Parkour.
I have recently discovered the art of Parkour. It has struck me as not only practical athleticism, but also one of the most stunning and enriching activities I've seen. I usually only admire athletic displays from afar, watching them on the Olympics or in the movies, but parkour strikes me as a very accessible discipline that I'm not afraid to take on. In addition, i think there is no need to hit the gym to strengthen yourself and waste money. You can always train by doing push ups and sit ups in a nearby park or at HOME.
Now let me define PARKOUR.
Parkour (or 'le parkour'; 'freerunning'; 'pk' or 'PKING') is the sport of fluid urban movement.
Invented in 1988 in the Lisses suburb of Paris by a small crew of traceurs including the
legendary David Belle and Sebastien Foucan who recently featured in the BBC documentary
'Jump London', the sport (or art) of pk is essentially a combination of running, athletics and
acrobatics in urban environments.
'Parkour exists at the times where there is an obstacle in front of you and you are obliged to use your limbs to pass'. - DAVID BELLE
It includes such techniques as the Tic-Tac (wall step/run); kong (a form of vault); and precision
(two-foot to two-foot jump) among myriad others. Most watching Tracers Parkour would
describe their movements as series of of acrobatic techniques fluidly integrated into a continuous
run from A to B, past, over under and through any obstacles in their path. However, that would
be during a run (most of which are filmed, as with skaters). Most often, if you saw traceurs
practicing they'd be honing individual components of their technique.
Certain individuals have chosen to explore alternative forms of Parkour, such as running through
traffic or passing through crowds quicky, while others, such as Team Ryouko or Xyndicate have
attempted to blend pk's unique ideals with other forms of martial and athletic arts.
Alot of people seem to mix between Free Running and Parkour.The term Free Running is
similar to Parkour, Developed by Sebastien Foucan, In Free Running you move your in your
way. Although when people say "Hey wanna come Free Running tonight" It means Parkour, But
mostly tricking. Sebastien Foucan explains that you should move your own way, And listen to
none other but
yourself. One doesn't have to listen to anybody.
While
Parkour is getting from point A to point B as fast and efficiently, As if you are being
chased in a city, You have to run fast of course. And again, You are the leader. You listen to no
other person but yourself.
As you can see, this guy need not use a ladder. With his Parkour skills, he can just leap over. That's why 'Parkour is the best sport in the world'. -Jonathan. If you dont know who is Jonathan, YOU SUCK.
To some Parkour is a Sport. They train it in Gyms. To some Parkour is a Discipline, Meaning that they think that when you Parkour, Your brain has to focus and get rid of it's thoughts
If you think Parkour as a Discipline (I personally too) you always have to overcome the fear in your mind.
And to some, Its martial Arts.
Also remember that, When one parkours he MUST give respect to his body, to how he moves and of course to his own environment or otherwise the Urban area he is moving in.
RUN LIKE A CAT AND A MONKEY!
Parkour is a very good sport because you only need a pair of trainers and you can already master your moves!
Have fun, do what you can, learn what you cannot do.
Climb up on a church and watch cars go by, you should push your body to its limits.
That is the perfect world of Parkour...not just discipline, but enjoying disciplining yourself.
