What is Parkour?

The sport was founded in France in the 1980s.  The origin of the sport is widely attributed to a group of 9 who named themselves ‘Yamakasi’ – David Belle, Yann Hnautra, Chau Belle, Laurent Piemontesi, Sebastien Foucan, Guylain N’Guba Boyeke, Charles Perriere, Malik Diouf and Williams Belle – as well as their network of friends and training partners.

What is Parkour / Freerunning / Art du Deplacement? 

Parkour / Freerunning / Art du Deplacement is the primarily non-competitive physical discipline of training to move freely over and through any terrain using only the abilities of the body, principally through running, jumping, climbing and quadrupedal movement. In practice, it focuses on developing the fundamental attributes required for such movement, which include functional strength and fitness, balance, spatial awareness, agility, coordination, precision, control and creative vision.

It is a sport that encourages self-improvement on all levels, revealing one’s physical and mental limits while simultaneously offering ways to overcome them. It is a method of training one’s body and mind in order to be as completely functional, effective and liberated as possible in any environment.

The sport aims to build confidence, determination, self-discipline and self-reliance, and responsibility for one’s actions. It encourages humility, respect for others and for one’s environment, self-expression, community spirit, and the importance of play, discovery and safety at all times.

The description above is to describe Parkour as a sport and does not fully describe the full spectrum of Parkour as a discipline, art and philosophy. This information was taken Parkour UK website.

Parkour sessions are for children aged 7-9 years

Powerhouse Parkour focuses on teaching the basic and essential movement skills used in parkour such as running, jumping, vaulting, climbing and safely landing and using the equipment. There is a large emphasis on building children’s confidence in various equipment, including bars, parkour blocks, vaults and slanted surfaces. Flexibility and strength are worked on during classes to prepare for future skills and improve basics. Coaches prepare various setups where children can show their parkour skills learnt in fun, safe parkour courses. Trampettes are sometimes used to increase spacial and shape awareness but most of the classes take place on mats and using specialised parkour equipment. 

Parkour sessions are for children aged 10 years + 

Powerhouse Parkour expands upon the basics taught in beginner parkour. Parkour skills increase in difficulty, including low-level flips and other acro skills. Strength work and flexibility have a continued focus to maintain and improve children’s skills as well as preparing bodies for harder, future skills. More complex setups are prepared by the parkour coaches to test how children use the skills they have learnt in class in parkour runs. Timed / Speed runs are frequently used in classes as a fun competition, which is thoroughly enjoyed by members.

Athletes are invited to the advanced parkour skills by coaches based on their confidence in equipment and repertoire/potential of parkour skills. Harder, more complex skills and combinations of skills such as somersaults on the floor and off/over equipment are worked on in class. Strength, cardiovascular and flexibility work is worked on weekly to assist in the participant’s physical well-being for dealing with high impact and difficult skills and longer, more complex parkour runs. 

Coaching Qualifications:

• IGA Level 3 Gymnastics Coach
• IGA Trampolining Level 2
• Parkour UK Level 1 Parkour Coach

Additional Qualifications:

• Osteopathy MSc
• Sports Therapy Foundation Degree
• Safeguarding
• Enhanced DBS
• Paediatric First Aid
• Manual Handling
• Fire Training

WHERE:

ROSEBERY SCHOOL, EPSOM

WHEN:

General Parkour (Ages 5-17 Years)

Monday 3rd April

Tuesday 4th April

Tuesday 11th April

Friday 14th April

TIMES:​

Full-day 9am-4pm

PRICES:​

Full day £42

Please note: Camp sessions are non-refundable for any reason (including illness). We may be able to transfer a gymnast to a different session if we have availability but this is not guaranteed. Additionally, we are now charging a 10% transfer fee for any camp transfers/changes.

Who are Parkour UK?

Established in 2009 by the UK Parkour/Freerunning community and the City of Westminster, Parkour UK is the recognised National Governing Body (NGB).

Parkour UK as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Parkour/Freerunning, provide governance and regulation of Parkour/Freerunning throughout the UK, act as custodian of the sport/art, protect the rights & freedoms and promote the interests of Traceurs/Freerunners (practitioners), their member organisations & the UK community. They work closely with partners encouraging and developing the safe and appropriate practice of Parkour/Freerunning in addition to working with local groups, and organisations, as well as national organisations/bodies, local authorities, and constabularies.

What is Parkour UK’s Mission?

Parkour UK aims to support and develop Parkour/Freerunning in the UK, and to make the benefits of the sport accessible to any and all who want to learn. Parkour UK will always strive to maintain and improve the spirit of the sport/discipline.

Parkour UK’s work is overseen by the Board, which meets at regular intervals. We aim to provide guidance, support and assistance on all levels to all practitioners of the sport/discipline, and to regulate and maintain the standards of the sport in the country. Parkour UK will oversee the development and management of the sport from grassroots to elite.

This information was taken Parkour UK website.