Parkour
Romer Bautista, Staff
What is parkour?
Parkour, as defined by www.americanparkour.com, “is the art of moving through your environment using only your body and the surroundings to propel yourself. It can include running, jumping, climbing, even crawling, if that is the most suitable movement for the situation. Parkour could be grasped by imagining a race through an obstacle course, the goal is to overcome obstacles quickly and efficiently, without using extraneous movement.”
Parkour, equally importantly, is not the art of using these techniques recklessly for no reason. It is strictly defined, and has a specific purpose. Anything that does not fit that purpose is not Parkour.
Origins and development of parkour
A French soldier in the Vietnam War named Raymond Belle is believed to have been most significant to the development of modern parkour. He was inspired by a need to create efficient methods of reaching and escaping. By practicing parkour Raymond and his companions became their regiment’s fittest and most agile elite firefighters.
Eventually Raymond passed on the art of parkour to his son, David, through obstacle courses, martial arts, and gymnastics training. David and his own companions were instrumental in popularizing the art as they created a musical show, Notre Dame De Paris, film, Yamakasi (2001), and documentary, Generation Yamakasi, about the sport.
The past few years have seen the entrance of parkour into the public psyche through Hollywood movies, such as Casino Royale (2006), and Live Free or Die Hard (2007), and popular YouTube.com videos.
How to parkour
Parkour requires the training of the mind to react instantly to any obstacles that impede one’s movements. Important techniques include quickly redistributing body weight, using momentum to perform difficult movements, and jumping from extreme heights to gain said momentum. Techniques that beginners can use are practicing effective jumping and landing techniques. Additionally, the roll is an important move to learn so one can redistribute momentum.
Recommended clothing are snug, light athletic shoes with good grip and support, sweat-bands for fore-arm protection, and thin, athletic gloves with mild adhesion, to provide grip and protect one’s hands.
Parkour versus free running verses crossfit
Free running began as a synonym for parkour but has since become a close relative. It is more openly defined and imaginative, as it involves creative movements, such as flips and spins, which are added strictly to add flair and colour to one’s routine. Essentially, the difference lies in the fact that parkour is employed to “get somewhere quickly and efficiently using the human body,” whereas free running is moving through ones environment as you want and where you want.
Crossfit, as defined by Americanparkour.com, “is an exercise modality based on constantly varied functional movements done at continuously high intensity.” The philosophy is that one’s physical ability and performance in any activity can be most improved through strenuous exertion. Practicing Crossfit, therefore, leads to increased ability in parkour and everyday life.
