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A new sport called Le Parkour. Read more.......

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olleyt

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Joined: May 04
Points: 58
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Posted: 2004-05-16 15:47:00   











Parkour ?





A discipline originating in France where people get from one point to another using urban landmarks and structures to travel, jumping from roof to wall to rail. Along the same lines as skating but wihtout the need for any equipment.





What is Parkour?

Parkour is very basically the art of movement where participants (otherwise known as 'Traceurs') use objects within their urban surroundings, to create new and interesting ways of moving. It encompasses running, jumping, vaulting and climbing to overcome these obstacles, where the ultimate aim is to do so in the most fluid and flowing way possible. For people unfamiliar to Parkour, the easiest picture to paint is to say that what we do is the closest you can get to the Matrix, Spiderman and Hong Kong martial arts movies in the sense of movement, without the need for special FX or wires. Get past that mental picture and what you have in front of you is a deep discipline where, as a beginner you'll find yourself practising plenty of singular moves (similar to how skaters practise) but as you become more proficient, you'll find yourself automatically linking things together with the eventual goal coming in the form of one fluid run without any hesitation.



Where and when did it start?

Many people argue that the movements have existed since the beginning of man, but the actual art was born and developed back in the 1980's in Lisse, France. It started off as a group of kids messing about but then took on a serious edge that was geared towards military style obstacle coursing. As the kids in question grew up, they continued to practise and develop their art. Two of the most prominent of that group were Sebastien Foucan and David Belle but many media articles, other websites and general practitioners are totally unaware that the art was formed and nurtured by a bigger group of people. Among those who added their influence are - Yahn Hnautra, David Malgogne, Frederic Hnautra and Kazuma. Another influence was David Belle's father who had a military background and encouraged the 'methode naturelle' way.



How can I get into Parkour?

The beauty of Parkour is that anybody can just pick it up and play. There are no set rules to follow although its always strongly recommended that you pay extra attention to the basics. At the end of the day, having strong foundations will always stand you in good stead and make it easier for you to develop your game, as you'll have something solid to build upon. The best thing to do is to browse the site in its entirety and soak up as much info as possible. Take the time to acclimatise yourself with the pictures, videos, terminology and the general feel. When you are ready, step up into the message board arena and have a good browse. You'll find the UF global community to be a very chilled out and friendly place, where you can get all manner of tips and general help. You'll also find lots of like minded people looking to hook up and train. If you are lucky you might find someone close by to you who is a bit more experienced than yourself. Make the most of it as training with people better than yourself is by far the best way to learn. If at all possible, try and get yourself to one of the big jams that are arranged. You'll get to network with many other traceurs and the amount of info you'll pick up is amazing.



Ok, I'm ready but what equipment do I need?

Another very cool thing about Parkour is that you can start straight away without burning a hole in your pocket. Unlike Skateboarding, there is no expensive board, padding, helmets or various accessories to buy. All you need is a half decent pair of trainers and an open mind. The rest is up to you. At some point though, you might want to invest in a good pair of trainers and maybe some insoles for extra cushioning, but its not imperative. In fact, you can pick up trainers that are perfect for PK at really cheap rates. Ideally you need ones that are light, comfortable, offer good shock protection, have good grip and are hard wearing. If you get stuck for choice, refer to our product test section where we always put different makes and models through rigorous testing. If you are feeling extra fragile you might want to invest in some gloves but in general its best to get through the blister and callus period, as with bare hand you have better sensitivity to your surroundings.....grabbing onto walls, rails etc.



I've seen those commercials with all the big roof jumps...How do I start training to become a roof jumper?

No no no!!!! Lose these thoughts now! Parkour does have elements of gap jumping but it forms a minute portion of the overall discipline. Its through the fault of the media that the more extreme elements have been sensationalised and focused heavily upon. This in turn makes everyone think that the art is all about jumping off rooftops. If you pay extra attention to the basic movements - how to land from low level jumps, how to roll properly, how to combine the two and then how to do basic movements like vaults and precisions, you will find yourself getting immersed in a totally new and exciting way of moving. Sure, roof jumps are there to do if desired, but we always advise people to wait until they are of a proficient level before going anywhere near a roof. Think sensibly about your approach, stay focused and always be aware of self preservation, and you'll find yourself loving every minute of your PK journey. Ignore the basics and concentrate on the 'wow factor' techniques and you will only end up with a game that has holes all over it and will be prone to getting injured or in extreme cases, worse. The most important thing is to have fun doing what you are doing.



Common terms used -

Traceur - Someone who participates in Parkour.

PK, Freerun, Freerunning - Other names used for Parkour.

Grunt or Newbie - Term used for beginners. Not intended as an insult....more a term of endearment.

Run - Usually used to describe a link of Parkour techniques. Eg: "He went off on a run that was very technical but tripped on his shoe laces and landed on his ass".

Bail or Slam - To perform a technique incorrectly which in most cases ends with a spectacular screw up.

Clan or Crew - Term used by groups of traceurs (Usually friends) who practise together.

Flow - The holy grail of Parkour. Something that every traceur aims to capture which equates to total fluid movement over every type of obstacle. Almost like water flowing down stream and coming up to a boulder. Instead of smashing into it, the water simply moves around it and continues its journey.







For more information go to www.t-ct.tk or www.urbanfreeflow.com



Cheers



tell me what you think :

---
Thank you Olley


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