Parkour vs. Yamakasi

[Bobo]

Hello All.
I have seen a lot of references to "yamakasi" in the forums. As I understand it, the difference between parkour and freerunning is that freerunning focuses on tricks and flair, while parkour is straight up effeciency and speed. So what is this yamakasi discipline, and how does is differ from parkour and freerunning?

[hillexallen]

It cannot be explained in words.

This comes close, though: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3773384792923323349

[BENNY]

lol theres a buncha threads already on PK vs. FR

basicaly to summ it all up:

parkour : point A - Point B

Freerunning : parkour + tricks

any questions?

also, im starting a rage froobling site, soon to be up, if you don't know about RF, its

parkour + rage

:p

[msgr33]

I just want to frooble without the rage. Do I have to start a new site or can I join yours?

[Meatlad]

I want to rage frooble, but sometimes I just want to be mildly irritated or confused. Am I still rage froobling or am I free froobling?

[AeroSFCity]

Depends if you're [I]flippin'[I] mad or not

[lethalbeef]

I'm no expert, but when I was talking to my French relatives, they seemed to use the word yamakasi a lot more than they did parkour when describing the things that we do collectively. I think in the French media, yamakasi is a more popularized term, kind of like how in English-speaking media, freerunning is more popular. My cousins didn't have any experience in the discipline, so I don't know what traceurs over there would say about it, but it seemed to be used interchangeably, and they thought that it included tricking elements, etc.

[BENNY]

@msg33 and meatlad - no, its a package deal mates, cant have frooble without the rage, its "rage Froobling"

i guess if u dont want the rage, u can "free frooble" but i guess that would be rather lame, like a lemon-party. :p

im still working out the details on it, im trying to contact Teg, the inventor of RF for details on it.

currently im thinking that it probly be a "take it or leave it" thing, it is what it is, and RF jams will probly be fast-paced, and a bit strenuous.

since we already have "parkour" and "freerunning", rage froobling will not change or include other things that are already defined.

[Meatlad]

Wasn't it just a term for running around in the forest or something? I like the idea of a sport dedicated to the principles of athletic inneficiency coupled with the ideals of competition and cancerous, unstoppable commercialization.

[Corndogg]

lets keep this thread on topic please :smile:

[BENNY]

lol ok, i think the "parkour vs yamakazis" discussion is settled now :)

[palu]

From what I've gathered, the Yamakasi are about having strong mind, strong will, and a strong body. Basically the Yamaks thought this is what it meant to be a good man. The Yamakasi movement called L'art du deplacement, focuses on all around fitness and capability. While efficiency may closer be an aspect of parkour, L'art demands movement that not only is self expression, not only useful or necessary at times, but has aspects of parkour as well. In my opinion, using Yamakasi the same way one would say somthing is Free Running or Parkour is incorrect. Yamakasi is a name given to a group of people who use their movement, L'art Du Deplacement for a greater good and expression.

[BENNY]

parkour to me is a toolset, its the methods you use to get from A to B, it is not a religion, not a way of life, not a Performance art. it is simple and bareboned. however, freerunning is an artform. please ppl, dont over-complicate parkour with trying to define it with different names. all those different things such as "freerunning", "yamakazi", "L'art du deplacement" is not the same as parkour, they are simply things that uses parkour!

you can add what-ever extra-flavors coating you want, and name the new thing whatever, but the skeleton underneath doesnt change, parkour is simply A to B, through obsticles.

[MadScience]

I gotta agree with Benny on this. I'm learning PK because it is a useful skill, and it makes exercising fun. But thats it. I don't feel PK should be made up into some spiritual experience that will open all the doors of the world. And trying to exclude people from PK because they don't act like you think they should is a counterproductive thing to do. We as a group benefit from including all variations and welcoming everyone who wants to participate. Lets see some more open ended conversations about who we can get INTO parkour, instead of trying to exclude people.

[Ronin524]

^^ Me three with this sentiment. I think the part about PK making you feel more confident in tackling the world can pertain to any form of exercise, be it weight lifting, kung fu, muay thai, etc. When you are fit in body, mind, and soul, everything in life becomes all that much better.

[Pigeon]

I thought the Yamakasi were the founders of what became Parkour and Freerunning... and that Parkour is more about fluidity and efficiency and Freerunning involves has more of an emphasis on personal style and flare... they overlap and go their separate ways, but I am definitely not an expert. However, I am pretty sure about the Yamakasi being the group of friends and or highest tier of the one of or both of the disciplines.

[Meatlad]

Yeah, me four and well said, Benny. All these different disciplines are not as different as some would like to believe. I find it mildly interesting mainly from an anthropological point of view how different terminologies catch on around the world, and what minor variations different communities are drawn too, but we're all the same species of movement.

And totally, TOTALLY agree about parkour just being a toolset for moving. And one of many at that. You can have a spiritual experience while doing parkour, but that doesn't make parkour the spiritual experience. Some people have intense spiritual experiences taking a dump. Parkour is like meditation or writing in that way, it's more of a medium for experience and growth than an end or a result in itself.

[BENNY]

Yeah, me four and well said, Benny.

You can have a spiritual experience while doing parkour, but that doesn't make parkour the spiritual experience. Some people have intense spiritual experiences taking a dump.
:laugh:

+1point - Meatlad

[Beretta]

For me parkour is spiritual practice. Sometimes I have a hard time realizing or accepting that it isn't the same for everyone else who spends as much time doing it as I do. However, when I think about it, I'm just glad parkour is part of people's lives and I wish more people practiced. I believe every practitioner who sticks with it long enough will find mental and physical benefits, which will in turn make them better, happier, nicer people and thus benefit everyone in their lives.

I don't want to judge anyone as less pure, or less-anything than me because they're doing parkour for exercise, or money, or for reasons they can't explain. Mostly I do parkour because I haven't stopped thinking about it from the moment I first saw Oleg in "Russian Climbing" almost two years ago. Parkour has always been a healthy way for me to train my mental focus, process emotions and find some solitude, without "running away" from the world. Ha ha, Parkour is totally my Fortress of Solitude!

Practicing parkour has made me a happier person, a nicer person and an all around better person in ways that weightlifting, hiking, running, martial arts and conventional team sports never did. Is parkour better than these other disciplines? Maybe, maybe not. Parkour is the only thing that fits me quite so well.

I try to just practice and have fun and be a positive member of the community when at jams and online. Sure, some of my opinions differ from the majority and I express them, sometimes adamantly, when it's relevant. For instance, I still don't think parkour and freerunning are different, no matter how many people choose to label themselves as belonging to one or the other.

In the end, I try to recognize that parkour plays a different role in each traceur or traceuse's life. Just because I use parkour as a form of spiritual practice and Joe Schmoe uses it as a workout, doesn't mean Joe isn't spiritual. I try to focus on what unites us: a system of movement and our humanity. One of the most basic elements of humanity, and of the lives of all primates, is fun! We love to laugh and play and be goofy, and that is a spiritual thing to me: joy!

So while parkour is my primary method of spiritual practice and I do describe it as my lifestyle, I try to be open and happy and fun and easily approachable to new and seasoned and serious and casual traceurs, traceuses and observers alike. After all, the joy I mentioned above, is absolutely the greatest benefit of this spiritual practice.

[palu]

Benny, was your reply in response to what i said? I agree with what you said, but I feel like everyone has the impression I said something deranged and strict...

[hillexallen]

Here's what it looks like to me:

1. Yamakasi, including David Belle and Sebastien Foucan form art du displacement.

2. David Belle wants it to be more useful, so starts practicing a more efficient, useful form that he calls parkour, which is based off of art du displacement.

3. Sebastien Foucan wants art du displacement to be more free and artsy, so he practices it in a more free, artsy, expressive way. His style of art du displacement eventually gets a new name: freerunning. It is also based of art du displacement.

So, art du displacement is the origianl discipline, founded by Yamakasi. Parkour and freerunning are its "sons."

[Meatlad]

Palu, I completely agree with what you said about the Yamakasi using l'art du deplacement to secretly interrogate unlawful combatants in countries run by CIA puppet governments.

[BENNY]

Palu, I completely agree with what you said about the Yamakasi using l'art du deplacement to secretly interrogate unlawful combatants in countries run by CIA puppet governments.

word, they are spies! :ohnoes:

[2nd Chance]

For me, it is just a tool, but not a physical one. The physical is there to keep my mind sharp and focused, and I take the principles of the moves, ie flow/not letting obstacles stop you. Everything I learn from parkour isn't about parkour in my eyes... It's about how I can live my life in a better fashion.