Determining the Social and Psychological Reasons for the Emergence of Parkour and Free Running – an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Dr
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International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:15 No:02 34 Determining The Social and Psychological Reasons for The Emergence of Parkour and Free Running – An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Dr. Mathew Wallace Girne American University, University Drive, Head of Sport Recreation North Cyprus via Mersin 10 Turkey [email protected] 0090 533 853 4877 Dr. RukiyeKilili Girne American University, University Drive, Tourism and Hospitality Management, North Cyprus via Mersin 10 Turkey [email protected] 0090 533 834 8510 Abstract-- Parkour and free running are newly emerged high Index Term-- Parkour, free running, self-improvement, risk urbanised activities still relatively understudied. They don’t endurance, discipline, strength, Flexibility and balance. appear to be subject to rules and regulations with aims and objectives being unclear. There are no distinct signs of competition and yet competitors are extremely trained, highly 1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE ordered, thriving on the danger and adrenaline participation produces. The participants perform dangerous gymnastic It was discovered during the planning and evaluation stage movements utilising awkward obstacles without the use of that parkour and free running were new urbanised activities protective clothing and don’t appear to be concerned with the that had few or no rules at all. No one appeared to be welfare of people in the vicinity. The activities are associated controlling the flow of the activities with aims and objectives with self-improvement, endurance, discipline, strength, flexibility being unclear (The Independent, 11th November 2008). There and balance. Parkour and free running videos are frequently were no obvious signs of competition and yet competitors posted on the self-broadcast website, YouTube. Here participants were highly trained, highly organised, thriving on the danger can be seen leaping from high buildings, climbing walls and and adrenaline it produced. The participants seek out danger jumping between handrails. This study presents the results of a phenomenological study of eight parkour and free running by jumping up and down awkward obstacles without the use participants. A systematic IPA procedure was incorporated into of any protective clothing and don‟t appear to be concerned the study to enter into a participant’s reality to obtain with pedestrians in close proximity (The Independent, 11th experiences of parkour and free running. November 2008). The activities are heavy on discipline, self- Through IPA interviews participants describe their experiences improvement, endurance, strength, flexibility and balance. of the phenomenon being studied. It was discovered that Sebastian Foucan (founder of free running) performed participation provides emotional, physical and psychological impressive stunts on Casino Royale, the James Bond remake. development, health benefits, the development of new skills (e.g., David Belle (founder of parkour) performs complex parkour pushing personal boundaries), an increased sense of moves in Luc Bessons‟s film, District 13. Madonna (world individuality, an opportunity to acquire status and develop a new famous singer/entertainer) hired a group of free runners to personal identity, the generation of personal meaning perform during a recent tour (The Independent, 22nd April (philosophy, spirituality and aesthetics) and an increased sense of 2007). David Belle would like to see it included in the belonging (distinct group norms, subculturally shared Olympics. The founder of free running, Sebastian Foucan experiences and a unique sense of authenticity). explains that parkour emphasises efficiency whilst free The participants explained that they were initially motivated by running embodies complete freedom of movement and thrill seeking, risk, improved health and enjoyment. They includes many acrobatic manoeuvres (The Independent, 11th asserted that participation provides physical and mental training, a sense of mastery and personal challenge. Regular practise and November 2008). He adds, “both are physical art forms that commitment furnishes a participant with a sense of being in the have aesthetically pleasing ways of moving through structures present and a deepened sense of spirituality and enjoyment. The with focus on freedom and beauty”. unique characteristics of parkour and free running (e.g., Urban Freeflow, based in the UK is one of the world's premier philosophy, environment, spirituality, perception and aesthetics) free running organisations. EZ (one of the founders of this are linked to the characteristics of extreme sport which indicates organisation) confirms that the activity has more than four that parkour and free running are part of a counter culture. thousand followers in Britain and twenty thousand worldwide. 152502-7474- IJBAS-IJENS @ April 2015 IJENS I J E N S International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:15 No:02 35 He says that it is one of the most spectacular activities to explore and document the emergence of parkour and free emerge in recent years because of its “raw” element (The running. Indpendent, 22nd April 2007). Britain has a growing number of free running training centres and after-school classes in most cities. Dvir Rozen, the twenty six year-old leader of the 3 LITERATURE REVIEW: PARKOUR AND FREE RUNNING Israel Parkour Team (Jerusalem Post, 17th Jan 2008, p. 2) Academic research into parkour focuses on parkour as a form explains, “There are so many negative influences and of collaborative learning (O‟Grady, 2012); aesthetic temptations out there - alcohol, drugs, etc - so it's great to see performance and personal freedom (Ameel and Tani, 2011); kids being pulled away from negativity and toward something parkour as a form of environmentalism (Atkinson, 2009); the positive, to something with purpose”. Parkour and free relationship between the activity and the environment running are globally experienced phenomenon, but how they (Daskalaki et al., 2008) and injuries caused through are encountered and what they mean to a participant is participation (Miller and Demoiny, 2008; Mclean et al., 2006). something only they could articulate with any validity. O‟Grady (2012) interviewed participants aged between sixteen and thirty two years old over a six month period in 2011 using Implementing a phenomenological methodology enabled the semi-structured interviews. O‟Grady (2012) argues for researcher to enter into a participants reality to obtain their parkour to be used as a form of situated learning which is experience of the phenomenon being investigated (Laverty, when the learning that takes place occurs in the same context 2008). No formal attempts had been made to explain the in which it is applied. Ameel and Tani (2011) implemented recent emergence of parkour and free running; “Sport has in-depth interviews with participants in Finland, Helsinki, and been a hitherto under-explored field of enquiry for mainstream Jyvasklia. They found that participants were inspired by social scientists and global study specialists” (Giulianotti and environments that had solid structures with different height Robertson, 2007). The research strategy devised by the that had a good grip. Concrete was found to be the most researcher for this study generates new knowledge on what suitable material and often it was the dull areas that were was an under investigated, hidden and profound topic. considered as being useful. Atkinson (2009) conducted an ethnographic study with twelve participants in Toronto, Research Aim Canada and conducted open ended interviews on their experiences of being involved. Atkinson (2009) explored To determine the major social and parkour as an urban environmental movement and he draws psychological reasons for the emergence of on Heidegger's (1977) critique of technology and parkour and free running as urban activities. Schopenhauer‟s (1903) understanding of the will to interpret Research Objectives the practice of parkour as a form of urban deconstruction. Parkour has been described as a counter culture, a philosophy, an art form, a sport, a discipline, a leisure activity and an To explore the emergence of parkour and free emerging anarcho-environmental movement (O‟Grady, 2012). running as an alternative activity to traditional Bavinton (2007, p. 393) describes parkour as a form of physical activity. creative play that reinterprets the city as a place of playful To identify the major social reasons for the possibility and about revealing the inner child and taking the emergence of parkour and free running. interesting way rather than the easiest route. Rawlinson and To identify the major psychological reasons for Guralda (2011, p. 21) say it is a declaration of creative the emergence of parkour and free running. potential and the playing with the spirit of mankind. Atkinson (2009) explains that parkour is an expression of concern towards the capitalist city and its impact on society, culture, 2 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY spirituality and environmental ethics. Atkinson (2009) says IPA is concerned with understanding experiences and that it is a physical cultural practise of criticism that seeks to meanings with language being the tool used to describe highlight the contradictions prevalent in modern society. experiences (Smith, 2004). It might be that a person possesses Atkinson (2009) attributes Georges Hebert's natural method of a wealth of experience but has limited ability in articulating physical exercise as being where