To call Parkour a sport is a broad stretch

of the term, and in reality I only placed it here as no other category is

entirely suitable. Many call it an art form, the art of movement, and when

performed with grace, fluidity and efficiency this phrase can be truly understood.

For many it becomes such an integral part of themselves that it is more than a

hobby or a sport, it becomes something much greater, it becomes a brand new way

of living.

Many definitions of Parkour exist, some better than others, the most basic of

them defines parkour as the movement from point A to point B in the simplest

most efficient way possible utilising your environment and your body. It

teaches that any and all obstacles can be overcome and promotes a mindset that

encourages the individual to overcome all obstacles in life, those in the physical

realm and those in the mind, allowing them to succeed in many areas beyond

Parkour.

In recent years it has been seized by the

media for its ability to shock and awe, with large leaps of faith from high on

the rooftops it certainly creates a spectacle of itself. The truth however is

that almost all of it is performed at a ground level, focusing on speed and

efficiency of movement rather than on height or distance. The mistake that many

beginners to parkour make is emulating these high rise jumps and often this

leads to injury. Safety is the main aspect of the sport that has come under

fire from critics, an unfair aspect to focus on. As, far from being adrenaline

junkies, tracuers and traceuses (practitioners of Parkour both male and female

respectively) take few risks and those that are taken are carefully calculated,

with an emphasis on safety.

I personally have been training for just

over 4 years now, and have seen immense improvements in my physical strength,

my balance and speed. I have also begun to view the world differently, as all

practitioners will at some point in their training. It is at this point that

obstacles become opportunities, that more efficient and faster routes are seen

in the eyes of the practitioner. In the end we really do view the world

differently and will never see it the same way again.