What Is Parkour?

Arinze Okeke is a software developer with Intersystems in Boston, Massachusetts, where he has been employed since 2017. Arinze Okeke also stays very active as a runner, pole vaulter, and Parkour practitioner. 

An effective and fun physical training method, Parkour is the practice of moving from one point to another using obstacles in the way to increase efficiency. The term Parkour has its origins in the French word parcours, which translates to “the way through” or “the path.” David Belle, the founder of Parkour, credits the sport to his father, who served as a soldier in Vietnam while David was a child. Belle’s father had to complete obstacle courses, known as “parcours,” as part of his training, and Belle used his father’s experiences to develop Parkour. 

Parkour teaches practitioners how to overcome physical and mental obstacles through moves such as the kong vault and the gap jump. While the sport is designed for fun and physical training, it also can be used in emergency situations and teaches practitioners how to move as efficiently and quickly as possible. Parkour is also open-ended, with no set rules or right or wrong, making it a great pursuit for creative athletes.