APK now has a fully integrated working map to use as a Traceur Database by location, along with a Hotspots directory and Jam calendar. So, by looking at one map, you can find out who's around your area, or an area that you'll be visiting. You can find hotspots, and bigger national level jams. Read on for more info...
APK is now running (sort of ) smoothly at our new hosting home, SiteGround.
We have to say that we're very happy to have left Globat, they suck. A sad story really, when we started with them nearly two years ago they were constantly top ranked, but then grew to over 10,000 customers and still have only TWO top level technicians!!
How can we relate? Just having the most people isn't being the best, being the best is being the best. At APK we're constantly adding new information, articles, and features to help the Parkour / Freerunning community so that we can do our best.
There is a small problem in the forums, but it's a beautiful sunny day, so we'll have to get to that later, we'll be outside, and you should be too!
If everybody here isn't already aware of my complete awe of Crossfit, both as a method of fitness and a community of legitimite practitioners, then you haven't been paying attention. The workouts I post here are a bodyweight-only assimilation of Crossfit protocol, and I suggest their diet, recovery and fitness information to anybody who cares to ask.
So on that level, you might understand my excitement when I was asked not only to give a presentation to the 150 trainers and trainees at the recent Crossfit certification seminar, but also to contribute information about Parkour to their monthly e-zine, the Crossfit Journal.
A new article about Parkour is featured on the Columbia University website. Most interactions with the news media will result in a certain level of miscommunication, but I'm surprised at how well this article represents Parkour through multiple participants. Congrats to all involved!
With PD and AC rolling into Denver on Saturday afternoon, we thought it would be fun to warm up for the jam on Sunday with an open gym session. Myself, Matt2dp, kannagasai, PD, AC, and Jon met up at ASG open gym from 5-7 pm. At open gym, AC amazed everyone by performing a kong to gainer into the foam pit, a movement none of us thought possible. We also did a lot of huge kong practice and threw in all kinds of flips to the mix. After open gym, the same group, minus Jon, grabbed some dinner at a small Japanese restaurant. The rest of the night was spent at kannagisai’s apartment, watching videos, soaking in the hot tub, and just hanging out. Pumped for the jam the next day, which was shaping up to be the biggest in COPK history, we all finally crashed in kannagisai’s apartment.
Asa has just been made a global moderator on the APK forums, the highest ranking position. His dedication to Parkour, his never ending helpfulness and friendly attitude make him a perfect fit for the job. He won't be letting down his responsibilities on the homefront any though, he'll be teaching at the next NYPARKOUR sessions in New York. Congratualtions, and thanks for all you do!
Our Lexicon defines many of the original French terms for movements used in Parkour, as well as the Anglosized versions. We've just added 20 new entries, and are working on adding videos to the Lexicon. Until we have tutorials posted, the Lexicon serves to help educate people on these terms and movements.
The winner by far was "Drive", an awesome video, well shot, well directed, well deserved!
I thank everyone who went and voted however you voted, it's good that we show the world that the PK scene here is strong, because we have an awesome scene here in the US!
Congrats to Mike Yamrus for Dispersion, it is a work of art. Congrats I guess to the VA-Parkour guys too :P
Sebastien has answered some more specific questions I asked him to try to clear up the difference between Parkour and Freerunning.
Although the answers are not as specific as I hoped for, I feel very positive in that his answers don't rule out the way that people currently use the term Freerunning.
M2: Do you think the PAWA definition of Parkour is "The" defintion, or only "a" definition?
Seb: I don't know what is the Pawa Definition sorry! But Parkour is Parkour but each person can do his own Parkour, This is Free...Running attitude, Who has the truth? For me "the Way" is the truth!
M2: Do you think parkour includes movements like a flip or a wall spin?
Seb: Parkour is for everyone and it's includes what you'd like to include! but Argue isn't and will never be PARKOUR!
M2: Can Freerunning contain these things, a flip or a wall spin? What is the main purpose of Freerunning?
Seb: Freerunning or Parkour it's the same! It's absolutely Free. I prefer definitely the functionality, Parkour is basically efficient!!! People should never forget the basic! Also the positive attitude!!! ;)
Please take note that my goal in this is in no way to set "sides" between Sebastien and Pawa, I asked both of them since they are the ones responsible for the terms "Parkour" and "Freerunning", so I wanted to go to the source.
I appreciate both of their answers. I'm sure this will spawn a new round of conversations, I ask only that people be polite and respectful of other people's views, talk on here as you would to people in person.
I asked Joss "What is PAWA's idea on Freerunning?" This is his answer, it is published with his permission. This is meant to help clear up arguments on Parkour vs Freerunning, and work towards defining the two clearly. American Parkour continues to support and encourage both.
I have also asked Sebastien Foucan for clarification on Freerunning, as he is the creator of it, and I will (hopefully) post his response as well.
From Joss: Free Running ? A kind of demonstration mixing parkour technics, and acrobatics to be more spectacular and serve the medias and marketing, but also a sport. The term Parkour has been invented by David Belle and Hubert Koundé in 1998 and the word Free Running has been created much later by Sebasten Foucan for the purpose of spreading Parkour in a marketing fashion (they thought the word "parkour" wasn't international enough and Sebastien Foucan proposed them this word). The problem is that they fully mixed acrobatics to impress people. This is where Freerunning becomes different from Parkour.
To make a comparison, Free Running is like artistic katas in martial arts, the goal is only to be spectacular.
So it is related to parkour but doesn't answer to the same philosophy. I mean, when you pratice to show how spectacular your jump is gonna be, people aren't focused anymore on the difficulty, on the obstacle but on you. This showing off attutude isn't the parkour philosophy which preaches for humility. In this, Free Running and Parkour are fundamentally opposite even if the first one is related to the second one. Like the traditional way and the freestyle way.
