What Is Parkour? Part 2: A Culture of Effort and Creative Vision
In part one, we explored the fundamentals of parkour—its origins, movements, diverse community, and its emphasis on personal growth. Now, let’s dive deeper to uncover what truly defines parkour and its deeper cultural essence. At first glance, parkour is often described as “getting from point A to point B” or “efficient movement.” But if you spend enough time with practitioners, you’ll quickly realize this definition barely scratches the surface. In fact, most of the time, parkour athletes aren’t moving between two points—or doing so efficiently at all! So, what’s really going on?
Point A to Point B: A Misleading Definition
Yes, parkour can involve moving from one point to another. Speed parkour competitions are a great example, where athletes use their skills to navigate courses as quickly as possible. But is *that* the defining feature of parkour? To put it in perspective: in football (soccer), the goal is to score by kicking a ball into the net. But the sport isn’t just about kicking! It’s also about passing, dribbling, teamwork, tactics, and strategy. Similarly, parkour has many dimensions, and moving from point A to point B is just one of them.
In fact, most practitioners spend more time doing activities like:
- Practicing individual movements (e.g., precision jumps).
- Creating and perfecting *flow lines*—a sequence of movements.
- Refining skills through drills or games like tag.
- Tackling skill challenges that don’t involve traveling to a specific destination.
Rather than focusing on where they’re going, parkour athletes emphasize how they’re moving—and what they’re learning in the process.
Efficient Movement: Not Always the Goal
Another common misconception is that parkour is all about training to move efficiently. While efficiency is certainly part of the discipline, it’s far from the whole story.
Efficiency in parkour typically means two things:
1. Energy efficiency: Using the least amount of energy to complete a movement.
2. Time efficiency: Moving as quickly as possible.
For example, let’s say you need to vault over three walls. The most efficient way might be to use a simple “step vault” (also called a “safety vault”) on all three walls. But here’s the twist: most parkour practitioners won’t choose this approach.
Instead, they’ll challenge themselves to:
- Use a different vault on each wall.
- Add spins, flair, or other creative elements.
- Perform multiple movements on a single obstacle.
Why? Because it’s fun, mentally stimulating, and more engaging! Inefficient movement is often the point of training—it builds creativity, adaptability, and flow. While practitioners are certainly capable of moving efficiently, they often prioritize exploration, challenge, and self-expression over pure practicality.
A Culture of Effort
Parkour is about much more than physical movement. Dr. Ashley Ross, a researcher who conducted fieldwork in parkour communities across Melbourne, Edinburgh, and Tokyo, describes parkour as a “culture of effort.” Her work reveals that parkour transforms not only how practitioners move but also how they engage with their environment—and themselves.
From her extensive study, Dr. Ross uncovered several core themes that define parkour:
1. Parkour fosters values like integrity, creativity, and altruism through physical practice.
2. The community is welcoming and supportive, especially to newcomers.
3. Training involves not just physical skills but also emotional growth as practitioners face and overcome fears.
4. Practitioners form deep bonds through shared experiences of effort and discovery.
5. Parkour helps people reimagine their relationship with urban spaces, transforming ordinary places into opportunities for creativity and movement.
Personal Growth Through Effort
Dr. Ross also found that parkour’s “culture of effort” manifests differently for each individual. For example:
- Some practitioners focus on mastering complex, physically demanding movements.
- Others dedicate themselves to teaching and fostering a sense of community.
- Many use parkour as a form of creative expression, exploring unique ways to move and interact with their surroundings.
What unites all practitioners is their shared commitment to personal growth through sincere, dedicated effort.
More Than an Extreme Sport
Dr. Ross’s research challenges the idea that parkour is just an extreme sport or fitness trend. Instead, it’s a holistic practice that integrates:
- Physical movement,
- Emotional development,
- Social connection, and
- Creative vision.
It’s a lifestyle anchored in effort, discovery, and the joy of movement.
Seeing Parkour Differently
The next time you see parkour athletes training in your city, don’t just see them as people jumping and climbing. They’re participating in a rich culture of learning—one that helps them see the world, and themselves, in entirely new ways.
Want to learn more? Dr. Ross’s complete dissertation dives deeper into these themes and offers valuable insights into the world of parkour. Check it out here.