Jumping from rail to rail and flying through the air, this is parkour. Parkour is defined as “the activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing,” but is there more to it? I set off to find out, and came across a sophomore at Regis Jesuit named Jason Cox.
Jason has been doing parkour for almost a year now, but has had a further EIGHT years experience with gymnastics. This further experience has made his transfer to parkour easy and has allowed him to learn and master very complicated moves in only his first year. Jason says he enjoys “pushing the limits”of what he can do, and has made it clear through his outstanding abilities.
Jason goes to either a parkour gym or finds obstacles outside at least twice a week, and is dedicated to learning his new sport. “I can now see the world as more of a gym, and can find countless obstacles through a simple hand rail,” Jason says.
Jason has found that this simple idea of getting from point A to point B as fast as possible is not just fun and games, but helps his physical endurance as well. “physically it has given me more strength, and mentally it has allowed me to view the world differently,” Jason says. He encourages people to try this sport, and believes it to be a very important part of his life.
In the end, Jason has found parkour to be more than the definition suggests, and not only provides as a fun activity, but helps you mentally and physically. Now that sounds like a win win to me.