The speed vault is a pure movement - it is useful for clearing an obstacle as quickly as possible, the focus being on speed and fluidity rather than aesthetic. For me, it is the quickest way to pass a simple obstacle (wall or rail). Although it seems like a simple movement, it requires a lot of practice to get it to a truly efficient standard. A lot of people overlook it because of this.
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| Click the photo (above) to download a video of this technique.
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Set your run up correctly - you will need to take off with the foot of the side that you will place your hand, e.g. if you take off with your right foot, then you’ll be using your right hand. You’ll be entering the move in stride, so it’s important to get the last step the correct distance away from the obstacle. This is a fast movement - although you may learn it at slower speeds, eventually you’ll want to be able to do this at a full run.
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| Take off a good distance from the rail. As you progress with this, you’ll end up taking off a lot further back than you had previously. The usual beginner’s mistake is to be holding the rail/wall by the time they take off - there should always be a point where you have taken off, but have not touched the rail yet. Swing the other leg up and slightly to the side, you should begin to lean a little bit too.
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| This is the point that you’re not touching anything. At this point you will be about to come over the rail. You need to bring your legs up to your side, and begin to reach out for a grip. Stay focused ahead of you as opposed to where your hand should be, if you can. |
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As your body comes over the rail, push off with your hand. It is only a very short touch as you pass the rail. You may find that your lower leg is bent so your sole is facing backwards at this point, this isn’t a problem.
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| Push off the rail with your hand, and begin to get your lower leg (the same leg that you used to take off from) back underneath you. There should be a point where you have pushed off the rail and have not yet landed. |
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You should be almost straightened up now. The lower leg should be ready to land upon, and the other leg should be beginning to coming past it, so that you can continue to run after landing.
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Land on the original take-off leg, and continue running. |
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Variations
There aren’t many variations to the speed vault, it is best suited to single obstacles. However, because you are taking off and landing in-stride, you can quickly go into another movement after landing.
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