by June - 02.04.08

Here’s an oldie, but a goodie! David Belle, ninja extraordinaire, shows off his mad parkour skills with Mario sounds to spice things up. For those unacquainted with free running, the fine historians at Wikipedia state:
Parkour is a physical activity which is difficult to categorize. It is not an extreme sport, but an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the martial arts. According to David Belle, “the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it.” Thus, when faced with a hostile confrontation with a person, one will be able to speak, fight, or flee. As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight. Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category: “parkour is parkour.”
To get a better gist, you can see for yourself. Edited video courtesy of Giant Ketchup Productions. Click the link or hit the jump for embedded YouTube footage.

Word to the wise: don’t try this at home. Unless you’re like these guys, then by all means, go right ahead!











Man, every time I see these guys, it boggles the mind. Some of those jumps look like they surely require some kind of recoil-prevention action (I am having issues with putting this coherently, damn you linguistics homework), but instead he just keeps on going.
Crazy madness! But at least it’s cool crazy madness. I’d be too wussy to jump from a height of over 4-5 feet.
;
Tsuzu - 02.04.08 11:29 pm
Interesting fact: I did that stuff when I was in elementary school. I gave it up a long time ago, though.
Loki - 02.05.08 12:07 am
Intense.
The 1-up sounds at the end make it that much greater.
scottus0 - 02.05.08 12:28 am
I can do that. I can do that nine times.
Michael Tucker - 02.05.08 12:30 am
Nice Homestar reference there, Michael. Makes me want to load it up and see what new stuff they have.
Parkour is amazing. Everytime I watch these things it makes me want to go outside and jump on stuff.
Reid - 02.05.08 12:59 am
“As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight.”
Run like a b*tch… for fun!
groundbeef - 02.05.08 1:26 am
Yeah, Giant Ketchup Productions, but also show the takes with the broken legs.
james - 02.05.08 4:34 am
Why do you think it is that the “boing” noise makes the jumping seem both higher and more impressive?
Morne - 02.05.08 7:53 am
That was thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Those guys are insanely awesome. I wonder, once they get older, if their bodies will be stronger or weaker because of Parkour.
Megashaun - 02.05.08 10:01 am
I suppose I could do it…
…I just need a swarm of bloody, rabid dogs for motivation.
Mother 1+2 for 29.90$ - 02.05.08 10:22 am
me and my friends practice parkour all the time. its so much fun.
Naveed - 02.05.08 11:25 am
I’ve seen similar parkour videos before, but the Super Mario sound effects were an excellent addition. If only we could produce those effects in real life…
Dean - 02.05.08 12:20 pm
for more awesome parkour you guys should check out http://tinyurl.com/2t8nuf
i love the coin noises at the end, awesome.
Additive - 02.05.08 7:39 pm
A few friends of mine here in Portland do that kind of stuff. I remember when one of them first started out, he joined a group of freerunners/parkour-ers, and his initiation was scaling a four story parking garage with the rest of the group. Insane. Although, if I had the agility to do that kind of stuff, I totally would.
okTOMATO - 02.05.08 9:59 pm
There’s a gym nearby where I work in DC that teaches Parkour basics. I’ve always thought it’d be practical and be a crazy workout. May check it out.
DCSimian - 02.08.08 5:00 pm