Welcome to Santa Barbara Trapeze Co, where we invite you to explore the dynamic world of Parkour! Perfect for kids, teenagers and adults alike, our program offers a blend of physical fitness, creativity and fun, all within a supportive community.

What is Parkour?

Parkour is a movement discipline that emphasizes navigating through environments efficiently using only the human body. It includes a variety of movements such as crawling, balancing, running, jumping (and landing safely), rolling, vaulting and climbing. The aim is to move from one point to another as swiftly and smoothly as possible, often in urban settings.

The Origins of Parkour

The roots of Parkour trace back to early 20th-century military obstacle course training, developed by French naval officer Georges Hébert. His philosophy, "être fort pour être utile" ("be strong to be useful"), highlighted natural movement and physical fitness. Influenced by Hébert, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a group of young men from the suburbs of Paris, known as the Yamakasi, began developing their unique style of movement. This group - including notable figures like David Belle, Sébastien Foucan, Chau Belle, Williams Belle, Yann Hnautra and Laurent Piemontesi - emphasized self-discipline, respect and physical conditioning.

Evolution and Global Spread

David Belle coined the term Parkour, while Sébastien Foucan developed Freerunning, which includes more acrobatic and expressive elements. The rest of Yamakasi continued to train and promote "Art Du Déplacement" (ADD), focusing on fluid and efficient movement while maintaining the original spirit of the discipline. The global popularity of Parkour, Freerunning, and ADD has been bolstered by their depiction in movies, video games and stunt work.

Parkour in Popular Culture

Parkour has been featured in films like "Yamakasi" (2001), Jump London (2003), "District 13" (2004), and "Casino Royale" (2006), as well as in video games such as the "Assassin’s Creed" series and "Mirror’s Edge". These mediums have inspired countless individuals to take up the discipline.

The Growing Parkour Community

Parkour is practiced worldwide, both as a personal discipline and in organized settings. Practitioners, known as traceurs (male) and traceuses (female), train regularly in urban and natural environments, focusing on vaults, jumps, rolls and climbs. Physical conditioning and mental focus are crucial, fostering creativity and personal expression.

Join Us at Santa Barbara Trapeze Co

At Santa Barbara Trapeze Co, we offer a safe and controlled environment for you to learn and practice Parkour. Our classes and workshops are designed by experienced professionals to build your skills progressively, ensuring safety and effective training. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, our community welcomes you to explore the art of movement.

Join us today and discover the excitement and challenge of Parkour. Unleash your potential, overcome obstacles, and become part of a global community dedicated to self-improvement, resilience, and adaptability.