Parkour is an immensely popular sport, fueled by internet clips and a fascination with the idea of using an urban environment as an obstacle course. While you might have seen videos of parkour practitioners performing impressive flips and acrobatics, the sport is much more than gymnastics. It’s also a philosophy about moving through the world and taking a natural, organic approach to personal fitness.

What Is Parkour?

In its purest form, parkour is the art and science of finding the most efficient path from one point to another. Depending on the environment, this might mean climbing, jumping, or crawling to go over, around, or under obstacles. Over time, practitioners of the art, known as traceurs, began experimenting by adding flips, twists, and other elements as forms of self-expression. Today, the styles of parkour are as varied as the people who practice it.

Where Did Parkour Come From?

Parkour was created in Paris in the 1980s by David Belle, whose movements and philosophy were based on those developed by his father for the French Special Forces. At first, David trained with the Yamakazi, a group of friends dedicated to honing their skills and improving their health. The abilities of these original traceurs soon gained attention across the globe, and a worldwide sport was born.

How to Get Started With Parkour

Parkour may look complex, but the basic repertoire of moves can be mastered fairly easily. One of the principles of parkour is using natural movements and existing structures, so you don’t need to invest in a lot of equipment to get started. Parkour gyms can be a great way to get started, offering safety-equipped obstacle courses and teachers who will show you how to avoid injuries and master the essential movements.

If you want cutting-edge obstacle courses, free exercise, and structured classes in everything from ninja training to parkour, check out Ninjobstacles in Centerville, OH. They offer a fun environment to learn new skills and get in shape, with a wide range of activities perfect for the whole family. Visit their website to browse their class schedule, or call (937) 580-5936 to sign up today.