Escape Parkour Flip Out at the YMCA
| Author: Claire Smy | Published: 13th November 2008 22:09 |
A team of six Parkour experts joined us at Senior Youth Group for a great evening of exercise, skill and fun that definitely had the 'wow' factor.
Members were given a brief history of Parkour, the art of movement, which teaches the individual to use his or her body to the best of its ability to overcome physical obstacles.
Originating in France, Parkour is all about getting from one place to another in the most efficient and the fastest way. This may mean jumping over walls or across rooves rather than going down stairs or around obstacles, thus saving vital time in difficult situations. Georges Herbert, a member of the French military, developed a form of physical education called the Natural Method that enabled the human body to escape dangers and rescue others in the best possible way. Herbert's motto was 'be strong to be useful'.
The Natural Method was further developed by David Belle whose father, Raymond, had come across the method whilst a firefighter, and had used it to help save many lives. David brought Parkour, as it became called, to the streets of Paris, from where its popularity grew and it is now a worldwide art.
Parkour is not about showing off or performing dangerous stunts to shock, nor is it competitive. It is meant to allow the individual to become the best they can be both physically and mentally and, through this, to help them grow as a person and to use their body for the good of others.
Members of SYC were shown the basics of Parkour which involved learning how to land properly so as not to hurt yourself, being able to jump onto a beam and balance properly, and how to move on all fours quickly. We also had a go at some basic flips, and did exercises such as The Plank that help to develop core strength, vital to being able to move on and do more complex Parkour moves.
Becoming really good at Parkour takes time. It takes about a year before someone can perform wall walks or jump from roof to roof because they need to learn the basics and build up their strength. If they do things too quickly, the body will not be ready and the individual will get injured. But for those who are willing to put in the time, the rewards are great. When you know that your body can perform amazing feats, you feel confident, useful and motivated.
If you want to find out more about Escape Parkour, take a look at their website http://www.escapeparkour.com/ or find the guys in town most Saturdays by Lidl, in Goodland Gardens or near the multi-storey car park. None of the guys would advocate trying anything until you've had proper training. If you don't know what you're doing, Parkour can be very dangerous. However, they are always happy to talk to anyone about what they do, and are pleased to help newcomers learn.
Click here to see more images from the evening.
Check out an Escape Parkour video here http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HNyJTvFCFJk
Useful Links
Coordinator Claire supports youth Groups
Holway Youth Groups
Junior Youth Group
Senior Youth Group
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