Parkour

Parkour (sometimes abbreviated to PK) or l'art du déplacement [cite web
url=http://www.sportmediaconcept.com/parkour/index.php?subaction=mois&annee=2007&mois=1&PHPSESSID=8e074a802eb2bea7323b54bb4bdcfea8
title=Avertissement mise en garde
accessdate=2007-02-27
author=Collectif Parkour France DB
language=French] ( _en. the art of movement) is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body.cite web
url=http://tracer2000.free.fr/us/indexus.html
title=Press - "The Tree" - L'Art en mouvement
author=Severine Souard
format=JPG
language=French
accessdate=2007-07-02] It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment—from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls—and can be practiced in both rural and urban areas. Parkour practitioners are referred to as "traceurs", or "traceuses" for females. [cite web
url=http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=parkour
title=parkour
author=Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English
publisher=Dictionary.com
accessdate=2007-08-07]

Founded by David Belle in FranceFact|date=July 2008, parkour focuses on practicing efficient movements to develop one's body and mind to be able to overcome obstacles in an emergencyFact|date=July 2008.

Overview

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. [cite web
url=http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=2&cid=1200475901797&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
title=Leap of faith
publisher=The Jerusalem Post
date=January 17, 2008
author=Sam Ser
accessdate=2008-04-24] It is an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the ancient martial arts. [cite web
url=http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/10/27/
title=What is Parkour?
date=2004-05-12
publisher=americanparkour.com
accessdate=2007-04-19
quote=It is considered by many practitioners (known as "traceurs") as more of an art and discipline. ] cite web
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083000537_pf.html
title=For Parkour Fans, All the World's a Gym
date=August 31, 2007
author=Kerry Folan
publisher=The Washington Post
accessdate=2008-06-08
quote=Parkour can be compared to some martial arts, but without the violence; in the fight-or-flight response, parkour is the flight.] 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."cite web
url=http://www.pkcali.com/content.php?article.8
title=Cali meets David Belle
date=2005-07-15
publisher=pkcali.com
accessdate=2007-06-25] 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. Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category.

An important characteristic of parkour is efficiencyFact|date=July 2008. 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 movementFact|date=July 2008, 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).Fact|date=July 2008

Traceurs say 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.cite web |url=http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2008/04/14/Arts/Students.On.Campus.Are.Mastering.Parkour.An.Art.Of.SelfAwareness.And.Body.Contro-3322985.shtml |author=Jeffy Mai |date=2008-04-14 |title=Students on campus are mastering Parkour, an art of self-awareness and body control |accessdate=2008-04-19] A study by "Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence" in France reflects that traceurs seek for more sensation and leadership than gymnastic practitioners. [cite web |title=La pratique du parkour chez les adolescents des banlieues : entre recherche de sensation et renforcement narcissique |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6X26-4NDVGNB-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=d86867ae76d6b81703bf2734a4a115fc |date=April 5, 2007 |author=N. Cazenave |work=Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence |doi=10.1016/j.neurenf.2007.02.001 |accessdate=2008-04-19]

Terminology

The first terms used to describe this form of training were "l'art du déplacement" and "le parcours". [cite web |url=http://www.sportmediaconcept.com/parkour/Le-PARKOUR-by-DB_r8.html |title=l'équipe 1998 Bercy |accessdate=2007-06-29 |year=1998 |month=October |day=1 |format=JPG |author=Emmanuelle ACHARD |publisher=JEUDI |language=French |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=]

The term "parkour" IPA2|paʁˈkuʁ was defined by David Belle and his friend Hubert Koundé. It derives from "parcours du combattant", the classic obstacle course method of military training proposed by Georges Hébert. [cite web |author= [http://parkour.net/forum/index.php?showuser=5 Jin]
date=2006-02-23
url=http://parkour.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=3937
title=PAWA statement on Freerunning. |accessdate=2007-05-12] [cite web
url=http://parkour.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=5481
title=the name parkour, simple question |accessdate=2007-04-12]

"Traceur" IPA| [tʁasœʁ] and "traceuse" IPA| [tʁasøz] are substantives derived from the French verb "tracer" which normally means "to trace", [cite web
title=tracer - Definition by dictionary.com
url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tracer
author=Random House Unabridged Dictionary (v 1.1)
year=2006
publisher=dictionary.com
accessdate=2007-08-28] or "to draw", but also translates as "to go fast". [cite web |url=http://www.cnrtl.fr/lexicographie/tracer? |title=Portail lexical - Définition de tracer
language=French
accessdate=2007-08-28]

History

Hébert's legacy

Before World War I, former French naval officer Georges Hébert traveled throughout the world. During a visit to Africa, he was impressed by the physical development and skills of indigenous tribes that he met:cite web |url=http://www.urbanfreeflow.com/the_core_level/pages/archives/methode_naturelle.htm |title=George Hébert and the Natural Method of Physical Culture |accessdate=2007-09-22 |author=Artful Dodger |publisher=urbanfreeflow.com |archiveurl= |archivedate=]

On May 8, 1902 the town of Saint-Pierre, Martinique, where he was stationed, suffered a volcanic eruption. Hébert coordinated the escape and rescue of some 700 people. This experience had a profound effect on him, and reinforced his belief that athletic skill must be combined with courage and altruism. He eventually developed this ethos into his motto: "être fort pour être utile" (be strong to be useful).

Inspired by indigenous tribes, Hébert became a physical education tutor at the college of Reims in France. He began to define the principles of his own system of physical education and to create apparatus and exercises to teach his "méthode naturelle", which he defined as:

Hébert set up a "méthode naturelle" session consisting of ten fundamental groups: walking, running, jumping, quadrupedal movement, climbing, balancing, throwing, lifting, self-defense, swimming, which are part of three main forces:cite web |title=Georges Hébert - la methode naturalle |url=http://perso.orange.fr/le.parkour/france/medias/page3.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060718150740/http://perso.orange.fr/le.parkour/france/medias/page3.html |archivedate=2006-07-18 |format=JPG |publisher=INSEP - Musée de la Marine |language=French |accessdate=2007-09-22]
*Energetic or virile sense: energy, willpower, courage, coolness and firmness
*Moral sense: benevolence, assistance, honor and honesty
*Physical sense: muscles and breath

During World War I and World War II, Hébert's teaching continued to expand, becoming the standard system of French military education and training. Thus, Hébert was one of the proponents of "parcours" — an obstacle course, developed by a Swiss architect,cite web |title=No Obstacles |url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/04/16/070416fa_fact_wilkinson?currentPage=all |date=April 16, 2007 |author=Alec Wilkinson |publisher=The New Yorker |accessdate=2007-10-14] which is standard in the military training and led to the development of civilian fitness trails and confidence courses. Also, French soldiers and firefighters developed their obstacle courses known as "parcours du combattant" and "parcours SP".

Belle family

Raymond Belle was born in French Indochina (now Vietnam) but his father died during the First Indochina War and Raymond was separated from his mother during the division of Vietnam in 1954. He was taken by the French Army in Da Lat and received a military education and training that shaped his character.cite web |url=http://parkour.net/modules/articles/item.php?itemid=3 |title=Raymond Belle's biography |date=2006-02-17 |work=Original French biography sourced from 'Allo Dix-Huit', the magazine of the Parisian pompiers. |publisher=Parkour.NET |accessdate=2007-09-29 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060217200929/parkour.net/modules/articles/item.php?itemid=3 |archivedate=2006-02-17]

After the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, Raymond was repatriated to France and completed his military education in 1958. Although trained to kill, he would go on to save lives. At age 19, his dedication to fitness and willingness helped him to serve in Paris's regiment of "sapeurs-pompiers" (the French fire service).

With his athletic ability, Raymond became the regiment's champion rope-climber and joined the regiment's elite team, composed of the unit's fittest and most agile firefighters. Its members were the ones called for the most difficult and dangerous rescue missions.

Lauded for his coolness, courage, and spirit of self-sacrifice, Raymond was to have a key role in the Parisian firefighters' first ever helicopter-borne operation. His many rescues, medals and exploits gave him a reputation of being an exceptional "pompier" and inspired the next young generation, especially his son David Belle.cite web |url=http://www.urbanfreeflow.com/the_core_level/pages/archives/foucan_interview.htm |title=Sébastien Foucan interview |year=2006 |author=ez |publisher=urbanfreeflow.com |accessdate=2007-10-14]

Born in a firefighter's family, David was influenced by stories of heroism. At age 17, David left the school to seek his love of freedom, action, and to develop his strength and dexterity to be useful in life, as Raymond had advised him.

Raymond introduced his son David to obstacle course training and the "méthode naturelle". David participated in activities such as martial arts and gymnastics, and sought to apply his athletic prowess for some practical purpose.cite web |url=http://parkour.net/modules/articles/item.php?itemid=2 |title=David Belle's biography |date=2005-12-16 |work=French biography referenced to www.david-belle.com |publisher=Jerome Lebret |accessdate=2007-04-12 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20051222022400/parkour.net/modules/articles/item.php?itemid=2 |archivedate=2005-12-16]

Development in Lisses

After moving to Lisses commune, David Belle continued his journey with others. "From then on we developed," says Sébastien Foucan in Jump London, "And really the whole town was there for us; there for parkour. You just have to look, you just have to think, like children." This, as he describes, is "the vision of parkour."

In 1997, David Belle, Sébastien Foucan, Yann Hnautra, Charles Perrière, Malik Diouf, Guylain N'Guba-Boyeke, Châu Belle-Dinh, and Williams Belle created the group called Yamakasi, [cite web
author=Sébastien Foucan
year=2002
title=History - Creation of the groupe "YAMAKASI" 1997
url=http://tracer2000.free.fr/us/indexus.html
accessdate=2007-07-02] whose name comes from the Lingala language of Congo, and means "strong spirit, strong body, strong man, endurance". After the musical show "Notre Dame de Paris", Belle and Foucan split up due to money and disagreements over the definition of "l'art du déplacement", resulting in the production of Yamakasi (film) in 2001 and the French documentary "Génération Yamakasi" without Belle and Foucan.

Over the years, as dedicated practitioners improved their skills, their moves grew. Building-to-building jumps and drops of over a story became common in media portrayals, often leaving people with a slanted view of parkour. Actually, ground-based movements are more common than anything involving rooftops, due to accessibility to find legal places to climb in an urban area. From the Parisian suburbs, parkour became a widely practiced activity outside France.

Philosophy

Quote|Our aim is to take our art to the world and make people understand what it is to move.|David Belle, BBC News| [cite web
author=Hugh Schofield
title=The art of Le Parkour
publisher=BBC News - TV and Radio
location=Paris |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1939867.stm |date=April 19, 2002
accessdate=2007-05-11]

This is a main part of "l'art du déplacement" that most of the non-practitioners have not seen or heard about, yet according to the founders of the discipline, the Yamakasi, it is an integral part of the art, in the words of Williams Belle:cite video
people=Châu Belle Dinh, Williams Belle, Yann Hnautra, Mark Daniels (Director)
title=Generation Yamakasi
author=Mark Daniels
medium=TV-Documentary
language=French
publisher=France 2
location=France
archiveurl=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3773384792923323349
accessdate=2007-08-25]

Another aspect of the philosophy is the freedom. It is often said that parkour can be practiced by anyone, at anytime, anywhere in the world. This freedom has made it a powerful cultural force in Europe, with its influence spreading around the world. Châu Belle Dinh states more behind philosophy than its definition:

A recent convention of parkour philosophy has been the idea of "human reclamationcite web
title=Two Theories on Parkour Philosophy |publisher=Parkour North America |url=http://parkournorthamerica.com/plugins/content/content.php?content.17 |date=September 7, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-16] ." This theory asserts that parkour is a means of stepping outside of the sedentary modern lifestyle and re-engaging with what it means to be human by moving in the same manner of primordial humans. Andy (Animus) of Parkour North America clarifies:

It is as much as a part of truly learning this activity as well as being able to master the movements, it gives you the ability to "overcome your fears and pains and reapply this to life" as you must be able to control your mind in order to master the art of parkour.

Andreas Kalteis, a non-Yamakasi traceur, has stated in documentary "Parkour Journeys":

Non-rivalry

A campaign was started on May 1, 2007 by Parkour.NET portalcite web
title=Keeping parkour rivalry-free : JOIN IN ! |publisher=Parkour.NET |url=http://parkour.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=9539 |date=May 1, 2007 |accessdate=2007-05-11] to preserve parkour's philosophy against sport competition and rivalry. [cite web
title= 'Jumped-up' plan to stage world competition sees free runners falling out |author=Paul Bignell and Rob Sharp |publisher=The Independent |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2472154.ece |date=April 22, 2007 |accessdate=2007-05-11] In the words of Erwan (Hebertiste):

Movements

There are fewer predefined movements in parkour than gymnastics, as it does not have a list of appropriate "moves". Each obstacle a traceur faces presents a unique challenge on how they can overcome it effectively, which depends on their body type, speed and angle of approach, the physical make-up of the obstacle, etc. Parkour is about training the bodymind to react to those obstacles appropriately with a technique that works. Often that technique cannot and need not be classified and given a name. In many cases effective parkour techniques depend on fast redistribution of body weight and the use of momentum to perform seemingly impossible or difficult body manoeuvres at speed. Absorption and redistribution of energy is also an important factor, such as body rolls when landing which reduce impact forces on the legs and spine, allowing a traceur to jump from greater heights than those often considered sensible in other forms of acrobatics and gymnastics.

According to David Belle, you want to move in such a way that will help you gain the most ground as if escaping or chasing something. Also, wherever you go, you must be able to get back, if you go from A to B, you need to be able to get back from B to A, but not necessarily with the same movements or "passements".

Despite this, there are many basic techniques that are emphasized to beginners for their versatility and effectiveness. Most important are good jumping and landing techniques. The roll, used to limit impact after a drop and to carry one's momentum onward, is often stressed as the most important technique to learn. Many "traceurs" develop joint problems from too many large drops and rolling incorrectly. Parkour has sometimes received concerns for its health issues due to large drops. [ [http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=248379 Rooftop jumpers risking death] Cambridge News Retrieved February 5, 2008] [ [http://media.www.dailyvidette.com/media/storage/paper420/news/2006/10/25/News/U.Illinois.Student.Dies.After.Fall.From.Broadcast.Tower-2399623.shtml U. Illinois student dies after fall from broadcast tower] The Daily Vidette Retrieved February 5, 2008] [http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=40446&comview=1 Student receives IUPD warning after IDS article about hobby] Idsews.com Retrieved February 5, 2008] Communities in Great Britain have been warned by law enforcement or fire and rescue of the risk in jumping in the high buildings. [ [http://www.wrexhamleader.co.uk/news/Wrexham-police-concerned-as-daredevil.3819107.jp Wrexham police concerned as daredevil 'sport' craze grows] Wrexham Leader (Retrieved March 15, 2008)] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7220380.stm Rooftop-jumping youths arrested] BBC (Retrieved March 15, 2008)] Although David Belle has never been seriously injured while practising parkour, [ [http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/680/243/ American Parkour Exclusive David Belle Interview] American Parkour Retrieved February 5, 2008] there is no careful study about the health issues of large drops and traceurs stress gradual progression to avoid any problems. Despite this, the American traceur Mark Toorock and Lanier Johnson, executive director of the American Sports Medicine Institute say that injuries are rare because parkour is based on the control of movements not on what cannot be controlled. [cite web |title=Jump First, Ask Questions Later |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/08/AR2008010803471_4.html |date=2008-01-08 |author=Colin Bane |publisher=The Washington Post |accessdate=2008-04-19]

Basic movements

Some movements defined in parkour are:

It is notable how certain French terms will be used undiluted, commonly 'Lache' or 'Passe Muraille' and some will be used in English, usually with simple names such as 'Catpass' and 'Precision'. It is important to remember that movements are not single 'tricks' in Parkour, more that technique names are categories to place movement types into, much like how martial arts use different kicking techniques, yet they are all still kicks.

Training places

Unlike many other activities parkour is not currently practiced in dedicated public facilities (e.g. skateparks), although efforts are being made to create places for it. [cite web |url=http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/2295/1/ |title=American Parkour HotSpots Contest |date=May 21, 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-13] Traceurs practice parkour in urban areas like gym, parks, playgrounds and abandoned structures, and concerns have been raised regarding trespassing, damage of property, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/7220380.stm BBC NEWS | UK | England | Gloucestershire | Rooftop-jumping youths arrested ] ] and the practice in inappropriate places. [cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2079539/Gravestone-vaulting-teenagers-condemned-over-YouTube-stunt.html |title=Gravestone vaulting teenagers condemned over YouTube stunt |date=2008-05-06 |author=Caroline Gammell |accessdate=2008-06-13]

There is also the concern that practitioners are needlessly risking damage to both themselves and rooftops by practicing at height, with police forces calling for practitioners to stay off the rooftops. [http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/suttonnews/display.var.2166130.0.youths_on_roofs.php Youths On Roofs (from Your Local Guardian) ] ] [cite web |url=http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123100262 |title=Parkour growing by leaps and bounds |author=Don Branum |date=2008-06-02 |accessdate=2008-06-27] Figures within the parkour community, including parkour instructors and David Belle, agree that this sort of behaviour is not to be encouraged. [cite web |url=http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/2364/1/ |title=Terrible Representation of Parkour and Freerunning |date=13 June 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-13] [ [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1441,1701098,00.html Running Through Life the Parkour Way | Culture & Lifestyle | Deutsche Welle | 06.09.2005 ] ] [http://pnwpa.com/resources/parents-faq.pdf]

These issues, however, do not appear to apply to the majority of practitioners whose relationship with authorities is generally a positive one. [cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1607235,00.html |title=Student Stuntmen |date=April 5, 2008 |author=Julie Rawe |publisher=Time magazine |accessdate=2008-06-13]

Accessories

There is no equipment required, although practitioners normally train wearing light casual clothing: [cite web
url=http://www.americanparkour.com/content/view/50/237/
title=What Should I Wear for Parkour?
date=2005-11-06
publisher=americanparkour.com
accessdate=2007-04-21] [cite web
url=http://www.washingtonparkour.com/?go=faq_parents#10
title=Is there any equipment cost, membership fee, or exclusive conditions required for my child to do Parkour?
publisher=washingtonparkour.com
accessdate=2008-04-04]

*Light upper body garment - such as T-shirt, sleeveless shirt or crop top. * Light lower body garment - such as light trousers or light shorts.The only gear really required is comfortable athletic shoes that are generally light, with good grip. Some traceurs use sweat-bands for forearm protection, or even thin athletic gloves to protect the hands, but most traceurs advise against this as it reduces grip and feel.

However, since parkour is closely related to "méthode naturelle", sometimes practitioners train barefooted to be able to move efficiently without depending on their gear. David Belle has said: "bare feet are the best shoes!" [cite web
url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=QMw3q3NjqRk
title=David Belle - Parkour simples
date=2007-03-16
publisher=youtube.com
accessdate=2007-07-07]

Free running

The term "free running" was coined during the filming of "Jump London", as a way to present parkour to the English-speaking world. However, free running and parkour are separate, distinct concepts—a distinction which is often missed due to the aesthetic similarities. Parkour as a discipline comprises efficiency, whilst free running embodies complete freedom of movement—and often includes many acrobatic maneuvers. Although often the two are physically similar, the mindsets of each are vastly different. [cite web
author=Urban Freeflow Team
url=http://urbanfreeflow.com/the_core_level/pages/archives/foucan_interview.htm
title=Sebastian Foucan interview
archiveurl=http://www.parkourpedia.com/index.php?id=1,12,0,0,1,0
archivedate=2006-05-08
accessdate=2007-06-19] Foucan defines free running as a discipline to self development, following your own way. [cite web
title=FREERUNNING
author=Sébastien Foucan
url=http://worldwidejam.tv/foucan.jam.parkour.html
date=10/06/06
accessdate=2007-06-22] While "traceurs" and "traceuses" practice parkour in order to improve their ability to overcome obstacles faster and in the most efficient manner, free runners practice and employ a broader array of movements that are not always necessary in order to overcome obstacles. The meaning of the different philosophical approaches to movement can be summed up by the following two quotes:

quote|The most important element is the harmony between you and the obstacle; the movement has to be elegant... If you manage to pass over the fence elegantly—that's beautiful, rather than saying I jumped the lot. What's the point in that?|Jerome Ben Aoues (experienced free runner)|Jump London [cite video |people=Jerome Ben Aoues |title=Jump London |medium=TV-Documentary |publisher=Channel 4 |location=London, UK |year=2003]

David Belle or PAWA team, or both emphasized the division between parkour and free running by stating:

quote|Understand that this art has been created by few soldiers in Vietnam to escape or reach: and this is the spirit I'd like parkour to keep. You have to make the difference between what is useful and what is not in emergency situations. Then you'll know what is parkour and what is not. So if you do acrobatics things on the street with no other goal than showing off, please don't say it's parkour. Acrobatics existed long time ago before parkour.|David Belle or PAWA team, or both.|cite web
author=David Belle or PAWA Team, or both
url=http://www.pawa.fr/Welcome/welcome.html
title=English welcome - Parkour Worldwide Association
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050508021450/www.pawa.fr/Welcome/welcome.html
archivedate=2005-05-08
accessdate=2007-05-12]

When questions are raised between the differences of parkour and free running, however, the Yamakasi group deny the differences and say: "parkour, l'art du deplacement, freerunning, the art of movement... they are all the same thing. They are all movement and they all came from the same place, the same nine guys originally. The only thing that differs is each individual's way of moving". Thus leading to what they view as separation of parkour community or wasting energy debating the differences when one should follow his/her own way and find why practice. [cite web |url=http://www.parkourgenerations.com/articles.php?id_cat=4&idart=29 |author=Dan Edwardes |year=2007 |title=Rendezvous II |accessdate=2008-08-07]

Popular culture

Parkour has appeared in various television advertisements, news reports and entertainment pieces, often combined with other forms of acrobatics also called free running, street stunts and tricking.

The most notable appearances have been in narrative films:
*"Yamakasi" (2001)
*"District B13" (2004)
*"The Great Challenge" (2004)
*"Casino Royale" (2006)
*"Breaking and Entering" (2006)
*"Live Free or Die Hard" (2007)
*"The Incredible Hulk (film)" (2008) - Credited as Parkour coordinator

Notable parkour documentaries include:
*"Génération Yamakasi - Vol au dessus des cités"
*"Jump London" (2003)
*"Jump Britain" (2005)
*"Jump Westminster" (2007)
*"Parkour Journeys" (2007)
*"Pilgrimage" (2008)

ee also

*Buildering - the act of climbing the outside of buildings and other urban structures. The word is a portmanteau combining the word "building" with the climbing term "bouldering".
*Contact improvisation - a dance technique in which points of physical contact provide the starting point for movement improvisation and exploration.
*Dérive - a French situationist philosophy of re-envisioning one's relation to urban spaces (psychogeography) and acting accordingly.
*Free climbing - a style of climbing using no artificial aids to make progress.
*Tricking - an art with roots in different forms of martial arts and gymnastics, often mistaken for parkour by the media and public.
*Street stunts - "urban gymnastics" an activity usually practiced both by free runners and tricksters.
*Yamakasi - a group founded by Yann Hnautra, David Belle, Laurent Piemontesi and Chau Belle Dinh 3 years before parkour with emphasis on style, fluidity and freedom. It is also a 2001 movie.

References