Parkour

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Hey geeks do parkour too.

Website: http://kcparkour.ning.com
Location: Riverside, MO
Members: 13
Latest Activity: Nov. 13, 2008

What is parkour?

Parkour is a physical activity that is difficult to categorize. Often miscategorized as a sport or an extreme sport, parkour has no set of rules, team work, formal hierarchy, or competitiveness.[4][5] On the contrary it is more like an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the ancient martial arts.[6][7] According to David Belle, "the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it."[8] Thus, when faced with a hostile confrontation with a person, one will be able to speak, fight, or flee. As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight.[7] Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category.

An important characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as fast as they can, but also in the most direct and efficient way possible; a characteristic that distinguishes it from the similar practice of free running, which places more emphasis on freedom of movement, such as acrobatics. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, short and long-term, part of why parkour's unofficial motto is être et durer (to be and to last). Those who are skilled at this activity normally have an extremely keen spatial awareness (a.k.a. air sense).[citation needed]

Traceurs claim that parkour also influences one's thought process by enhancing self-confidence and critical-thinking skills that allow one to overcome everyday physical and mental obstacles.[4][9][10] A study by Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence in France reflects that French traceurs, freerunners or both seek for more sensation and leadership than gymnastic practitioners. They also have a more narcissistic personality, but one that does not seem to be linked to maladaptive or psychopathologic behaviors.[11]

Freerun 3 from ZOD on Vimeo.

Discussion Forum

Parkour Geek. 6 Replies

Started by ZOD. Last reply by ZOD Sep. 15, 2008.

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Comment by Dillon Hall on November 12, 2008 at 8:34pm: Sweet, I was just about to make a group. Then I thought to look and, sure enough! I'm in Seattle and I (try to) go to weekly Parkour jams at Gasworks Park if any of you happen to be close-by.

Comment by ZOD on October 15, 2008 at 8:45am: District B13 was the Movie bro. I think. With the found David Belle. the news movie to have parkour is Babylon A.D.

Comment by tod5445 on September 14, 2008 at 12:21am: Hey, wasn't there some sort of action movie about parkour? Or maybe is was a guy that was famous for his parkour in some movie?

Comment by ZOD on September 13, 2008 at 11:27pm: You can do bro just keep training.

Comment by tod5445 on September 11, 2008 at 12:13am: I love parkour videos.
For me doing parkour is like air guitar, I try but it just looks like I am a "wanna-be"

Comment by ZOD on September 9, 2008 at 9:20am: Sweet. yeah I love parkour.

Comment by Chris Lowe on September 8, 2008 at 9:31pm: Wow! Just a few hours ago i was watching some parkour videos and thinking about making a group. lol