How to Parkour

Parkour is also referred to as l'art du deplacement, translated as "the art of displacement." Founded by French martial artist David Belle, it focuses on overcoming various obstacles (usually in an urban landscape) in as rapid and efficient a manner as possible. The leaps, vaults and tumbles which comprise the art make for exquisite spectacle, and have been featured in Hollywood movies such as "Live Free or Die Hard."

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Accept the basic philosophy of parkour. The overall goal is to move from one point to another as efficiently as possible, with obstacles serving as both challenges to be overcome and tools to further propel you on your way. Traceurs, or practitioners of parkour, speak of it as much as a lifestyle or an art as a sport, which is part of the appeal to those who wish to participate.
2. Practice basic athletic fundamentals. Parkour uses general physical fitness as a starting point for its disciplines, specifically sit-ups, squats, push-ups and pull-ups. Practice these activities--emphasizing clean, proper techniques when you do so--until you can perform them easily and without undue stress.
3. Find a good location to practice parkour. For beginners, this usually means locating a gym with soft pads and places where you can practice without getting hurt. Public parks and other places work well too, though you should watch out for bystanders who might inadvertently get in the way.
4. Work on rolling and landing maneuvers. The basics of parkour stress safety, which means knowing how to land before you jump or vault so high that you hurt yourself. As you grow more confident in your ability to land safely, you can move forward to higher and more complicated jumps.
5. Advance to vaults, jumps and leaps. There are literally hundreds of variations on parkour moves, which you can experiment with once you have mastered the basics of rolling and landing.
6. Join a parkour club or organization. Others in your area interested in parkour can provide support and people to practice with. They also might know good places to go and can demonstrate different maneuvers which you might not be aware of. Visit the Parkour Meetup website and enter your zip code to find practitioners in your area (see Resources below).
7. Expand parkour into other areas of your life. Traceurs claim that it helps them frame problems logically and seek innovative solutions to all manner of problems, not just those affecting parkour specifically. It also stresses community over competitiveness, unlike many other sports.

Tips & Warnings

• You may wish to note the difference between parkour and free running, which are similar but evince different styles. Free running stresses more acrobatics, fluidity of movement and some would say exhibitionism as well. Many practitioners adopt elements of both practices, though they remain distinctive disciplines.