Ya’all know my love for urban exploring, but when I was growing up I was a freestyle rollerskater, gymnast, springboard diver and skateboarder. I used all those skills doing some crazy stunts from trees to buildings and was doing a form of Parquor when it had no name yet.
Parquor/Parkour or the “art of displacement” is the art of using obstacles in one’s path to get places. You might consider Gene Kelly as one of the original parquors in “Singing in the Rain.” You might have done a form of it as a kid if you ever pretended your kitchen floor was hot lava and you had to use the countertops to get out of the room.
(From Wikipedia) Parkour is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment.
• Parkour requires... consistent, disciplined training with an emphasis on functional strength, physical conditioning, balance, creativity, fluidity, control, precision, spatial awareness, and looking beyond the traditional use of objects.
• Parkour movements typically include... running, jumping, vaulting, climbing, balancing, and quadrupedal movement. Movements from other physical disciplines are often incorporated, but acrobatics or tricking alone do not constitute parkour.
• Parkour training focuses on... safety, longevity, personal responsibility, and self-improvement. It discourages reckless behavior, showing off, and dangerous stunts.
• Parkour practitioners value... community, humility, positive collaboration, sharing of knowledge, and the importance of play in human life, while demonstrating respect for all people, places, and spaces.
—American Parkour Community Definition (above)
I admit that, I have given up skateboarding and the sport of parquor, but my appreciation for the sport is actually greater than it is for skateboarders. To be able to do these stunts without wheels—now, that impresses me!
It is beautiful motion.
ReplyDeleteThe evolution of alternative physical expression (it sounded better than "sport") is really awesome to watch. Especially in the urban environment.
Urban setting is ideal for it. Had it been around officially when I was younger, I would have been all over that.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting word... and sport. I think there is much more possibility there than just for sport... this art can also be used in daily living... taking obsticle and using them as a stepping stone...
ReplyDeleteGreat Post!
MarZel, I would so love to see someone do it in real life, just as they're walking down a busy street and get tired of the traffic and just climb a wall and swing from something. I would laugh my ass off!
ReplyDeletethat's awesome! the perfect stuntman!
ReplyDelete