Ever wonder when people would start moving from place to place like Spiderman?  Think it is fake how martial artists run up the sides of buildings in the movies?  They may be engaging in a very quickly growing art called Parkour.

This French art has been called Parkour, and the practitioners are called traceurs.  The movements are strictly insane and jaw dropping.  The whole point of this art is to use buildings, trees, mailboxes, etc. as devices to get from point A to point B as efficiently as possible.

In the 90s a growing trend of freerunning or freestyle running was growing throughout the US and Europe.  This is where people would test their limits by jumping off of high objects or anything not normal for the average pedestrian.  It equated to skateboarding without the skateboard.  The French took this craze and formalized it.  Now there are clubs popping up all around the world.

This art utilizes moves from gymnastics and martial arts alike.  The moves take great dexterity and physical conditioning to complete.  For instance, climbing up the side of a building.  Traceurs need to have rockclimber strength and then use displacement techniques when hitting the ground from the 20 foot jump that comes later.  Their movements are like ninja monkeys within an obstacle course.

In preparation for this story, (which basically consisted of watching YouTube videos) I witnessed people leaping horizontally over fifteen feet and more utilizing  a vault technique.  One guy even ascended to the third floor of a multi-level shopping center without ever touching a step or elevator button.  I highly suggest you do the same homework I did.

Although very few people have heard the name Parkour, millions are witnessing it in action in movies and on television.  Those who saw the James Bond movie, Casino Royale, witnessed this art of movement in action during the opening scenes.  Just a few weeks ago, I saw another display of Parkour while watching the TV show, The Unit.

Parkour is very exciting to watch and probably even more fun to do.  Just remember, do not try this at home.

Tweet This Post