Free-runninng/Parkour

[peep]

I subscribe to a youtube channel of some peeps that do free running. I think its great but I could never see myself doing it in a million years.

For those that don't know about it, it's basically gymnastics on acid. Jumping from building to building, climbing up walls etc. Interest in this 'sport' has grown rapidly over the last few years including a massive competition which had it's final in London's Trafalgar square last year, it's also the reason the chase sequence in Casino Royale is amazing.

I've probably created a topic like this before but it's been lost in the vaults of CF.

So do you like the look of free-running? Do you even do a bit of it yourself?

 

[LiveForTheLaunch]

I'd never simply because I'm so uncoordinated, but I love to watch it!

 

[furie]

Same here, I've never had the body coordination to do any acrobatics - I'm entirely inflexible too which doesn't help

However, I'm certainly not scared and as a child I used to play "Pirates" on the gym equipment at school. The thickies got a special job of putting up and taking down the gym equipment, so me and three friends did it each morning and before lunch.

We'd play the game, where you have to get chased around the equipment without touching the floor.

It involved having to leap between bits of equipment and dropping down. I was good at it because I have little fear when it comes to leaping (and I have generally good balance). I remember doing a leap right across the hall from the highest horse box onto a metal pole. The idea was to swing to safety at the farthest point from the pirate chasing me. It almost worked, but the apparatus fell over with the force of me catching it from such a long jump. I ended up deposited under a stack of six tables.

That's pretty much as far as my experience went. I guess if it had been around when I was younger I may have tried getting into it, but I'd have failed at most stuff. I've done some horse box gymnastic work (leaps, somersaults, etc), but I just don't have enough control or flexibility to do anything complicated, and it was always "messy". I enjoyed it, but knew I was rubbish at it

I enjoy watching free-running though, I think it's a brilliant skill. Some of the things that people get away with is incredible. The strength, fitness and gymnastic ability they have is excellent. Post a good video Peep!

 

[Inverse]

My girlfriends brother does Parkour, he's pretty good now. Can do flips and the like. However, he's just knocked out his two front teeth doing it. :?

 

[peep]

^Yeah, I've always thought that peeps doing parkour must get a lot of injuries etc from practising.

Furie asked for a vid. This is the latest one the guys I follow uploaded.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_he7gaP8ZfA[/youtube]

 

[jokerman]

I could never do it myself, but it does look quite cool. However, what isn't cool is the number of people from my school who have had to be taken to hospital having injured themselves doing it. And it isn't just anyone who injures themselves doing it, some very competent gymnasts and free-runners have smashed their heads on things numerous times.

 

[furie]

Cool... Though I am waiting now for a Daily Mail article:

"Parkour? In our day we just went to the park for fun - not terrorising old ladies in the street leaping around them".

Followed a week later by:
"Granny out does Parkour kids with OAP leaping antics"

followed a week later by:
"Parkour gives you cancer!"

 

[kimahri]

S'kewl when it's done really well. I like seeing the 13 year old kids trying it and horribly maiming them selves while doing so... but I've never seen that yet so watching them fall over and break a bone will suffice.

 

[Ollie]

It is really cool to watch people do it. I know I'd probably never be able to do it. Wouldn't risk jumping off buildings and stuff. When I did gym in school though I could do front/back flips and handsprings etc but that was with crash mats incase you landed badly.
It does look good fun though.

 

[Hixee]

I did go through a phase several years ago where I got quite into Parkour. However it soon dawned on me that to actually do impressive things requires a lot of talent. Sure, I can jump of high **** and over big gaps, but that doesn't take skill, just commitment.

'True' Parkour is very impressive and I know for a fact I'd have to train a lot to even get close. To be honest, I'd rather stick to the other 'extreme' sports/activities I do.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNvJy0zoXOY[/youtube]
This is a nice video too.