Parkour or Free Running: A 21st century sport!!

Daniel Craig did it in Casino Royale, David Belle did it in the french movie District B13, Cyril Raffaelli in Die Hard 4.0, Akshay Kumar does it every now and then in soft drink ads. The list is endless. Man, since his existence, has loved to move, to feel freedom, to isolate himself from the world, even for an instant, some way or the other. Parkour is a French word devised by David Belle and Hubert Kounda, which means ‘The art of moving’, quite synonymous to the long standing hedonism of humanity towards movement.

Founded by David Belle and Sebastien Foucan in France, Parkour, primarily is the act of practicing measured movements to make one’s body and mind overcome obstacles in an emergency. It is the act of moving from Point A to Point B in the least possible time irrespective of the obstacles in the path, without using any external help but the human body. The obstacles range from high rises to stairs, blockades, pits, concrete structures etc.

Parkour or Free Running hails its route from the armed forces training courses, and can be also termed as its developed form. Safety is of prime concern in this sport as the moves are extremely dangerous. Proper training and exercise before practicing it for real is advised.

However, in spite of it being considered as dangerous in the first place, there are many positives. It makes the body extremely fit, strong and flexible. Mentally it has been established by a study by Neuropsychiatrie de l'Enfance et de l'Adolescence in France that traceurs seek more excitement and leadership situations than gymnastic practitioners. The mental rewards that this art offers are amazing.

The sport is dangerous, yet it gives a high to people who practice it quite comparable to skydiving or bungee jumping. Although not directly connected to Parkour’s emergence as an urban youth culture, many consider Jackie Chan as the pioneer of Parkour. Many stunts enacted in movies like Police Story and Rush Hour, illustrate the physical feats and movements that are emphasized in Parkour.

The sport has its own nomenclature. David Belle, very carefully observes the moves of monkeys and cats for innovations in the sport, which are believed to be the best free runners. Some of the moves have crazy names, for instance, Monkey vault, Diving Kong, Cat balance, Cat leap, Wall claw etc, are directly derived from the animals.

In India there are many Parkour groups in the metro cities, and the urban sport is slowly seeding out. But, in countries like America, France, Spain and England its already a rage to an extent that women are also taking part in the extreme sport. But, it remains to be seen that when it will be recognized as a form of sport, and be included in International events.

Wake me up when September ends!!

Serial blasts had rocked Delhi, 13 September 2008. I was at home with my family and everyone was safe. We were all glued to the news channels. My father, had by now started enquiring me about the coverage of the media. I was now in final year of my Bachelors in Journalism, I guess that was one reason.

My mother was talking to my elder brother in Bangalore, who had just called in to check if it was alright here. And she confirmed our well being to him, through her wet eyes, while my younger brother laughed at her. We are used to her crying when Bhai called in from Bangalore, almost everyday. Amidst the commotion of all these things, I got a message from her. ‘You alright, na’

And, that was it, when I realized that there is something with this month of September and me. What followed in the rest of the months of the year was always magical. It was this month in first year in college when I had discovered, that I can fall in love too. And the next three years will never remain the same as I had expected.

We grew closer to each other, more than anyone else in the class. The next September I doubted that if it was just friendship, when one day I scolded her over her revealing dress and the next day she covered herself so much so that her image of a fashion icon went into ashes, or that day when we exchanged answer sheets during the examination. She would return them to me with a special note every time about finishing my paper fast.

I doubted it more when she just came to me when I was playing cricket in the canteen and say I’m hungry.

I replied to the message, and asked if she was alright too. She didn’t reply. She never did that whenever I tried to break that virtual ice between us. But, I knew that its my final September, and this was enough for me to act.

My Facebook status last year had established me as much in love, but the girl was a mystery to all till now. And, perhaps the mystery was now a disappointment for her. ‘I am dying to hear, who is that lucky girl’ was a message I got on facebook from her.

The examinations were to follow, and we had to organize our college fest. I was more than busy to distract myself to other things. I decided to postpone the proposal, to the day I was born 20 years ago, I was so sure.

And the day came. She refused, the same day.

It may not help me, and my solution to September could make you laugh too.

But, I am going to sleep while my eyes are open. And please do wake me up when September ends.

(Fiction)