As a national governing body, Parkour UK (PKUK) is responsible for all the administration, development and promotion of the discipline of parkour or freerunning. PKUK is a non-profit organisation and is overseen by a board of directors and a council, who are responsible for regulating instruction within the sport.
This vision is fuelled by a dedicated team of full time practitioners of the sport and part time volunteers who all share the same passion and ambition for parkour, and who have been instrumental in introducing the regular teaching of the sport in schools and local authorities around the country over the last four years.
Parkour is perhaps the most accessible transformative practice the world has ever seen, open to all and requiring no specialized equipment or training areas. PKUK plays a fundamental role in developing a ‘sport for all’ by encouraging participation no matter what your age, ability or background.
About Us
Established by some of the most experienced practitioners and instructors of the discipline of parkour/freerunning in the world and the City of Westminster, Parkour UK (PKUK) is a National Governing Body for the rapidly growing discipline and works in partnership with local councils and other agencies to develop and spread parkour across the country, and is a partner in running programmers funded by Sport England.
Parkour UK is a member of the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) and works closely with, and is supported by, the Association for Physical Education (afPE) and the Youth Sports Trust (YST). In addition to this Parkour UK is supported by Sports Coach UK and works in partnership with 1st4sport Qualifications, who administer our coaching qualifications, the 1st4sport Certificate in Coaching Parkour / Freerunning, which are part of the international A.D.A.P.T. (Art du Deplacement and Parkour Teaching) Programme.
The Mission
Parkour UK aims to support and develop parkour/freerunning in the UK, and to make the benefits of the sport accessible to any and all who want to learn. Parkour UK will always strive to maintain and improve the spirit of the discipline.
Parkour UK's work is directed by the Board, which meets at regular intervals.
We aim to provide guidance, support and assistance on all levels to all practitioners of the discipline, and to regulate and maintain the standards of coaching for the sport in the country. Parkour UK will oversee the development and management of the sport from grassroots teaching through to qualifying and insuring top-level instructors of this emerging discipline.Parkour UK's Board meets every two months to provide strategic direction to the organisation, as well as considering and making decisions on those recommendations put forward by Parkour UK's members and affiliates.
Stephane Vigroux was appointed as Chair of Parkour UK in April 2009 for a four-year term.
Board Members
Board members are appointed for a fixed term of three years and may be reappointed thereafter as determined by the voting members.
Panels
Panels, each chaired by a Board member, include other individuals of relevant expertise and experience who advise and make recommendations as appropriate.
Minutes
The minutes of Parkour UK’s Board meetings will be made available on the website.- Current News
What is Parkour/Art du Deplacement
The first name for the discipline, born in France in the 1980s, was Art du Deplacement; best translated in English as the Art of Movement. Over time other names were used to describe it, including Parkour - derived from the French parcours, meaning 'route' or 'course' - and later Freerunning. However, the name has never been as important as the methods and spirit of practise which remain at its core today. For the sake of convenience, these pages will refer to the discipline as Parkour.
Parkour focuses on developing the fundamental attributes required for movement, which include balance, strength, dynamism, endurance, precision, spatial awareness and creative vision. It is a way of training one's body and mind in order to be as completely functional, effective and liberated as possible in the physical realm, and a way of
thinking based on rigorous self-discipline, autonomous action and self-will.
Beyond this simple explanation, however, parkour is a discipline of self-improvement on all levels, an art that reveals to the practitioner his or her own physical and mental limits and simultaneously offers a method to surpass them.
A practitioner of parkour aims to be self-reliant and physically capable; fit, strong and healthy; honest and sincere; disciplined; focussed; creative and always useful and helpful to others.
General Inquiries
For all general inquiries, including information about qualified instructors and clubs in your area, contact us on info@parkouruk.orgPress Inquiries
For all press or media inquiries, contact us on press@parkouruk.orgEmail us
If you wish to direct your e-mail to a particular member of staff at PKUK, please include their first and second name, separated by a period, followed
by @parkouruk.org
(e.g: stephane.vigroux@parkouruk.org )
A.D.A.P.T.
These pages describes the various instructor qualifications, part of the international A.D.A.P.T Qualification Programme, created by many of the founders and principal developers of the discipline, including Chau Belle, Stephane Vigroux, Dan Edwardes, Thomas Couetdic, Francois 'Forrest' Mahop, Seb Goudot, Yann Hnautra, Johann Vigroux and Laurent Piemontesi. The qualification programme provides the industry benchmark for parkour/art du deplacement instruction, and has been formulated over several years by many of the founding figures of the discipline of parkour/art du deplacement. To receive an ADAPT Instructor qualification is to be approved to teach the discipline of parkour/art du deplacement by the foremost practitioners and teachers in the world, including the original Yamakasi and the traceurs from Lisses, Paris - the birthplace of parkour.Further Information
The ADAPT Qualifications are developed in conjunction with 1st4sport Qualifications, the awarding body for active learning and leisure, and are recognised and accredited by both QCA and Ofqual.
For more information you can contact us at info@parkouruk.org
What is Parkour/Art du Deplacement
The first name for the discipline, born in France in the 1980s, was Art du Deplacement; best translated in English as the Art of Movement. Over time other names were used to describe it, including Parkour - derived from the French parcours, meaning 'route' or 'course' - and later Freerunning. However, the name has never been as important as the methods and spirit of practise which remain at its core today. For the sake of convenience, these pages will refer to the discipline as Parkour.
Parkour focuses on developing the fundamental attributes required for movement, which include balance, strength, dynamism, endurance, precision, spatial awareness and creative vision. It is a way of training one's body and mind in order to be as completely functional, effective and liberated as possible in the physical realm, and a way of
thinking based on rigorous self-discipline, autonomous action and self-will.
Beyond this simple explanation, however, parkour is a discipline of self-improvement on all levels, an art that reveals to the practitioner his or her own physical and mental limits and simultaneously offers a method to surpass them.
A practitioner of parkour aims to be self-reliant and physically capable; fit, strong and healthy; honest and sincere; disciplined; focussed; creative and always useful and helpful to others.
Achieving an ADAPT Certification
Becoming an instructor of parkour is not easy. The discipline presents one of the most complete physical activities in the world, and if practiced or taught incorrectly can be extremely dangerous. Passing an ADAPT qualification is to have achieved a level of physical and mental excellence both as a coach and as a practitioner. This is not something that can be assessed in one single examination or even several hours. The ADAPT qualification assessments comprise of a physical test, a technical test, and an observed teaching test. A candidate is required to log at least ten hours of supervised coaching under a Level Three instructor. Throughout the assessment the candidate will be questioned thoroughly by the assessors on all aspects of the discipline. Only upon completing all sections of the assessment can the candidate achieve an ADAPT qualification and become an affiliated instructor.
What is expected of an Instructor?
The ADAPT qualifications are the standard qualifications an individual must possess before he or she is capable of teaching the fundamental principles, methods and movements or parkour, either in a class format or on a one-to-one basis.
An ADAPT instructor has to be well-rounded and competent in all aspects of the discipline: physically strong and durable, fit, healthy, and technically sound in all areas. He or she must also be capable of leading classes, both planned and unplanned, and well-versed in basic anatomy and physiology. The ability to lead a thorough warm-up in preparation for a training session is essential, plus he or she must possess good knowledge of how to develop the physical and mental attributes required of a traceur.
It is also expected of an ADAPT Instructor that he or
she understands the necessity of a balanced and healthy diet, and the importance of good nutrition as essential support for sustained training.
The ADAPT Instructor must display self-discipline and a desire for self-improvement at all times, must practise regularly and demonstrate individual strength of character. It is not enough to be able to showcase good movement skills and be physically strong. The candidate must also be a capable and committed teacher; approachable and helpful to all who wish to learn; polite, courteous and attentive to the students at all times.
Upon receiving an ADAPT Qualification, the new Affiliated Instructor will be quality-controlled by Parkour UK and must attend at least two 'top-up' training courses with a Level Three Instructor per year.
Level Three Instructors may at any time visit the courses run by the Affiliated Instructor to examine the quality and consistency of the coaching.
In summary, an ADAPT Instructor is expected to have sound knowledge of:
* Technique * Physical conditioning exercises * Coaching and communication skills * Warm-up & cool-down before and after training * Basic anatomy and physiology * What constitutes a healthy diet * Injury prevention and management * First Aid
ADAPT Session Standards
All instructors must adhere to and fulfil the ADAPT standards when running any session. Any class must be geared towards the students, and as engaging and enjoyable for the students as possible. Classes should be student-centred, which means after necessary demonstration by the instructor the students are then encouraged to practise the exercise as often as is required for their optimal benefit.
The minimum ADAPT session standards are laid out below:
* Session Structure
Each session should consist of a warm-up, a cool-down, and adequate training content for the level of experience of the participants. Health and safety guidelines must be always adhered to, and the session should be of appropriate length
while maintaining a good learning rhythm and teaching best practice at all times. All students must be included in the exercises.
* Class Management
At all times the instructor must maintain control over the running of the class and never delegate control to an unauthorised individual. In the event of a persistently disruptive student within the class, that student should be asked to stop participating in the class.
* Teaching Ratio
ADAPT sessions run at a ratio of 1 instructor to 8 students maximum in an outside environment, and 1 to 15 in an indoors environment that utilises equipment and safety materials.
* Risk Assessments
Instructors must carry out risk assessments prior to every session and must maintain a constant level of dynamic risk management during the session.
* Child Protection
Coaches must understand and implement all measures outlined in the ADAPT Programme’s Child Protection Policy. This includes possessing a valid CRB check, obtaining parental consent if necessary, and providing for adequate substance monitoring.
Becoming an ADAPT Instructor
To be awarded an ADAPT Qualification and become an Affiliated Instructor the following process must be undergone:
* Contact us and register your application
Once you are confident that you meet the experience and skill requirements for an ADAPT qualification you should contact us and register your interest in becoming a parkour coach. We will then make you aware of the next available Assessment Course and send you the necessary information and materials to book yourself a place on such a course. A candidate must have been training regularly and thoroughly for at least two years to be eligible to attempt the ADAPT qualification Programme.
* Attend at least one Teacher Training Course
Before attempting any of the ADAPT qualifications it is recommended that you attend at least one Teacher Training Course, so that we can assess whether you are ready or not to attempt the qualification Programme and, if so, which qualification you should apply for. Regular attendance at the London Parkour Generations Academy or Art Du Deplacement Academy in Paris, France can also provide the means by which we can assess your readiness for the coaching qualifications.
It is further required that the candidate log at least 10 hours of coaching by assisting an ADAPT qualified instructor in actual teaching environments. This will greatly improve the candidate's chances of passing the teaching component of the Assessment Course.
* Take the Assessment
An Assessment Course is the only way to receive an ADAPT qualification. The assessments are rigorous and physically demanding. Upon completion the course assessors will tell you whether you have passed or, failing that, been deferred. If you are deferred you will be able to retake the assessment within 4 months once you have worked adequately on improving those areas which were not up to standard. Failing the re-assessment means you must attend another Teacher Training Course and wait at least 6 months before being able to re-apply.
Candidates must be 18 years of age to apply.
Level One A.D.A.P.T Instructor:
1st4Sport Level One Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning
Assistant
The Level One Assistant is an individual who is capable of assisting a Level 2 Instructor or higher in running a parkour session. A Level One Instructor is NOT qualified to run or lead sessions alone. He/she will be expected to be able to assist in teaching the basic principles and exercises of parkour safely and accurately, as well as conveying the spirit of the discipline and the correct approach to training. This qualification is the first of the instructor qualifications and enables the individual to begin assisting in a good coaching environment and so gain experience and confidence in order to be able to go on to become a Level 2 Full Instructor in due course.
To become a Level One Assistant, the candidate must attend and complete the 1st4Sport Level One Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (ADAPT) course. The candidate must have a full, up to date CRB check. It is recommended, but not required, that he or she first attend a Teacher Training Course with a registered Level Three ADAPT Instructor if possible. The candidate may then reserve a space on the next available Assessment Course.
Upon being accepted on to an Assessment Course, the candidate will receive the necessary documents outlining what the assessment will consist of, and what will constitute a passing mark for a Level One Instructor qualification.
A Level One Instructor must have basic knowledge in the following areas:
* Definition, history and principles of parkour * Parkour terminology * Parkour ability * Body management: stretching, preparation, maintenance * Teaching skills and awareness of best practice standards * Basic injury management and rehabilitation knowledge * Available resources
Level Two A.D.A.P.T Instructor:
1st4Sport Level Two Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning
"Full Instructor"
The Level Two ADAPT Instructor is the standard qualification an individual must possess before he or she is capable of teaching the fundamental principles, methods and movements or parkour, either in a class format or on a one-to-one basis, unassisted and unsupervised. A Level Two Instructor is considered capable of teaching the fundamental aspects of the discipline in any situation and to anyone who wishes to learn.
This level of instructor has to be highly competent in all aspects of the discipline, and able to demonstrate all of the basic movements and principles encapsulated within parkour.
To become a Level Two Instructor, the candidate must possess an up to date ADAPT Level One Qualification and must have a full, up to date CRB check. He or she must also have attended at least one Teacher Training Course with a registered Level Three ADAPT Instructor, and be recommended to undergo the 1st4Sport Level Two Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (ADAPT) couse by that instructor. The candidate may then reserve a space on the next available Assessment Course.
Upon being accepted on to an Assessment Course, the candidate will receive the necessary documents outlining what the assessment will consist of, and what will constitute a passing mark for the Level Two Instructor qualification.
President
YANN HNAUTRA
Yann is one of the Yamakasi group founders, which stood as the origin of the Art of Displacement. High level sportsman and comedy-artist, he has become senior coach and instructor as well within his company, Majestic Force. He works with the world-famous Cirque du Soleil in its creative department and regularly prepares groups of performers who have to be in top physical shape for the entire duration of a show. Yann is responsible for much of the shaping of the discipline in its early years and is a true guardian of the spirit of the art.Vice-President
CHAU BELLE
Chau is one of the founding members of the world-famous Yamakasi group, which was at the very origin of the Art of Displacement. High level sportsman and artist-actor, within his own company Majestic Force in France he also acts as choreographer and stunt coordinator. Chau works closely with major event organisers and production companies to develop and deliver all aspects of our professional services. Chau founded the Art Du Deplacement Academy in Paris, and now works internationally to promote the discipline.Chairman
STEPHANE VIGROUX
Stephane learned his parkour from one of the founders of the discipline, David Belle, studying with him for five years, and is now considered one of the world authorities in his own right. Stephane has remained central to the global growth of the discipline, and is now a prominent figure in the dissemination of parkour both in the UK and around the world. He now lives in London, England, where he devotes his life to the protection and growth of parkour and to making it accessible to any and all who want to learn. Stephane is a founding member of Parkour UK.
Board Director
FRANCOIS MAHOP (Forrest)
With an elite level background in athletics and sports and a degree in Sports Physiology, Forrest has been instrumental in creating a powerful relationship between the original French practitioners and the burgeoning UK parkour community. Forrest has lived in London since 2004 and has been a driving force behnd the official recognition of the discipline with the UK sporting authorities. Forrest is a founding member of Parkour UK.Board Director
DAN EDWARDES
After completing degrees at Cambridge University, Dan has worked in close conjunction with other leading traceurs to establish the largest parkour teaching framework in the world at Parkour Generations, teaching regularly at all levels from private tuition to schools, county councils and corporate workshops. Dan has published two books on parkour worldwide, the second being the acclaimed 'Handbook of Parkour and Freerunning', and regularly gives presentations and seminars on the discipline. Dan is a founding member of Parkour UK.Board Director
JOHANN VIGROUX
Johann leapt into the spotlight when he starred in the highly acclaimed UK Channel 4 documentary Jump London, which ignited the spread of parkour around the world. Johann learned the discipline from the original practitioners in Lisses, and has performed in a host of high-profile projects including advertising, live displays, television appearances, and cinema. Since his start in parkour some ten years ago Johann has been a champion of the roots of the discipline, and now lives and works in London teaching and disseminating parkour regularly at Parkour Generations while also striving to help it grow around the world.
Board Member
CHRIS KEIGHLEY
Chris has been a prolific teacher of the discipline of parkour for several years now, and has taught all over the country and at every level from Primary Schools up to university students and professional athletes, and at the London Parkour Academy. Chris' attitude and approach to instructing, coupled with his passion for communicating the art and bringing its benefits to everyone, make him a highly valued member of the Parkour UK Board.Board Member
CHRIS GRANT
Chris Grant has been practicing Parkour for over 5 years and has been integral in the growth of the community in Glasgow and Scotland particularly by founding Glasgow Parkour 2004 and Glasgow Parkour Coaching in 2008. He is extremely passionate about bringing his knowledge to the wider community through grassroots teaching. Chris runs Glasgow Parkour Coaching full time and has been responsible for setting up numerous classes across schools, community groups, outdoor classes and events all over Scotland.
Chief Executive Officer
EUGENE MINOGUE
With over a decade of experience in Sports Development, Eugene was central to integrating parkour within the mainstream sports consciousness of the country. As a manager for Westminster Sports Unit Eugene was the project co-ordinator of the seminal documentary Jump Westminster, which proved conclusively how beneficial the discipline of parkour could be as a social engagement programme for young people. Now undertaking his MA in International Sports Policy, Eugene's pioneering approach has helped established parkour as a hugely beneficial and accessible activity across the country, and he is a founding member of Parkour UKTreasurer
DOMINIC EDGINTON
Dominic is a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant with experience in both subjective and objective assignments, across a broad range of business sectors at all levels from preliminary assessment, consideration and review, to total business re-engineering. Dominic is currently a Partner in Private Practice acting in core roles of taxation and accounting aspects in an advisory capacity, both proactively and reactively, and has been instrumental in advising and guiding numerous Small and Medium-sized businesses through all commercial aspects and stages, from Start-ups, to Closures, to Turnarounds.Commercial Director
JOLYON EDWARDES
Jo is a business developer and strategist with over a 15 years experience in the UK marketing industry. He graduated from the Cass Executive MBA course in 2001 where he specialised in strategy and international consultancy. Jo has delivered projects at board level with organisations such as Chase Manhattan Bank and AMEC, worked on projects with the World Bank and US Federal Reserve and delivered marketing solutions to numerous UK companies including Barclays Bank, Capital One, M&S and Nationwide. He currently specialises in the social enterprise space and is committed to the concept of commercially sustainable ethical activities.
Disclaimer
Involvement in dangerous sports and related activities carries a significant risk of damage to property, personal injury or death. Be aware that you participate at your own risk. Parkour UK recommends the seeking of professional instruction before entering into any sports or physical activity. You should become knowledgeable about the risks involved and assume personal responsibility for your actions.
The information contained within www.parkouruk.org is open to interpretation. Opinions concerning the technical difficulties, fitness requirements, safety, and ratings, are subjective and may differ from your or others’ opinion, therefore be warned that you must exercise your own judgment to protect yourself from the inherent risks and dangers.
Do not use the information provided on this site unless you are a skilled and experienced sports person who understands and accepts the risks of participating in potentially dangerous sports and activities.
