free running

Free running is a physical art, in which participants (freerunners) attempt to pass all obstacles in their path in a smooth and fluid way. Free runners interact with their environment using movements such as vaulting, jumping, somersaults and other acrobatic movements, creating an athletic and aesthetically pleasing way of moving. It is commonly practiced at gymnasiums and in urban areas that are cluttered with obstacles.

Overview

Sébastien Foucan

Founded by Sébastien Foucan and inspired by the similar art of displacement (parkour) which was founded by Foucan's childhood friend David Belle, free running embraces elements of tricking and street stunts,^{[citation needed]} which are considered by the parkour community to be inefficient and not parkour. Initially, the term free running was used interchangeably with parkour. However, as free runners became interested in aesthetics as well as useful movement, the two became different disciplines. The term free running was created by Guillaume Pelletier and embraced by Foucan to describe his "way" of doing parkour.^[1] Foucan summarizes the goals of free running as using the environment to develop yourself and to always keep moving and not go backwards.

While free running and parkour share many common techniques, they have a fundamental difference in philosophy and intention. The aims of parkour are reach, the ability to quickly access areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, and escape, the ability to evade pursuers, which means the main intention is to clear their objects as efficiently as they can while free running emphasises self development by "following your way".^[1] Foucan frequently mentions "following your way" in interviews,^[2] and the Jump documentaries. He explains that everyone has their way of doing parkour and they shouldn't follow someone else's way of doing it, instead they should do it their way. Free running is commonly misinterpreted as being solely focused on aesthetics and the beauty of the certain vault, jump, etc. Although a lot of free runners choose to focus on aesthetics, that is just "their way", the goal however is still self development.

The easiest way to explain the differences between the two activities is that in parkour you try to get from A to B in the most efficient and natural way, which could be exercised in case of a real threat, whereas in free running you may employ movements of your choosing. You might also do certain movements solely for their aesthetic value and the challenge of execution. Free running is essentially complete freedom of movement.

There also has been a clash between the parkour and free running communities over the use of different terms for the same vaults. The parkour community generally refers to the vaults by their French terms or the English translation while the free running community headed by the Urban Freeflow website have created new terms such as the "Kong", "Monkey", etc. For example, the vault where one jumps putting his legs between his arms is known in French as the "Saut de Chat", while the English translation is "Cat Jump" though some call it a "rabbit vault" . But the Urban Freeflow site has renamed this vault the "Monkey" vault.

Another contentious issue that may begin to make a rift between the parkour and free running communities or may actually strengthen their bond is the idea of professional and amateur competition. From the start the parkour community has been always against the idea of serious competition as it violates the foundations of the philosophy of parkour. The free running community is not as strongly decided as a group as to its position on the matter although Sébastien Foucan's thoughts were revealed. He mentions in an interview with Urban Freeflow that he doesn't like competition and it's not "his way", but it may be someone else's "way".^[2] The conflict between free running and parkour occurred when the founder of parkour, David Belle, and his colleague Sébastien Foucan included, split up and went their separate ways. David Belle mainly stuck to parkour as efficiency while Sébastien Foucan focused on the freedom of movement, self-development and aesthetic aspects of parkour thus making free running more popular. Although both activities may be defined differently, still there is a lot of discussion on what is free running and confusion in its definition.^[3]

History

Sébastien Foucan used the term "free running" to describe a form of physical exercise that he practised which was showcased in the Channel 4 documentaries Jump London and Jump Britain. The term has been in use since at least the early 1980s when it was used to describe a more adventurous form of jogging where the runner would incorporate a variety of movements transforming a jogging session into a more demanding, enjoyable and expressive physical experience. Jumping and tac-ing obstacles, rolling, and a variety of stretching movements would be used to break the regulated physical patterns of movement involved in basic running/jogging.

Movements

See also: List of flips

Here are some examples of moves that a free runner can use to maneuver through obstacles.

Cartwheel: this is begun by extending both arms straight above the head. One foot is pointed in the desired direction of the cartwheel. The arms reach for the floor in symmetry with the foot that is being used for pointing (if pointing with the right foot, reach with the right hand). The other hand follows in this motion, keeping it over the head. As the first hand goes down, the opposite foot goes up in the air. The hands should touch the floor in a straight line. The other leg is lifted by kicking off from the ground. The free runner should already be standing on his/her hands at this point momentarily as the motion continues forward.

For the landing, the first leg that was lifted off—the non-pointing foot—should touch the ground first, followed by the second foot. Let the momentum of the motion flow, taking the hands off the floor which finally brings the runner back to an upright standing position. This should be the same position he or she started in, but with the opposite leg forward.

Roundoff: a roundoff is almost like a cartwheel. The difference is in the landing. After the second hand touches the ground, land on both feet at the same time. The final position should be faced in the opposite direction of the starting position.

Roll: this technique starts from an elevated position. Jump from the elevated area towards the ground while holding the body upright, as if free-falling. Land on both feet with your knees bent, letting the resistance of the ground flow through (not bending your knees will result in serious injury). Then lean the head and either one of your shoulders forward towards the ground. Push off with both feet to roll on the ground using the back. The momentum is enough to carry you back into a standing position coming off the roll, continue moving forward to keep yourself balanced.

Monkey Vault: this can be done either from a static position or a run up to the rail/wall. Grab the obstacle with both hands. The hands should be spaced on the obstacle at more than the shoulder width so that the feet and the rest of the lower body can pass between the hands. Jump on both feet and tuck the knees into the chest. In mid-air, push back with both arms to thrust the body straight forward this then lands you on both feet.

Superman or Dive Roll: run towards the obstacle. When the obstacle is only about a step away, jump forward on both feet. The midsection should be arched over the obstacle. Hold both arms in front to anticipate the landing in a diving motion. Both hands should land simultaneously before leaning the head forward on the ground. In a smooth motion, the upper back touches the ground and the rest of the body follows in a roll. The momentum should carry you back to a standing position, and continue the run.

In popular culture

See also: Parkour in popular culture

Film

• The French film Banlieue 13, produced by Luc Besson, features a large amount of parkour.

• The French film Yamakasi (2001) is about a group of seven parkour specialists (the Yamakasi of the film's title) who resolve to use their skills in order to undertake some highly energetic burglaries.

• The 2003 documentary Jump London follows French free runners (Sébastien Foucan, Johann Vigroux and Jérôme Ben Aoues) as they demonstrate their skills on the landmarks of London.

• In the 2004 sequel to Yamakasi, Les Fils Du Vent, the Yamakasi move to Bangkok and battle the Yakuza and their Thai associates who are attempting to take over the city.

• In 2005 Jump Britain was produced as a follow-up to Jump London. The free runners from the original documentary were joined by those from the Urban Freeflow team.

• An action sequence near the beginning of the James Bond film Casino Royale features Sébastien Foucan being chased across a construction site, using free running to escape. (A few stunts were performed by a professional stuntman.)^[4]

• In the 2007 film Live Free or Die Hard, there is a free running scene in one of Thomas Gabriel's towers.

• A free running rooftop chase scene is featured in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

Video games

• In Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, the Lara Croft character can perform various free running movements.
• Æon Flux has some free running movements.
• Eidos Interactive announced their intention to publish a free running video game on the PSP platform under the title Free Running, with a release date sometime in March 2007. However, as the developer, Core Design, is now owned by Rebellion, it will publish the game on PSP and Playstation 2.^[5][6]
• Assassin's Creed, another game in development by Ubisoft Studios, has character movements inspired by free running and parkour.
• Metal Gear Solid 2 and 4 have a character called Raiden, who uses many free running abilities, mostly accompanied with sword techniques in combat and movement.
• In Activision's Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, the character has the ability to leave the skateboard and perform some limited free running techniques — although in the game they are referred to as parkour techniques. A character with a French accent teaches how to wallflip, climb up the wall, and do multiple flips.
• The character Mario performs parkour and free running in his games, such as Super Mario 64,^[7], Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario 64 DS.
• In Ninja Gaiden, Ryu Hayabusa performs some parkour movements and some free running.
• In Rayman DS, the Rayman character can perform several free running moves.
• Prince of Persia has extensive free running moves that are performed by the main character. These slowly evolved from parkour to free running over the course of the game sequels.
• In the zombie game Urban Dead, free running is a survivor skill that allows players to move between buildings without having to go outside, significantly lowering the chances of being attacked or being trapped outside.
• In Resistance: Fall of Man for the Playstation 3, a skill point by the name "Le Parkour" is awarded for completion of a rooftop level in a set amount of time.
• In Crackdown for the Xbox 360 there is a certain degree of free running in the way that when you are levelled up in your 'jumping skill' you can literally leap from rooftop to rooftop (no other skills or tricks are involved in the game, apart from the Cat Leap move and a slight side vault when you mount up from hanging off a wall). Also when you have collected all 500 'Agility Orbs' you gain the achievement 'Free Runner'.
• In Prototype, movement is based on parkour.
• In Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, the main character, Trane Crowley, extensively uses wall hangs and slight free running skills to reach higher or harder to reach areas to tag with graffiti.

Music videos

• Madonna has released a video for her song "Jump", which features parkour and free running extensively throughout.^[8] Also her music video "Hung Up" contains some clips of free running. For Madonna's Confessions tour, free running is heavily used for the choreography of the single "Jump". Madonna herself performs much of the free running choreography towards the end of the piece.
• David Guetta has released a music video for his song "Love Don't Let Me Go (Walking Away)", which features free running extensively throughout.^[9]
• Eric Prydz has released a video for his song "Proper Education", which features free runner Daniel Ilabaca.^[10]
• Fort Minor has a video for their song "Remember the Name" that features several fans using free running.

Television

• In 2006, two freerunners, John Kerr and Daniel Ilabaca, appeared on the British automotive show Top Gear. It featured a race between the freerunners and a Peugeot 207.
• On Saturday 9 June 2007, the free runners appeared on Britain's Got Talent, and made it through to the next round with their free running display
• In 2007 an advert for The Friday Night Project featured two free runners from urban freeflow acting as stunt doubles for the hosts.
• In a 2007 Modern Marvels episode, "Sticky Stuff", free running is shown while the show features Stealth Rubber.

Literature

• In John Twelve Hawks' Book Two of the Fourth Realm trilogy, Dark River, free running and runners are featured as part of the story.
• In the William Gibson novel Spook Country, one of the main characters, a young Cuban named Tito, practices free running. He also had elements of Systema and a reference to the Orisha that mixed with the free walking mindset.

References

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