Yearbook Interview - Help Needed

[Fyrel]

Tim and I have been asked to do an interview+photos for the yearbook at our school. While we know what we want to say, I was wondering if anybody on BAPK wants to add anything, or if there are points we should emphasize over others. Currently, I'm planning to talk about:

• Origins of parkour - Natural Method, Yamakasi, David Belle, how parkour's always been around
• Difference between parkour and freerunning (along with irrelevance of names in the end...train what you train, but make sure you one knows the difference between being efficient and expression)
• Anti-competition/commercialization
• Safe training & progression
• Health issues

Anything else? What should be emphasized? Warned against?

(Interview is on 9/23, Wednesday, although I'll see if I can get them to have a second one if there are things I missed; and besides, I want to show them spots other than just the park)

[SafeNSure]

...well, you've covered a lot.

Of course what PK is "for" (pro-something) is gonna be the most relevant part for a new reader/listener.

I would recommend only to distinguish between anti-competition, because of the negative consequences of competitive training for safety, health and longevity, and instead anti-competition as opposing idolization of competitors, growing communities of viewers instead of practitioners, and ultimately exploiting a discipline and its philosophy to entertain the masses, instead of improving their condition (may need to rephrase this last, commie, wording... lol!).

This last point is in fact the so-called commercialization aspect, which, should be clarified (IMO), it's not about people making a living, or even nice money, thanks to parkour (opening gyms, teaching, demoing it, etc), but about its appropriation by business professionals, repackaging and distributing it through mainstream channels, which ends up in a misrepresentation of the discipline, its philosophy, and the practitioners' motives... as nicely described by this (independent) article here.

If anything, I would definitely add a word about the grassroots movements called local PK communities (also comparing it with the concept of team, clan and tribe)...

[Just Steve]

I would only add that most of what you mentioned you can look up on line. Why not say something about what PK means to you...

[Fyrel]

Yeah, the personal things are something I definitely will say; I just wanted to know if there was anything you guys would like me to get across.

[SafeNSure]

Yeah!
Very good point!
Something like: where were you when you started, where are you now in your practice, where would you see yourself in -say- 3/5 years...

[marisa]

How about health benefits as well as issues?

Be sure to let us know how it goes. :)