PT Playbook: Parkour 101
November 3, 2009 by jane
Filed under Action, Pretty Basic, Pretty Sporty
The essence of Parkour can be stated simply: it is the art of overcoming obstacles as swiftly and efficiently as possible using only your body.
Parkour — l’art du déplacement, or translated, the art of moving — is of French origin. Running, climbing, jumping, and landing all play a role as traceurs, practitioners of Parkour, pass over, under, around and through obstacles with complex movements.
Frequently practiced in an urban environment, the goal is to get from Point A to Point B using only your body, creativity and the objects in your immediate environment. This fitness discipline is designed to build strength, agility, endurance and confidence.
Parkour has been featured in James Bond movies such as Casino Royale and parodied on The Office — watch Michael, Andy and Dwight in the video below. There are also dozens of Parkour clips on YouTube that enjoyed millions of views from fans. Definitely worth checking those out.
Parkour Visions, based in Seattle, is a non-profit organization that is using the discipline to reach at-risk youth. By teaching them Parkour, the hope is that they’ll improve their self-esteem and fitness by “transforming their everyday world into an epic playscape.
So what do you think? Fitness, fun, or insanity?
