What are your opinions on Parkour/Free-running?

[TraceurRyuk]

I'm just curious as to what you guys think of it. I hear a lot of "I don't get it". For some reason mostly from gamers.

EDIT: Ok, my opinions on it. I obviously practice it or I most likely wouldn't be asking this question. I started because of this video actually. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kJZOfq7zk

I saw it about 5 years ago when I was 15 and thought it was "so badass". So I started just randomly jumping around stuff, disregarding my own safety. It wasn't until I started to get a little older that I started to view it in a different way. I'm not a criminal, so I'm not gonna be running from the police, it doesn't have too many practical reasons for me. It's kind of meditative. There is nothing better than getting up at 6am, making your way on top of the parking complex to see the sun rising over the edge. It prepares me for life, not just physically, but mentally. You train for 5 hours a day to make a single jump, it's determination. I'm sorry if I sound cliche or pretentious. I'm really, really not trying to. It's honestly why I do it.

 

[synobal]

Looks like it could be a handy thing to be good at, a lot of work though and perhaps something I'd feel a bit silly about being serious about. I've respect for people who can do such a thing well and for the ones who have the balls to do the few story drops and such I've seen videos of.

 

[Erana]

OH GOD THEIR KNEES WILL BE SO BAD IN 25 YEARS.

Really, that's exactly what I think in my brain, over and over when I see it.
I can imagine it would feel exhilarating at the time, but with a genetic predisposition to bad knees, I'm not interested in risking it.

I also have to wonder how badly they get scraped up, slamming into brick walls 'n such as they do.

 

[Fishehh]

I think it's awesome, but people who call all that flipping around and stuff "Parkour" need to learn the meaning of the word basically it is "moving from point A to B in the most efficient manner using only your body" (or something like that" flipping around isn't efficient!

People who do that are doing something else

OT: Yeah it's pretty cool and wish I had the stamina to do it (Think of the money you'd save on gas to get to the grocery store, don't buy soda while going there, though, you'd shake it far to badly)

 

[TraceurRyuk]

OH GOD THEIR KNEES WILL BE SO BAD IN 25 YEARS.

Really, that's exactly what I think in my brain, over and over when I see it.
I can imagine it would feel exhilarating at the time, but with a genetic predisposition to bad knees, I'm not interested in risking it.

I also have to wonder how badly they get scraped up, slamming into brick walls 'n such as they do.

Well, there are safety procedures that you take in order to prevent long term damage. Main one, staying in shape, a lot of leg training to strengthen your landing. And yeah, you do get scraped up doing it. Mostly just your hands. My friend said if it doesn't look like you just jacked off a chainsaw then you aren't doing it right. But I don't think it's any worse than kick boxing where you can suffer major damage to your legs.

 

[Total LOLige]

It's cool, but dangerous. Would be handy for people living in rough built up areas.

 

[kidd25]

its just basically fun running, its not hard to do, but if you mess up may God help you.

 

[C95J]

It's just really a way to exercise, something to do. It looks great when you are watching someone who is good at it. I myself have never seen any parkour around my area, but I thiknk it is more popular in some places.

 

[TraceurRyuk]

its just basically fun running, its not hard to do, but if you mess up may God help you.

I agree that it's not hard. It's not really bound to any skill level. But I think there is a certain discipline and dedication that you should try and reach with just about anything you do.

 

[AbstractStream]

OH GOD THEIR KNEES WILL BE SO BAD IN 25 YEARS.

Really, that's exactly what I think in my brain, over and over when I see it.
I can imagine it would feel exhilarating at the time, but with a genetic predisposition to bad knees, I'm not interested in risking it.

I also have to wonder how badly they get scraped up, slamming into brick walls 'n such as they do.

I practice with some guys on the weekends (not every weekend), and let me tell you...My knees are already in bad shape. Screw 25 years. You truly do have to be in shape to practice Parkour. And practice a lot.

But! You were right. It's pretty freaking exhilarating. It makes all the scratches, bruises, and overall pain worth it. Even if for just a moment.

 

[Craorach]

I'd probably beat the hell out of one if he decided trespassing on my private property was the most efficient way to get somewhere, just saying.

From video's I've seen they don't seem to restrict themselves to public property, perhaps they don't understand that roads, paths, and walkways are there because the buildings actually belong to someone?

 

[Azaraxzealot]

so fucking awesome

and more games should be made around it like Prototype

 

[Keldon888]

I have just as much respect as I do for average acrobats/gymnasts.

I'm actually impressed by my meh stance on this because it never comes up in conversation so every one of them I have ever met brings it up like it makes them special and I should be in awe.

 

[viranimus]

Oh I get it. Its just goofy and incredibly overhyped as its portrayed as something cool and underground.

Really I think it only grew in any degree of popularity because Skateboarding went more mainstream and some people needed to feel misunderstood.

 

[TraceurRyuk]

I have just as much respect as I do for average acrobats/gymnasts.

I'm actually impressed by my meh stance on this because it never comes up in conversation so every one of them I have ever met brings it up like it makes them special and I should be in awe.

Yeah, there is a certain arrogance that people tend to have. I have to agree with you on that. When it's quiet and not any conversation going on it's usually "...Have you ever heard of Parkour?"

 

[Hatter]

It should stay out of movies.

It's amazing how quickly a great movie can go so sour during a chase scene with a bunch of people performing arbitrary flips and twirls.
Although they did pull it off well in Casino Royale...

 

[theheroofaction]

My brother does it and I've come up with a description for it.

"the act of using the most painful route between A and B"

 

[emeraldrafael]

Aside from the risk of stuff like Arthritis in later life in their joints, it looks like great exercise.

i dont know i find it to be a bit show offish, and to me it makes the people look pretentious (not that they are, just thats how it looks to me). It also looks like you'd get seriously fucked up if someone just decided to trip you (... yeah, I'm not really proud that I'm proud of this, but I've tripped Parkour runners while they were going full speed).

EDIT:

after watching the vid, I'm not really impressed by that mall scene where there's that running across that beam thing between the two sections. Those arent all that thin and its not like the person vaulted over the glass and kept running.

I'm not aying that to be a dick or anything, just that thats not really all that impressive. We have kids do that all the time at the mall I go too. its even funnier when they fall (which is why i think they started building Kiosks under all those sections).

 

[TheAceTheOne]

...It's kind of meditative. There is nothing better than getting up at 6am, making your way on top of the parking complex to see the sun rising over the edge. It prepares me for life, not just physically, but mentally. You train for 5 hours a day to make a single jump, it's determination...

This, very much so. I used to do it back in the fine fine city of Saint Louis for the same reason. (okay, fine, University City, but it's always been Saint Louis to me and I don't care who tries to convince me otherwise.)

(Also, OP, your name combines parkour and Death Note, from what I can tell. For that, good sir, I commend you)

 

[ReaperzXIII]

I'm going to start practicing it next week, looks cool and fun and yeah it will be work but I don't mind working a bit to do something I find completely awesome, like I do kickboxing and I think that might help well at least with flexibility, durability etc...