Keeping parkour rivalry-free : JOIN IN ! Rating Options

[Hebertiste]

Attention to all people who legitimately oppose the introduction of competition in parkour.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_brit...icle2472154.ece

M2 wrote :

It is not set yet, we are working on the format.

I'd personally like to address all three.

1. Make a challenge of obstacles that can be traversed quickly using basic movements. Competition is "straight time". This is most similar to Parkour, if not identical to Parkour's purpose.

2. Using the same course ideas, increase some of the obstacles size / range to be gradually increasing in difficulty. Of course paddign / safety measures may be needed to create something where "attempting until failure" can still be safe, IE: failure doesn't = injury.

3. A format similar to a skateboarding ramp competition, an open multidimensional course where participants can do gymnastic / acrobatic moves combined with the moves common to Parkour (catleaps, tic-tacs, underbars). Contestants would be given a set time (2 minutes?) and be judged by a panel.

4. A few other ideas that will develop as this goes further, these ideas will be specifically incorporated to foster "team spirit" and comradery VS all out competitive spirit.


All ideas are welcome.

IMPOSTURE :

The act or instance of engaging in deception under an assumed name or identity.




At some point in parkour "history," actually not long ago, many people in the community were willing to accept and have everyone accept the idea of acrobatics as part of parkour.
Even though the non-utility acrobatic movements are not part of the purpose of parkour, they had their own arguments trying to convince the rest of the community and many conflicts and arguments arose.
One of their arguments was that we had nothing to worry about since we'd remain free to not flip if we didn't want to!
But we simply knew acrobatics was not a part of parkour and at no time could it be accepted as a part of it.
It wasn't about debating the benefits of training acrobatics and the freedom
for anyone to train and perform them.
It was simply to have them understand it wasn't and couldn't be part of parkour, ever. And that they had no right to portray parkour as involving artistic movements and their training as part of the purpose of parkour, since it would obviously affect the image of parkour and the way it is trained.
By strongly standing against, we made it not happen and therefore preserved
the utility and original meaning and essence of parkour.
By doing this we preserved the correct overall perception and image of parkour in the population and in the media.

We stood against and it worked.


We're now facing the same issue.
Many in the parkour community are discussing their own arguments and they're also using the very same argument, telling us we're free to not compete!
Remind you of something?
Just like it wasn't about discussing if acrobatics are good or bad, this is not a discussion about whether competition is good or bad.
Acrobatics are not part of parkour.
Competition is not part of parkour.

I don't need anyone to tell me I am free not to compete. I practice parkour partly because it's a rivalry free discipline. I will not accept a few individuals redefining parkour to suit their goals when it is clear what they are pursuing is contrary to what parkour is.
I want to know that parkour will keep rivalry free.
It is not just a great concern like people thinking parkour includes acrobatics.
It is a MUCH GREATER CONCERN.
It is about our right to preserve parkour from not only being portrayed, but also practiced, in a way that is OPPOSITE to its very essence: which is non-competitive, and rivalry free.

We did not accept the argument that parkour was aesthetically driven as well as utility driven, because one was original and the other was not.
We also cannot accept competition as part of parkour because it is antagonistic to the values of parkour
Because parkour is non-competitive.
Because the practice of similar movements but for a different purpose and with an OPPOSITE mindset must bear a different name.

For many years now I've understood that "fighting" FOR the reality you want is always much better than fighting AGAINST the reality you dislike.
So far, the parkour community has affirmed that parkour is non-competitive, but probably not enough, because there seemed to be no actual threat so far. There is clearly a threat now, it was stated and affirmed, by two commercial websites which are APK and UFF.
Sometimes it's good, and simply necessary, to say NO. In order to fight FOR the reality you want and the one you have and want to preserve, you need to fight against and show and fierce resistance, NOW and until that threat exists.

A few people, pretending to have a great understanding of parkour, are promoting values that show a total misunderstanding of parkour, and also a true disrespect for the discipline and its practitioners.
If they succeed with their plans, they are going to be responsible for a great DILUTION of parkour. That will create a new community of competitive people illegitimately calling what they do "parkour" simply because they will train the same movements, even though they neither understand nor respect the original ethics.
If they succeed they're going to dilute the original parkour, a rivalry free discipline, into a competitive sport that pushes people to fight against others for the satisfaction of a crowd and the benefits of a few businesspeople.
They also might be responsible for creating a DIVISION in the current parkour community.
The outcome of the current issue will greatly depend on the capacity of the community to resist and again to collectively stand against these plans to modify, alter and hijack the original philosophy of parkour.

"Freestyle parkour" didn't happen.
It's up to us to make sure "competitive parkour" shares the same fate.
We have to act now before it's too late and before the few decide for us all.

Show your opposition whenever and wherever it is possible.
Don't loose time and energy debating about competition itself anymore.
Indeed competition can bring positive as well as negative outcomes, we all know that, so it's not being against any form of competition, but about being against competition in parkour. As for "parkour in competition," it's simply nonsense. Parkour isn't only a set of movements, but training capacities of movement with a rivalry free philosophy.
You can enter any competition and use the physical and mental capacities and condition you got thanks to your parkour training, but as soon as you start competing, your mindset has already left the mindset that parkour demands: rivalry free.
As soon as you want to beat others, parkour ends. That's because parkour is above all about ethics, and an ethics which does not condone rivalry.
It means that any event based on people competing against each other cannot be called parkour.
It also means that someone competing in any kind of competitive event cannot be using "parkour." That person is only using capacities developed through parkour, but not with the mindset that parkour demands.
I do not believe the argument either about how other disciplines or sports
evolved to competition. Parkour is unique. Parkour is non-competitive, it is not even an option, it is part of its very core philosophy to not only be non-competitive, but also to avoid and stand against rivalry.

So my advice and suggestions:

First, don't buy the illusion that it is "inevitable." It is not, but it is what they want you to believe in order to weaken your resistance. They also count on your own curiosity for their future events. If the whole community stands against it, and make it VISIBLE we are against them, it's going to be a very BIG obstacle for those people convincing the media their intentions are accepted or approved by the community they're supposed to be "leaders" of. It will just show that what they do is an imposture, not the real discipline. Sponsors are very reluctant to invest money in events that might be counterproductive in term of advertising.

Second, just OPPOSE the introduction of competition in parkour, just like you opposed the introduction of acrobatics in parkour. Just say no; just tell them you don't want those competitions. Don't get fooled by their rhetoric. Keep in mind it's above all a great way for them to be in a position to be leaders of a commercialized discipline and make money, not to help a genuine community committed to the discipline's original ethics. Competitions and acrobatics can be good, but NOT in parkour, because it opposes what parkour is.
Oppose it wherever and whenever you can on forums, register to express this opposition right on their boards if necessary, and don't let those people promoting competition let people believe it's "ok" because it is not. It is a betrayal of the true nature of parkour.


Third, DEMAND they call their event something other than "parkour," because the movements without the parkour spirit of non-rivalry is simply not parkour anymore and therefore what their sport would be an imposture.

Fourth, make an anti-competition signature of your own, like:
"Keep parkour free of competition"
"Parkour is a rivalry free discipline",
"Competing is not a parkour value"
or such.

Fifth, put a "pro-rivalry FREE" or "anti-parkour competition" announcement on your personal blog or community website.
You can use the one made by TK17 and myself if you wish.
Make it visible everywhere; competition won't be tolerated within the community.

Sixth, they may tell you they don't intend to call their event "parkour" something. I say don't even tolerate the promotion of competitive events, existing or not, on parkour websites. It is the seed of confusion, alteration and dilution of the conception of parkour, and oppose it wherever and whenever you find it.


FORCE them to RESPECT the philosophy of parkour and therefore to respect
you.
There's no negotiation possible with people that pretend to understand
parkour while trying to justify and impose plans that stand against parkours philosophy and therefore stand against the parkour community itself.
Their so-called "freedom" to make parkour competitive is simply thinking
that "parkour is whatever you want it to be."
But there is more: this freedom is denying our own freedom to preserve the rivalry-free philosophy in parkour. Defending the non-competitive essence of parkour is natural and legitimate. It is our freedom. Their "freedom" is just an imposture.
I don't believe they should be free to hijack parkour for their own benefit
by DESTROYING the very essence of parkour.
If they succeed, it will be impossible to seriously teach and spread parkour as non-competitive.
Another kind of practice will spread that may be called parkour, but that won't hold its essence anymore.

One last thing..."imposture" is an act of deception.
Now that they affirmed they do plan competitive events, they're not deceiving us anymore indeed.
But by showing many people parkour is about competing, they engage in a massive act of global deception of all people that don't know parkour yet.
That is an extremely serious issue for parkour.


Yes, I do believe it is as serious as that.

STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT TO KEEP PARKOUR RIVALRY FREE.

[Google Bot]

[Hebertiste]

Here's the text TK17 and myself wrote.
It is free for you to use.


This community supports PARKOUR, not COMPETITION - Run Without Rivals

The members of this community stand firmly against the idea of organized parkour competition. Our reasons:

1.
We don't believe in elites.
We don't believe in any form of selection among practitioners.
We don't believe in the necessity of any form of hierarchy of performance among practitioners.
We believe to be "the best" doesn't mean anything in parkour, because winning or losing don't mean anything in parkour philosophy.
We do not accept such a drive as part of the parkour philosophy.

Instead, we believe the drive to train should always and only come from within.
We strive to be stronger for ourselves and others, not against people, but with and for others.
Therefore, we reject and disregard any form of rivalry between practitioners.
Instead, we value mutual respect and solidarity in making progress as individuals and as a community.

2.
We believe it stands against the philosophy of parkour to compete to win or earn anything that is not part of parkour values, such as medals, prizes, trophies, money, fame, recognition, or glory.
Same goes about showing off for a crowd.

Instead, we look for priceless and beneficial outcomes to our actions.
We also look for benefits we all can share.
We are givers, not takers.

3. Competition encourages the unready to sacrifice their health for early victories, or to reach a ranking that has no true meaning.
It forces elite competitors to constantly and repeatedly endanger their most precious good, health, because of obsession and obligation of victory, and whatever is at stake as a direct consequence of it, including money, rank or status, pride, and also professional or sponsoring contracts and profitable commercial deals.
It leads competitive practitioners to unbalance their training and focus only on the specific skills needed to win, leading to chronic injuries.
Despite official denials, doping is most of the time involved in every level of competition, that money is involved or not.
We believe the physical consequences of competing at high level goes against the philosophy of parkour which emphasizes on moderation and the necessity of enduring.

Instead, parkour is a humble, patient and lifelong discipline, and the human body requires incremental conditioning to ensure its resistance and longevity.
Moderation is a truly important value of parkour and an indispensable quality in order to preserve oneself and for the body to endure.
Therefore, we reject whatever goes against moderation and that impairs the body.

4. Parkour doesn't belong to corporations, sponsors, medias, and people sitting at home to watch.
We believe we must not accept activities and plans that are abusively called parkour, that misuse its name and hijack its image to draw public and medias attention to something that is NOT parkour, despite the resistance of the majority of the community against such intentions.

Instead, we affirm parkour is a non-competitive discipline that belong to all practitioners, to the local communities, to the teams and friends, and to the human race as a whole.
We believe we must stand together against ambitions that do not reflect the original philosophy of parkour and that are disrespectful to the parkour philosophy and the parkour community.



Competition is not inevitable - it is just another obstacle! Support original parkour, keep our discipline free!

[Zorak]

lol..parkour being similar to skating,bmx and rollerblading....ahahaha

not just that it is a stupid idea, Id be bored to hell watching that...Id rather go watching monkeys in a zoo or something like that if I would want to watch someone jumping around

[geo5]

Hebertiste wrote:

FORCE them to RESPECT the philosophy of parkour

I have run over this issue with some deep thoughts. If a lone (solitaire) act is still possible, then it shall be done :chinese:

Keep up the resistance my fellow Jedi's ... but remember, action USUALLY speak louder than words.


Ps. NO VIOLENCE!! We do not need to sink to their level fighting for this cause.

[jin]

Great post to inform what we can actively do Erwan, it does have to start now and the resistance has to be constant and shouted from the community.
Start defending now and make your voice heard, dont be passive about it.

[Manu]

Thanks Erwan.
I will translate it into german and spread it.
I'm thinking of starting a petition against the event of "parcouring", a german parkour competition currently being planned.

[thebutton]

First and foremost we must LEAD BY EXAMPLE. it's not enough to simply say stuff, although that still has an effect, we must cultivate a culture of altruism and humility. DON'T let the 'inevitable' bring you down:

1. Know that all significant change throughout history has occurred not because of nations, armies, governments and certainly not committees. They happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals. People like Joan of Ark, Albert Einstein, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Rosa Parks. They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.

2. Believe that you have a unique purpose and potential in the world. It's not so much something to create as to be discovered. And it's up to you to discover it. Believe that you can and will make a difference.

3. Recognize that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak-or DON'T speak--counts. Nothing is trivial. The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.

4. To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be loud. You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to be elected. You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed.

5. Take personal responsibility. Never think "it's not my job". It's a cop-out to say, "What can I do, I'm only one person." You don't need everyone's cooperation or anyone's permission to make changes. Remember this little gem, "If it's to be, it's up to me."

6. Don't get caught up in the how of things. If you're clear on what you want to change and why you want to change it, the how will come. Many significant things have been left undone because someone let the problem solving interfere with the decision-making.

7. Don't wait for things to be right in order to begin. Change is messy. Things will never be just right. Follow Teddy Roosevelt's timeless advice, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

8. The genesis for change is awareness. We cannot change what we don't acknowledge. Most of the time, we aren't aware of what's wrong or what's not working. We don't see what could be. By becoming more aware, we begin the process of change.

9. Take to heart these words from Albert Einstein--arguably one of the smartest change masters who ever lived: "All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge."

10. In order for things to change, YOU have to change. We can't change others; we can only change ourselves. However, when WE change, it changes everything. And in doing so, we truly can be the change we want to see in the world.

[Jester]

1. thanks to Hebertiste for his tremendous engagement - I think too, that it is very important !

2. @Manu: would like to help - but don`t know how it would work.
If you look up wiki for "petition" you will see that it is a lot of paper work and would be very complicated to get through with - and the question remains if anybody takes notice ... (see the info on how they put online petition on an Edinburgh server - to click for signing the petition. They say that it looks rather suspicious, if you you have to answer to a mail that you think would come from "Deutscher Bundestag" or smth like that.)
But maybe if you explain it properly to people than it could work.
Is it actually possible to stop that parcouring-world-championship by such a petition?!
Anyway would like to help - I saw the qualifikation-run - as you can see I'm from Wuppertal - don't have that knowledge of technique ... but it was very obvious that they are missing some essentials and they let newbies do high - level - jumps.

Greetings

[Manu]

I thought about an online petition.
they probably won't stop, but it'll at least be a counter against it. It'll reduce their chances for $$ and success, and that's worth it, I guess.

[Hebertiste]

Manu I don't think a petition is the right thing to do.
A petition is usually intended to prove a higher authority the support of many against something, but in this case, it's moreover the pro-competition people that should make a petition !
Plus anyone can sign up a petition and the result of it doesn't show lots.

I believe we above all need to make it very VISIBLE that parkour is a "rivalry-free" discipline.
It is more "pro" and less "anti". But it might prove efficient.
If it is visible everywhere and in a constant manner, by everyone that believe keeping parkour free of rivalry is an important concern, it will have a much greater impact than a petition that will not be always visible, and that people might forget.
On the contrary, all visible "rivalry free parkour" statements and signatures will continuously deliver the right, affirming, positive and legitimate message.

I don't have a personal parkour website or blog, so the only thing I can do is to encourage people to post such statements on theirs.
Also I added a specific signature to my usual one as seen below.

To edit your signature :
http://parkour.net/parkour/newbb/viewtopic...d=8200&forum=48

[Manu]

I'd think the petition would mainly be useful by attracting the media and sponsors, if they dig a little.

ps:
http://parkour.net/parkour/newbb/viewtopic...d=8200&forum=48

[Jis]

perhaps someone can design some small logo. :


or



It can be useful to immediately authentify one person against without reading all his contribs on forums etc...

[Soilwork]

I am really glad to see people standing for parkour values, fighting for what they believe, i really think we can't stop competitions in way or another, but we can try to show people how true Parkour is, and does it stand for.

i will post something in my personal blog, and the parkourbr blog which is one of the biggest in Brazil, also, post something at brazilian association website.

[Hebertiste]

Way to go Beto ;-) :super:

[Soilwork]

I've already posted in these places, about
20.000 of brazilians which access these sites will be able to understand why we don't support competitions.

Brazilian Parkour Association
http://www.abpk.com.br

My personal blog
http://selfsoilwork.blogspot.com/

brazilian blog which is one of the most important
http://parkourbr.blogspot.com/

Parkour.NET brazilian forum
http://parkour.net/parkour/newbb/viewtopic...orumpost139340&

[AlekTricity]

Jesus Christ, I've registered just because of this topic!
I knew that eventually cash-hungry corporate scavengers would turn to this in order to bring in the horny kids that are fascinated by flips and high-jumps.

This wouldn't concern me if it were a freeruning, urban freeflow, urban freestyle or a pie-baking contest but THE NAME PARKOUR SYMBOLIZES PARKOUR!

You can not alter even the slightest bit of it's philosophy because it is the soul and spirit of parkour!
I am going to take action on every forum that I'm registered on and take up defence against this blasphemy, I plead every traceur here does the same thing.

[thebutton]

thanks for the idea jis, I've made a banner for people to use (see my sig: to add it to your own sig you need to go to http://parkour.net/edituser.php after you log in)

now i know it's only an 'internet thing' and so won'y make that much of a difference, but it should help build up momentum. I'm thinking of seeing how many people on scpk will copy the sig from me and then getting t-shirts printed for people to wear to training sessions to spread the word.

[Hebertiste]

AlexTricity, WELCOME here and great first post ;-) !

Jis, that was a GREAT idea.

TheButton, you're a hero :-).
Actually the logo idea is just great because what we need is VISIBILITY.
It's the worst thing for the parkour businesspeople trying to sell their idea to the "cash-hungry corporate scavengers" (:-D) that a real global protest is made ACTIVE and VISIBLE.
It is a "live" petition. Add it to your sig and that petition is signed up and for everyone to see.

[thebutton]

thankyou

here's a smaller version for people who don't like to be so blatent:

[giant]

Statement now translated to Norwegian, It will be on the front page of our website(www.parkour.no) tomorrow unless anyone has a problem with it. I`ll try to spread the signature too.