Parkour

Parkour is a fun way to move around using only your body. People use parkour to get over things like walls, fences, and other obstacles. You can do parkour by yourself or with friends. Common moves include flipping, running, climbing, swinging, jumping, and rolling. You can practice parkour in cities or almost anywhere!

Originally, parkour didn’t always include flips. A style called freerunning focused more on looking pretty while moving. Now, most people who do parkour include flips in their routines.

People have been doing moves like parkour for a long time in places such as Africa and China. In China, these moves were called qinggong and became famous through movies with Jackie Chan. Parkour as we know it today started with David Belle and some friends who formed the Yamakasi group in the 1990s. It became really popular in the late 1990s and 2000s because of movies, video games, and ads. By the mid-2000s, parkour started being a competitive sport with big events like the Parkour World Championships and 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. These methods included climbing, jumping, and running. His son, David Belle, showed a video of his stunts to Hubert Koundé. Hubert 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. The first parkour jam was organized in July 2002 by Romain Drouet.

History

Moving quickly and skillfully through different places 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 moves like those in Hong Kong action cinema.

In the early 1900s, a French naval officer named Georges Hébert created 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 during the First Indochina War. He used military obstacle courses 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. He began training on his own and later with 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 challenges to build endurance and agility, always respecting health and safety. Over time, some members left, but the idea of moving skillfully through any environment continued to grow.

Organizations

International parkour organisations help grow the sport around the world. The World Freerunning and Parkour Federation began in 2008. It has worked with MTV to make parkour shows. Other important groups are the International Parkour Federation and Parkour Earth. These groups help parkour athletes and organize competitions and events.

Sport parkour

Parkour became a competitive sport in the mid-2000s. It is watched over by groups such as the International Parkour Federation (IPF) and the World Freerunning Parkour Federation (WFPF). Major 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 athletes felt this did not fully show the spirit of their sport. In response, several national groups created Parkour Earth in 2017. Parkour is related to sports like 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 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. People who practice parkour do special moves like rolling to soften big drops, jumping 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 became well-known in 2002 when a BBC One trailer for Rush Hour showed David Belle jumping across rooftops in London. This and other shows helped many people learn about parkour.

Parkour is also used in movies and TV shows. 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 also featured parkour. Many other films and TV shows include parkour.

Parkour is used in video games too. Games like the Tomb Raider series, Assassin's Creed series, and Mirror's Edge let players run, jump, and climb in their virtual worlds.

Freerunning

Freerunning is an athletic and creative activity similar to parkour. 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.