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Movement region spreading Throughout
By Daniel Zalla Photography by Cynthia Schoetker and Elizabeth Zalla
Editor’s Note: The following story is an abridged version of Daniel’s Senior Thesis Paper. He allowed us to run it so we could showcase the sport he is extremely passionate about, Parkour, which is quickly gaining popularity throughout Greater Cincinnati. Have you ever spotted someone running through the city, jumping gaps between walls or roofs or doing flips off stairs or other concrete obstacles? You may have been witnessing the developing sport of parkour. When people ask me what parkour is, I often tell them, “Parkour is the discipline of overcoming obstacles in one’s path using only the human body.” Parkour has also been described as “the discipline of moving from A to B as fast and efficiently as possible.” Parkour is still in its developing stages as a sport. Increased awareness of parkour has generated
8 Life in the Hills & Springs • July 2016
conflict about its value. Many people have developed the misconception that traceurs (people who do parkour) are reckless teenagers and that their practice of parkour is dangerous to their own health and the health of those around them. This perceived “high level of risk” is why parkour has even been banned in certain public places. Those who are more familiar with parkour, however, understand that when it is done properly, parkour minimizes inherent risks, while providing multiple benefits. As a practitioner of parkour for four years, I have come to appreciate all of its positive aspects. While I concede that parkour does have its dangers, I know that they are outweighed by the benefits. The origins of parkour can be traced back to the 1902 volcanic eruption on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean. French Lieutenant George Herbert was charged with rescuing 700 people from this island, and the things that he witnessed inspired him. He saw the ways that the people moved around the obstacles in their path while trying to escape or save others. It was from this experience that Herbert thought of his famous quote, “Etre fort pour être utile” meaning, “Be strong to be useful.” Lt. Herbert’s interest in natural movement led him to research the topic; and his work culminated in the de-