Vocabulary of Common Terms
Parkour: In the strictest sense as defined by David Belle. The art of moving through your environment as swiftly and effectively as possible using only the human body. More broadly it might be defined as the discipline of developing the physical and mental capacity of the human being while through training to overcome obstacles. In practice parkour is essentially the same as L'art Du deplacement and most free running the difference in name has to do with Davids focus specifically on the utility part of training.
Traceur: A practioner of parkour.
L'art Du deplacement: The art of displacment/forward movement, the term orginally used for the training done by David Belle and his peers in lisses before the term parkour was invented. The practice is essentially identical to parkour but the philosophy is more about developing the strength, courage and capacity of the human being, both utility and aesthetic movements are equally accepted.
Tricking: In general any sort of acrobatic stunts, in particular it refers to the discipline of martial arts tricking which takes the acrobatic elements of various martial arts most prominently Wu Shu, Tae Kwon Do and Capoiera and combines them with elements of gymnastics and breakdancing.
Freerunning: Another term used for parkour/l'art du deplacement invented by sebastien foucan, the name follows from Foucans focus on the aspect of freedom offered by the training we do. For many the practice is not really different from Parkour or L'art du deplacement though some focus very much on aeshetic movements..
3run/Freerun: A term used by team evolution to describe the combination of Parkour, acrobatics, and wushu that they do.
Common English Parkour Terms
Parkour Roll: Similar to the roll of grappling martial arts The body is rolled across the ground shoulder first and ending at the opposite hip. Arm placements differ person to person and school to school.
Vault: Any jump that incorporate the use of the arms to overcome the obstacle.
Cat Pass/Monkey/Kong vault: A vault were the body passes over the obstacles with the legs in between the arms. This is called a squat over vault in gymnastics. One of the most versatile vaults excellent for clearing long and high objects and getting distance out of.
Two handed vault: Two hands are placed on the obstacles and legs come over too the side. Known as a flank vault in gymnastics. The easiest vault
Single hand Vault: As above but only one hand on the obstacle. Also called a flank vault
Speed vault: A variation of the single hand vault the key to the speed vault is “Speed”. Its like hurdle over the object with body leaning sideways and the hand tapping as you go over. Considered the fastest vault.
Arm Jump/Cat Jump: A jump were the Traceur lands with his hands on the top of an obstacle and his feet on the obstacle.
Precision Jump: Self explanatory, a jump where a traceur lands on precise surface like a rail, or wall ledge. Genereal refers to a standard standing broad jump technique. Both legs jump together and the arms swing forward to help intiate forward momentum
Gap jump: Any jump that clears a gap between to objects.
Wall Pass: Running up a wall to catch on the top and pull yourself over it.
Wall run: A run along the wall.
Tic Tac: A technique were the traceurs pushes of one objects with his foot to gain height general to overcome another obstacle.
Lazy vault: A type of vault were the obstacle is approached obliquely and the legs pass the obstacle first one or two hands may be put down.
Reverse Vault: A vault were the body turns over behind the hands completing a 360 over the obstacle.
Dash vault: A vault were the Traceur jumps over the obstacle and puts his hands down as his legs pass the obstacle to help push him off.
Kash vault: A vault which begins like a Cat/Kong but finishes like a dash. A squat through vault in gymnastics terminology
Pop vault: A vault were a foot is placed on the obstacle first to pop the traceur up and give him a height to perform a vault usually a kong or two hand vault.
Under bar: A move were the traceur jumps feet first through an opening and grabs a bar at the top to aid him through.
Reverse Under bar: As above except the body goes through hands first then turns so the feet can land first.
French terms
There’s a trend amongst more experienced traceurs towards use of the French terms as gesture of respect to the founders of the sport. So I will give you the ones I know as well.
It’s worth noting here that many Traceurs feel that the invention of lots of names to cover different vaults creates a mentality of tricking were parkour is just a list of moves you try to attain. The idea is just to overcome the obstacle, the various vaults are just means of getting over. The French do not distinguish as many vaults as we do.
Passement: Any single or two hand Vault
Passe Du Barriere: Synonomous with Passement
Saut Du Chat: Monkey Kong or Kash abbreviated s2c. Its pronounced Sow Du Sha and means jump of the cat
Demitour: Turn Vaults
Passe Muraille: Wall passes
Saut Du Bras: Cat Jumps, Pronounced Sow Do Bra it means jump to the arms.
Saut de précision: Perciscion jump
Reverse: Reverse Vault
Roulade: PK roll
Saut Du Fond: Is a jump from height
Equilibre: Any sort of balance
Lâché: A move were one swings from an object release and grabs another. Imagine a tree branch or scaffolding.
Pronounciation guide with video
Feel free to critique this and add other terms you think are important. I'll add a tricking/gymnastics list later.
