|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 Sep 2003
I watched a fascinating programme a couple of days ago about the sport1 of free running. Like many people, I only became aware of free running when the BBC and Nike produced adverts featuring the sport. Free running (or le parkour) originated in a quiet suburb in France, when some bored kids developed a game they played to a very advanced level.
It's hard to describe free running to someone who hasn't seen it, but very easy to understand as soon as you see it. Participants move around cities---often at roof level---travelling over and through obstacles in an elegant and gymnastic way. They jump gaps between buildings, swing around posts, do handstands on ledges, and run up walls. In the programme, three parkouristes travelled across London, on top of many of the major landmarks. One of the parkouristes tried to explain the ethos. He pointed out that, when we are children, we look at the landscape as a playground, and see things like concrete bollards as objects to balance on top of, leap-frog over and so on. Once we have grown up, we lose this ability and urban landscapes start to contain and channel us along stereotyped routes. Walls and street furniture become obstacles rather than opportunities for play. He said that le parkour was a way of reclaiming the city and becoming free.
There are few rules; participants must always go forwards, never backwards, but their path can zig-zag around to take in interesting problems. Many of the moves are very dramatic, but drama isn't everything; a huge jump is pointless if it isn't executed elegantly. Nevertheless, some of the tricks and jumps are jaw-droppingly impressive. In one move on the programme, one of the parkouristes jumped across a gap with a wall adjacent to it, ran along that wall by twirling around touching his feet and hands to it, then landed on the other side of the gap. I watched this a couple of times (and in slow motion), but I still think he was laughing in the face of Newtonian physics.
There was an interesting clash between the stunt co-ordinator and the runners. One wanted to jump from the top of the Captain's bridge on HMS Belfast to the deck, two stories below. The stunt guy said---not unnaturally---that that he thought it was too dangerous, but the runner was adamant that he could do it safely, and did. Trying to assess risk for this kind of thing is pretty pointless; the people who free run must know their own bodies and capabilities so well, that they just know if they'll make it or not. It also struck me that the lack of safety nets or matresses might---counter-intuitively---actually make it safer. I remember watching a documentary about road and car safety a year or two ago, and one expert explained that with every improvement in car or road safety, people decrease their perception of risk accordingly. He claimed that the best thing one might do for road safety would be to fit a large steel spike on the middle of the steering wheel of every car, pointing at the heart of the driver. A little extreme, perhaps, but the reasoning is fairly sound. My point is that free runners know that there's nothing between them and disaster except their own skill. It must still be a pretty risky thing to do---accidents happen.
The whole ethos of free running really appeals to me. You must feel like a cross between Spiderman and Superman when you pull something particularly brilliant off. But I suspect that I would be spectacularly bad at it; when I was forced to do athletics at school, I was hopeless at hurdling. I would pull up sharply in front of the first hurdle, like a horse refusing a fence. I was scared that I would catch my foot or something, and fall flat on my face. Pathetic, aren't I?
1 Practice? Discipline? Way of life? 'Sport' makes it sound too trivial, somehow.
2
Firstly people who do parkour (or PK for short) are called Tracures not Parkuorists and please dont call it free running. But if you are interesterd there is a growing UK scene where you are always welcome, even if you don't PK yourself, go to www.urbanfreeflow to find out more.
by Ps514 @ 17/09/2003 8:10 am • Permalink •
3
My name is Ben Thomas and I am from Bristol, in the United Kingdom. I watched the Jump London programme on channel 4. I thought that the group of people who did these stunts and peform this discipline must have incredible fitness, strength and alot of heart and bravery. As I watched the show I became more and more interested in the idea or sport of free running. I would like to know how to get into the sport and was wondering if they were going to promote it anywhere else in the U.K? like Bristol. Also if it is becoming active in the U.K if there is a contact address where I could get information on the Sport.
by Ben Thomas @ 17/09/2003 10:10 am • Permalink •
4
i am a 13 year old boy since ive watched the program its opened my mind to thinkin there aint no obstacles. I can now run across walls jump over them jump over rails and hang very easily. I already did a lot of skateboarding which would make it easy. the problem is the police are forever saying its a form of vandalism!!
by Benz 03 @ 17/09/2003 3:09 pm • Permalink •
5
Once again, it's not free running it's parkour(PK) and you can go to www.urbanfreefow.com for more info on the uk scene and to find people in your area.
by Ps514 @ 17/09/2003 5:09 pm • Permalink •
6
since i watch the program i have started free running im 13 and iv already had a bit of an injury cos i wasn't concentrating i ran a cross this high bus shelter jumped onto a toilet block a bit from it i landed but then i still ran an lost balance and fell. any way i started doing free running ages ago but not realising it was a sport any way i was wondering if i could get any advice from any 1 who knows about it or does free running my email is bammegera@hotmail.com talk to you soon
by zye @ 17/09/2003 5:10 pm • Permalink •
7
Ps514: Oops - sorry about getting the nomenclature wrong. In my defence, it was referred to as free running on the Channel 4 programme, and I saw the term 'parkouriste' somewhere and just liked the ring it had to it.
Anyway, 'le parkour' performed by 'tracures' it is.
8
No don't worr It's just that at www.urbanfreeflow.com we reckon that the term 'free running' was just invented for the purpose of that programe because english people might get confused by the french words and not want to wach it.
by Ps514 @ 19/09/2003 9:10 am • Permalink •
9
free running is a great sport(if that is wot it is)i loved it ever sice i watched it on channel 4 i am getting good and can jump gaps but the balanceing on the rail up side down is difficult free running is great the show inspired me to do it thanks!!!!!!
by john @ 19/09/2003 6:09 pm • Permalink •
10
YES! MY BACKGROUND IS SPORT, GYMNASTICS AND FITNESS. I TOO WAS TOTALLY BUZZED UP BY THE CHANNEL FOUR PROGRAMME. HARDLY ANYONE I KNOW WATCHED IT, SO I HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMME TO ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN IT.
I’D LIKE TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A GO SINCE THE PROGRAMME WAS AIRED (OVER THE AGE OF 22!) ESPECIALLY GIRLS, WHO AREN’T AFRAID TO BREAK A NAIL!
I LIVE IN A CITY AND I AM WELL UP FOR IT, BUT WOULDN’T MIND SOME COMPANY, IF ONLY INCASE I FALL AND BUST MY ASS! OR AT LEAST TO HEAR TALES FROM OTHER FIRST TIMERS!
PLAY SAFE OUT THERE ON THOSE BUILDINGS FOLKS!
PLEASE EXCUSE THE CAPITALS, THIS KEYBOARD IS MASHED…..!
by FUDGEY @ 19/09/2003 9:09 pm • Permalink •
11
I'm 13 and I'm from York. I'm not one of those girls who carses about breaking a nail. I'm willing to take up parkour, just so long as I can find somewhere near me that either knows about it, trains it or someone who would like to do it. Any one from York?
12
Hi i'm 13 and saw jump London this inspired me to take it up since i've been jumpin everthin near me and was wondering if any one knew if they was anywhere in th UK that people do courses or/and lessons for PK plz tell me if u can help matt4eva2003@hotmail.com
by Matt @ 20/09/2003 11:09 am • Permalink •
13
Hey everyone, Isn't free running a great. I saw the programme the other day and i thought it was absolutely fantastic! Ive been doing something like it for ages now but i didnt know it was a sport. The only downside is that, me being a irish boy, there are no real chalanges around my area. Major drag! Anywho, if there is anyone in the Gorey/Courtown area please give us a shout, cause no-one else down here knows about it! If anyone has any info about free running could they please pass it on! My e-mail is: oisinobyrne@eircom.net Im a student in GCS, so if there is anyone local, give us a shout. My name is NodDy!
Dream Big, Play Safe!
by NodDy @ 20/09/2003 11:10 am • Permalink •
14
I didn't see the program, but two of my mates did, and ever since we've been in a creative state of mind seeing the world as a playground. No serious injuries amongst the 3 of us as of yet, but the walls, ledges and gaps are getting bigger...
by Jack @ 20/09/2003 10:10 pm • Permalink •
15
I can't stress this enough, do NOT just go and start jumping roof gaps after seeing the programe do NOT. You have to train and start smaller and even then jumping roof gaps is only a small portion of what Parkour is about. It is more about fluidity and your philosophy. If you are really serious about Parkour (NOT free running)there are trick FAQ's at www.urbanfreeflow.com and they arrange regular jams in all countrys which anyone is welcome to. I repeat do NOT just go out and think you can reach their level in a day because you will get hurt and it will reflect on the whole PK community.
16
I can't stress this enough, do NOT just go and start jumping roof gaps after seeing the programe do NOT. You have to train and start smaller and even then jumping roof gaps is only a small portion of what Parkour is about. It is more about fluidity and your philosophy. If you are really serious about Parkour (NOT free running)there are trick FAQ's at www.urbanfreeflow.com and they arrange regular jams in all countrys which anyone is welcome to. I repeat do NOT just go out and think you can reach their level in a day because you will get hurt and it will reflect on the whole PK community.
by Ps514 @ 21/09/2003 10:10 am • Permalink •
17
This is in reply to "Wyla"s message, I'm a 13 year old lad from Pickering. Not far away from York an I would realy like someone to practise PK with. Ever since i saw Jump London on C4 I've been waiting 4 someone else to be interested but hardly anyone in our skul watched it. I did do a bit of damage to the foot of my heel about a week ago but im fine now. hope this sparkes a bit of intrest.
by Mikey @ 21/09/2003 7:09 pm • Permalink •
18
I've been doing this kinda stuff since I was a little kid in south africa, my parents and friends used to think I was a monkey....cause i was always running, climbing, jumping and balancing on trees, rocks, walls and whatever there was around..... Many years later, I know live in the sunny ol' Emsworth in the south of england. I've been skateboarding for a few years now and still jumping, climbing etc. I'm recovering from a dislocated elbow at the moment, but that doesn't stop me....just makes me a little more careful (safety first!) I too saw those french guys doing their thing and I've heard of them before.....they're sick! One thing i wanna learn is to land and roll...it just makes things look much better, but I'll wait until i've healed. Another thing, why is everybody so precise about the naming....does it really matter what people wanna call it, as long as they're having fun. One last thing, skateboarding's got a bad name because of a minor few people who are impolite and just plain fook-ups, lets not do the same for free running, remember...."Play nice, or you'll spoil it for others"....if u get asked to move on, don't argue....just go, it saves a lot of hassle.
by S.A. @ 21/09/2003 10:09 pm • Permalink •
19
hey guys, i missed the jump london prog!! :(( but i was well into trickin and things before the prog, if you wanna see some awesome sites, check out: www.joeeigo www.trickstutorials both .com check out team ryouko too, they're awesome. there's so few trickers in the UK, i hope that prog stoaks us lot into catching up with others in the sport! hell im gonna train ALOT harder now i know other are gonna be around to compeat against! :D
watch out, im commin for yas 
by Cal @ 22/09/2003 8:09 am • Permalink •
20
there's alot more of us than you think, go to urbanfreeflow then go to 'partners in crime' and there's a list also the user directory in the forums.
by Ps514 @ 22/09/2003 4:10 pm • Permalink •
21
hi plz could ne one tell me a website where i can watch clips of free running because there is noting on the net about it just email me and i would be very happy or wen it will next be on On tv
by memphis @ 22/09/2003 5:09 pm • Permalink •
22
Go to www.urbanfreeflow.com, it's the only PK site ive ever had to go to, it has everything, vid's, tips, directoroys of ther tracers, everything.
by Ps514 @ 22/09/2003 10:09 pm • Permalink •
23
I would agree with pss514 on the fact that you guys should check out www.urbanfreeflow.com it is the best parkour site! The other tricking site is mainly flip tricks. These are only a small part of a traceurs skills list. I know because i am one of the best and most known in the uk nah just kiddin but i would like to be! You can watch my latest parkour trick video online at www.urbanfreeflow.com in the media section!
24
Forgot to mention you'll be the only girl there =) there's 11 of us, all boys...
25
Doh! We're all from 14 to 17 as well =S
1
re: risk assessment: sounds a bit like climbing. in free soloing (no rope), any fall is going to really hurt, in many cases be fatal; but there aren't that many falls, 'cos people (generally) don't try to free solo climbs at the leading edge of their skill level, climbs that they'd probably laugh at if on the end of a rope...----- Yeah, there's a lot of truth in "safety" developments actually making us less safe. While it's by no means the only contributor, I've always felt that cars being increasingly safer to the occupant is one thing that makes accidents more prevalent - why bother paying attention if you know you're not likely to be hurt?
The free-running thing is something I'm fascinated by, although I'd never do it myself (mainly due to not being built to be a runner in the first place) - I haven't seen the Jump London programme yet, but thankfully TiVo recorded it for me, so I'll watch it this week sometime.
by Lyle @ 15/09/2003 10:09 am • Permalink •