What is Parkour?

The discipline in one paragraph

Parkour (also called l'art du déplacement) is the practice of efficient movement through obstacles — vault, jump, climb, swing, drop, roll. The traceur (parkour practitioner) reads the environment and creates a path. Strict parkour values flow, efficiency and precision over flair. Its sibling discipline Freerunning (coined by Sébastien Foucan) adds acrobatic elements like flips and twists, prioritising creative expression over pure efficiency. The spirit is the same: être fort pour être utile — be strong to be useful.

History & cultural roots

• 1902 Georges Hébert develops méthode naturelle for the French Navy — natural movement training that becomes the philosophical seed.
• 1988 Raymond Belle (David's father) trains in his rural French village. David grows up in this tradition.
• 1990s David Belle, Sébastien Foucan and the Yamakasi crew train obsessively in Lisses (suburb of Évry, Paris). The town's concrete architecture becomes the cradle of parkour.
• 2003 "Jump London" documentary on Channel 4 introduces parkour to the English-speaking world. Foucan splits off freerunning as a creative variant.
• 2006 James Bond film "Casino Royale" features Foucan's chase sequence — parkour goes mainstream.
• 2007– Red Bull Art of Motion launches the first major freerunning competition (Oia, Santorini). Worldwide tour follows.
• 2017 FIG (gymnastics' international federation) tries to claim parkour. The community pushes back — Parkour Earth forms as the athlete-led counter-federation.
• 2026 ÖPFV (Austria) joins Parkour Earth, qualification for the 2026 World Championships announced.

Federations & community

Parkour has resisted formal federation more than other sports. Many practitioners reject competitive framing entirely. The following are recognized international and national bodies — but the core of the sport remains community-led, jam-driven and place-based.

Iconic spots & pilgrimage destinations

Parkour culture is deeply place-based. Practitioners travel to legendary spots like a pilgrimage. The "Manpower Gap" jump in Lisses (David Belle's home town) is the spiritual birthplace. Other sacred ground: Évry Cathedral, Bercy in Paris, NBM Momentum Park in DC, the Lisses concrete forms, and the Oia rooftops in Santorini. Our parkour spots map tracks 37 verified locations in 13 countries.