PARKOUR
What is Parkour?
PARKOUR'S ORIGIN
Parkour originated in France in the late 20th century, evolving from military obstacle course training. Its early roots can be traced back to the physical conditioning methods developed by Georges Hébert, a French naval officer, in the early 1900s. Hébert’s “méthode naturelle” emphasized natural movement, agility, and practical fitness.
THE YAMAKASI
The Yamakasi–a group of then teenagers–are responsible for practicing and refining the early origins of Parkour in the suburbs of Paris.
PARKOUR THROUGH TIME
Parkour gained international recognition in the early 2000s through internet videos, documentaries, and media coverage. The discipline’s philosophy of self-improvement, adaptability, and overcoming physical and mental barriers resonated with people worldwide.
Over time, Parkour has evolved and diversified, with different practitioners bringing their unique styles and approaches to the discipline.
PARKOUR TODAY
Today, it is practiced by millions of people around the world, with communities and organizations promoting its values and techniques through local and international training sessions referred to as jams, athlete-led workshops, and both competitive and showcase-style events.
PARKOUR
EVERY STYLE TELLS A STORY
THE MOVEMENT
Parkour is a discipline of spectacular physical feats founded on principles of subtlety. It hones fine, reactive movement variation; psychological self-assessment; and environmental awareness.
Training is a flow of adjusting power relative to precision. Attempting a max distance running jump, landing and switching the direction of momentum while shifting to precise foot or hand-work on something like a rail, bar, or branch—is a glimpse into an isolated instance of Parkour training.
This power and precision adjustment develops the Central Nervous System’s sensitivity and enables it to handle extremely fine thresholds of physiological reactivity.
THE MINDSET
Our bodies are the tools with which we move through our world; Parkour is the knowledge of how to use them.
Serving as foundation to the movement is the psychology of self that is ever-present in Parkour. Intrinsically self-guided, Parkour is an internal discipline of assessing risk relative to ability. It’s learning to gauge your skill–whether novice or master–and weigh it against your self-confidence.
A generalist movement discipline, Parkour introduces its practitioners to the vista of physical possibility. It becomes specialized as you discover movements most interesting to you, repeating them in situations of increasing difficulty, complexity, and nuance.
Parkour is choice founded on an ever-expanding understanding of self. It is an evolving relationship between your body, your mind, and how you use each to interact with the world.
It is freedom to explore in ways otherwise inaccessible, expanding your view of what connection to the world means. It unites you with the architecture of the world–be it a cityscape or an old-growth forest.
THE MOSAIC
Despite being a discipline centered on the individual, Parkour is practiced by a world-wide community. A shared love of movement connects us all, though the culture–style, aesthetics, ways of thought–of Parkour varies greatly between our islands of practice.
Certain regions of the world are known for specific styles of movement. Russians for their high-level acrobatic and reactive skillsets. English for their focus on fundamental techniques done at impressive scale. Japanese for the fluidity that connects all of their movement–regardless of complexity.
The examples are as many as their are cultures of humanity. Each one having their own sub-divisions and specializations. These variations help Parkour progress and evolve, with constant innovations within the discipline as people explore the true range of movement possibilities.
ROAM'S FOUNDERS
Parkour is the soul of ROAM.
Having begun their Parkour training nearly two decades ago–a time when Parkour was at its infancy in the United States–the founders of ROAM are keystones in the architecture of the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York Parkour communities.
Along with a small group of other original East Coast Traceurs, ROAM’s founders helped guide the growth of Parkour in our region. From community driven events, to some of the earliest training programs, the origins of what Parkour has become in our part of the world grew from these early efforts.
Training during the early period of Parkour’s history has lead to ROAM’s founders carrying many of the original philosophies of the discipline to this day. They serve as the foundation for their own Parkour training, as well as how Parkour is instructed here at ROAM.
REDEFINITION
Parkour, however, is not a discipline of static belief. It has grown, and so too have the methods of practice within its culture. Originating as a non-competitive discipline, Parkour has since developed many competitive leagues, each with its own rule structure and goals. The spectacle of Parkour has also led to its display in media–most notably in film and videogames.
As Parkour shifts and redefines itself, ROAM’s founders strive to incorporate these new ideas in ways that respect the origins, creating a mosaic of contemporary culture and traditional values.
ROAMFURTHER ATHLETICS
ROAM was built as a home and waypoint for movement-minded adventure seekers with a passion for leading active lifestyles. Parkour is the discipline that guides us along this path.
We believe movement is the fundamental way in which we interact with the world. Learning to move—to use your body and all it’s capable of—shifts the world from something you’re simply an observer of, to something you’re an active participant in.
ROAM’s founders and team train—and as a result instruct—with a mindset of controlled, deliberate progression, remaining rooted to our origins in Parkour. We teach to the ability of the individual and guide their growth with sustainability and longevity at the heart of our method.
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