Posted on 08/12/2006 11:28:00 AM PDT by Pyro7480
From Wikipedia:
Parkour is a physical discipline of French origin in which participants attempt to pass obstacles in the fastest and most direct manner possible, using skills such as jumping, vaulting and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, so parkour is often practiced in urban areas because of many suitable public structures, such as buildings, rails, and walls.
A traceur is a participant of parkour.
Parkour is a physical discipline inspired by human movement, focusing on uninterrupted, efficient forward motion over, under, around and through obstacles (both man-made and natural) in one's environment. Such movement may come in the form of running, jumping, climbing and other more complex techniques. The goal of parkour is to adapt one's movement to any given obstacle.
According to founder David Belle, the spirit of parkour is guided in part by the notions of "escape" and "reach", that is, the idea of using physical agility and quick thinking to get out of difficult situations, and to be able to go anywhere that one desires. However, in freerunning, a closely related art emphasizing aesthetics, fluidity and beauty are important considerations. For example, Sébastien Foucan, a freerunner who trained with David Belle during the infancy of the art speaks of being "fluid like water," a frequently used metaphor for the smooth passage of barriers through the use of parkour. Similarly, experienced traceur Jerome Ben Aoues explains in the documentary Jump London that:
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?
To some people (particularly non-practitioners), parkour is an extreme sport, to others a discipline more comparable to martial arts. Some consider it a combination of the two, recognising similarities between parkour and the stunts and techniques of Hong Kong martial arts star Jackie Chan, whose fight and chase scenes take place in industrial or urban environments. Still others see it as an art form akin to dance: a way to encapsulate human movement in its most beautiful form. Parkour is often connected with the idea of freedom, in the form of the ability to overcome aspects of one's surroundings that tend to confine; for example, railings, staircases, or walls. The practice of parkour requires considerable physical and mental dedication, and many adherents describe it as a "way of life."
Free running is a physical discipline, in which participants (Free runners) attempt to pass all obstacles in their path in a smooth and fluid way. Free runners interact with their environment using movements such as vaulting, jumping, sommersaults and other acrobatic movements, creating an athletic and aesthetically pleasing way of moving.
Created by Sebastien Foucan and inspired by the similar discipline of parkour, free running differs as it incorporates elements of tricking as well. As such, it is a more creative and artistic way of moving, open to personal interpretation, rather than being focused upon moving along a route using only the most efficient and useful movements. Initially, the term free running was used interchangibly with parkour; however, as free runners became interested in aesthetics as well as useful movement, the two became different disciplines.
While free running and parkour share many common techniques, they have a fundamental difference in philosophy and intention. The aims of parkour are reach, the ability to quickly access areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, and escape, the ability to evade pursuers, while free running is concerned more with aesthetics.
Parkour in practice:
David Belle - Rush Hour Le Parkour(BBC)
Parkour, Practiced to Evade Persuit
Freerunning in practice:
Yes, amazing skills honed in the aid of escaping the gendarmes.
Perfecting the art of running away.
LOL! It is French in origin, but you can't help but admire the skills needed.
Videoshop.
The French have a martial art based on running away? Who would have thought?
No way. That's no videoshop. Editing yes, but acrobats can definitely do that kind of stuff.
LOL! While French in origin, there are practioners all over the place now, including Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.
Probably ex-gymnasts although most did not show the discpline or body positioning, some did....
Gotta see this later... pinging myself
Lupin the 3rd, live action.
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