Do you Parkour?

[Syntex]

I was wondering if anyone on these forums was familar with Parkour.

For the uninitiated its a form of free running but instead of just running in a big circle or on a path its actually about clearing all objects in your way, its not only a form of exercise but also a state of mind that nothing shall get in your way and you make your own path.

A few examples of what it is can be seen here,...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kJZOfq7zk basically the first half before the gym part
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jquXcwooV6A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x98jCBnW ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHyoKC3C0bg A discription of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPIw3cv8Zls kinda made into a movie or something

Now that last link if you see that part where they slow down the camera at that final big jump when the guys stop chasing him, that can be done without problems after years of practice because parkour is just like martial arts in a different way. Just like if you try and break a 2 by 4 with your fist as your first thing you will probably break you hand but someone who has done martial arts(or parkour) for years their hand has become harder and they wont fracture the bones in their hand, same reason why that guy made that jump and it didn't phase him at all.

Now I am out of shape like most people and am interested in starting this up, I was hoping someone on these forums either does it or knows someone who does it or maybe if they know how to get started because this looks like a TON of fun but alas I am not in Europe I live in Michigan so I don't know where to begin.

To me it looks like a fun way to get in shape and/or run from the cops lol.

So does anyone Parkour?

[Kiro]

I've been into this stuff for a long time, never knew the real name for it. I just called it "free running".

[Penthesilea]

It's "the floor is lava" to the extreme! I used to know this one kid back in HS who would just run around jumping off the walls and doing flips randomly, but I don't think he was ever into doing this stuff.

[Syntex]

It's "the floor is lava" to the extreme! I used to know this one kid back in HS who would just run around jumping off the walls and doing flips randomly, but I don't think he was ever into doing this stuff.

Fo sho, Its just most of us who sold our soul to various mmo's tend to have stopped doing this or just been lazy and now I am out of shame to ever start, I really wanna lose some weight but working out to me seemed pointless and boring so I never did it but if this is what I am working for then my mindset has change and now this is something I want to work for.

Anyone know any sites for this in the US and is it still called parkour here or something else?

[Kiro]

Only people I know who kinda do this near where I live, or parts of their group, is Team Ryouko.

[Krye]

I really wanna lose some weight but working out to me seemed pointless and boring so I never did it but if this is what I am working for then my mindset has change and now this is something I want to work for.

Looks like their work out and training sessions are pretty intense, don't get into it thinking it's going to be all fun and games and "Look at me I can jump five hundred thousand feet and climb up a flat wall!"

[Thelam]

Where in michigan do you live?

[Jefe]

I know it as "Russian climbing," that shit is kinda dangerous and can't afford to get injured. In order to pull that off, one has to be in really good physical shape lol. I'll stick with my jogging, and btw who else here jogs? How many miles would a typical person jog in an hour? ;x

[Penthesilea]

I was thinking about doing the Broad Street run tomorrow (didn't register for it in time, so I'm not), but it's a 10mile race. I usually go for 8min miles on that length race. It all depends on your body, I tend to get some massive shin splints and I've got a bad case of OSD
so I don't train hard/run a lot.


edit: holy shit big pic

[Jefe]

^Oh that shit looks painful, I'm lucky I haven't gotten those. But yeah, I guess I'm doing decent since I cover 7 miles in 55 min. including red lights and shit.

[Beckwin]

parkour is hella cool. I wish I was more of the acrobatic type. I can climb up walls okay enough, but I doubt I'd ever jump from rooftop to rooftop no matter how good I got. Some of the french guys jump from building to another building across the street; it's insane.

as for jogging, I try to run frequently but tbh a combination of boredom + getting tired stops me from running past 5 miles. I usually do 2-3 miles. I'd guess 8 minutes per would be a fair estimate.

[Penthesilea]

My brother used to be big into XC, but stopped after HS. His best at states (not sure what race) was a 4:26 mile. I've never broken 5:30 in a mile, so I've mostly just stuck to trail running and road running and I'm happy to get my heart rate up/set a good, steady pace.

[Krye]

My brother used to be big into XC, but stopped after HS. His best at states (not sure what race) was a 4:26 mile. I've never broken 5:30 in a mile, so I've mostly just stuck to trail running and road running and I'm happy to get my heart rate up/set a good, steady pace.

Oh fuck I pwn XC in CS. Beat every mainstream map.

[pirahna1]

That looks like sooo much fun. I've been trying to get myself into it for years, ever since I saw a special on some black dude in France - he was crazy.

Too bad I live in the woods. All I can jump off of are trees

[Lee]

I've jumped a set of 13 stairs once. That's my best and probably only worthy 'Parkour' stunt. Needless to say, I didn't roll and basically the shockwave you create sends you back in the air after you land like a ragdoll. I had to sit for the next 2 mins. at the spot I landed. =p

[Saga]

everyone go watch the movie District B-13. the plot is terrible, but you don't watch it for the plot. you watch it for the parkouring.

[Syntex]

I live about 15 miles north of detroit, think 20 mile road.

But does anyone know of any sites for this to start it up? I want to do it but doing it by yourself, like most things, sucks when your the only one(movies, dinner, concert ect) doing it.

And i figured it wouldn't be easy but something like this that has a practically appeals to me dunno why.

[Plow]

Every skater has been making fun of "freestyle walking" for years.


Seriously, the stunts the really crazy guys do are pretty cool, but just get a freaking skateboard. Or even rollerblades if you're that uncoordinated.

[Zhais]

Every skater has been making fun of "freestyle walking" for years.


Seriously, the stunts the really crazy guys do are pretty cool, but just get a freaking skateboard. Or even rollerblades if you're that uncoordinated.

Cuz skateboarding is that much more awesome? I fail to see why someone interested in this parkour activity should just get a skateboard to look cool. After all, skateboarding is just making a stick on wheels rotate in the air.

[Plow]

Every skater has been making fun of "freestyle walking" for years.


Seriously, the stunts the really crazy guys do are pretty cool, but just get a freaking skateboard. Or even rollerblades if you're that uncoordinated.

Cuz skateboarding is that much more awesome? I fail to see why someone interested in this parkour activity should just get a skateboard to look cool. After all, skateboarding is just making a stick on wheels rotate in the air.

Nah, because it's faster. Like... you're moving faster, your tricks are faster, you're on to the next trick faster, etc.