Topic: What is the Philosophy of Parkour?

[M2.]

Many people take the principles they learn through parkour and apply them to their lives. By challenging themselves in parkour both mentally and physically, it becomes easier to deal with problems and obstacles in everyday life. When a difficult situation comes up in daily life, a parkour practitioner can see this as any other obstacle which they've learned to overcome quickly, efficiently, and without disruption to their intended path. Another part of the overall Parkour philosophy is to be useful in a variety of situations. Parkour itself does not strive to be a "complete" discipline.

[Charles Moreland]

Traceurs tend to think on a higher level and learn quickly that fear and stress do not help accomplish goals. We learn how to suppress these emotions and think clearly with a strong will to overcome obstacles that present themselves in our lives.

Good post M2.

[Brien]

Suppressing emotions sounds a bit negative. I'd say Parkour teaches one how to use all energy in the most efficient way... quite the opposite of suppression. I know I can use any "stress" I have whether it be School or anything else as a motivation to get it done as quickly and as well as it can be done.

[Roberto aka Screech]

I find the term "over-coming these emotions" so much more fitting.  Don't you think?

[Andrew Mumu Trahum]

Being able to overcome all obstacles, pushing the limits of what you thought you could do. Before parkour, I'd never think I could actually run up a wall. Sometimes emotion can be an obstacle, stopping us from moving on and living our lives to the fullest. Parkour brings a way to express these emotions and show how we feel, sometimes when I'm mad, I have powerful movements. It's a healthy way to take out anger. By expressing these emotions, we can feel better and continue having fun and living our lives to the fullest.

[Zeph!]

So can Parkour be considered a martial art? As if you were combating your environment?

[Andrew Mumu Trahum]

So can Parkour be considered a martial art? As if you were combating your environment?

I think it's less combatting your environment and more adapting to the flow of it

[Jennifer]

To me, parkour is focus, overcoming fears, overcoming any obstacle, mental or physical.

It's about being strong (but not just physically so), useful and adaptive.

It's about supporting others, building them up. The sense of community I get when I practice with others. But it's also about pushing myself to my limits--and overcoming them, time and again.

Whenever I'm up against a wall, mental, physical, or otherwise, my parkour is there for me, and whenever I'm training with someone else, I'm there for them, a hundred percent.

There's so much more to it than pretty tricks and showing off.