Is Parkour a Martial Art?
If it is, it seems to be a very sensible one, turning 'running away' into an art form.
From Wiki; Parkour is a physical activity which is difficult to categorize. It is not an extreme sport,[5] but an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the martial arts.[6] According to David Belle, "the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it."[7] Thus, when faced with a hostile confrontation with a person, one will be able to speak, fight, or flee. As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight. Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category: "parkour is parkour."
An important characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as fast as they can, but also in the least energy-consuming and most direct way possible. This characteristic distinguishes it from the similar practice of free running, which places more emphasis on freedom of movements, such as acrobatics. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, short and long-term, part of why parkour's unofficial motto is ętre et durer (to be and to last).
Traceurs claim that parkour also influences one's thought process by enhancing critical thinking skills that allow one to overcome everyday physical and mental obstacles.
One of it's early pioneers.... :lol:
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What I like about Parkour is the self expression element.
Ive mentioned this before in a post but there is a strong movement coming through that combines the elements of Parkour (i.e. using the environment and surroundings to express) at the same time utilising Martial Arts Techniques as 'trickz' and often as an extension of Parkour.
Very Clever stuff.
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Erm Hi guys is this a type of base jumping free running sort of thing u see spotty teen's doing on street corners over the local benches, bike racks and other such obsticles (Pete really need a spell checker on here m8 lol )
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Imagine if Robbers and Muggers learnt Parkour, you'd never catch them
I do think it takes a lot of skill but don't class it as a Martial Art. Its more of a sport discipline
I do love that lepfrog type move.
If you want to see some good Parkour Rent James Bond Casino Royale. One of the top French Parkour practitioners is in it running from Bond in the first huge chase sequence
"I have been the whole day without eating, and the whole night without sleeping — occupied with thinking. It was of no use. The better plan is to learn."
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Who'da thunk it? Guildford, of all places, is a hotbed of Parkour. Take it from me, those who have never been to Guildford, it's a grey, miserable hole where it always rains and / or has dense fog and an atrocious ringroad separating the courts from "civilisation." The Friary Centre is a glowing beacon of chain stores taking over the town centre... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/7302102.stm
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Lardy wrote: Heh! I don't play the north / south divide. In my experience, it's only northerners who get chippy about the south...
Shut it Sassenach!
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As you travel to the mountain, there may be people ahead of you. You may pass some of these people on the way, and some of them may pass you. You are all going to the same place, so it is as well to be civil to each other on the journey!
Good luck on your journey, I hope that our paths cross, and we may travel together for a time!
If you touch my Llama, I WILL kill you!
The administrator has disabled public write access.
PeteMills wrote: Yeah its like my fellow Martial Edge team mate Jason - he grew up sailing on a river in cambridge every day....
But that said hes a good stuntman
...and I bet he makes a mean cucumber sandwich.
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As you travel to the mountain, there may be people ahead of you. You may pass some of these people on the way, and some of them may pass you. You are all going to the same place, so it is as well to be civil to each other on the journey!
Good luck on your journey, I hope that our paths cross, and we may travel together for a time!
If you touch my Llama, I WILL kill you!
The administrator has disabled public write access.
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