Parkour/Freerunning?

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So... does anyone else here like this? or like to do it? I certainly do.

I think it looks awesome but I don't think I could ever do it. I tried once. Stopped. I hate excercise. Hah. But I think it looks awesome as hell.

I've heard about parkour before, it's a french "martial art" that trains people to run away. I might would have more respect for it as a sport, but it's difficult to respect it as a "martial art". I mean I don't like fighting, and I try to make fighting an absolute last resort to solving problems, but if it's necessary then I won't back down either. Sometimes it's necessary to take a stand, and running in those situations will only dig you in deeper.
As I said, I could respect parkour as a sport, not as a self defense form though.

The concept of it is something I’ve enjoyed doing my whole life. I see groups of bushes in parking lot islands - I just have to see if I can 360 over them. I see a big tree with a wide base - I’ll usually try to see how far I can run up it. Or just plain trying to run up vertical walls and then back down them, smoothly, is fun.

I’ve never heard of it referred to as “the martial art of running away”. I think whoever introduced that info to you, Snake321, is pulling your leg. Then again, I think the entire organized version (aka "parkour") is hokey. I enjoy inventing it myself - that's a big part of what makes it naturally fun.

i agree, i think most of us climb trees, buildings etc as kids. it is a natural part of interacting with our environment. then we reach a point where we realise just how much we can get hurt and grow out of it. or not actually i still feel the need to experiment with street furniture on a regular basis. just not in a competetive way.

i also find it helpful to let out this compulsion on the climbing wall or at circus school.

I'd like to learn, but I have a fear of heights. I'm sort of agile though, and I bet with a few years of practice, I could do it. Everything can be learned with practice. I was born with motor skills issues particularly with my hands and coordination, and yet I can swing lightsabers around and twirl them around my body quite smoothly because I have years of practice.

Apparently they've been at it in Preston town centre.

Im learning how to do some of the stuff they do. A lot of that stuff really just requires practice, not strong muscles or anything. I think I could do it, at least the stuff that doesn't involve jumping off roofs and stuff, but vaulting over stuff and running along walls.

I know different movements related to parkour, but as far as being able to chain one move to another like professional traceurs do (BTW traceur is the official name for one who practices parkour), I'm nowhere near coordinated enough. However, I do find it interesting. I can vault over a series of bike racks at the university, and there's even one of my favorite wall hops over by the Union; it's a small flight of stairs with a concrete wall + railing on the top landing. I step onto the wall and grab the railing to get up; to get down I vault over the railing, grab it and hang for a second and then drop.

It's fun.

I was learning it but the classes are over for the summer. Can't wait until they're on again.

I have a large power box in my front yard that I go to sit on to think when I'm stressed or tired and I notice the I can jump atop it quiet easily, so now, I run towards the thing, jump up it and jump off the other side. I just figured out how to roll as I land (people roll when they land because it decreases the risk of injury. If you can pull it off perfectly, then you can try jumping down from like two stories and come out unscathed save for scratches and stuff), and I'm working on the whole manuever so that I can do it fluidly.

Yup. Daniel Ilabaca and Ryan Doyle can take drops that would break a less skilful person's legs just by rolling properly.

I noticed that rolling after you get enough momentum doesnt hurt. I used to hate rolling because of that. But when you're going fast enough, it's so quick that there is little strain on your back. It's usually my arms that hurt mor because I use them to push myself into a roll.