The Indefinable

Every chance I get I will talk to people about Parkour. Therefore I find myself trying to explain exactly what it is that I mean by “Parkour.” I try to express that Parkour is more than running, jumping, climbing things, but keep it short enough not to bore people. I usually say something like this:

Parkour is a holistic discipline, a system of movement similar to martial arts or dance. Parkour teaches you to move within an urban or natural environment. The majority of the training focuses on rigorous conditioning. The goal of this conditioning is to prepare our bodies for the taxing nature of the movement. In the simplest of terms the movement consists of running, jumping and climbing to overcome obstacles in your path.

However, the above definition gives the impression that Parkour is only a system of movement; this is a common misconception. I first heard from Andy Pearson of Parkour Generations that “Parkour is being the best possible version of yourself.” This means that Parkour is a lifestyle and its principles can be exemplified in any action one undertakes.

That definition I can say in about 60 seconds. It’s not the greatest definition, but it hits the main points. Mainly that the training is rigorous, the movement is dynamic and creative, but there is also an intellectual side. At the end, I use Andy Pearson’s definition though I don’t fully agree with it.

I always strive to be the best possible version of myself and Parkour is only one of many ways that I do that.