and distance become defining factors.

Simple Drop: A 6-inch drop into a step vault is not advanced, but a 6-foot drop into a dive kong demands strength, timing, and precision.

Dives: These involve launching your body through the air and landing in a controlled vault, such as a dive kong or dive dash.

Why It’s Advanced: The risks and physical demands of dives and drops make them some of the most challenging vault variations to master.

Training for Advanced Vaults

To master advanced vaults, focus on building the strength, flexibility, and confidence needed to perform these movements. Here are some tips:

1. Build Strength: Exercises like pistol squats, pull-ups, dips, and push-ups develop the muscle groups required for explosive vaults.

2. Practice Fundamentals: Before attempting advanced techniques, ensure your basic vaults (kong, dash, speed) are solid and consistent.

3. Drill Transitions: Work on combining vaults at a lower height to build flow and coordination.

4. Develop Air Awareness: Practice in controlled environments, such as padded gyms or soft outdoor surfaces, to reduce the risk of injury.

5. Repetition: Consistent practice is key to developing muscle memory and confidence in your movements.

Conclusion: Pushing Boundaries with Advanced Vaults

Advanced vaulting techniques showcase the perfect blend of parkour’s functional roots and freerunning’s creative spirit. From the raw power of a double kong to the intricate flair of a 360 dive kong, these movements push the limits of what is possible while maintaining the essence of vaulting: efficient, fluid motion.

While advanced vaults often prioritize creativity and visual appeal, they also demand exceptional body control, air awareness, and confidence. Mastering these skills takes time, patience, and repetition, but the payoff is immense—not just in your ability to perform them, but in the joy of expanding what your body can achieve.

As you explore these techniques, remember that progression is key. Start with foundational vaults, build your strength and awareness, and tackle advanced movements step by step. Whether you’re training for efficiency, flair, or a mix of both, advanced vaults are a powerful tool for expressing your unique style and pushing your boundaries.

Stay safe, train smart, and enjoy the journey. The world is your playground.