Russian Climbing / Free Running / Parkour / ...

[Bernadette]

Crazy stunts -- based on martial arts, gymnastics, balance, fearless --

The 'Creator' of the 'sport' --

This is amazing!

[Azeuron]

Crazy stunts -- based on martial arts, gymnastics, balance, fearless --

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The 'Creator' of the 'sport' --

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This is amazing!

Parkour actually dates back to french soldiers in WWII i think... i'd have to double check for sure but i know its older than that and french originally

[Bernadette]

That may be. Cool, nonetheless.

I was going off someone I ran into recently that is trying to do this for a living - showed me the links and such. Said that David Belle had been doing this since he was 27, and is 44 now. Training I guess is done in an indoor gym. Not a far stretch either from movie stunt people.

Wild stuff!

[Msterbeau]

Fun.

[Head Wreck]

wants to learn.

couple that with my martial arts and i shall be in very good athletic shape in no time

[n0Mad]

I used to do stuff like that from grade school all the way through high school (about '86-'95) just because I wanted to be a stunt man and a ninja. I was just making shit up and having fun. I never knew there was a sport until just a few years ago. Had I known parkour existed back when I was invincible, I would've actually trained and practiced and would be bad ass now. But instead I grew old and frail. I'd love to find a club though and get back into it.

The stuff from the videos is pretty hardcore extreme parkour. The sport is mostly just about learning to use your body, bending in unique ways and finding your balance. Overcoming obstacles through fluidity and economy of motion. Making things simpler instead of more complicated. The best thing you can do (and probably in this order) is learn how to fall (take Judo), increase your flexibility (Yoga?), learn to fall (yes, again), increase your balance, learn to fall (yes, still), learn how to use your body (dance, gymnastics, mime), did I mention learn to fall, and build your strength (especially arm strength, rock climbing is good). Oh, and while you're at it, learn how to take a fall.

The last James Bond movie (Casino Royale) has an awesome parkour chase scene in the beginning. The dude that Bond is chasing is one of the innovators of the modern sport. It's an interesting read on Wikipedia how the sport split into two factions. David Belle innovated parkour with the concept of improving one's "ability to overcome obstacles faster and in the most efficient manner". Sébastien Foucan (the actor in Casino Royale) developed Free Running where "runners practice and employ a broader array of movements that are not always necessary in order to overcome obstacles".

[Simon Bar Sinister]

I used to do stuff like that from grade school all the way through high school (about '86-'95) just because I wanted to be a stunt man and a ninja. I was just making shit up and having fun. I never knew there was a sport until just a few years ago. Had I known parkour existed back when I was invincible, I would've actually trained and practiced and would be bad ass now. But instead I grew old and frail. I'd love to find a club though and get back into it.

The stuff from the videos is pretty hardcore extreme parkour. The sport is mostly just about learning to use your body, bending in unique ways and finding your balance. Overcoming obstacles through fluidity and economy of motion. Making things simpler instead of more complicated. The best thing you can do (and probably in this order) is learn how to fall (take Judo), increase your flexibility (Yoga?), learn to fall (yes, again), increase your balance, learn to fall (yes, still), learn how to use your body (dance, gymnastics, mime), did I mention learn to fall, and build your strength (especially arm strength, rock climbing is good). Oh, and while you're at it, learn how to take a fall.

The last James Bond movie (Casino Royale) has an awesome parkour chase scene in the beginning. The dude that Bond is chasing is one of the innovators of the modern sport. It's an interesting read on Wikipedia how the sport split into two factions. David Belle innovated parkour with the concept of improving one's "ability to overcome obstacles faster and in the most efficient manner". Sébastien Foucan (the actor in Casino Royale) developed Free Running where "runners practice and employ a broader array of movements that are not always necessary in order to overcome obstacles".

"I'd love to find a club and get back into it."

Yeah, so...there was a show about this on either the Discovery Channel or the Science Channel about 2 years ago. The show mainly focused on the kings of the French scene...but the one Stateside club that got a bit of airtime was based in Ann Arbor. Wish I had more for you, but...hey - it's better than nothing!

update: Madonna features some parkour performers in her current stage show.

[sass_in_the_pants]

my brother in law does it.

He was doing it before he realized there was a name for it!

He's got MAD coordination though.

[n0Mad]

*bump*

I've been reading up on parkour/free running lately and one of my goals this summer is to start training. Anybody want to jam?

[Msterbeau]

*bump*

I've been reading up on parkour/free running lately and one of my goals this summer is to start training. Anybody want to jam?

Sure. If I want to end up in the hospital.

[torn asunder]

*bump*

I've been reading up on parkour/free running lately and one of my goals this summer is to start training. Anybody want to jam?

as long as you're starting slow, i'm totally down for it! i've done some simple stuff before, picnic tables & hand railings & such. sounds like a blast!

hopefully, i'll be living out that way soon, if i can find work...

[n0Mad]

Definitely slow. Stretches and warmups for a good chunk, then basics like rolls and landings for the longest time until moving up to vaults and such. Even though I was a monkey as a kid and did many of the moves instinctively as part of play, once I hit college I spent more time sitting on my ass and I've lost a lot of my athleticism. Time to start getting it back so I'll begin in square one.

Good luck on the work thing. I'm looking for a better job in the area too. Just need to get my resumes in order ...

[n0Mad]

Here are some of the better online resources I found:

http://www.americanparkour.com/

http://www.urbanfreeflow.com/

[n0Mad]

From UrbanFreeFlow's YouTube site ...

This is one of the coolest moves I've seen. Must learn this.

And this is just insane! A kong to a precision?! Wonder how many f-ups it took to get that right?

[Simon Bar Sinister]

someone shot this for a film class:

[n0Mad]

Of course, freerunning is not without its dangers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zADIWfCKIHk

[n0Mad]

I watched through a tutorial DVD tonight and I will start my training tomorrow.

[Eevee]

I've always just known them as "urban ninjas" But after I saw videos of this, years ago, I wanted to put my child into gymnastics and what not so they could do stuff like this (if/when I have kids)

[torn asunder]

I watched through a tutorial DVD tonight and I will start my training tomorrow.

details? what are the "move" names? i can look them up online!

[n0Mad]

details? what are the "move" names? i can look them up online!

Here are some animations of the basic moves. I'm currently just starting with the landing and the roll (and pushups, lunges, pullups, and other exercises/conditioning). Once the rain clears up I'll set up my saw horses out back and work on the speed vault, monkey vault, and lazy vault. Maybe do some tic tacs off my chimney too. Then I'll need to find a location for kong vaults, turn vaults, cat vaults, underbars, etc.

Here's American Parkour's YouTube Channel:

Parkour Basics Playlist

Freerunning Playlist

APK is the one who produced my DVD and pretty much everything you can find on the disc you can find in that first YouTube link.

Additionally, Urban Freeflow has a YouTube channel with a tutorial playlist as well.

[KKubins]

Hey I live just outside Rochester and have been looking for anyone who wants to train and such. Ive done tables and rails and such and its a lot of fun, id just like to get out more which seems easier when doing it with other people. If anyones interested or has a group with room for 1 more lemme know cuz im dieing to get out there

[n0Mad]

Cool. Post an intro of yourself over here, join in some conversations so we get to know you a bit, and then I'll see about setting up some training times. Right now I've just been working on conditioning. I've done several rolls and landings, a few speed vaults and cat leaps, and I'm working up progressions to monkey vaults and kongs. It's really slow going so I'm hoping with a training partner I can step it up.

[KKubins]

awesome sounds good, ill head over there and introduce myself now

[synthier]

Had I known parkour existed back when I was invincible, I would've actually trained and practiced and would be bad ass now. But instead I grew old and frail.

lol, story of my life.

we called it "freestyle walking" back in the day (and it was more shenanigans than anything else. damn internet wasn't as fruitful back then.) it's partially responsible for a permanent lack of feeling in one of my shins. good times!

[n0Mad]

This guy's left arm from the elbow down is prosthetic, yet he's still an amazing traceur.