Parkour is an individual sport, which is also known as the “art to run away” from something or someone with maximum speed and effectiveness. Very often parkour is mistaken for free-running but it is not the same. It is not practiced without a reason—in other words, if you building has an elevator, you will use it and not climb from the balconies, because the goal is safe energy, except for being fast and effective, says Stefanos, who is one of the experienced ones in this sport in Thessaloniki.

In Greece parkour was became popular five years ago and some of the most organized sportspeople are a group of boys and girls, who also have the website http://www.parkour.gr, where you can find complete information on all topics of interest if you decide to practice the sport. And if you want to see parkour live, you will have this opportunity on 22-23 August in the Athenian University “Metsovio” – do not miss it!

And before we move on to the conversation with Stefanos and Hristos, let me make it clear what parkour is and what it is not (again according to the rules written in the website of the movement in Greece). An important thing is that there is no racing in parkour, because it is dangerous for the traceurs (the parkour player) – if they need to be faster than they believe they can, this can put them in danger. This would mean that they would have to put safety guards on the different routes and this will completely change the idea of the sport. The goal is the fastest and most effective way to move from point A to point B, using only the abilities of the human body.

“Parkour” is a made up word for the sport form the Frenchman David Belle, who also defined the rules – one of which is saving energy. The name of the sport is a combination between the word parkour is a collocation between a “route” and the word for “fighting spirit.”

For me, it became clear what parkour is when I read what it is not:

Parkour is not an extreme sport,

Parkour is not an expression of any religious or political views,

Parkour has nothing to do with the Underground movement,

Parkour is not limited only in the city environment,

Parkour does not have techniques intended only for it,

Parkour is not practiced with the goal to impress,

Parkour does not has the goal to express or provoke emotions,

Parkour does not approve of illegal attitude,