"Anything you can do I can do better. I can do anything better than you."

Nothing is better than a jam with friends. The atmosphere tends to stay fun and everyone has a chance to perfect techniques and learn new ones. As long as all traceurs present know their own limits no one should get hurt and the jam will be a success. However, it often happens that a competition begins between two or more traceurs. I'll give an example.

There may be a particularly difficult tac to cat that Bao can do but I cannot. I sit there looking at the congratulations he is receiving and say to myself "Alex, you can do that. Bao isn't that much better. Go for it." This occurs all too often at jams. Instead of pushing my limits I completely break them and attempt something I'm simply not ready for. Not only is this dangerous but it is also stupid. Parkour is not about competition but the improvement of one's self. I should be happy for Bao and use his accomplishment of the tac to cat as motivation for myself to become better.

Normally this is not a problem for  those with experience. Many who have been practicing for a few months have tried something out of reach and learned their lesson. Many newbies want to jump right in and do the "cool" stuff. It is the responsibility of the new traceur to be patient. With proper drilling and determination many goals can be reached. Trying to beat a friend should never be a goal. No one is keeping score. There is no winner in parkour.

This is very important to keep in mind at larger jams with people from a different crew. A traceur's goal should not be to impress others. That mind set will lead to injury and possibly ill feelings among crews. A person labeled with The Syndrome can quickly find themselves unwelcome at jams. One-upmanship will kill a jam and the good vibes associated with it. Have respect for the abilities of others and this shouldn't be a problem.

Always remember "I can" are the words of a traceur. "I can because he can" are not.