What is parkour?
Parkour - a brief introduction
From French suburb to the whole world!
Parkour is a movement art that has gained popularity all over the world in the last few decades.
Originally developed in France in the 1980s by Raymon Belle and his son David Belle and a number of other practitioners, parkour involves a combination of physical exercises and mental challenges to move efficiently and quickly through any given obstacle in the environment
Parkour was originally developed in the 1980s in France by Raymond Belle and then his son David Belle and his friends, who were inspired by a number of disciplines including military training, gymnastics, and martial arts.
David Belle and his team from the group “Yamakasi” started training and experimenting with different movements and techniques to overcome obstacles and prevent himself from getting caught during play and fun in the urban environment..
Parkour's philosophy is based on the idea of overcoming obstacles and challenges, both physical and mental, and developing one's physical and mental abilities to move efficiently through the environment. This also involves building strength, flexibility and body awareness through training and practice.
Techniques and training methods
Parkour involves a series of basic techniques and movements designed to help practitioners overcome any obstacle they face. These techniques include, among others:
- Vault: To jump and push from a surface to get over an obstacle, e.g. a wall or fence.
- Precision: Leap from one surface to another with precision and accuracy.
- Wall runs: Run and jump up a wall to reach a higher surface.
- Tic Tac: Use a wall or other surface to jump and jump from to reach higher heights and overcome obstacles.
- Drops: To jump from a height to the ground or a lower object and land safely.
Parkour training focuses on developing these techniques and movements through repeated drills and training sessions. Training can be done in a variety of locations and terrains, including urban environments, parks, sports facilities and gymnasiums. Exercise may also include strength training and flexibility exercises to build muscle and improve body control and mobility.
Mental and physical benefits
Parkour has one a number of mental and physical benefits that make it an attractive sport and movement art for many. Some of the primary benefits include:
Strengthening the body: Parkour involves a series of physical exercises and movements that can help build strength, muscle mass and body control. This can lead to improved fitness and physical health in general.
Improving coordination and balance: Parkour requires a high degree of coordination and balance, as the practitioners must navigate through different terrains and overcome obstacles in a safe and efficient manner. This can contribute to improving balance and coordination skills in general.
Mental strengthening: Parkour requires a high degree of mental focus and courage, as the practitioners are often faced with challenges and obstacles that can be challenging or dangerous if proper precautions are not taken.
Through training and practice, practitioners can build mental strength and confidence that can be transferred to other areas of their lives.Challenging boundaries: Parkour is about overcoming limits and challenging yourself in different ways. This can be a good way to expand one's personal boundaries and explore one's potential.
Community and collaboration: Parkour training and practice can also lead to a strong sense of community and cooperation among practitioners as they often train and explore together. This can be a good way to build relationships and support each other in a challenging sport / form of movement.
