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.
Parkour blev udviklet i Frankrig i 1980’erne. Raymond Belle og hans søn David Belle var blandt de første udøvere, sammen med en række andre. Parkour kombinerer fysiske øvelser og mentale udfordringer. Målet er at bevæge sig effektivt og hurtigt gennem de hindringer, der er i miljøet.
The practitioners were inspired by a range of disciplines, including military training, gymnastics and martial arts.
David Belle og hans hold fra gruppen “Yamakasi” begyndte at træne og eksperimentere med forskellige bevægelser og teknikker. De ville overvinde hindringer under leg og sjov i bymiljøet.
The philosophy of parkour is to overcome obstacles and challenges, both physical and mental. You develop your ability to move efficiently through the environment. It also means building strength, flexibility and body awareness through training.
Techniques and training methods
Parkour consists of a number of basic techniques and movements. They help practitioners overcome the obstacles they face. The 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 another surface to jump from. It helps you reach higher 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.
