Parkour: Art and Survival

The beauty, agility, and sheer power of a traceuropportunities to progress that have been placed in
can capture our imaginations.  Parkour and freeyour path.
running speak to our hearts about freedom ofBut becoming stronger is not just about being the
movement and the possibilities we have yet tobest you can be for yourself.  The foundation of
pursue.  It makes you want to vault and jumpboth parkour and free running is in the life
and fly.  But it is not this that is at the heart ofchanging experience of Georges Hebert, who
parkour.watched in horror as a city perished because
Parkour is firmly grounded in realistic principles. there were too few who were able to help the
"Be strong to be useful", a quote by Georgesweak escape the advance of the flow of lava. 
Hebert, is its guiding philosophy. It covers so veryThey paid for their weakness and complacency
much more than meets the eye.  It hints at awith their lives. 
deep respect and appreciation for one's self andBut you don't have to.  Your training can
those around them. If one is not thankful forincorporate challenges that could be crucial in a
what one has been given, he will have no desirecrisis.  You can add simple things, like practicing
to develop them.  If one does not care forwith a backpack so you are ready to carry
those around him, he will have no desire to be ofsupplies, or carrying a bundle so you would feel
assistance to them.  Thus, parkour's mottomore confident removing a baby from harm's
includes core values of respect, thankfulness andway.
love.Parkour can be the unique marriage of art and
As a parkour practioner, you will learn to searchsurvival.  It is a celebration of freedom of
your surroundings and circumstances forexpression practiced that we might honor our
obstacles.  As you explore those obstacles, youinterdependence on each other.  Parkour,
begin to see ways they can be used to makepracticed in this manner, deepens our gratitude,
you stronger, to advance your parkour skills. love, and respect for others, while advancing the
They become opportunities that others overlookvery physical skills required to attain the beauty,
and avoid.  As you grow, your thankfulnessagility and awesome power of a skilled traceur.
deepens, and it becomes even easier to spot the