Parkour Vs Free Running – new info…
15 July, 2008this is such a tired debate, and I wouldn’t have brought it all back up if it wasn’t for the fact that i have seen the biggest proof that Parkour and free-running are in no way the same thing!
Parkour was a development of our natural ability to move, and is used by many as their escape not just physically, but mentally. Parkour means a lot to those of us who practice for the love of the discipline, and love for developing themselves and others. but the words free running have always hung over our heads as a kind of incentive. impress people and they will take you seriously. in fact they treat you more like a performer than a practitioner. and this is my exact point. free running seems to be for the performance, not for the practice.
i would like to bring to your attention:
World Freerun Championships 2008
3 SEPTEMBER 2008
from urbanfreeflow
For one night only, the first-ever World Freerun Championships will be staged at our legendary Roundhouse, where a specially-designed course will be constructed as a massive challenge to twenty of the world’s top freerunners . This ground-breaking event is a global celebration, which will showcase the awesome artistry of the best from the scene. Each athlete will perform to the accompaniment of his own individually selected soundtrack and in a unique twist, each will be judged by his fellow performers, on athletic skill, creativity, complexity and above all, “flow”
after seeing this how is it possible to make any discernible link between Parkour and freerunning. it is beyond belief that people can see these as two in the same.
i know for a fact that they both have the same origins, but alot of the vaulting movements we use in Parkour, and the flipping movements in free running are taken from gymnastics, so surely we should just call it all outdoor gymnastics. am i right? of course I’m not. especially as the British gymnastic association has made a very big statement saying that they have nothing to do with Parkour. and what i am suggesting here is that everyone who is a practitioner of Parkour and loves the discipline, makes a stand to let the public and the ignorant people out there know that Parkour and free-running are not together as one thing. they are completely separate entities.
Parkour has no competitive elements, at its core it is just natural movement from one place to another, and to get deeper it is an entire mindset, which benefits not only the practitioner but the people around them who may be inspired by the dedication that many Traceurs have.
free running seems to be about self improvement too, but not for internal personal reasons, more for the spectacle or the show. how many people can i impress with this movement. and this free running world championship just goes to prove it
will leave you with this. a master of the last art to be killed off by competition
Spot on Dale. A good call to arms to anyone who cares about the true nature of Parkour. It’s up to us to ensure that Parkour does not become diluted in the eyes of the world and, especially, the media.
As you so rightly say, Freerunning is performance art whereas Parkour is a mental discipline that results in movement. They couldn’t be any more different.
Thank You
this is awesome thank you
you now give me a reason to want to explain the difference before i saw this i just said go look it up
This is so stupid. Free Running is what ever, and Parkour is just retarded. David Belle is a bitch and a liar. Parkour is just a Martial Arts Training rip off physically and in philosphy. My beef is that parkour is calling it self an original thing when it is not. Fuck David, for getting rich of a sacred discipline and trying to change the name. Far as Free Runners and parkour fagots are concerned, is nothing but a bunch horrors and thieves. Oh yeah, and I did say Fuck David Belle!! That little bitch.
whatever man…you’re just trying to put down free running down an make it seem like less of an art/sport than parkour. They may not have the same ends but the means are similar whatever you say. Just because not all practitioners believe in competition doesn’t mean there’s something inherently bad about competition. Even Sebastien Foucan, on of the founders and most widely know practitioners of parkour doesn’t nay say competition. He merely says it’s not his way…but it could be someone elses way. Free running is a discipline as well. It’s not just for the attention but some of it is a physical expression. That doesn’t mean we’re just media whores though. It takes physical and mental discipline and practice just like parkour. It is a release. You get just as much of a rush, sense of accomplishment and release when you finally get up the courage to tuck over that back flip as you do when you finally clear that gap that was just a bit further. Making a fight between parkour and free running just makes another Competition as to which on is better or whatever. As long as your heart and soul are in it it doesn’t matter if you want to through in a backflip every now and then.
i agree with nate like i understand but dont put down free running its not always for attention for me personally its for a sense of acomplishment however they are two different sports but they can both be enjoied
Hi You guys, I’m glad you found our blog and enjoyed the read. This was my view on free running and parkour over a year ago. It’s diversified since then. Free running has found more of it’s own identity due to correct information being presented by both sorts of practicioners. This argument has ended a long time ago, since the two free running championships we have seen the true split in the two disciplines.
I agree that free running can be as disciplined as parkour and everyone who acomplishes something they fear will feel the same rush. I was just trying to make a point that my own personal fascination with parkour stops at the parkour, and the free running side is beyond my realms of enjoyment (except in videos and movies)
anyway iv rambled and this is on an iPod so I can’t scroll up but I’m glad you read what o had to say and contributed to the topic with your ideas/feelings. Maybe from now on people will stop confusing the two.
Anyway thanks again keep Reading