It is an urban sport discipline in which the athlete seeks to move quickly and efficiently from one point to another, overcoming physical obstacles and challenges encountered along the way. It focuses on the individual’s motor skills, seeking to develop strength and utility in those who practice it by improving their movement skills in different environments. The goal is to adapt to the environment and its challenges, becoming a more skilled and versatile person.
Parkour can be considered an art of movement, a method of physical and mental training, and a philosophy of life. It is a movement method that can be developed in urban and natural environments, as well as in gyms. It emerged in France in the early 1990s by adapting the methods of escape and pursuit of military and rescue forces to the urban environment.
Philosophy
It is based on solid philosophical principles that guide its practitioners towards integral development. One of the pillars is utility, which promotes the idea of being strong in order to be useful, both to oneself and to others. Personal development is another key principle, fostering the physical growth and mental development of each individual. Caring, understood as being and enduring, encourages practitioners to care for themselves and their environment. Cooperation and mutual challenge are essential values that strengthen the community of practitioners, while accessibility ensures that Parkour is universal and adaptable to people of all physical, motor and intellectual abilities.
These principles and pillars form the basis of a discipline that goes beyond simple physical movement, becoming a lifestyle that inspires and transforms those who practice it.
Age groups used at UPAG
- 13 and 14 years
- 15 to 16 years
- 17 a +
Competition models:
Speed
It is a timed race in which participants must run a marked track from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. To achieve this, they use specific Parkour moves to overcome obstacles. This race includes checkpoints along the track. Checkpoints are key locations along the course that competitors must reach or overcome in a specific way to complete the race correctly.
The distance varies according to gender, being 80 meters for men and 40 meters for women.
Freestyle
It stands out for its fluidity and technical mastery, where practitioners perform a series of parkour movements and acrobatics, seeking to connect their movements in a fluid and creative way. This round has a minimum duration of 30 seconds and a maximum of 70 seconds, allowing participants to demonstrate their dexterity and personal style in space.
Evaluation criteria for parkour competitions
Speed:
This format maintains the main essence of Parkour: Moving from point A to point B overcoming obstacles quickly and effectively. Time is the main measuring factor, obtained by sensors activated by the athlete when crossing them.
The official FIG distances are 40 meters for women and 80 meters for men.
It is necessary to follow the marked lanes and comply with the checkpoints indicated by the judges.
Two athletes run simultaneously in separate lanes, being an individual competition, but with a format that provides a dynamic show. The winner is the athlete with the fastest time.
Freestyle:
Execution: Judges observe how the movements are performed, looking for clear and error-free execution.Rhythm and amplitude: The ability of the athlete to maintain an adequate rhythm and perform movements with amplitude, demonstrating control and mastery, is evaluated.
Connection: The athlete’s ability to fluidly link different movements, showing smooth transitions between them is evaluated.
Fluency: Refers to the ability to chain movements in a fluid manner, maintaining efficiency and rhythm, which demonstrates a good command of technique.
Parts of the competition space: Evaluates the athlete’s ability to perform tricks in different sections of the designated competition space, which shows their adaptability and versatility in different areas of the course.
Types of obstacles used: Evaluates the athlete’s ability to perform tricks involving different types of obstacles, such as the floor, platforms, bars and walls, demonstrating their ability to use the environment in a creative and varied manner.
Difficulty: The level of difficulty of the movements performed is considered, from the simplest to the most complex variants, which shows the technical and physical ability of the athlete.
Trick table: Evaluates the variety and difficulty of tricks performed by the athlete, according to a reference list, adjusting the score based on where the trick is performed and whether it is directly linked to other movements.
Placement: Evaluates the placement of tricks within the run. A trick performed at the beginning, middle and end of the run, which demonstrates the athlete’s ability to maintain consistency and creativity in the execution of the movements throughout the entire run.
Time: Evaluates the length of the run and how it influences the execution of the tricks. The length of the run according to a reference list, reflecting the athlete’s ability to maintain a consistent and effective performance throughout the run.
Variety: Evaluates the variety of tricks performed by the athlete. Classic Parkour, forward rotations, sideways, backwards, twists and turns with fulcrum, which demonstrates the versatility and creativity of the athlete in the execution of the movements.
Technique: This criterion evaluates the technical quality of elements. The technical quality of these elements demonstrates the athlete’s skill and precision in the execution of key movements during the race.
Each panel of judges is composed of three members, who evaluate all criteria and sub-criteria simultaneously.
- Panel leader.
- Execution Panel: Judges E1, E2 and E3.
- Difficulty Panel: Judges D1, D2 and D3.
Role of judges in Speed:
- Starter x1: Verifies that the athlete is ready at the starting line to start the race.
- Time Judge x2: Starts and stops the stopwatches at the beginning and end of the race.
- Line Judge x4: Verifies that the athlete follows the marked route and passes through the checkpoints on the track.
- Panel leader x1: Verifies that the competition follows the rules, resolves problems or complaints and ensures the proper conduct of the competition.
Pan American Parkour Open
For the youth and adult categories, the rules of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) are followed.
