

Photograph by SUREN MANVELYAN

Parkour (sometimes abbreviated to PK) is based upon the swift and energy-efficient traversing of one’s surrounding environment. It is a non-competitive, physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible, using only their bodies. Skills such as jumping, climbing, vaulting, rolling, swinging and wall scaling are typically employed. Parkour can be practiced anywhere, but areas dense with obstacles are preferable, and it is most commonly practiced in urban areas. For purists, the usage and employment of flips into the named route does not constitute parkour.

The term Freerunning is often (but incorrectly) used interchangeably with l’art du déplacement (Parkour). While Parkour aims to enable the practitioner to be able to move quickly and creatively past obstacles, freerunning is a competition sport. Freerunning includes the use of tricking moves such as aerial rotations and spins, while the definition of parkour founder David Belle does not consider these part of parkour because the moves are merely for show, not efficient, can not assist anyone and do not help the participant to get from place to place. Although Sébastien Foucan is considered a co-founder of parkour, his philosophy later turned out to be different to that of parkour and grew to become known as freerunning.

A practitioner of parkour is called a traceur, which is most likely derived from Parisian slang tracer which means “to hurry” or “to move quickly”. In proper French, traceur is an adjective qualifying something that leaves a trace or a trail behind it. [Source: Wikipedia]

Regardless of the definition, both Parkour and Freerunning are incredible to witness and a beautiful spectacle to capture. Here are 25 wonderful photographs that capture the spirit of both Parkour and Freerunning. Enjoy!

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Photograph by SKUBMIC

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Photograph by ROB GILLIBRAND @ PERFECT IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

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Photograph by FUSEMAN

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Photograph by XANDERCR

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Photograph by CYRUS MEKON

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Photograph by JESPER BULOW

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Photograph by CYRUS MEKON

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Photograph by JB LONDON

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Photograph by DEREK HYAMSON

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Photograph by CYRUS MEKON

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Photograph by VOLUNDUR JONSSON

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Photograph by DEREK HYAMSON

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Photograph by MOUSER WILLIAMS

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Photograph by CHRISTIAN MEZOFI

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Photograph by FERNANDO CARNIEL MACHADO

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Photograph by JB LONDON

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Photograph by CYRUS MEKON

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Photograph by JB LONDON

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Photograph by DEREK HYAMSON

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Photograph by CYRUS MEKON

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Photograph by NIKOS KOUTOULAS

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Photograph by JOKA PHOTOGRAPHY

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Photograph by BREEN JONES

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Photograph by SERBAN MESTECANEANU

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THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE KICKFLIP