At various times when I have been out training and generally doing that crazy parkour thing we all know and love I’ve been in the middle of something and I hear a comment thrown my way. I’d like to start this post by sharing a few of the most common ones and my responses (sometimes only in my mind) to them.

There is a movement, a mass movement, running free through the cities and towns, effortlessly vaulting, climbing or balancing on almost any obstacle in their path. Movements executed with amazing power, speed and grace.
This is parkour. A revolution in the streets, sports halls and city walls:

Battling against anxiety, boredom and movement suppression: "walk don't run", "no talking", "no ball games" and definitely no fun.

It's funny, only five years ago you could probably count the number of times parkour was used in the mainstream media on one hand. There was the famous "Rush Hour" BBC Ident featuring David Belle that inspired so many people and obviously District 13 (or Banlieue 13 for our French counterparts) had come out in 2004 that not only inspired practitioners but gave many media industries a new perspective in what was possible with the human body.

Photo by Brian Appiah Obeng 2009
 

Brian, preparing before a day's shooting.

I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to share my life as a wife with Forrest, but also as a training partner and student. We spend a lot of time together enjoying sport such as dancing, yoga and of course parkour.