05 August 2008

Parkour

This week I am currently taking part in a course in Parkour. Its strenuous but fun. This can be seen in London at the Southbank and other places around London

I was first introduced by a school friend known as Mad Monk in the Parkour world, this was when we were 12/13. Mad Monk and friends use to jump and climb all over the school site from leaping over the toxic school pond to off the school bin shed. Teachers tried to stop this and failed then an accident happened to gruesome to discribe which forced students to do it elsewhere.

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.[5][6] On the contrary it is more like an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the ancient martial arts.[7][8] 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."[9] 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.[8] 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 ĂȘtre et durer (to be and to last). Those who are skilled at this activity normally have an extremely keen spatial awareness.[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.[5][10][11] 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. They also have a more narcissistic personality, but one that does not seem to be linked to maladaptive or psychopathologic behaviors.[12]


There are some great videos of Parkour in action like Jump london and District 13.
I would recommend the gym first and strapping up really weak ankles and wrists. As they ache after, so much Paracetamol doesn't relieve the pain.

No comments: