How the Bay Area is pushing parkour to new levels

"Hip rolls across public plazas. Leaping over rows of bicycle racks with "double kongs" - so named because of the gorilla-like forward thrusts with both arms. "Chimney slides" down the sides of apartment buildings. And somersaulting "roll bombs" off street-side walls. These are some of the many daredevil moves in parkour, a unique art of movement that combines acrobatics with running, jumping and climbing and is often practiced in urban settings."

"At San Jose's 12,000-square-foot Sessions Academy of Movement, enthusiasts practice a classic version of the sport while pushing the boundaries of what can be done. That parkour-focused gym was founded by owner Angel Abiang as a way for him to support his son Ryan, who's been obsessed with the sport since he was 4 years old - and is today, at 17, a competitive world-class parkour athlete."

Parkour emphasizes efficient, fluid movement through urban environments using techniques like hip rolls, double kongs, chimney slides and roll bombs. The discipline originated in France with David Belle, who drew inspiration from his father's parcours du combattant military obstacle training. Mainstream exposure increased after the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. Parkour blends artistic expression with athletic prowess, prioritizing agility, coordination and efficiency. In the Bay Area, practice has expanded, with facilities like San Jose's 12,000-square-foot Sessions Academy of Movement fostering training. Sessions was founded by Angel Abiang to support his son Ryan, who became a competitive, world-class parkour athlete after early, determined obsession.

Read at The Mercury News