There are many ads and movies in which we see youngsters jumping and running from one place to another so freely and smoothly that it almost feels like they are floating in the air. Their movement almost feels like they are weightless and are swaying with the air.

Ever wondered what they are actually doing? Or why their moves are so smooth and what is the point of their running from one obstacle to another without appearing as if they are actually climbing the walls, running on the streets and on stairways, over railings, and jumping up and climbing down while completely twisting and stretching their bodies?

This is the combination of art and sport called ‘parkour’ — a relatively new sport of traversing environmental obstacles by running, climbing or leaping rapidly and efficiently.

The past couple of decades have seen parkour gaining popularity in the western world, however, it is now becoming a well-known sport in the east and even in Pakistan too! The good thing is that there is a federation established particularly for this discipline.

In this action-packed sport, the balance and power of the body are used together to challenge gravity and play with it. In the west, parkour has been taken up as physical education and a lifestyle that aims to overcome obstacles by moving, running, jumping and climbing from one point to another in an urban environment. By urban, it means stairways, walls of the buildings, houses and everything related to it.

Parkour involves a way of moving with rhythm and flow that has no boundaries, rules or restrictions. It is a self-taught discipline that involves training your body to move through space efficiently and fluidly, like a cat jumping to a roof or lizard slithering on a wall. This discipline is also known as competition free running and is based on using the environment to one’s advantage, i.e. using man-made structures for aiding in movement.

A young man who practices parkour is called a traceur; a woman is a traceuse.

Let us look deeper into this interesting sport and its techniques.

Free flow

The “run and jump” technique of parkour is often featured in the media, but it is so much more. Parkour’s flowing and flexible way of moving can be used to build strength, balance and flexibility while improving one’s mental health. This flowing technique is encouraged through a combination of training the body to move efficiently and training the mind to focus on the present moment, while adding creativity in the movement.

How did parkour develop?

Many writers on parkour trace its origins to the physical education and training methods developed in the years before World War I by Georges Hébert known as “la méthode naturelle”, (‘Natural method’) and a more wide training programme known as Hebertism (built on his name).

Hébert was a pioneering physical educator in the French military. The regimen involved training in running, jumping, climbing, balancing, swimming, and defending and the use of obstacle courses called “parcours du combattant.”

Later, during the 1940s and ’50s, Raymond Belle, a firefighter received instruction on Hébert’s methods and become an elite firefighter. He was known for his acrobatic athleticism and ability to safely and quickly move along ledges, to scale buildings without using a ladder, and to leap between building rooftops. So, under his influence and training, his son David Belle ultimately became the father of parkour.

Modern-day parkour

In late 1980s, a group of young men in France developed the modern-day parkour. They were David Belle, Yann Hnautra, Chau Belle, Laurent Piemontesi, Williams Belle, Sébastien Foucan, Malik Diouf, Guylain N’Guba Boyeke, and Charles Perriere. These people are widely regarded as “the founders”, yet they did not train together often.

Some of these men eventually called themselves Yamakasi (‘Yamak’ for short). Yamakasi is a Lingala word loosely meaning ‘Strong man, strong spirit’, this summed up the core aim for the discipline for the group of nine men — to be a strong individual physically, mentally and ethically.

Confusing terms

Parkour: The term ‘parkour’ was the first name, created by David Belle, which derived from the French word ‘parcours’. ‘Par’ means through/by and ‘cours’ means route/course, and together they make ‘through the way’ or ‘through the course’.

Art Du Déplacement: The name given to this discipline by the other Yamakasi was “L’Art du Déplacement”, ‘the art of displacement’. According to them, the word ‘art’ represents your past, everything from your life that has gotten you to where you are and who you are today.

‘Du’ is the present, who you are now and what you are trying to accomplish. ‘Déplacement’ represents your future, where you will take yourself and who you will become. It is a discipline, a lifestyle and a philosophy to live by. It is about strength, both in the mind and the body.

Free-running: Then came the term ‘free-running’, which surfaced in the production of a Channel 4 documentary, Jump London, in 2003. It is more about self-expression and creativity as the discipline urges its practitioners to train in a way that inspires others and keeps the practitioner safe.

It was never meant to be about impressing others, showing off, or gaining attention with dangerous stunts. All these three terms now mean different things to different people.

Key concepts in parkour

Environment is the playground: Over the years, the discipline has developed environment as its playground, which means there are no restrictions about doing parkour anywhere and anytime — be it your building, house, park, roadside, ground, empty street, or a particular centre for it, etc.

Flow: When practicing parkour, the practitioner is encouraged to flow with the movement and not to think about the steps or the course ahead of him/her. They just have to keep their mind in the present moment by focusing on their breathing and feeling their body move freely.

This builds strength, balance and flexibility while improving mental attitude towards life.

Rhythm: A practitioner can add a sense of rhythm to his/her movement by following the beat of their heart and the sound of their breathing.

Timing: When practicing parkour, keeping track of the time is important. For instance, how long it took a jump from one place to another, a run in the street while leaping and flipping, etc.

Efficiency: This is the topmost ability that one needs while running and making moves. Efficiency leads to quick decision-making if there are sudden change in the course, one can easily move about and take another turn.

The benefits of parkour

Like any sport, parkour also develops strength and flexibility: a practitioner tones his/her muscles and increase bone strength more efficiently.

Mental strength: Running, jumping and flips all allow one to focus and observe his/her surroundings. A practitioner or participant has to negotiate obstacles quickly at several points. These sudden moments require one to exercise his/her brain and thinking skills. Practicing instinctive decision-making skills in parkour can lead to participants trusting their instinctive decisions in everyday life. So naturally, one’s mind is constantly at work.

Builds core strength: The core is the centre of your entire body and is responsible for helping you bend, twist and transfer power and strength across your body. Developing a strong core through parkour exercises also helps to prevent lower back injuries. Having a strong core fostered by parkour helps manoeuvre through obstacles with ease.

Balance and coordination: Balance and coordination are the keys to mastering any skill or sport. These are gross motor skills that reduce the likelihood of injury, and thus improve one’s mental health and various other related skills.

How to develop your body’s strength and flexibility?

While all the exercises are good in building strength, push-ups and sit-ups in particular are easy exercises you can do anywhere to build your strength and flexibility.

Plank: It strengthens your core, and is really important for parkour.

Though parkour is still developing in Pakistan, the sport is the love of thrill seekers. It is exciting and challenging discipline that can be practiced by anyone, but make sure to do it under observation.

Safety precautions while practicing parkour

• Be aware of surroundings: A practitioner must have to be aware of his/her surroundings. If the place is indoor, it is fine. However, if one is outdoor performing the runs and jumps, it needs more attention and observation from the practitioner’s side.

• Avoid crowds: For your own and for others’ safety, try to avoid crowds. Crowds can distract as well as get into the course unintentionally, which could result in great harm on both sides.

• Weather conditions: Weather plays a great role in a practitioner’s free movements. If it’s too hot, excess sweat and dehydration can lead to exhaustion and fainting; while the paths and railings could get slippery in rainy season. Therefore, one must keep in mind the changing weather conditions and take the course accordingly.

• Keeping the mind in the present moment: Don’t get distracted. Keep focused and observant to the situation and the condition of the place, if there is a sudden change such as, someone suddenly comes while you are in your course, the present state of mind will help you make decision immediately.

• Work with a partner: It is always better to do parkour in a group or with a partner, so that if one misses out on something, their partner can back him/her up.

• Don’t rush: Running fast and thinking that you will achieve the skill and the ability to move freely and smoothly is wrong. Skill is achieved with practice and being careful in performing the moves, instead of rushing for the results.

Equipment needed for parkour

Clothing

Parkour does not require much equipment. But yes, like any sport, suitable sports shoe and comfortable sportswear are usually enough. One must wear something comfortable to easily move, twist and stretch his/her body.

Shoes

A sturdy and flexible pair of shoes is the most important parkour sports equipment. It is essential to have lightweight and shock-absorbing shoes while doing parkour. Shoes must not add to your discomfort, so they should be high quality to reduce the risk of injuries and also for long-term use. The shoes should not be too tight on your feet.

Parkour gloves and protective wear

Gloves or helmet are not recommended, but for the beginners, these protective gears can prove to be useful.

Published in Dawn, Young World, September 10th, 2022