by Portia Nicholson

Created on: March 15, 2007   Last Updated: May 03, 2007

Street running

High risk adventure sports like canyoning and base jumping have increased in popularity in the last few years, as we seek new highs and thrills in the sporting world. One of the most extreme, and dangerous sports today, is an activity known as' Parkour' or street running'. The intention of Parkour is to move from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, using the abilities and skills of the human body. It is used as a way of overcoming obstacles, which are often everyday objects and features in the surrounding environment, anything from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls. Parkour can be practiced in both rural and urban areas.

"Street running is using everything around you to get from one place to another quicker, and more imaginatively, without the boring convention of using the pavements and walkways," explains aspiring Street runner Gordon Rotherham.
Gordon is an extreme sports fanatic as well as a competent climber. "I saw an advert on BBC that showed two people street running and it really captured my interest and imagination. The advert showed two people going out of a window and over the roofs. I was fascinated and soon got into the sport with climbing friends of mine." The BBC advert rush hour' that Gordon watched, brought Parkour in the spotlight in 2002. The advert depicted David Belle leaping across London's rooftops from his office to home, in an attempt to catch his favourite BBC programme. The piece generated a great deal of discussion, particularly after it was revealed that no special effects or wires were used

Parkour has become increasingly documented in the media and has almost become socially acceptable as a form of sports, having been the focus of many internet sites and groups, documentaries and TV shows. Popular TV shows featuring parkour include CSI, Top gear and Cirque Du Soleil's Solstrom. Most recently the new Bond film Casino Royale features a construction site roof-top chase that implements many aspects of Parkour.

The art of parkour has developed and evolved over the years. It is said to have originated in France in the early 20th century. The art of parkour was created by pioneering French physical education practitioner, theorist and instructor George Herbert. Herbert became fascinated by the movements and skills of the indigenous people that he encountered on his travels and began to devise a method of physical culture training, patterned on the abilities of the indigenous peoples he had encountered.

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