Jeremy wrote:
] Six members of two restless clans called the Street
] Ninjas and Gravity Pac circled each other at Grand Central
] Terminal last Sunday. ... Satisfied, they started clasping
] hands, knocking elbows and throwing down French slang.
]
] The spread of parkour into the woods of Georgia and the
] deserts of Arizona occurred almost entirely through the
] boundlessness of Internet message boards.
]
] "The American scene is a sleeping Joe at the moment," he said,
] adding that it is only a matter of time before an American
] leader emerges.
]
] "You need an open mind, and away you go."
]
]
] Transatlantic divide? Says who?

He's pretty much considered the founder of this whole movement. To call this "freestyle walking" as some people call it is really not doing him justice. He's in a league of his own.

More videos:

http://www.le-parkour.com

http://www.annuaire-parkour.com/parkour/?page=videos

Hijexx wrote:
] http://www.le-parkour.com
] http://www.annuaire-parkour.com/parkour/?page=videos

Some of the videos are really impressive.

] He's pretty much considered the founder of this whole
] movement. To call this "freestyle walking" as some people
] call it is really not doing him justice. He's in a league of
] his own.

I remember the first time I heard the "freestyle walking" term. At the time, it made sense because the technique looked exactly like many street skateboard tricks, minus the skateboard. (As the NYT seemed to also think.) It was mostly running and kicking off walls and whatnot, to do some arial kicks or something. Seeing this stuff now, much like skateboarding since the 80's, the techniques people are using have really matured. The first time I saw videos of this it seemed like kids who lost their skateboards screwing around. Now it seems more like a mixture of the skills and talents normally used in gymnastics, martial arts, and army obstacle courses.

If anything, "freestyle running" fits better. Maybe "martial movement".

Physics and human form are rad.