I am sure many of you guys had that look of amazement and awe seeing the chase scene in James Bond’s last movie “Casino Royale“. Unlike most movie chases, this was on foot and was absolutely enthralling to watch.
That kind of running is called Parkour. Its not a sport as there are no set of rules or any competition between people or against time in general, but an art form where your body is the only tool you use to clear any obstacles you face in your path. The environment in which you run may be anything, be it indoors,outdoors, rural or urban. In its truest sense Parkour does not involve physical fights between individuals or chases. But the movie adaptations of it are so picturised.
David Belle a former Yamakazi (a similar older group) member is the founder of Parkour. He is french(in french the art is known as le parkour) and has acted in many movies and TV also. Men who are adept at Parkour call themselves ‘traceurs’ and women ‘traceuses’. Both basically means “To Trace” or to find a path.
There are many other similar art forms like Parkour, all of which differ slightly from each other. Free Running is one such art similar to Parkour. Sébastien Foucan, actually a founder of Free Running plays the man that Bond chases in Casino Royale. The difference between Parkour and Free Running is that, Parkour concentrates on efficiency in running between one point to the other, it does not involve any flamboyant acrobatics and tricks, but free running does.
Street Stunts and Tricking are also similar to Parkour. There is a cult of an obscure “Urban Ninja” growing too.
Don’t ask me how to parkour? I am no expert and i don’t think i have the nerve in me to attempt those mind boggling stuff. If you want to learn, do it from a professional. Don’t try it at home and hurt yourself. Also try finding Parkour Clubs in your city, they are catching on everywhere.
Watch these amazing videos. I really admire these guys parkour running abilities. Superb !
The James Bond Parkour chase (Casino Royale, Sébastien Foucan is the runner)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPmJ73XRlUs
I also love this chase from the movie Tony Jaa’s “Ong Bak”. I don’t really know if its Parkour or Free Running. But its damn neat.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p310Y0tctr8
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