Many people have come to believe that parkour, was founded by Sebastian Foucan and David Belle, but a generation before them, David Belles father was devising free running techniques. Though previous to this, many years before David’s father, another man stood out in the history of parkour, named George Herbet. Herbet has been accredited for creating a system called methode naturelle. Herbet developed this method after watching the graceful and powerful movements of African natives, and sought after the way "To be strong, to be useful". They are definitely main pioneers of parkour as they invented many techniques that have become signatures of the system. But I believe that there are no true founders, as free running has always been present in society, as parkour is less of a sport and more of a way of thinking. As long as you act out of the ordinary when travelling and not follow the ways that social learning has taught us to behave, you can call yourself a traceur. Everyone has experienced parkour when climbing or jumping an object. Just to celebrate movement by using it, is the idea behind this way of living. Parkour could be compared to “jeet kune do”, the martial art developed by Bruce Lee; in the way there are no rules. Bruce Lee would often explain JKD as “the way with no way”, which basically describes the way a person should not be too set in one method. Another proverb of Lees that could apply to free running would be, “have no limitation as limitation”, which I feel explains the way we should not to be clamped by set movements, just to do as you feel. As a child any one able has enjoyed movement and acted in a more unbound manner, until they grow into a more sedentary lifestyle. Even some of the physically fitter among us will only workout in a sports centre, and fail to notice the potential in their normal surrounding environment. If an individual can jump, climb or vault an object, why walk around? Why not test your capabilities? To not, would be abusing your able body. Imagine you couldn’t move for years, wouldn’t you embrace the ability of motion. So if you can, why aren’t you?

Liam Dalgleish