by Connor Smith

Created on: November 21, 2009

Parkour, (sometimes referred to as freerunning) is a revolutionary new sport that is starting to become popular with the younger generations. The defining feature that sets it apart from other sports is that THERE ARE NO RULES. A simple definition of parkour would be "To get from point A to point B as fast as possible." Personally, I think parkour is much more than that. It's the art of becoming comfortable with your body, and learning how to move fluently with your environment. Parkour allows you to express yourself, and your creativity can flow free. To the common person, sidewalks and streets are the only way to travel on foot. The first step in learning parkour would be to overcome this mental block. Rails and walls should be perceived as sidewalks, and overcoming them should be as easy as walking on the sidewalk. While parkour is an inventive and wondrous sport, you should know that it is not all fun and games. In doing parkour, you have the potential to be seriously hurt. Someone who is just starting parkour should know basic safety rules.

Safety

Parkour is just as much mental as it is physical. Many cases of people getting injured are a result of them overestimating themselves. Just because you think you can do something doesn't mean you actually can. Professional parkourists didn't start out doing high drops and extreme flips. They spent YEARS training and conditioning their bodies, as you should. For example, before attempting a high jump you should practice doing lower jumps, and do exercises to strengthen your leg muscles. If something begins hurting while doing parkour, than STOP. To prevent a muscle being pulled, make sure you stretch for at least 10 minutes prior to parkour training. Also, a comfortable outfit should be worn when doing parkour. A loose T-shirt, athletic shorts, and shoes with grip is a great outfit to wear. However, no amount of safety equipment can help you do parkour better. If you aren't in decent enough shape, you won't be able to do anything. In the weeks leading up to your parkour training, it might be a good idea to try some of these exercises.

Exercises

Before beginning parkour, take a look at yourself. Whether you're a born athlete, couch potato, or just an average Joe, doing parkour exercises can be extremely beneficial. If you're in decent shape, you can incorporate these exercises with actual parkour training. However, if you find yourself unable to do a single pull-up, you should begin exercising. Here are some activities

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