Photo by: Sergio Silva
So I followed an innocent link from the mild-mannered Washington Post "Lean Plate Club," (not sure how to link; it's a newsletter you have to sign up for). It just said "Using the outdoors is a great way to keep your workout fresh!"
Well, sure, I can go along with that. So I clicked a few links, and... holy crap! There was a whole weird wild-assed new form of exercise that was lying hidden there behind the understated prose that I'd never heard about.
I don't watch much tv or see many music videos, so perhaps you all are years ahead of me on this.
Parkour and FreeRunning are sort of like skateboarding without a skateboard. From what I understand, parkour places more importance on speed; freerunning is more about the acrobatics. But basically, people run around, usually in urban environments, and gratuitously jump over and off of things. They climb up things that don't look climbable and do flips and fly around in ways that defy gravity. A lot of them seem willing to risk life and limb and incarceration and looking like asses (when they fall) and I didn't see a lot in the way of helmets or pads.
As a sidenote: I went to a rollerskating rink last summer (long story; it was the Lobster's fault). I fell once, banged my head, and said: never again. Never ever ever. And sure, I fell all the time as a kid--but it f*cking hurts a lot more to fall when you're over 40! Alas, parkour is not for me.
But there is something appealing about the idea, as nutty as it sounds. It looks, well, fun. (Especially if you were 17 years old and made of rubber). And sorry, dial-up folks, but there's not other way to really to describe it without resorting to video.
For a more sensible, instructional, less psychotic video, try this Washington post introduction to parcour. I don't think registration is required, but I could be wrong about that.
But for a better idea of why this is whole phenomenon is starting to get some press, check out this video. If you are over the age of 25 or watching at your place of employment, you may want to turn down the sound before it gets past the opening credits--as least on my computer, the music was way too loud.
And here's a website with a little more instructional info about parkour if you're feeling inspired to give it a try.
And please, if you do, keep us posted! Any takers?
I saw that on the news the other day - not for me! I started limping just watching it...
ReplyDeletemy brother used to do that when it didnt have a name I guess. hahaha.
ReplyDeleteIf I was 40 years younger and a Tigger clone I'd do it.
ReplyDeleteNo thank you. Terrie
ReplyDeleteI have been in awe of that since I saw it in a few movies, but I definitely do NOT have the coordination to do it.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like WAY too much fun tho...
reminds me of trying to jump off with an umbrella off the front stairs into the sloping driveway, thinking I was Mary Poppins.
ReplyDeleteOuch.
No takers yet, huh? I just keep thinking of all the scraped skin, broken bones and concussions you'd need to have under your belt to end up being that good. Ouch!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the wish fulfillment of a childhood fantasy to become Spiderman. But I guess anyone who could do could also have a lucrative career as a stunt man!
ReplyDeleteAre they hiding springs up their bums?
ReplyDelete....Ouch...and the Bag Lady didn't even have to watch. Your description was enough to tell her it wouldn't be for her.
ReplyDeleteOy. In spite of already knowing I wouldn't do good jumping from one building to another, I still somewhat feel like trying, on a quieter scale to start with. It sure looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteDo these people get insurance first?
ReplyDelete(Of course not. What a silly thought.) I wish I had their energy.
Well, I have to say I'd be too chicken to try it, but it looks like a hell of a lot of fun! (Maybe if I could have nets under me to start off . . . LOL)
ReplyDeleteIf Jillian from The Biggest Loser were a parkour instructor, I wonder what her casualty rate would be then? Seriously, that looks awesome but also a death sentence. How do you LEARN that without dying trying?
ReplyDeleteI found a bunch of free running videos while searching youtube for running a number of months ago. I probably watched the various videos for an hour or two. It looks really cool but you have to be in incredible shape to perform some of those moves.
ReplyDeleteHey! We used to do that in gym class! Oh...um..., I guess I am still reeling from yesterday's post!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like fun! If I hadn't gotten old and fat, or if I hadn't given up dance and gymnastics as a kid, I would consider trying it. I think you have to be fit before you start it though.
ReplyDeleteI just kept thinking .. "those poor parents." As amazing as they are, I'd be sick if my sons took some of those risks.
ReplyDeleteYou _must_ check out the Dawn French - Jennifer Saunders parody of freerunning! Says it all.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLNwIqSdrI
I think the show "Jackass" must have been inspired by someone doing this crazy stuff...the show just chose to capture all the f-ups and became successful because of that. We are a sick people that enjoy watching others get hurt... we are even sicker to hurt ourselves to gain fame!!! I like my feet on the ground thankyouverymuch
ReplyDeleteSo...everyone wants to be a ninja now...Damnit, they beat me to it...
ReplyDeleteThe bomber Bond chases through the construction zone in Casino Royale was one of the first free runners in Britain and the movie makers incorporated that into the stunt work. "Made of rubber" is a pretty good description, though my first thought seeing the movie was "grasshopper-human mutant!"
ReplyDeleteKLC beat me to it, I was going to mention Casino Royale. There's a fun French movie also called District 13 which is just one big long Parkour scene. It's absolutely incredible - people jumping across roofs, up the sides of buildings, and so on. It has the same actor who played the French side-kick bad guy in the 4th Die Hard movie.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a kid in my neighborhood who's trying to train for parkour. I'd always drive by his front yard and think he was acting very strangely, bounding up and down his steps in one leap and such, until a long while later I realized he was probably doing parkour.
I can jump a couple inches off the floor. Maybe a foot, if I really try. I can't imagine how they actually do what they do...
Thanks everyone! No one's signing up yet, huh?
ReplyDeleteI never even thought of the parents, not having crablets of my own. Man, I'd want to hide the video or take serious antianxiety drugs.
And that's cool about the Bond film--some amazing freerunning in that but I didn't know that's what it was called.
Also thanks for the French and Saunders take, it's much more my speed! (Seeing Saunders makes me so nostalgic for Ab Fab).
I remember when David Belle got some media coverage when this sport was gaining recognition in its current incarnation. It's really more about self discipline than the insanity it appears to be! The Wikipedia entry describes it as a martial arts type of self defense, in that it allows one to escape quickly and efficiently (or approach something as well). The philosophy behind it is ancient; think hunting game on foot, or escaping a predator. Seeing it practiced in an urban environment is what makes people think it's nuts. I think if you saw people moving through trees or up or down a cliff side, it would seem more natural. In sports one is almost always looking for the most efficient line or most effective movement; this is the same only it's ALL about efficient line or movement. It's not a competition, except with one's self, towards improvement of skills.
ReplyDeleteIf I was 40 years younger and had known about it, I would have tried it. I was a good rubber kid, and as a teen practiced the falls and shoulder rolls just for fun (playing with, ahem, squirt guns with my brothers and doing the cop "rolls"). Being able to somersault in the air and land on my feet was a good talent to have when I was showing horses over fences in competition. Not knowing how to fall could get one's neck broken.
The first thing these people learn in the sport is how to fall properly to stay safe and dissipate energy. It's wonderful to watch it and see what the human body in it's more natural expression (not as a "civilized" couch potato) can do!
LOL............I can relate. One day, when I was trying to be a typical mom, I decided to rollerblade with my kids. I discovered I liked it, but when I went down a hill the wrong way, fell, and had a hard time getting up, I choose to stop.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't injured, but as you get older, you don't want to take too many chances.............:)
Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteThose kind of acrobatics go on at my house all the time. GRanted it's countertops and couches, but we definitely have some crazy spidermen around here. I actually think it looks like fun but i don't think I'd ever have the guts to try it.
My boys will never. NEVER see that video.
Interesting note on free running - if you saw Casino Royale, the guy Bond was chasing around in Madagasgar (in the chase scene where they like, climbed on top of cranes and shot up an embassy) is played by one of the founders of free running. (I usually don't know this sort of stuff off the top of my head - I was watching the special features DVD yesterday).
ReplyDeleteoops, didn't realize other people said the same thing :)
ReplyDeleteThese videos kind of depress me. Because when you see a gruff, manly action hero do this kind of thing you go "Hah! Nobody can pull that off!"
ReplyDeleteThen you watch some French guys run up a wall on youtube and realize it is possible; your bulky Irish-American ass is just too uncoordinated for it.
Maybe if I get buff enough I can just run through buildings instead of over them. That'd get me some youtube-cred, right?
Ooh - Madonna featured this in her last concert tour during the song "Jump" and it was UNREAL on stage. Here's a link to the actual music video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB9V8MOXmWE
ReplyDeleteBut so much better on stage!
I think I did freerunning by accident once when coming out of the bar a 2am...
ReplyDeleteI'm 20 and just starting to get into it. I'm a Capoeirista so I have a decent basis for it but its still very tuff.
ReplyDeleteSo if I qualify I'll take you up on it! :)
Aelfo
man i was so sore after my workout today
ReplyDelete