Chasing Light – Freerunning Short Film (4K UHD) from claudiu voicu on Vimeo.
It’s an unusual street sport that’s gaining in popularity.
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It’s free running—also known as parkour.
It’s the art of moving dynamically from point A to point B. A highly entertaining art form, athletes demonstrate a variety of acrobatic and gymnastic skills using street objects, roofs, rails, or a dedicated stage or obstacle course.
The central principle of free running is that one should express oneself in the environment fluidly, without limitations of movement. By running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, flipping, and rolling using both the hands and feet, one moves across the urban landscape as quickly and effortlessly as possible.
Think moving quickly like a ninja or playing Assassin’s Creed and you’ll get the idea.
Having its origins in martial arts and military training, free running is done using only the human body and the surroundings for propulsion, with a focus on maintaining as much momentum and discipline as possible while still remaining safe.
Often times free runners run in packs, mob style. It involves no equipment, few rules, usually requires trespassing, runs the risk of injury, and like any secret club, has its own internal code of conduct to follow.
After that, you’re free to be you– and run.
by Skippy Massey
This post originally appeared at the Humboldt Sentinel. Reprinted with permission.
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