Parkour and freerunning have always been used interchangeably, but they’re two entirely different things. One relies on speed and agility, the other brings aesthetic movement into the mix. Both are thrilling sports that can be practiced professionally, with opportunities for wagers on GGBet.
Still, despite them being technically different, one can’t help but wonder how they’re assessed in a competition. After all, they do share common ground in plenty of ways. This article will tell you how competitions evaluate them, with an emphasis on the differences.
Parkour and Freerunning at a Glance: Origins and Style
Parkour first came into being during the late 80s and early 90s, mostly implemented by David Belle and the Yamakasi Group. David learned the basics from his father’s military training methods, using his skills to act as a stuntman instead.
He then joined the Yamakasi, who combined their passion for martial arts with the desire to be as effective in their movements as possible.
The point of parkour was to get from point A to point B with as little unnecessary motion as possible. It aimed to be a practical and efficient transport movement that relied on your power to get past obstacles. All jumps and movements were fluent, with no fancy flips or jumps added for the sake of style.
Freerunning came sometime after that, in the late 90s, developed by Sebastien Foucan. He believed that parkour should become a form of art and wanted to turn it into something more creative.
Freerunning was developed as a result of that, featuring a lot of flips, aerial tricks, and stylish movements. The sport was no longer just practical; it became a form of personal expression.
How Judges Assess Competition
Parkour and freerunning may look similar in some aspects, but it’s mostly during competitions that the differences become obvious.
Judges have different criteria for judging one’s performance, and some things that matter to one sport may not matter as much in the other. Here’s how things get evaluated.
Continuity and Flow
Judges look at how well an athlete can get from start to finish without pauses or hesitation. If the person takes a second to stop during parkour, the judge may deduct points. Flow is important with freerunning as well, but the stops don’t matter as much if the slight break makes up for it in acrobatic performance.
Difficulty
Judges may give extra points for difficult movements, combos, flips, or rotation stunts. Parkour has some of these that aim to make the trip shorter, but this is where freerunning gets most points.
If an athlete has flashy tricks or difficult flips, the score is in their favor (even if they’re not necessary). On the other hand, if someone decides to integrate them in a parkour move without reason, and it slows them down, judges may deduct points.
Efficiency and Speed
Judges look at how long it takes to get past certain obstacles, along with the directness of their route. This is especially the case in parkour, where minimal motion waste is rewarded in speed runs. Time is also noted in freerunning, but is not as important, as trick complexity and style hold more power.
Control and Execution
Control and execution are something heavily judged in both sports. Parkour needs good execution to maintain flow and efficiency, whereas freerunning needs control to perform its flashy tricks.
Judges look at how cleanly an athlete performs the move, from safe landing to body position, and stumbles. If the hand touches the ground or the athlete briefly loses their equilibrium, it could lead to deductions.
How Styles Are Merged in Modern Events
Parkour and freerunning used to be sports practiced “in the hood,” with no professional link to them. Nowadays, they are accepted as modern athletic performances, with some competitions comprising both.
Here are some popular events that both athletes and enthusiasts are looking forward to:
- FIG Parkour World Cup: The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (International Gymnastics Federation) now features both the freestyle and speed categories. Athletes are judged based on their efficiency and time for parkour, and execution and style for freerunning.
- Red Bull Art Motion: Red Bull took their “gives you wings” motto a step further and created this event in 2007. It features both parkour and freerunning competitions, with skilled athletes having a chance to go on international competitions.
While professional parkour and freerunning are still in their infant stages, more and more competitions are taking place. This gives enthusiasts a chance to watch more events.
Parkour and freerunning may have started with similar roots, but today, their goals are different. One relies on efficiency and barebone movements, whereas the other is more artistic.
Modern competitions are bringing these sports together, which is why audiences should understand the ranking factors.