The people behind trace.
Trace is a small group of dedicated traceurs based in Sydney, Australia. Through group training sessions and the sharing of knowledge, we help each other to improve our technique. The development of the mind and body is one of the key goals through training Parkour.
The trace group was created in 2003, and has remained relatively passive during its existence. It remains as a group of friends dedicated to Parkour as a holistic discipline.
History of Parkour
Parkour is a discipline originating from France. The word Parkour derives from parcours du combattant or 'military obstacle coursing' similar to that described in Méthode Naturelle (a method of physical training developed by George Hébert, promoting the usefulness of movement).
The history of Parkour lies with the story of David Belle, the creator of the discipline. David was introduced to the Méthode Naturelle way of training by his father Raymond Belle, a soldier and firefighter. Raymond's philosophies on physical movement and its importance were a strong influence on David's view on movement. David sought a way to combine the practical way of moving with the movements he learnt doing gymnastics and martial arts into one, which he found whilst playing in the forest areas near which he lived.
When David moved to the Parisian suburb of Lisses with his family, he started applying his movement techniques and philosophies to the urban environment. He continued his journey with others, including the free-runner Sébastien Foucan. From there, the discipline developed from childhood games, to more serious training for a purpose.
Parkour: the philosophy
The goal of Parkour at its most basic is to facilitate movement from one point to another. Traceurs learn to respect their bodies whilst developing their physical abilities and discovering their true potential. They learn to trust themselves, overcoming obstacles both physical and mental, whilst remaining humble about their abilities. Finally, they train for a purpose: to learn practical movement in different environments, skills useful in situations such as escape or pursuit.