Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The art of parkour is alive and well in Greater Boston thanks to Parkour Generations Boston's founder and director, Blake Evitt.
"We call it parkour vision — the ability to see the world as your playground, but it's really about kind of empowerment and getting people to feel comfortable moving in their own city," Evitt said.
Founded in 2012, Parkour Generations Boston is part of the Parkour Generations Americas franchise. The Somerville based branch offers classes for all ages and abilities including Gen Xers.
"A lot of people will do a double take here in Somerville when they see a group of gray-haired folks crawling on the sidewalk or leaping over railing or climbing around on playgrounds because that's not normal but who said that needs to be normal," Evitt stated.
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The concept, inspired by the movement of indigenous people in Africa, originated in France as a training discipline called the "natural method," formulated by French naval lieutenant, George Hebert. The training behind the "natural method," involves running, climbing, swimming and obstacle courses to recreate the natural environment. Years later, Raymond Belle, a veteran of the French Special Forces introduced the "natural method" to his son David Belle who is credited as the creator of parkour.
Evitt, who has trained with the creators of discipline, says his mission is to empower people to feel comfortable in their city and environment and feel like the world is their playground. It's all about getting in touch with your body and your surroundings.
"Doesn't have to be a set of stairs that you walk down; you can crawl down it. Doesn't have to be a railing that you walk along side; you can go over it, you can go under it, you can go around it, you can go through it."
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.