An open space for traceuses and traceurs training in the San Francisco Bay Area
Community Announcement about the "World Frerunning and Parkour Federation"
Dear BApk members,
We would like to inform you about an upcoming event that may shape the public perception of our discipline. This may affect current practitioners in their daily conversations about parkour, but more importantly it will affect the mindsets of would-be practitioners, general public, media and authorities. If you have been with us for a while or have read through our documents, you already have a good idea how we feel about this. However, rather than preach to you we thought it best to give you the details so that you can make an informed judgment.
This month production begins on a MTV television series called "The Ultimate Chase" that will attempt to portray parkour and freerunning. As the title describes, the series will set well known practitioners (Danny Illabaca, Ryan Doyle, Oleg Vorslav) as well as lesser known practitioners (Brian Orosco) against each other on an obstacle course. "The Ultimate Chase" which will be introduced by a one hour special will feature both man vs. man and man vs. course events.
The show is the brainchild of a few entertainment professionals who formed the "World Freerunning and Parkour Federation" (WFPF) by signing athletes from around the world who were trying to break into the entertainment industry. Televised obstacle courses have been around for some time, but this rebranding for English audiences will take advantage of the popularity of the disciplines of parkour and freerunning. The WFPF claims their competition remains true to the philosophies of both parkour and freerunning which were founded and defined as non-competitive disciplines.
While their audience will consist largely of non-practitioners, the WFPF has worked closely with practitioners to form a palatable marketing strategy for the existing community. It is their position that competition is the inevitable future of a discipline which is practiced by tens of thousands world wide in a non-competitive fashion. While this may seem illogical, their position comes into focus when considering the money involved. It is virtually impossible to make money off of parkour in its current non-competitive format. It cannot be argued that a competitive format is more lucrative. This 'inevitability' stance has been trumpeted for the past several years only by those interested in profiting off the community (i.e.: Mark Toorock of APK, and Paul Corkery of UFF), but was shot down by a global movement which popularized such slogans as "Pro Parkour, Against Competition" and "Competition is not inevitable, it is just another obstacle!" To further satisfy the non-competitive community the WFPF claims all competitors will strive together in a communal fashion. However, they diverge from the community theme when they claim on their website to be a "Federation for the teams". The global parkour scene is not made up of teams, which are generally viewed as a means to further careers in the entertainment industry, but rather all-inclusive communities that foster the utilitarian parkour philosophy.
While the WFPF has taken a direct page out of the APK/UFF playbook, they are not collaborating with the two organizations since initial discussions turned sour. Both APK/UFF and WFPF camps claim the opposition is taking advantage of their athletes. Although some WFPF signees are rumored to be unhappy with their contracts, for those willing to partake in a competition labeled as parkour the partnership with WFPF seems like a step in the right direction in terms of safety. The industry professionals will be using the UFF Barclaycard competition as an example of what not to do. At the aforementioned event there was only one medic on site when an athlete was seriously injured, and required emergency treatment. The entire event had to be put on hold until the medic returned to a jeering crowd and uneasy participants.
Here is the first press release from the WFPF. Hopefully you feel we gave you some intelligent insight on this upcoming event, and can make more informed decisions about it.
Yours Truly,
Bay Area Parkour council
San Francisco, March 4, 2009
[please note: the terms "WFPF" and "World Freerunning and Parkour Federation" are registered trademarks and belong to their respective copyright owners]
We would like to inform you about an upcoming event that may shape the public perception of our discipline. This may affect current practitioners in their daily conversations about parkour, but more importantly it will affect the mindsets of would-be practitioners, general public, media and authorities. If you have been with us for a while or have read through our documents, you already have a good idea how we feel about this. However, rather than preach to you we thought it best to give you the details so that you can make an informed judgment.
This month production begins on a MTV television series called "The Ultimate Chase" that will attempt to portray parkour and freerunning. As the title describes, the series will set well known practitioners (Danny Illabaca, Ryan Doyle, Oleg Vorslav) as well as lesser known practitioners (Brian Orosco) against each other on an obstacle course. "The Ultimate Chase" which will be introduced by a one hour special will feature both man vs. man and man vs. course events.
The show is the brainchild of a few entertainment professionals who formed the "World Freerunning and Parkour Federation" (WFPF) by signing athletes from around the world who were trying to break into the entertainment industry. Televised obstacle courses have been around for some time, but this rebranding for English audiences will take advantage of the popularity of the disciplines of parkour and freerunning. The WFPF claims their competition remains true to the philosophies of both parkour and freerunning which were founded and defined as non-competitive disciplines.
While their audience will consist largely of non-practitioners, the WFPF has worked closely with practitioners to form a palatable marketing strategy for the existing community. It is their position that competition is the inevitable future of a discipline which is practiced by tens of thousands world wide in a non-competitive fashion. While this may seem illogical, their position comes into focus when considering the money involved. It is virtually impossible to make money off of parkour in its current non-competitive format. It cannot be argued that a competitive format is more lucrative. This 'inevitability' stance has been trumpeted for the past several years only by those interested in profiting off the community (i.e.: Mark Toorock of APK, and Paul Corkery of UFF), but was shot down by a global movement which popularized such slogans as "Pro Parkour, Against Competition" and "Competition is not inevitable, it is just another obstacle!" To further satisfy the non-competitive community the WFPF claims all competitors will strive together in a communal fashion. However, they diverge from the community theme when they claim on their website to be a "Federation for the teams". The global parkour scene is not made up of teams, which are generally viewed as a means to further careers in the entertainment industry, but rather all-inclusive communities that foster the utilitarian parkour philosophy.
While the WFPF has taken a direct page out of the APK/UFF playbook, they are not collaborating with the two organizations since initial discussions turned sour. Both APK/UFF and WFPF camps claim the opposition is taking advantage of their athletes. Although some WFPF signees are rumored to be unhappy with their contracts, for those willing to partake in a competition labeled as parkour the partnership with WFPF seems like a step in the right direction in terms of safety. The industry professionals will be using the UFF Barclaycard competition as an example of what not to do. At the aforementioned event there was only one medic on site when an athlete was seriously injured, and required emergency treatment. The entire event had to be put on hold until the medic returned to a jeering crowd and uneasy participants.
Here is the first press release from the WFPF. Hopefully you feel we gave you some intelligent insight on this upcoming event, and can make more informed decisions about it.
Yours Truly,
Bay Area Parkour council
San Francisco, March 4, 2009
[please note: the terms "WFPF" and "World Freerunning and Parkour Federation" are registered trademarks and belong to their respective copyright owners]
4 Comments
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Comment by SafeNSure on March 20, 2009 at 1:20am - ...please review and join the extensive discussion on the apposite thread: 'Fight Against Commercialization: WFPF'.
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Comment by SafeNSure on April 7, 2009 at 9:18pm
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On April 7, 2009, Daniel Arroyo posted the following on APK:
"Okay so here's the deal, we all hate the proposition of a parkour/Free Running competition; however, I along with Daniel Ilabaca, Ryan Doyle, Time "Livewire" Shieff, Pip Andersen, Micheal Turner, Brian Orosco, and King David all were chosen to participate in the making of a new show that MTV wants to get started. Me and everybody else are all signed athlete's of the WFPF (World Freerunning & Parkour Federation), a company that strives to commercialize Parkour/Freerunning in the RIGHT manor. So the MTV executive's really wanted to make this show a competition but all of us told them that we wouldn't do it if they were going to portray our art in that way. So after much negotiation we compromised on having it be labeled a challenge, but when they interview us we will be able to give the viewers all the insight upon how this is not a sport, this is much more like a discipline and we do this because we love this, not because we want to win and be considered the best because there is no "best". Long story short we had a great time and in the end we all became a family rather then practitioners, we love what we do and we want others to be inspired to find their own limits, and hopefully find themselves in the process. So before you look at this and think it's a competition please realize that Parkour/Freerunning will inevitably be commercialized it is just a matter of would you rather somebody portray our art with a negative influence or portray this discipline with the right mindset and with SOME of the leading figure's in our Movement?
P.S. Thank you to everybody that actually took the time to read this all and have the open mind necessary to understanding that we are trying our best! THANK YOU APK.
Pics: http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj201/CrazyRican158/"
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Comment by SafeNSure on May 4, 2009 at 1:10am
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MTV Announces New Series “Ultimate Parkour Challenge” April 28th, 2009
MTV brings the world’s fastest growing extreme sport to American audiences for the first time with the Ultimate Parkour Challenge. The essence of Parkour is a sport with virtually no limits. Athletes run as efficiently as possible from point “A” to point “B” but unlike a track and field race, Parkour is performed on any and every environment. Walls, cars, stairs, railings, rooftops and ten-foot gaps between five-story buildings, force runners to leap, roll, climb, vault and fly, using the obstacles in their way to increase speed.
MTV’s Ultimate Parkour Challenge captures the essence of the Parkour movement with a new special event sports competition that will thrill audiences as eight of the World’s best Parkour athletes defy gravity, showcasing seemingly superhuman skills in an easy to understand competitive format. Three rounds of competition will ultimately crown one winner with $10,000 and title of the Ultimate Parkour Champion. The show is produced in association with the WFPF, World Freerunning & Parkour Federation.
Executive Producers: Bob Kusbit & Francis Lyons, One Louder Productions. Executive Producers: Kemp Curley, Transition Productions. Co-Executive Producers: Victor Bevine & David Thompson.
Source: MTV Press Release
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Please read, and give your input to the cross-communities conversation started by Bay Area community organizers on PKCali.
BApk Sunday basic training 11/8 at West Sunset Community Center
November 8, 2009 from 12pm to 3:30pm
Basic/beginners training provided, but ALL LEVELS present and WELCOME!
Check here for RIDES.
Session description:
This training provides a healthy atmosphere for new practitioners to start parkour, and for everyone to advance in a safe way. This...
i could need a ride as well... :) hope it's not too late for this request ;)
somebody near potrero ave and 16th?
otherwise i'll come to Masonic@Geary as well... if you have one more space
PUC Parkour City Session/Documentary Session at West Sunset Community Center
November 8, 2009 from 3:30pm to 7:30pm
All of us up in Napa Valley are finally coming down to the city! Our club is doing a dual training/filming session, and we'd love to not only learn from SF Traceurs and Traceuses but to talk to you about our discipline.
The training aspect is mos...
i think i'll stay home and condition my butt off :)
I lied. I can't come. Stupid rehearsals... :(
hah, we've all been there
BApk Sunday basic training 11/8 at West Sunset Community Center
November 8, 2009 from 12pm to 3:30pm
Basic/beginners training provided, but ALL LEVELS present and WELCOME!
Check here for RIDES.
Session description:
This training provides a healthy atmosphere for new practitioners to start parkour, and for everyone to advance in a safe way. This...
Yeah, still on. Tim and I have to leave early though.....sometime before 3.
you know you saw her and was like... maybe i can cat leao on her and Gigity gigity.... LOL
Yes, we definitely don't know for sure if it was parkour-related yet.
as far as i know, it's still on.
look forward to seeing you there :D
...on a much less local, but even more dramatic topic, President Obama said today:
"We don't know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts."... "What we do know is that there are families...
Is this still on for Saturday? I'm a new traceur (started a few weeks ago) and Saratoga's a lot closer to Menlo Park than SF.
South Bay Saturdays at Saratoga High School
November 7, 2009 from 1pm to 4pm
Beginner's Parkour Jam at Saratoga High School. South Bay
I was watching for pedestrians, she came out of nowhere. It was an accident, I'm lucky i didn't hit her. The light pole blocked me from seeing her walk right in front of the jump...
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© 2009 Created by SafeNSure on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
New York, NY
"For any person that says Parkour is what YOU want it to be, God kills a kitten"-Ruzkin
I love that quote, as well as this dialogue. Very similar to the one we've been having for over three years at the WFPF. Thanks to those of you who are willing to reserve judgement...and to those who've already made up their minds, an even bigger thanks, cause it just makes us work harder to understand and address your point of view. Total respect to all practitioners of this amazing discipline and philosophy. It's true, we do believe that in some way or another PK/FR is destined to move into the mainstream, but that doesn't mean individuals can't each train as they wish and follow their own path. I have been a devoted yogi since WAY before it was cool. I've watched Yoga (which has been around for 2500 years) become the exercise fad of the moment, so that it's all about hard abs and fancy outfits; but how does that take away from my own practice unless I allow it to? And who am I to say that none of those other folks are getting the benefits, spiritual as well as physical? As for our organization, I can't say we're perfect, and I have no doubt we'll make mistakes along the way (i.e., the reference to "teams" on the website page which was thrown up by a web designer and has since been taken down), but we are trying like hell to do this right; that's why we've been listening for over a year now to the athletes who've honored us with their trust and involvement. Yes, the MTV show has a "competitive" format, but we hope those who tune in will find it more like NINJA than UFC (LOL). It is NOT and never was meant to be the "World Championship of PK/FR" and there will be lots of points of view expressed. To those of you who don't tune in, we hope you'll check out our website (still under construction) from time to time. We're not all about competition, as the coming months will demonstrate.
The WFPF Mission Statement:
"The World Freerunning & Parkour Federation is dedicated to the safe and respectful advancement of the Parkour & Freerunning Movement throughout the world. Inspired by the creativity and mental discipline embodied by Parkour and Freerunning, the athletes and founders of the WFPF will faithfully bring this philosophy of movement to the growing numbers of optimistic young people around the globe who believe that through camaraderie, self-expression, and service to others, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome."
One last thing about the word "compete"...the orginal meaning was "to strive together."
Peace.