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,

Parkour has nothing to do with gymnastics,

Parkour is not a “street” sport

The good thing is that you do not need special shoes or clothes, in order to practice it! But you need to be clear on something – the boys and girls who practice it, should not be called “parkourers,” because it is offending to them but “traceurs” or “traceuses.”

The place where they practice in Athens is the wooden benches at the Athens University building, which are a high construction made from wood and steel. There I met Hristos (noxteryn), Eva (phoenix), Stefania (LyNx), Eleana (elanor), Dionisis (Kira) and Stefanos (Eon), who were kind enough to answer to all of my questions connected to parkour.

Since when does parkour exist in Greece?

Hrostos: I started practicing in July 2005 and then I met 2-3 people here in Greece who were also practicing parkour.

Stefanos: We can never know for sure when this sport started in Greece.

But you are the most organized ones. I couldn’t find another website for traceurs…

Stefanos: in 2007 we organized the first official online community and slowly, slowly we increased – now we have over 1000 members…

Are most of them Athenians or there are traceurs in other cities around Greece?

Stefanos: Most of them are in Athens and Thessaloniki but there are people also in other cities and in Patra.

When do you organize meetings?

Stefanos: We practice whenever it is convenient for everybody. For example, in Thessaloniki we have practices three times per week.

Do you go to specific places?

Stefanos: Yes, we go to places, which are convenient for beginners and for advances traceurs. The eye of an experienced traceur can evaluate the place in a more difficult way as opposed to the eye of a beginner and this way the beginner can be taught. In Thessaloniki we usually gather either at the university or in front of Saint Sophia church. In Athens there is one place in the Polytechnic University, which is convenient or at the playground near Saint Kosma.

What are some of the first steps of a beginner?

Stefanos: He or she needs to have had some sport experience, because he or she needs to have physical endurance. Parkour is based on gymnastics – legs and hands need to be strong. Lifting weights, gymnastics and martial arts help. You cannot be weak and start practicing parkour. The first thing we would make him or her do is to do some exercises for physical strength.

From what age can children practice parkour?

Stefanos: We would say from about 16-17, so that some of your character traits can be developed.

Hristos: No, there are also some ten year olds, who are great.

Stefanos: Yes, there are always exceptions. Children, who read and are self-aware, can do fine. But statistically, the one who practice the sport the most in Greece start from 16, 17 years old.

Are parents worried?

Stefanos: In the mind of every parents, there is the idea that parkour is a dangerous sport and it is true – this is outdoor exercise. So parents tell their kids to be careful, they can even forbid them to come. As a whole, it depends on the child how he would tell his parents what he is doing and whether the parents will trust him. We have had cases where parents come here to meet us and ask us what we are doing with their children.

How did you start practicing?

Hristos: By accident. First I saw a movie on TV by Luc Besson – “Yamakasi.” Anyway, I did not start right after that but I got the idea in my mind. I was always interested in climbing on the roofs… Well, I started reading and learning more about it and I liked the idea.

Stefanos: Most people start like that – they find out about the sport from the media, they see a movie, a jump that they liked, they put “parkour” into a search engine, read and learn.

How long has this sport been existing?

Hristos: With this name is exists from 1998 but before that – for 20 years. When I started practicing parkour, I found out that many people did not know what it is, because the sport was new in Greece and all around the world. This is why I created a website, where people can enter and read what parkour is and what it is not.

Do you really jump from roof to roof?

Stefanos: I will make a comparison for you with martial arts. Imagine that someone is practicing martial arts. He does not kill people, in order to practice but he learns how to defend himself. Those techniques can teach him how to kill but he will not go outside and do it. So if we need to do it – if we are on a roof and there is no other way to get out of there, because a helicopter brought us – imagine how unbelievable this is (laughing)…we would do it. But imagine if you are missing the bus and you need to run fast and you need to overcome an obstacle on your way. This is what we learn – more useful things.

Hristos: It is like learning to drive a car – you learn, so you can go around and not to drive like a crazy person with 200km/h.

 Is this the use of this sport? To catch a bus?

Stefanos: You can gain a lot by practicing parkour. This is also part of the philosophy of the sport. The goal, of course, is to become better, to have better results and to become faster.

How do you protect yourselves from injuries?

Stefanos: As stronger you are and as self-conscious you are, the sport is safer. First you need to check the place where you are practicing...to see whether something can break during the jump.

Do you practice around the city – for example to start from Syntagma and to get to Monastiraki as fast as you can?

Stafanos: What you are saying, we have done and it is called a route. If it is really necessary…

Why do you say “if it is really necessary”?

Stefanos: We are like ants. When we are in the city and we like a place, we can stay there for 30 minutes ot an hour, so we can have fun. Everybody thinks we are just stupid things but it is not like that. after that we will continue until we like another place.

What is the best place you have found?

Stefanos: I can imagine that the best place in somewhere around the Orient but I have never been there. For me the best place is at the University.

What is your relationship with the police?

Stefanos: There were cases where they had made a remark and then we stop. We would never go to an archeological site to practice. We are trying to discover places, where there would be less reasons for someone to tell us to leave. For example stairs – there you can do 5-6 basic exercises and it is hard for someone to tell you to leave.

What do you do in order to improve as traceurs?

Hristos: We improve from the feedback of the people in the website, because they ask us questions. There are things we had not thought of. Otherwise, we read a lot about how to practice, what techniques to use, in order not to get hurt, how to climb a wall..

How many people should practice together?

Hristos: In my opinion it is good to be two or three, otherwise the practice turns into a game and you cannot concentrate.

Is parkour an extreme sport?

Stefanos: Extreme sport aim to increase adrenalin. To feel the result of it on your body. The practice in parkour is not so tough.

Hristos: Because parkour is useful and extreme sports are not – for example bungee jumping.

Stefanos: The statement that parkour is an extreme sport, you would hear from some people, who want to deify it, to give qualities to it that it does not have, to say that it is more than it actually is.

What are the levels of difficulty?

Hristos: It depends on the person. You can be working in an office and to be happy that you can do few things and you can be a professional by practicing every day and to want to participate in movies and commercials. It depends how far you want to go.

Thank you and I wish you to become even better!