Parkour is a form of urban "poetry", that has caught a lot of attention lately.

Originated in France, Le Parkour is a sport that involves running through the city, over walls, stairs and rooftops. It may be compared to skateboarding in a way. Parkour is quite different though, as you need but your feet and hands to exercise it. Parkour is basically about the flow of your body as it moves through the city, stripped of all usual limits and obvious restrictions. It is about running, climbing and jumping without stopping, often way above the heads of ordinary folks. Parkour is a very poetic pastime, - as it is a way to truly become one with the built structures that make up our cities.

As with most things exciting, Parkour has caught the attention of the corporate world. The originator of Parkour himself, David Belle is the star of a recent BBC advertising campaign. Nike has made it the sport to fit it's "Presto" sneaker line. The Presto spot "Le poulet en colère" albeit, is a very funny manifest - I must admit.

The attention Parkour now gets, surely increases the debate about the dangers of such "strange" activities. Naturally it is dangerous to jump between rooftops; it must be remembered though, that people practising Parkour, start from the ground on with lot's of training, before they jump between high-rise buildings.

Parkour really is a celebration of the urban structure, by the people truly, positively living it.

www.parkour.com
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1939867.stm
www.urbanfreeflow.com/UrbanFreeFlow/urbangraffiti.htm