Kenny in Paris

Posted by Kenny on Jul 3, 2010 in Experiences, Travel | 2 comments

Hi everyone from Sydney Parkour!

It’s Kenny here, long time member of Sydney Parkour and assistant instructor with the Australian Parkour Association. For the past month I have been travelling in France and thought I should update you on some of my training.

ADD Experience 2010 Group Photo

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During my time here in France, I have had the opportunity to train closely with members of DB Team, and have been assisting with Parkour classes in Paris (in French) with the Parkour75 Association. I have been observing and studying training methods, including new painful exercises for you all to try, and hope to bring all this knowledge and experience back to Sydney on my return.

Thibaut of DB Team was kind enough to introduce me to David Belle, and I had the rare chance to train with him in Lisses, and learn a little bit about his perspectives. He is an incredibly strong man and lives his Parkour through and through despite his age; the epitome of the motto “être et durer” (to be and to last).

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend ADD-Experience 2010 (Art-du-Déplacement Experience), an event hosted by the ADD Academy, which was founded by a group including Yamakasi founding members Chau Belle and Yann Hnautra, and assisted by Parkour Generations staff from England. The event took place in Evry, one of the areas considered as the birthplace of Parkour, and hosted traceurs from all over Europe including France, Switzerland, Germany, England, Scotland, Lithuania, Poland, Italy and Spain. The event was also attended by Sébastien Foucan, the founder of Freerunning. The local council supported event provided workshops led by ADD-Academy coaches in some of the best spots in Evry, along with purpose built scaffolding sections for participants to train on.

It was an incredible experience to share with the hundred or so traceurs and traceuses who attended. I learnt a tremendous amount, had a fantastic time and met loads of cool people.

My training here has convinced me that the APA is doing a great job with progressing Parkour in Australia and I have noted that the training methods it promotes are not dissimilar from those used here in Europe. I urge you all to continue with your conditioning, attending the Wednesday evening conditioning sessions in Sydney if you can, so that you too can get strong and reduce injuries.

I miss you all in Sydney, and hope you are all progressing well with your training.

Stay strong and stay safe,

Kenny