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The purpose of this study was to investigate voluntary participation of lower-, average, and higher skilled children during parkour recess and MVPA in physical education, parkour recess and regular recess. In total 147 (55 girls, 92 boys) elementary children from seven schools participated. During (i.e., generalization) and after (i.e., maintenance) a 10-lesson parkour unit was taught, five parkour recess sessions were organized. Systematic observation was used to assess children’s physical activity levels. Average skilled children participated more (74%) in parkour recess compared to higher skilled children (55%; p=.002). No differences were found for MVPA between lower-, average -and higher skilled children in any of the settings. Regardless of skill level, children voluntarily participated in parkour recess with MVPA levels 15-20% higher compared to regular recess. These findings are especially important for lower-skilled children, who are more at risk for lower participation in physical activities and adhering to physical activity guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In recent years, the number of practitioners of disciplines such as parkour, break dance or calisthenics (freestyle or street workout) has increased. These disciplines share common characteristics, such as an unregulated street origin and a focus on acrobatics. This study aimed to analyze the state of scientific publications related to these acrobatic street sports. A bibliometric analysis was conducted, applying traditional bibliometric laws to scientific documentation found in journals indexed in WoS and Scopus. Data processing and visualization were performed using Bibliometrix and Excel. A total of 199 articles published between 1984 and 2024 were identified, indicating exponential growth. Among these, 139 papers were related to parkour, 48 to breakdance, and 12 to street workout. A review of 158 journals revealed that they contained related publications, although their distribution did not conform to Bradford’s model, showig only two areas. Among 417 authors identified, 22 were deemed prolific and 12 prominent. France emerged as the most prolific country, followed by the USA. The 553 author keywords were categorized into three groups, each associated with one of the sports. The 26 most cited papers were selected as relevant, demonstrating a correlation between the increase in publications and the popularization of these sports, largely due to television exposure. The "International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics” emerged as the most prolific journal. The most relevant authors identified in each sport were Signey Grosprêtre (parkour); Max Daniel Kauther and Christian Wedemeyer (breakdance); and Javier Sanchez-Martinez (street workout).

Purpose: Our purpose was to investigate the effect of generalization of participation in parkour from physical education classes to organized parkour recess. Methods: A total of 143 (64 girls and 79 boys) third-grade elementary school children received a 12-lesson parkour sport education season in physical education. Voluntary participation in five organized parkour recess sessions was investigated. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) data in physical education, organized parkour recess, and traditional recess were collected. Results: Girls participated significantly more in organized parkour recess compared with boys (53% vs. 35%, p =.034). Boys achieved significantly higher MVPA than girls in physical education (47% vs. 42%, p =.045), organized parkour recess (73% vs. 65%, p =.003), and traditional recess (56% vs. 36%, p <.001). Children generated on average 22% of MVPA through performing parkour-specific skills in organized parkour recess. Conclusion: Generalization of participation from physical education classes to organized recess programs is a promising strategy to increase children's daily MVPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present study was to determine the emerging practices in physical activity and sports that are evolving in Medellín (Colombia) and their relationships with the academic curriculum of a sports degree program. The methodological approach was mixed. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire was applied to 428 people. In the qualitative phase, a semi-structured interview was conducted in a focus group with people linked to physical activities and sports. The results showed that the most prevalent emerging practices were: functional training, adapted sport, CrossFit, Ultimate, and mountain biking. The focus group considered that the five emerging practices with most growth were: skateboarding, street workout, parkour, functional training, and CrossFit. Based on the results obtained, an updated plan is proposed for an academic sports degree curriculum including relevant emerging practices and activities that without pretending to be exclusive or radical, includes alternative training spaces for physical activities and sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of generalization of engagement in parkour from physical education (PE) to organized and supervised recess on voluntary participation and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Method: Children received a 6-day parkour unit in PE and every two lessons they could voluntarily participate in 20-min parkour recess. Fourteen elementary school classes constituting 281 children (8-10 years old) and 16 PE teachers were randomized to either three supervised or three organized parkour recess sessions. During supervised recess, PE teachers supervised to ensure safety, and children could play freely on the parkour landscape. During organized recess, PE teachers provided instructional tasks as well as supervision for safety on the parkour landscape. The parkour landscape in the gymnasium was identical in both recess conditions and similar to previous parkour landscape in PE. Participation and MVPA were measured using systematic observation.Results: Significantly more children from organized compared to supervised recess participated in all three sessions (60% vs. 43%, p = .008, V = .16). Children showed significantly less sedentary behavior (24% vs. 30%, p = .013, η2 = .063) and more MVPA (76% vs. 70%, p = .012, η2 = .066) during organized compared to supervised recess. The proportion of total MVPA spent doing parkour was significantly higher in organized compared to supervised recess for low- (36% vs. 24%, p = .005, η2 = .082) and high-skilled children (33% vs. 26%, p = .034, η2 = .048).Conclusion: Generalization of engagement in parkour was higher in organized compared to supervised recess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Practising a power-type activity over years can shape the neuromuscular profile of athletes. This study aimed at comparing the neuromuscular profile of a non-trained group (NT, n = 10) to power athletes practising Parkour (= traceurs, group PK, n = 11), an activity consisting of jumping obstacles mostly in an urban landscape.Methods: Maximal isometric plantar flexion force (MVC) and rate of torque development (RTD) were evaluated, and neuromuscular function of triceps surae muscles was assessed and compared between groups through the analysis of evoked potentials from posterior tibial nerve stimulation.Results: PK group exhibited higher MVC force (131.3 ± 8.7 Nm) than NT (110.4 ± 9.6 Nm, P = 0.03) and higher RTD (489.1 ± 93 Nm/s) than NT (296.9 ± 81 Nm/s). At a nervous level, this greater performance was related to a greater voluntary activation level (PK: 96.8 ± 3.6%; NT: 91.5 ± 7.7%; P = 0.02) and soleus V-wave amplitude (P = 0.03), and a lower antagonist co-activation (P = 0.02) and rest soleus spinal excitability (PK Hmax/Mmax: 0.32 ± 0.13; NT: 0.58 ± 0.17; P < 0.001). At a muscular level, PK group exhibited higher mechanical twitch amplitude (PK: 13.42 ± 3.52 Nm; NT: 9.86 ± 4.38 Nm; P = 0.03) and electromechanical efficiency (P = 0.04).Conclusions: The greater maximal force production capacity of traceurs compared to untrained was underlain by nervous factors, such as greater descending command and greater ability to modulate the spinal excitability, but also by muscular factors such as greater excitation-contraction coupling efficiency. The high eccentric loads that characterize Parkour training may have led traceurs to exhibit such neuromuscular profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk perception of parents and/or guardians of a group of beginner traceurs before and after parkour practice. Although the existing information about it was limited and had numerous distortions, it was successfully executed. This research has been carried out from interviews applied to 15 parents/guardians before and after a program of parkour practice. To this end, the sessions were recorded and subsequently viewed with the parents, creating a discussion forum. From the first interviews, in which almost all the parents had had the view that it was a very dangerous activity until the last interview, most of the interviewees changed their opinion, thinking that the risk of parkour depended mostly on its use by the person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Parkour is a physical activity based on a proposal of Natural method (NM) and the Parcours Du Combattant (PDC). The aim was to review the historical aspects, and prime characteristics of the modality Parkour. George Hébert was the creator of MN, against the gymnastics and sports expertise. He has published the base of MN, using natural gestures and full physical development. The PDC idealized by Raymond Belle was adapted from MN and military training base. David Belle continued the legacy of his father, based on the concept that training should be applicable to real life and extreme situations. We concluded that the conceptual and historical aspects of Parkour are determinant to define its identity within the physical education's area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we consider the development of parkour in the South of England and its use in public policy debates and initiatives around youth, physical activity and risk. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews with participants and those involved in the development of parkour in education, sport policy and community-based partnerships, we explore the potential of parkour to engage communities, particularly those traditionally excluded from mainstream sport and physical education provision. We discuss how the perceived success of parkour in these different contexts is related to the culture and ethos of the activity that is more inclusive, anticompetitive and less rule-bound than most traditional sports, and to its ability to provide managed risk-taking. More broadly, the article highlights the emergence of lifestyle sports as tools for policymakers and the potential role these nontraditional, non-institutionalized lifestyle sports can make in terms of encouraging youth engagement, physical health and well-being. Our article therefore contributes to ongoing debates about the (in)ability of traditional sports to meet government targets for sport and physical activity participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality Physical Education should instigate and support all learners to develop into a lifelong participant in a way which upkeeps their own health, fitness, and well-being. There are, however, an ever-increasing number of children who drop out of participating in physical activities at the earliest opportunity, leading to an increase in sedentary lifestyles and a rise in childhood obesity. It is evidence such as this which indicates Physical Education, specifically in England, is not currently appropriate for all and requires change. To attempt to make the subject a more positive experience for all and to inspire lifelong involvement, varying the curriculum and including alternative activities for pupils might tap into useful wider cultures. This paper discusses the emergence of alternative sports, the challenges and synergies of implementation, and focuses on what could work and why. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]