Defining what we doNote: This is a serious thread. If you want to make funny comments or annoy people that fine, but don't do it in this thread.
Do it here instead.Everyone has a slightly different definition of parkour. If we continue to inform the public about parkour with our own unique definition then we run the risk of the public getting confused and believing the easiest definition, 'kids who do risky flips'.
I believe that if we want to convince the public parkour is safe, and that it is a good way of life for people to follow, then we need to have a community definition of parkour. I understand that parkour means different things to people, but I believe there is a common strain running through what we do. This is both physical and mental.
I would guess that many on this forum believe that parkour is reach and escape movement. And many people in other countries would disagree, believing parkour to be something else. But how can the people on this forum argue against those elsewhere if this forum can't even reach an agreement on what parkour is. With so many different definitions it becomes nearly impossible to gain a clear understanding about what parkour actually is.
If you believe this is just semantics and pointless arguing I think that is quite wrong. You can't define parkour just by showing them movements, you have to use words. And people (especially those in positions of power that can affect all tracuers) can't get a clear picture of parkour with the words we are using. Sooner or later some extreme country will try to make laws on parkour, and they will define it. I think us as a community should define it now, not wait for someone outside the community to define it later.
A perfect definition would be three or so sentances that defines the essence of parkour, with a tracuer able to add onto that their own beliefs about what parkour is to them.
I would like to help engage a healthy debate within the community (of the APA) so we can come to an agreed understanding of what parkour is and how to define it. I would like to see the same happen for the other three movements of Freerunning, Art of Displacement and Urban Acrobatics. When the APA as a community has debated and agreed on a definition on what those types of human movement are, we can expand our community discussion to include all of Australian tracuers (people from PKAus or other places). If the APA has a different view to a different group of Australian tracuers we will be able to again have a discussion and point out the reasons for what we believe.
To this end I have read the parkourpedia definitions of parkour, freerunning, AoD and Urban acrobatics. I have created a summary definition of those four movements only from APA approved material. It is my hope that these can be a starting point from which we can work to gain a fuller and more comprehensive definition of parkour that we can all stand behind.
Parkour – Efficient human movement with a set philosophy behind it. The movement involves running, jumping and climbing in the fastest, safest way in a reach or escape emergency situation. The philosophy includes self-improving (moving through fear, once is never), safety (to be and to last) and helping others (be strong to be useful).
ADD (Art of Displacement) – Creative human movement with a set philosophy behind it. The movement involves running, jumping and flipping and is supposed to look spectacular. The philosophy includes self-improving (moving through fear, once is never), safety (to be and to last) and helping others (be strong to be useful).
Freerunning – Creative human movement with a persons own philosophy behind it. The movement involves running, jumping and flipping and is supposed to look spectacular. The philosophy includes, but is not limited to, self-improving (moving through fear, once is never), safety (to be and to last) and finding your own way (focus is on the individual). You can add your own philosophies to freerunning.
Urban Acrobatics - Creative human movement with no set philosophy.
