what is a parkour course?

by Prof. Jessica Zulauf 9 min read

About Parkour
Parkour, also referred to as Freerunning, is a training discipline that focuses on developing the body and mind through movement, challenge and exploration. It combines running, jumping, climbing and rolling movements to enable a practitioner to overcome any obstacle in his or her path.

Full Answer

Where can you learn parkour?

The most common jumps in parkour are:

  • Accurate jump – This type of jump allows you to hop on and off small surfaces. ...
  • Mark a tac – This is a combination of wall climbing and jumping. ...
  • Downward – An active jump to a lower surface. Once you start with parkour never try jumping off higher edges than you. ...

How to start with parkour?

Parkour entails a lot of vertical movement. High jumps can be painful if you don't know how to land properly or safely fall, then end with a move. You should start off with a jump between 1/2 a meter to 1 meter. Land on the front part of your feet with your legs bent and if you have jumped from a higher distance then perform a forwards roll.

How do I start parkour?

Method 3 of 3: Common Methods For Succeeding in Parkour

  1. Tread lightly. Some surfaces take damage more easily than others; be respectful of where and how you interact with your environment, and take responsibility if you accidentally damage something.
  2. Get the proper gear. You won't need much. ...
  3. Begin by choosing A and B. Try to trace a path from A to B. ...
  4. Develop flow. ...
  5. Exercise regularly. ...
  6. Practice regularly. ...

Where to practice parkour?

Parkour, an obstacle-passing discipline with roots in the ... landings and other moves – they need to get from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. “We used to practice in plazas or parks. The problem was that people didn’t like us training ...

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What is the purpose of parkour?

parkour, the practice of traversing obstacles in a man-made or natural environment through the use of running, vaulting, jumping, climbing, rolling, and other movements in order to travel from one point to another in the quickest and most efficient way possible without the use of equipment.

What does parkour training mean?

Parkour / Freerunning / Art du Deplacement is the primarily non-competitive physical discipline of training to move freely over and through any terrain using only the abilities of the body, principally through running, jumping, climbing and quadrupedal movement.

What is a parkour course called?

0:171:20What Is Parkour? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe actual word parkour is an alternative take on the phrase parkour to combat Tom which is aMoreThe actual word parkour is an alternative take on the phrase parkour to combat Tom which is a military obstacle training course from there at some point in France.

What are the basics of parkour?

The good news is that the basics of Parkour are pretty basic – running, jumping up, jumping down, jumping over, etc. – but the trick is to be able to then do all of those things one after another, and keep upright and moving.

Is parkour hard to learn?

Anything we do in life can be as easy or hard as we care to make it. Parkour just makes us realize it upfront: Taking five or ten seconds to set and prepare for a standing jump can be easy. Carefully climbing over a four-foot wall can be easy.

Is parkour a martial art?

Is parkour a martial art? The short answer is not quite. Parkour and martial arts are both movement philosophies and training systems that develop your mental and physical strength, agility, endurance, flexibility, coordination, and overall awareness.

Is parkour the same as gymnastics?

FIG itself told POPSUGAR that it classifies parkour as a FIG discipline, not a gymnastics discipline. "Parkour has never been developed as 'a gymnastics discipline,'" the organization said, adding that it has been in development as a FIG discipline since as far back as 2017.

Is parkour the same as freerunning?

What is freerunning (also known as free-running)? Freerunning is base is expressing oneself while running. While parkour is trying to get to point a to b. Freerunners will take their time and do it with style, they are still jumping over obstacles but not contained to the urban jungle.

Is parkour an extreme sport?

Parkour is an extreme sport that has been popular in Europe for a few years. This sport has now made it across the Atlantic and is quickly gaining popularity in the United States. Participants of this activity, known as parkouristes, try to overcome obstacles in their environment in the most efficient manner possible.

Can you learn parkour at any age?

Age is just a number, well that's what they say.

How do I start learning parkour?

How to Learn Parkour: Where to Start?Prepare Your Mind. ... Get in Shape. ... Learn Balance. ... Practice Safety Shoulder Rolls and Landing. ... Learn Vaulting, Jumping, and Climbing Maneuvers. ... Practice Wall Run/Tic-Tac. ... Develop Your Style. ... Pick a Starting and Finishing Point.More items...•

How can I train myself to do parkour?

4:4912:00How To Learn Parkour By Yourself - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThings like that the only thing I would recommend with training at schools is that you only do it inMoreThings like that the only thing I would recommend with training at schools is that you only do it in the off hours of this school preferably weekends. So you don't have to worry about.

What is parkour training?

Parkour ( French: [paʁkuʁ]) is a training discipline where practitioners (called traceurs) aim to get from one point to another in a complex environment, without assisting equipment and in the fastest and most efficient way possible. With roots in military obstacle course training and martial arts, parkour includes running, climbing, ...

Where is parkour practiced?

Parkour is an activity that can be practiced alone or with others, and is usually carried out in urban spaces , though it can be done anywhere. It involves seeing one's environment in a new way, and envisioning the potential for navigating it by movement around, across, through, over and under its features.

When was the first parkour jam?

The first parkour jam was organised in July 2002 by Romain Drouet, with a dozen people including Sébastien Foucan and Stéphane Vigroux.

Where do traceurs practice parkour?

Traceurs practice parkour in both rural and urban areas such as gyms, parks, playgrounds, offices, and abandoned structures.

When is FIG Parkour 2020?

The 1st Parkour World Championships was scheduled to take place at Hiroshima, Japan, on 3–5 April 2020, but has been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is parkour a sport?

Parkour is unique and cannot be a competitive sport unless it ignores its altruistic core of self-development. If parkour becomes a sport, it will be hard to seriously teach and spread parkour as a non-competitive activity. And a new sport will be spread that may be called parkour, but that won't hold its philosophical essence anymore." Red Bull's sponsored athlete for parkour, Ryan Doyle, has said, "Sometimes people ask, 'Who is the best at parkour?' and it is because they don't understand what Parkour is; 'Who is the best?' is what you would say about a sport, and parkour is not a sport—it is an art, it's a discipline. That's like saying, 'What's the best song in the world?'" This seems to be the consensus among many professional traceurs who view parkour as a lifestyle more than as a set of tricks, as has been popularised by YouTube and most media exposure.

Who developed parkour?

In Western Europe, a forerunner of parkour was developed by French naval officer Georges Hébert, who before World War I promoted athletic skill based on the models of indigenous tribes he had met in Africa. He noted, "their bodies were splendid, flexible, nimble, skillful, enduring, and resistant but yet they had no other tutor in gymnastics but their lives in nature." His rescue efforts during the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée on Saint-Pierre, Martinique reinforced his belief that athletic skill must be combined with courage and altruism. Hébert became a physical education tutor at the college of Reims in France. Hébert set up a "méthode naturelle" ( natural method) session consisting of ten fundamental groups: walking, running, jumping, quadrupedal movement, climbing, balancing, throwing, lifting, self-defence, and swimming. These were intended to develop "the three main forces": energetic (willpower, courage, coolness, and firmness), moral (benevolence, assistance, honour, and honesty), and physical (muscles and breath). During World War I and World War II, teaching continued to expand, becoming the standard system of French military education and training. Inspired by Hébert, a Swiss architect developed a " parcours du combattant " —military obstacle course—the first of the courses that are now standard in military training and which led to the development of civilian fitness trails and confidence courses.

What is it?

Before we get to in depth into where parkour came from, we’ll start with what exactly it is. In layman’s terms, the goal of parkour is to get from one point to another in a complex course as efficiently as possible. You need to do it quickly, and without any tools or devices. You have only yourself: your body, and your mind.

What is it NOT?

The words parkour and freerunning are generally used interchangeably. Competitions around the world will combine the two together when at a competition level. But it really depends on who you’re asking. There are some that are very particular when it comes to defining parkour, and they will tell you that it varies to some degree from freefrunning.

Views on Competition

Something else that a lot of parkour practitioners are particular about is that it is not a sport. This dates back to its origins, but it is seen as a non-competitive discipline for training. It can be very difficult to get parkour athletes to complete at any level due to this. Some do, and they are very successful at it.

Who started parkour?

Though there have been athletics who have displayed skills similar to parkour in years past, the discipline for training as we know it was started by a French man by the name of Raymond Belle. He was born in 1939, and had been the son of a French doctor and Vietnemese mother.

Parkour Lives On

Though the originators of the discipline were disheartened by the negative influence of media that they attracted, they influenced generations of young people to follow in their footsteps. Each generation training hard, and trying to be the best self that they can be.

When was parkour invented?

What is Parkour? The sport originally termed Art du Deplacement, now also often referred to as Parkour or Freerunning, was founded in France in the 1980s by a group of nine young men.

What is parkour art du deplacement?

What is Parkour / Freerunning / Art du Deplacement? Parkour / Freerunning / Art du Deplacement is the primarily non-competitive physical discipline of training to move freely over and through any terrain using only the abilities of the body, principally through running, jumping, climbing and quadrupedal movement.

What is freerunning in sport?

The term ‘Freerunning’ was the creation of Guillaume Pelletier, a representative of a group of French practitioners involved in the production of a Channel 4 documentary , Jump London, in 2003. This term was used in order to communicate this amazing new sport to an English-speaking audience.

What is the purpose of sports?

The sport aims to build confidence, determination, self-discipline and self-reliance, and responsibility for one’s actions.

What is Parkour?

Parkour is the physical and mental art of getting past obstacles, in the most creative and extreme ways possible. Typically, that means running, rolling, jumping and even vaulting over everyday items.

The Benefits of Parkour for Children

We all know parkour is fun, and it seems to come naturally for kids. Just think about how many times a day you have to make sure they’re not climbing to unsafe heights and tumbling down the hallway. Now, imagine a place where they can do it all safely and reap extra rewards!

Building a Parkour Course at Home

Bringing the joys of parkour home is much easier than you might imagine. Plus, it’s a great way to upcycle some of the materials cluttering up your garage!

Pool Noodle Hurdles

Pool noodle hurdles are one of the easiest obstacles you can create, and it can keep kids entertained for days, weeks, even months. They’re also very easy to clean up, so if you need them out of the way for your next BBQ they can be taken down as quickly as you set them up.

Balance Beams

Balance beams not only help build ankle strength and overall balance, but they’re a fun and safe way for kids to practice jumps and landings for other activities.

Dome Climber

You’re probably familiar with dome climbers from your own childhood, as they’re a popular staple on playgrounds everywhere. And for good reason! On a dome climber, kids can climb, swing, and play pretend.

More Active Fun Year Round

While an at-home parkour course can do wonders for keeping kids healthy and entertained, it can still be easy to default to screen time when it becomes too chilly to play outside. And while a movie night or iPad unwind is fine now and then, it’s going to be a huge help to have a backup plan.

What is the purpose of Parkour?

Parkour, the practice of traversing obstacles in a man-made or natural environment through the use of running, vaulting, jumping, climbing, rolling, and other movements in order to travel from one point to another in the quickest and most efficient way possible without the use of equipment.

What is the difference between parkour and gymnastics?

And parkour is a gymnastics discipline now so you can add it to the list if you want to. Gymnastics is about learning to move your body in acrobatic ways. That means that you should be prepared to start doing a lot of flips and twists if you decide to do gymnastics.

Why is it called Parkour?

The word parkour derives from parcours du combattant (obstacle course), the classic obstacle course method of military training proposed by Georges Hébert. The term traceur was originally the name of a parkour group headed by David Belle which included Sébastien Foucan and Stéphane Vigroux.

Is Parkour a type of gymnastics?

Parkour and gymnastics are similar in the essence that they are both an art form of the movement of the body and share movements like vaulting, tumbling, and necessary flexibility need to perform said movements.

Has anyone died doing parkour?

Parkour is a risky passion and people have died before trying to do tricks. However, not many deaths caused while doing parkour are reported. Famous Russian traceur Pavel Kashin – Fell down 16 storeys to his death while attempting a stunt on a building rooftop.

How dangerous is parkour?

Critics of parkour say it can be dangerous for participants, encourage trespassing, and cause damage to property. Over the years, multiple people have died while attempting perilous stunts, like jumping from roof to roof or climbing on high ledges and rails.

Can parkour be self taught?

Yes, parkour can be self – taught. Through patience, persistence, and practice, you can teach yourself parkour without ever paying for a trainer or taking a class.

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Overview

Parkour is an athletic training discipline in which practitioners (called traceurs) attempt to get from point A to point B in the most fluid way possible, without assisting equipment and in the fastest and most efficient way possible. With roots in military obstacle course training and martial arts, parkour includes running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, plyometrics, rolling, and quadrupe…

Etymology

The word parkour derives from parcours du combattant (obstacle course), the classic obstacle course method of military training proposed by Georges Hébert. Raymond Belle used the term "les parcours" to encompass all of his training including climbing, jumping, running, balancing, and the other methods he undertook in his personal athletic advancement. His son, David, further developed his father's methods and achieved success as a stuntman, and one day on a film set …

History

The practice of similar movements have existed in various communities around the world for centuries prior to the foundation of a parkour movement, which was influenced by these earlier traditions. Such athletic traditions had existed among various indigenous tribes in Africa for centuries. A similar discipline in Chinese culture is qinggong, a Chinese martial arts training technique that also d…

Organizations

International parkour organizations include the World Freerunning and Parkour Federation, established in 2007, who have worked with MTV to produce parkour-related shows.
International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) added parkour as one of their disciplines in 2017, despite much opposition, including the establishment of Parkour Earth to represent various national organizations in opposition to the gymnastics organization. The FIG program includes S…

Philosophy

According to Williams Belle, the philosophies and theories behind parkour are an integral aspect of the art, one that many non-practitioners have never been exposed to. Belle says he trains people because he wants it "to be alive" and "for people to use it". Châu Belle explains it is a "type of freedom" or "kind of expression"; that parkour is "only a state of mind" rather than a set of actions, a…

Practice

While there is no official list of "moves" in parkour, the style in which practitioners move often sets them apart from others, and there are a number of named movements that are characteristic, for example:
• "Parkour roll": Rolling to absorb impacts from larger drops, moving diagonally over a shoulder to convert momentum from vertical to horizontal.

Impact

Initially featured in films of French director/producer Luc Besson, parkour was first introduced to the British public by the BBC One TV channel trailer Rush Hour in April 2002. It featured David Belle leaping across London's rooftops from his office to home, in an attempt to catch his favourite BBC programme, and captured the imagination of many viewers, especially when they learned no special effects or wires were used. This advertisement, along with others for Coca-Cola, Nike, and

Derivative terminologies and disciplines

In September 2003, Mike Christie's documentary Jump London, starring Sébastien Foucan, was released. In the documentary, the term "freerunning" was used as an attempt to translate "parkour", in order to make it more appealing to the English-speaking audience. Foucan decided to keep using the term "freerunning" to describe his discipline, to distinguish it from David Belle's methods.

What Is It?

Image
Before we get to in depth into where parkour came from, we’ll start with what exactly it is. In layman’s terms, the goal of parkour is to get from one point to another in a complex course as efficiently as possible. You need to do it quickly, and without any tools or devices. You have only yourself: your body, and your min…
See more on parkourliving.com

What Is It Not?

  • The words parkour and freerunning are generally used interchangeably. Competitions around the world will combine the two together when at a competition level. But it really depends on who you’re asking. There are some that are very particular when it comes to defining parkour, and they will tell you that it varies to some degree from freefrunning. Enough that it is definitely two differ…
See more on parkourliving.com

Views on Competition

  • Something else that a lot of parkour practitioners are particular about is that it is not a sport. This dates back to its origins, but it is seen as a non-competitive discipline for training. It can be very difficult to get parkour athletes to complete at any level due to this. Some do, and they are very successful at it. But any time there’s a competition, there tends to be backlash from the parkour …
See more on parkourliving.com

Who Started Parkour?

  • Though there have been athletics who have displayed skills similar to parkour in years past, the discipline for training as we know it was started by a French man by the name of Raymond Belle. He was born in 1939, and had been the son of a French doctor and Vietnemese mother. When his father died during the First Indochina War, he ended up in a military orphanage. Tough times for …
See more on parkourliving.com

Parkour Lives on

  • Though the originators of the discipline were disheartened by the negative influence of media that they attracted, they influenced generations of young people to follow in their footsteps. Each generation training hard, and trying to be the best self that they can be.
See more on parkourliving.com