What Is Parkour? A Beginner's Guide for Parents and Kids

If your child has watched parkour videos online, or you are curious about it yourself, you probably have a few questions. What is parkour, exactly? Is it just jumping off buildings? And what does it look like in a real gym?

Parkour in one sentence

Parkour is the art of moving through an environment efficiently and with control. Athletes learn to jump, vault, climb, balance, and land safely, then link those movements together into smooth lines.

What you actually practice

In a coached gym, parkour is built from a handful of fundamentals:

• Landing and rolling: how to absorb impact and fall safely.
• Jumping and precision: hitting a target with both feet, controlled and quiet.
• Vaulting: getting over obstacles using hands and body position.
• Climbing and hanging: building grip and upper body strength.
• Balance: moving confidently on rails and narrow surfaces.

Is it the same as freerunning?

They are close cousins. Parkour is about getting from A to B efficiently. Freerunning adds flow and creativity. Most athletes enjoy both, and many classes teach the skills together. We cover the difference in our guide to freerunning.

Why kids love it

Parkour is not a team sport with a bench. Everyone moves the whole class. Progress is personal, so a beginner and an experienced athlete can train side by side and both be challenged.

How to start

You do not need experience, special shoes, or to be "athletic." Coaches meet each athlete where they are. If you are not sure where to begin, our Get Started page walks through each age group, and the first youth intro class is free for ages 7 to 16.