fitbody
Do You Parkour? A
Using the World as a Fitness Playground by Randy Kambic
thletes’ hunger for new ways to exercise, challenge and express themselves continually prompts the evolution of new sports, often rooted in earlier pursuits. Windsurfing, snowboarding and mountain biking are examples.
Now, a growing number of par- kour practitioners are springboarding and combining ingredients from mul- tiple sports and activities in an effort to defy gravity using nothing but sturdy shoes and props.
First popularized in France, park- our means “of the course” (specifically, an obstacle course)—a form of acro- batic freerunning, spiked with vaulting, somersaulting, jumping and climbing; even running up and over walls. Based on exacting training, street athletes overcome or use a creative range of ob- stacles in their immediate environment. Such moves have been popular- ized by movie stars such as Jackie Chan and Daniel Craig’s James Bond in the opening scenes of Quantum of Solace, as well as You Tube postings. First deemed an unconventional, strictly urban, under-the- radar training method,
parkour is increasingly viewed as a way for serious athletes in demand- ing sports to train and secure an edge. Adult men and women that competed in gymnastics, track and field or diving in their youth particularly enjoy reviv- ing earlier skills.
Check it Out
American Parkour (APK), headquar- tered in Washington, D.C., considers itself the leading such community in the world. Established in 2005 by Mark Toorock, its website now hosts 90,000-plus registered users and is visited monthly by 100,000 inquirers. It provides news, daily workout emails, training guides, advice for beginners, instructional tutorials, guidelines for lo- cal recreation, and photo and video galleries.
Toorock, who played high school soccer and was then a serious martial artist in oom yung doe, kung fu and capoeira (which bridges dancing and
gymnastics), was instantly hooked in 2003 when he saw a video of Da-
vid Belle; the French native and acknowledged founder of parkour has appeared in 20-plus movies and commercials since 2000.
28 Collier/Lee Counties
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