When you see a troubled youth on the rooftop across from you in the future, you should think about whether you should report it to save his life; or try to persuade him with those old uncles' reasoning. Because he may leap in front of you, pass by while wiping himself, and give you the finger as a sign of respect for your ignorance.
Parkour originated as a childhood game of running around on rooftops, but now it is an extreme sport of fast street running, with a sense of free sprinting. It is not the reckless jumping off buildings that we imagine. It turns the entire city into a large training ground, where all walls and roofs become objects to climb and cross. Abandoned houses are especially suitable for swift descents, jumps, and leaps... combined with the flexible climbing of apes. However, enthusiasts of this sport prefer to see it as a lifestyle advocated by youth subculture.
Parkour and action seek unexpected effects, often beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The French movie "District 13" showcases parkour street culture, with David Belle being one of the founders of parkour.
Parkour was born in France in the 80s, derived from the English word 'parkour', meaning to surpass obstacles. The use of the letter K makes the word look cooler. It became popular in the UK in 2002 and subsequently gained popularity among the young in China. In the world of parkour, practitioners are called Traceurs. Parkour combines all free movements, enhancing creativity and encouraging people to find their own beliefs. In its domain, many Traceurs strive to perform actions not recorded in the parkour dictionary, expressing that parkour is not limited to certain fixed moves. You can even add your moves to parkour.
Like all street culture products, parkour also has a spirit of freedom and independence. It's not about doing what others can't do, but doing what you can do, using the most suitable movements to overcome obstacles. As the founder David said: Do what you cannot do, think what you dare not think! Life should be like this parkour.
In Lisbon, the founder liked to play ninja when he was a child, running around on school rooftops. He mentioned in the Leap Across London event, we developed parkour from here. The whole town is like ours, for the sport of free sprinting. You just need to look at the same things as these children and think the same things. This is the vision of parkour.
This high-start, low-landing free sprinting has only been in China for a few years, but it has already been known and pursued by thousands of urban youths. However, due to the high threshold of physical strength and flexibility required for parkour, it currently cannot gain widespread support like roller skating or street dancing.
Perhaps in ten or twenty years, it will truly be accepted by people. But dedicating your youth to parkour, sweating on the parkour practice field, and putting your passion into the development of parkour, making your thoughts manifest in parkour, is a true recognition of self-worth. When that day comes, the initiators I interviewed today may already have white hair, more innovative moves may have been added to parkour, and perhaps there will be many young Traceurs following suit across China. However, I think they will not regret this youthful memory.
Standard Parkour Training Movements
Tendon Training: This is one of the important items. Especially for legs (split legs), arms and waist (arch bridge), the basic skills cannot be missing.
Jump Training: This can be done by frog jumps to exercise leg strength. You can gradually increase from low to high, near to far. And you need to frequently train jumping from one target to another destination. And you need to train the accuracy of landing. Otherwise, having great jumping power but lacking accurate targets and distance sense can be fatal.
Wall Climbing: This is also one of the basic exercises. Start from the lowest and gradually increase to the highest. If you start with the highest, you will find it very difficult! Usually after a relaxed run-up. (Note: relaxed, don't rush like in long jump or high jump, otherwise you won't be able to stop and won't find the burst point. Funny ones might even hit the wall.) As you approach the target, start lifting your strength, first use one foot against the wall, then grab the wall with your hands. Then immediately push the wall with the other foot, lift the first foot on the wall up, and assist with both hands. Once one foot hooks, you will have two hands and one foot (three points hooked). The remaining leg, even if you don't go up, swinging back and forth is fine, any cool moves work. Ha! We usually divide into front double-hand press jump and back sit rotation jump.
Hand/Elbow Jump: This is used during running when encountering corners and obstacles, or to increase jump distance. Simultaneously use hand or elbow pushing on the wall to increase jump distance or serve as a second jump boost.
Accurate/Precise Jump: This is training to jump from one target to another destination. From short-distance jumps to the farthest distance jumps, this is to train the accuracy of landing. Otherwise, having great jumping power but lacking accurate targets and distance sense can be fatal.
TIC-TAC: I really don't know how to say this in Chinese. It is the most commonly used technique during our training when avoiding some obstacles, but throughout the process, there are two requirements: speed cannot be reduced too much, and it must feel easy. For example, during running, when a well appears in front of you, step on the tree or wall near the well opening, bounce over, and continue running forward. The entire process can only use feet, hands cannot be used! Some experts can even jump four or five times to flip over.
Landing Practice: This refers to using only your legs to cushion upon landing after a long jump, and not using side rolls to continue the next action!
Landing Training: This requires good distance sense. It is practicing jumping from a distance or height and using a side roll to stand up quickly or continue the next action.
Front Flip and Back Flip: This can be supported by hands. The requirement is to try to return to the original position after completing a 360-degree front flip and back flip.
Side Somersault: There are 180 degrees, 360 degrees, and 540 degrees. There are also crossover flips or mid-air stationary flips (flipping halfway in the air, suddenly slowing down in the air before landing).
Gorilla Jump: This is a common basic skill. Like gorillas, during running, use your hands to press on obstacles and then spread your legs to cross over.
Insertion Training: During running, use one foot, both feet, or any part of the body to first rush into an entrance such as a skylight or window!
Bar Training: Can be used to train grip strength. And for those who want to practice somersaults, finding the feeling of flipping or turning in the air from the bar is the safest way. This can also improve the safety of high-altitude actions.