Kayla Nelson
Staff Writer
Idaho State University offers a wide variety of physical activity courses as well as student organizations representing nearly every corner of the globe, but recently a new region was added to that list.
The region: France. The activity: parkour.
Parkour is a training discipline that involves the navigation of different type of obstacles using different methods.
Momentum is key as the person working through the course, also known as the traceur, male, or traceuse, female, needs to hit their stride and flow through the jumps, drops, climbs, mantles and any other required actions as quickly and as safely as possible.
The course PEACH 1125-00 will be held late eight weeks, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The classroom is currently undecided.
“I worked hard to get this class approved. I had to talk to my course approver or adviser, for four months,” said Flynn Mahoney, the new parkour instructor. “I was worried one day I would knock on the door and hear it lock.”
Flynn is working toward certification that would enable him to teach parkour as well as obtain a personal trainer certification this summer.
“We will do it now and put things together later. It will be very open, so no individual feels pressured. Students can move at their own pace,” said Mahoney.
In addition to the class that will be offered for academic credit, a student club is in the process of forming and will be available soon.
Ben Moore is working on putting together the club that will enable students to practice parkour outside of the class. Currently the club has three members.
“I have four goals for the club: one, to create an environment where parkour athletes can train together at various difficulty levels; two, to have a safe place for beginners to learn from more experienced practitioners; three, to help individual members to obtain personal goals and improve; and four, to improve physically and have a healthy lifestyle,” said Moore.
The course and club are open to people of all experiences levels.
Originally a term used to describe a type of military obstacle course training developed by Georges Hérbert prior to World War I, parcours du combatant, it was transformed into parkour as we know it today largely by Raymond Belle. Bell was born in Vietnam in 1939 and grew up in a military orphanage. He quickly realized the need for him to develop all areas of his physicality to ensure his survival.
Raymond’s son David continued in his father’s footsteps, and is widely recognized as the founder of the modern form of the sport.
Parkour requires training almost every day, but it is not a necessity. People need regular athletic attire that enables them to move freely.
“When people think of parkour they instantly assume jumping off buildings or doing flips, but parkour is an art of movement,” said Mahoney. “It is an introspective sport that teaches how to use the body to navigate around an area with efficiency, precision, and unique style.” We want to become awesome, be successful, but most importantly have fun,” said Moore.
