Take Flight

David Belle is one of the greatest inspirations of our time. In addition to his movement, these quotes are just a few of the inspirations he has shared.

“A lot of people in their mind think ‘If there is a problem this is what I would do, this is how I would do it.’ But the truth is they don’t really know. Parkour teaches you to be sure of what you are able to do.” -David Belle

“Many people open their mind through different things like music and painting, as well as Parkour. How is not important. What is important is to open your mind because you gain some freedom through it.” -David Belle

“There is no stronger or weaker…. You’re strong in the moment when you go right to the end for the cause you are defending.” -David Belle

“When you’re training Parkour with passion, if you’re good, people will notice you. Don’t go around saying, ‘Hey look at this new move I got.’ No. We used to say, ‘If it’s good we’ll tell you.’ Do it for yourself first.” -David Belle

”Because some people may say ‘Woah they are crazy,’ but we are way more thoughtful than someone who might fall down the stairs because they didn’t pay attention.” -David Belle

“…you don’t need any [money] to do [Parkour], just a pair of good shoes and that’s all.” -David Belle

Joyeux Anniversaire David !

From all of us at Take Flight we are going to take this day (and weekend actually) to honor David as the founder of Parkour and inspiration for us and the discipline worldwide. Without him, none of us would be where we are today working down the path we are on. Our sincerest gratitude, respect, and admiration go out to David, and our warmest wishes for a happy birthday celebration.

Back in 2008 Take Flight posted an interview with David Belle that included a portion about how he and Sébastien Foucan had grown apart over the years. Well just a few months ago David Belle was interviewed by Sébastien Foucan and we knew all the fans would be interested.

It is incredible to see the founder of Parkour joined with another original member of the Yamakasi across from “Le Dame du Lac”, one of the most iconic structures in all of Parkour. In the interview David discusses what Parkour was for him in the past, and what it has become today. Truly a “must see” interview for any and all Traceurs. Whether you have been training and following the growth of Parkour since its beginning or just starting out, the words shared in this interview will educate and inspire you.

The 2 part interview has been translated into multiple languages, so if you prefer different subtitles or would like to see the original videos you can find them at:  http://www.youtube.com/user/FreerunningTVDotCom

David and Sébastien cover topics ranging from the original inspiration of Parkour from David Belle’s father to social media today and how that, and the rapid growth in popularity, have changed the way Parkour is viewed and practiced by many people. Below we have both parts of this interview, so sit back and enjoy learning the history and truth of Parkour from David Belle himself.

-We are on the verge of announcing our newest editions to the Take Flight team of sponsored Traceurs (the Take Flight Street Team). The decisions that have been made were difficult, and as such Adam wanted to personally address the entire Parkour community regarding them.-

At Take Flight we have always been focused on spreading Parkour by David Belle and on making everyone new and old to the discipline feel welcomed and encouraged to train and pursue their dreams within Parkour and beyond. Building the Take Flight Street Team is one of the methods we have implemented to further this pursuit via supporting a select group of international Traceurs who both represent Parkour and David’s vision for the discipline through their training, outlook and personal endeavors. Unfortunately the downside to selecting a team is having passionate and skilled Traceurs apply for the team who are not selected. This is the part that burdens me, which is why I have decided to publicly address it.

This year we had hundreds of applicants to the Take Flight Street Team and we will only be extending a handful of invitations. Each new TF team member that receives an invite was selected for unique reasons, and each has his own personality, skill set, and personal story that we feel represents Parkour and Take Flight in a very special way. For this reason, we do not have a specific “Why not?” for every Traceur that was not given an invitation. However, I can confidentially say that the Traceurs who were not invited were all extremely heartfelt, skillful, hardworking, and inspiring, and I could not be prouder of how far Parkour has come in the last few years to see such a strong contingent of passionate Traceurs around the globe.

No one talks about Parkour quite like David, and I’d like to emphasize one of my favorite quotes from him. It not only speaks volumes about who he is, but it also speaks volumes about Parkour. David says:

There is no stronger or weaker. You are strong in the moment that you go right to the end for the cause you are defending.

Parkour isn’t about winning. It’s not about being better than someone else. It’s not about one-uping others, or being cool, or being recognized. Parkour is, as it has always been for me and David, a personal pursuit that is focused and routed in self-improvement. The Take Flight Street Team epitomizes those that have found this path for themselves by allowing them to join directly with us in spreading the discipline around the world. But all of us in the community are a part of this larger goal, and we become stronger when we are all together.

The true purpose of the Take Flight Street Team is to bring the worldwide Parkour community together and point us in a common direction – that being to spread Parkour worldwide. Regardless of who is given an invitation to the team I hope that we can realize this vision and work towards it as a community of Traceurs striving for something bigger. The Take Flight Street Team is just a small part of the Parkour world and what we do at Take Flight. So if we can think beyond this, and strive for or bigger common goal then we will really have something. And you don’t have to be a Take Flight sponsored athlete to do that.

I look forward to the journey we all have in front of us in the Parkour community and beyond. Thank you again to everyone that applied to the team, and I look forward to working with you all to continue to expand and grow Parkour around the world.

Sincerely,

Adam Dunlap
Take Flight Founder & CEO

The PK Splat Tee has its newest and most daring sibling. Purple. Here is a cool back story for all our faithful blog readers:

The PK Splat Tee – Purple was first produced in the summer of 2010 when the PK Splat Tee was initially released for the 2010 International PK Clothing Launch. The three inaugural colors were White, Green, and Navy. The Purple version was produced as a prototype color version specifically for and by the request of Take Flight founder Adam Dunlap for his personal collection. For 6 months he was the only one who owned the tee, and he wore it all the time. But in spite of countless employee requests for one he refused to approve the production of more. However, after this past season’s Christmas rush, the Parkour community was screaming to have the PK Splat Tee restocked, and given the timing some of our employees submitted a formal petition to Adam to put the white on purple version of the tee into production. After a few weeks of consideration Adam gave in and there you have it.

Until today the PK Splat Tee – Purple was the most exclusive Parkour shirt on the planet owned by only one man. Now thanks to the community and their desire for new tees and Adam’s willingness to give up his ownership of the only one, the PK Splat Tee – Purple now exist for the entire worldwide Parkour community to own.

Thank you Adam for the tee, and thank you David for Parkour!



Our last release of 2010 is here! Inspired by David Belle and called the PK Jumper Tee, Take Flight founder Adam Dunlap is calling this, “The, hands-down coolest tee we’ve ever produced.”

The PK Jumper Tee. Inspired by David Belle.

You can see the shirt above in all three inaugural colors. Authentically Parkour, graceful, clean, urban, and true, this shirt says Parkour in every way. Foreshadowing of the future, we hope this tee ushers in a new era of Parkour clothing, and points us in the prolific direction consistent with David’s vision that brought us all here in the first place.

Need we say more ? We’d love to, and given the chance we probably wouldn’t stop talking about this tee. But we’ll leave all the discussion and analysis to those that really matter: our fans and Traceurs worldwide. In the meantime, you can be one of the first to own this tee. It is only $19.95, and you can get it by clicking here.

Our David Belle movie posters are going on sale! Previously $29.95 for a District B13 or B13 Ultimatum movie poster, the posters will now be sold for only $19.95!

A little about these posters:

• They posters are OFFICIAL movie posters. The same ones displayed in the theaters.
• Both posters feature David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli in action from the films.
• Both posters measure a brilliant 27”x40”.
• These are great for hanging in your room and/or framing for a professional touch
• Take Flight is the ONLY company that carries these for retail

If you’re a Traceur these two posters are the must have of all Parkour posters. Whether you plan to frame these posters and put them in your living area for everyone to admire, or whether you plan to tape these to your wall to bring you the daily inspiration and focus that only David Belle can bring, at only $19.95 it’ll be hard to find a better deal on Parkour merchandise.

Here is a video that recently surfaced of David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli in Austria! Unique in its filming, location, and style, this video is a testament to the wide reaching variably dynamic nature of Parkour as well as the longevity of its founder who, at 37, obviously still doesn’t miss a step.

Hinweis: Leider hast Du den Flash Player nicht oder nur eine veraltete Version installiert. Dieser wird zum Betrachten der Medien benötigt. Flash Player herunterladen

http://www.planet-tirol.com/channels/show/channel/8/title/Parkour/mkey/97073406a544ea81cb7f40abb26ae7f0

Our mission statement at Take Flight is:

To provide our customers with the highest quality athletic apparel for training and casual wear, while providing them the inspiration to discover their own potential through movement.

The first half of this mission lies in our Parkour clothing and gear; hence primarily in our design, manufacturing, and distribution capabilities. But in order to achieve the second half of this mission we have found very few things more fitting than publishing inspirational quotes for our customers, fans, and followers to be inspired and encouraged by.

Featured here is a second round of inspirational quotes which we have featured on our Take Flight Fan Page, MySpace page, and Twitter feed over the past 6 months. Quotes below include those by Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Lance Armstrong, Martin Luther King Jt., Vince Lombardi, Bruce Lee, William Arthur Ward, George Patton, Confucius, Ralph Waldo Emerson and of course David Belle. To see the first selective compilation of quotes on our blog please click here.

“I’ve learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” -Andy Rooney

“All things are difficult before they are easy.” -Thomas Fuller

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” -Mark Twain

“Before you can win, you have to believe you are worthy.” -Mike Ditka

“Down deep in every soul has a hidden longing, impulse, and ambition to do something fine and enduring…. If you are willing, great things are possible for you.” -Grenville Kleiser

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” -Mark Twain

“…you don’t need any [money] to do [Parkour], just a pair of good shoes and that’s all.” -David Belle

“Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.” -Albert Einstein

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

“If you do not hope you will not find what is beyond your hopes.” -St. Clement of Alexandra

“A lot of people in their mind think ‘If there is a problem this is what I would do, this is how I would do it.’ But the truth is they don’t really know. Parkour teaches you to be sure of what you are able to do.” -David Belle

“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” -Lance Armstrong

“Most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!” -Anthony Robbins

“It’s easy to have faith and discipline when you’re a winner… what you need is faith and discipline when you’re not a winner.” -Vince Lombardi

“We seek not to imitate the masters, rather we seek what they sought.” -Stephen Covey

“Many people open their mind through different things like music and painting, as well as Parkour. How is not important. What is important is to open your mind because you gain some freedom through it.” -David Belle

“Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.” -George S. Patton

“It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, ‘Always do what you are afraid to do.’ ” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Don’t wish it was easier. Enjoy the challenge and strive to become better.” -Take Flight

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Confucius

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” -Mark Twain

“With confidence you have won before you have started.” -Marcus Garvey

“Great men’s success should always be measured against the means they used to reach it.” -Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.” -Arthur C. Clarke

“Effective people are not problem minded, they are opportunity minded.” -Peter Drucker

“Knowing is now enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.” -Bruce Lee

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” -William Arthur Ward

“There is no stronger or weaker…. You’re strong in the moment when you go right to the end for the cause you are defending.” -David Belle

We are so excited for the U.S release of Banlieue 13 Ultimatum that we have taken it upon ourselves to coordinate and host the official Facebook release event for the film! In order to help spread the word about this film we are also giving away free clothing AND free DVD’s in accordance with the event! Here are the details:

What: Banlieue 13 Ultimatum (District 13 Ultimatum – U.S. Title) is coming to theaters! Starring David Belle, this sequel to the groundbreaking Banlieue 13 is the most highly anticipated Parkour movie to date.

Where: United States of America

When: The movie releases in theaters on February 5^th, 2010. It will be on limited release so you’ll have to search for locations. We recommend this link: http://www.fandango.com/district13:ultimatum_128558/movietimes

Free DVDs and Clothing (quoted from the event page):

We are so excited for this film that we want everyone to hear about it! So invite ALL your friends to this event. If this event reaches 10,000 attendees we will give away FREE DVD’s and FREE Parkour clothing everyday leading up to the film’s release!

We have literally never been this excited for a film’s release. We hope you join us in this momentous event and opportunity to see David Belle and B13 Ultimatum on the big screen.