Health & Fitness
Vancouver, B.C. Becoming A Parkour Place
The first time I saw something Parkour-related was when I watched Casino Royale and Daniel Craig (James Bond) chased a villain through a construction site, up a frame of a building and across steel girders.
But just what is Parkour? A discipline that originates from France says Parkour instructor Rene Scavington.
Derived from the French term for obstacle course, "parcours du combatant", Parkour was pretty much started by a man named David Belle.
"[David] had a father who was a soldier and always encouraged him to use physical training to do something useful," explained Scavington.
"Gymnastics, martial arts, he always encouraged him to take the training and make them into something that could be used to help other people."
People who practice Parkour are usually seen walking up railings, climbing trees, or in Daniel Craig's case, jumping from buildings and have to be quite nimble, but Scavington says that you don't need to be a ninja.
"Anyone can start, we have groups from beginner to very advanced; we have an adults only class and we try to cater to whoever wants to learn," he said.
"Obviously if you want to progress, it is a physical activity so you need to become physically fit."
Training takes place at Coopers Park near Cambie Bridge; at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver and the West Van Gymnastics Center.
Scavington says lessons only cost about $10.00 a session and offers words of wisdom for those who might be intimidated by Parkour.
"If you're afraid to come out and try with other people, it's about overcoming obstacles right?"
"How can you do a big jump if you can't come out and train with other people?"
The B.C. Parkour chapter has a website if you want to learn more.
Discussion
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Aggressive Street Dancing has finally reached the mainstream! Dave Carnie would be proud.
We had this back in my UBC days... we called it 'walking home from the pit'.
Now that I think about it, I had this back in elementary school days... we called it 'recess'.
I dun' get parkour.
Parkour is new to me too but I see it as kind of like mixed martial arts; it's a number of different disciplines combined into one.
It definitely requires athleticism.
Jon:
Now that I think about it, I had this back in elementary school days... we called it 'recess'.
I dun' get parkour.
Parkour isn't claiming to be anything new. Kids are programmed to run around and climb things. People are wired to explore. Human beings have been crawling and leaping since they've found out they can eat those meaty things that run.
It's just context. It's something of a practical science and about taking us back to our roots in terms of movement.
yeee. nice photos stu!
Hey im 15 and im wondering if there is something like this, i noticed it said adults only but im wondering if there are any classes for younger people.
Lucas:
Hey im 15 and im wondering if there is something like this, i noticed it said adults only but im wondering if there are any classes for younger people.
hey lucas , im actually 15 too , and i was wondering th exszmame thing everyone is almost older , but i mean if it is not awkward we can go train together since were both kind of new to this stuff just lemme know if ur intereseted i got ma email
my email is sam.ms@live.ca
=P i wanna get into this too im 16 anyone wanna start with me? xD
I'm accully at school reading this =), if anyone would like to practice with me, msg (policaz{at}hotmail.com)