Parkour

Parkour is a movement practice where people use only their bodies to move around and overcome obstacles in their environment. It started from military obstacle course training and martial arts and includes activities like flipping, running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, and rolling. People can practice parkour alone or with others, usually in urban spaces, but it can be done anywhere.

Originally, flips and other acrobatic moves were not considered essential to parkour, and a related style called freerunning focused more on artistry. Over time, the difference between parkour and freerunning became less clear, and today most parkour athletes include flips as part of their practice.

Similar movement skills have existed for centuries in places like Africa and China. In China, these skills were known as qinggong and became popular through Hong Kong action movies, especially those starring Jackie Chan. Parkour as we know it today was started by David Belle and others who formed the Yamakasi group in the 1990s, calling it l'art du déplacement. The activity grew popular in the late 1990s and 2000s through films, video games, and advertisements. By the mid-2000s, parkour began to be organized as a competitive sport, with events like the Parkour World Championships and its inclusion in the World Games.

Etymology

The word parkour comes from parcours du combattant, a type of military training. Raymond Belle used the term "les parcours" to describe his training methods, which included climbing, jumping, and running. His son, David Belle, showed a video of his stunts to Hubert Koundé, who suggested changing the spelling to "parkour".

A person who practices parkour is called a traceur. This name comes from the French verb tracer, meaning "to trace a path". A jam is a meeting where traceurs train together, sometimes lasting several days. The first parkour jam was organized in July 2002 by Romain Drouet.

History

The practice of moving quickly and skillfully through different environments has been around for centuries. Many cultures, including those in Africa and China, have long traditions of physical skill and agility. In China, a training technique called qinggong was used, which included impressive acrobatic moves similar to those seen in Hong Kong action cinema.

In the early 1900s, a French naval officer named Georges Hébert developed a training system based on natural movements like walking, running, and climbing. His ideas influenced military training and later inspired civilian fitness programs. During and after World War II, this kind of training became common in the French military.

Later, a man named Raymond Belle grew up in difficult conditions during the First Indochina War. He used military obstacle courses and created his own challenges to build strength and endurance. His son, David Belle, was inspired by his father’s methods. David wanted a way to develop practical skills for real life, not just for sports. He began training on his own and later with a group of friends.

The group, calling themselves the Yamakasi, trained together and drew inspiration from Asian martial arts and films. They focused on physical and mental strength, discipline, and respect for each other. Their training included tough challenges to build endurance and agility, always respecting health and safety. Over time, some members left to explore other interests, but the core idea of moving skillfully through any environment continued to grow.

Organizations

International parkour organisations help promote and develop the sport around the world. The World Freerunning and Parkour Federation was established in 2008 and has worked with MTV to create parkour-related shows. Other important groups include the International Parkour Federation and Parkour Earth. These organisations support parkour athletes and help organize competitions and events.

Sport parkour

Parkour became a competitive sport in the mid-2000s. It is overseen by groups like the International Parkour Federation (IPF) and the World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF). Big competitions include the World Parkour Championship and the Sport Parkour League World Championships.

In 2016, parkour was shown as a demonstration sport in the Winter Youth Olympics by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Many parkour practitioners felt this did not truly represent their sport's culture. In response, several national groups formed Parkour Earth in 2017. Parkour is related to sports such as World Chase Tag, World Ninja League, Obstacle course racing, and Adventure racing.

Sport parkour disciplines

Competitive sport parkour has three main types: speed, freestyle, and skill. In the speed type, athletes race through an obstacle course as fast as they can. The freestyle type is all about doing cool, tricky moves like flips and jumps. Judges give points based on creativity, difficulty, and how well the moves are done. There are different kinds of freestyle events, like doing a long, smooth sequence of moves, a quick series of moves, or performing one really tough trick. The skill type involves completing specific, tough movements in a certain order, often with a time limit.

Philosophy

Parkour has a special way of thinking that helps people grow. According to Châu Belle, parkour is more than just moving around—it’s a way to feel free and express yourself. It’s about overcoming challenges in your mind and body, not just physical ones. Practicing parkour can help you feel more confident and think more clearly when solving problems.

Many people believe parkour is an art, not a sport. They think it should not have competitions because it is about personal growth, not winning. Even though some events use parkour rules, true parkour is about learning and self-discovery. David Belle, who helped start parkour, says the most important thing is the mindset of the person doing it. He encourages traceurs to learn in their own way, using their own abilities and styles.

Practice

Movement

Main article: Vault (urban movement)

Parkour is a way of moving that uses the body to get around obstacles. Practitioners often do special moves like rolling to cushion big drops, jumping exactly onto narrow ledges, or climbing up walls. These moves show how creative and skilled they are.

Equipment

Parkour does not need special gear. People usually wear light clothes and good running shoes to move more freely. Some wear very simple shoes or even go barefoot to feel the ground better. Others like shoes with more padding to help when jumping from far away.

Risks

Trespassing

Because parkour is usually done in public places like parks, playgrounds, and even old buildings, some people worry about damage or using places where they shouldn’t be. Many parkour groups try to respect the places they use and clean up after themselves.

Injuries and deaths

Some people think doing parkour on very high places, like rooftops, can be dangerous. Experts say that good parkour means knowing your limits and learning to control your movements. Most injuries happen when someone lands badly or hits something. It’s important to always think carefully before trying new moves.

Impact

Parkour first gained public attention in 2002 when a BBC One trailer for Rush Hour showed David Belle leaping across rooftops in London without special effects. This and other advertisements helped make parkour well-known. Documentaries like Jump London in 2003 and Jump Britain in 2005 introduced parkour to many countries, inspiring new participants.

Parkour has also become popular in movies and television. Directors often hire parkour experts for action scenes. For example, Luc Besson used parkour in films like Taxi 2 and District 13. The James Bond film Casino Royale featured parkour, increasing its popularity. Many other films and TV shows include parkour, showing its appeal in entertainment.

Parkour is also used in video games. Games like the Tomb Raider series, Assassin's Creed series, and Mirror's Edge include parkour movements, letting players explore virtual worlds by running, jumping, and climbing.

Freerunning

Freerunning is an athletic and creative activity similar to parkour, but it focuses more on artistry and self-expression. It involves moving through obstacles in creative ways, such as climbing, jumping, or running. These obstacles can be found in everyday places or specially built structures. Freerunners often use movements from gymnastics, tricking, or breakdancing and can invent their own unique moves.

The idea behind freerunning is to move freely and expressively through the environment without limits. The term "freerunning" was first used in a 2003 documentary called Jump London, featuring Sébastien Foucan. It was created to make the concept of parkour more appealing to English-speaking audiences. Freerunning grew in popularity through various documentaries and media appearances.