Street sport has always been practiced among different urban tribes. One of the sports that has become more famous with the passage of time is parkour. It is a type of sport that involves jumping, running, spinning, flipping, and much more.
In this article we are going to tell you what parkour consists of, what are its characteristics, benefits and possible risks involved in practicing this sport.
what is parkour
Parkour is a physical and mental discipline that focuses on efficient and fluid movement through urban and natural obstacles using only the human body. Also known as "art of displacement", parkour involves jumping, running, climbing, swinging, and other acrobatic movements that allow practitioners to overcome any obstacle that comes their way.
Parkour originated in France in the 1980s, developed by a group of young people who sought to push physical and mental limits through creative and risky movements. Since then, the discipline has spread throughout the world, with thousands of practitioners in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, among others.
Although the parkour often associated with the idea of recklessly jumping and scaling buildings, actually it is a discipline that promotes safety and responsibility at all times. Parkour practitioners train their mind and body to develop the agility, strength, flexibility, and concentration necessary to perform movements safely and efficiently.
Parkour has also become a form of artistic expression, with many practitioners using their creativity to create unique and challenging movement sequences. In addition, parkour has been used in movies, commercials, and entertainment shows, helping to popularize the discipline around the world.
It is a physical and mental discipline that seeks to overcome urban and natural obstacles using the human body in an efficient and creative way. Although it may seem dangerous, parkour practitioners focus on safety and responsibility at all times, allowing them to develop unique physical and mental abilities.
Key features
Among the important characteristics of parkour we see the following:
- Adaptability: Parkour practitioners learn to adapt to any environment and any obstacle that comes their way. They are trained to see the environment creatively and to find unique solutions to each challenge.
- Concentration: Parkour requires great concentration and focus, as any mistake can be dangerous. Practitioners learn to be present in the moment and to focus on their movement and their surroundings.
- Respect: Parkour promotes respect for the environment, for others and for oneself. Practitioners strive to be responsible and careful at all times, and not to harm the environment or disturb other people.
- Community: Parkour is a discipline that encourages collaboration and community. Practitioners support and motivate each other, and share their knowledge and skills with others.
- Creativity: Parkour is a form of artistic expression in which practitioners can be creative and experiment with different movements and techniques. Each practitioner can develop their own style and their own way of interpreting the discipline.
- Constant Learning: Parkour is a discipline that requires constant practice and a focus on continuous learning and improvement. Practitioners are always looking for new challenges and ways to push their own limits.
It is a sport that promotes adaptability, concentration, respect, community, creativity and constant learning. Through this discipline, practitioners can develop unique skills and improve their physical and mental well-being.
Benefits of practicing parkour
In addition to the characteristics mentioned above, the practice of parkour can also have a series of physical, mental and emotional benefits for practitioners.
Physical benefits:
- Fitness improvement: Parkour is a demanding physical activity that can improve cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination.
- Injury prevention: By training the body to adapt to different environments and obstacles, practitioners can develop greater body awareness and reduce the risk of injury.
- Posture improvement: Parkour practice requires correct posture and good technique, which can help improve body posture and prevent back pain and other postural problems.
Mental and emotional benefits:
- Stress reduction: Practicing parkour can help reduce stress and anxiety, as it requires total focus on the present moment and can serve as a form of meditation in motion.
- Increased self-confidence: Parkour practitioners can develop greater self-confidence by overcoming physical and mental obstacles and challenges, which can have a positive effect on other areas of their lives.
- Improved concentration and focus: Parkour requires great concentration and focus, which can help develop these skills in other areas of life.
- Development of creativity: Parkour practice can stimulate creativity and imagination, as practitioners are constantly looking for new ways to overcome obstacles.
Possible risks
Although parkour is a physical activity that can have many benefits, it also carries certain risks. Some of the potential risks of practicing parkour include:
- injuries: Some of the most common injuries associated with parkour include sprains, fractures, bruises, and head injuries. These injuries can occur due to poor technique, lack of concentration, or just plain bad luck.
- Risk of falls: Parkour involves jumping, climbing, and running over obstacles, which can increase the risk of falls and accidents.
- Overexertion: As with any intense physical activity, parkour can increase the risk of overexertion and muscle fatigue, especially if you don't warm up properly and rest properly after each session.
- Risk of accidents with third parties: On some occasions, the practitioner may put third parties at risk, such as pedestrians or users of public roads.
It is important that parkour practitioners take steps to minimize these risks, such as:
- Find a safe and suitable place to practice: Practitioners should look for places that are safe and suitable for practice, with obstacles that are safe for jumping and running.
- proper training: Practitioners must receive proper training and supervision from an experienced instructor to learn correct technique and minimize risk of injury.
- Proper use of protective equipment: It is important that practitioners wear proper protective gear, such as a helmet, knee and elbow pads, to minimize the risk of injury.
- Respect the limits of the body: Practitioners must know and respect the limits of their body, avoiding taking unnecessary risks that could endanger their health.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about what parkour is and what its characteristics, benefits and risks are.