If the first time you hear the term “l’art du déplacement” makes you think of a Felix Nadar photography exhibit or a Jacques Linard canvas display, do not feel embarrassed. You are (sort of) correct!
The French term is used to explain a recreational activity that moves the human body efficiently and quickly. The “art of displacement” was much too wordy thus; the term PARKOUR or PK was derived. Think of Martial Arts as a training form for battle, PARKOUR is a training form for escape.
Founded decades ago by two French friends, Sébastien Foucan and David Belle, both were inspired by “free running” through Parisians streets, stunting a top rails, stairs, cars, trees, ledges, construction sites…the list goes on. To differentiate the two, free running uses the environment to develop oneself through constant movement, never to go backward. PK uses an environment that is predominantly inaccessible thus creating an extreme obstacle that one must escape. Every PARKOUR participant has his or her own art of attempting to pass an obstacle. No two jumps should be the same.
Male PK practitioners are called traceurs. Females are the traceuses. However, sex is no matter when attempting the “building-to-building-jump-drop-game…for lack of a better explanation.
Why this recreational activity of French origin has popularized itself into most of Europe, Australia and parts of North America?
What began as a heated dispute amongst its founders David Belle and Sébastien Foucan, grew to a split amongst the PK originators. Foucan and Belle amalgamated an entourage of PARKOUR Parisians, naming them the Yamakasi. As the sport continued to popularize, the Yamakasi’s produced a feature film in 2001. Belle considered the film a “prostitution of the art” and all originators split from their amalgamated scene.
What was once a small scale game of endurance, practiced barefoot (Bell was quoted as saying: “bare feet are the best shoes”) has grown to the extent of endless websites, narrative films and documentaries, YOUTUBE videos and a Free Running game released on PS2 and PSP was completed. The PK market has influenced even Madonna. Check out her video for “JUMP.”
What makes the sport increasingly popular is accessibility. A traceus surrounding can be a forest, a city, a suburb and/or anything with a precarious terrain. PK is about efficiency and an increase of adrenaline as a traceur/traceuses moves as fast as he/she can.
Like any game, rules are set for competitiveness:
· If the right foot points and lands, a reach with the right hand must be done. The other hand follows with motion, keeping it over the head.
· If a hand goes down, the opposite foot must reach up to the air.
· Once landed, the first leg lifted off should also touch the ground first.
PK also uses proper terminology for specific actions, such as:
· Roundoff: A cartwheel that lands with both feet on the ground
· Superman: Run toward an obstacle. When the obstacle is only about a step away, jump forward on both feet. Hold both arms in front for landing, which is done properly if both hands hit the surface simultaneously.
· Roll: From an elevated position, jump from an elevated area toward the ground. Land on both feet, knees bent. Lean the head and either shoulder forward toward the ground. Using both feet, push to roll on the ground, using the back.
Take it upon yourself to try “l’art du déplacement.” After all, the world is your terrain.
A PK enthusiast, Mr. Adrian Rufo, inspired this article.