Take Flight

We are starting to have so many videos on this site that we aren’t always sure which ones we have already posted and which ones we still need to post! Yesterday’s post from the Parkour Generation’s Rendezvous I workshop reminded us of a few videos we thought we already had on the site but upon further investigation we found out that we did not. A fair amount of these videos are from Julie Angel and Parkour Generations, and as such we have decided to continue for a time posting a series of their work.

Today we have decided to post not one, not two, but three videos of David Belle. They are all different than the normal videos you will see of David because they are unusually short and they focus on only a couple obstacles (in fact two of them only focus on one). The videos are diverse and definitely fun to watch/study over and over again. 

David Belle – One Handed Wall Run

In this first clip David places his right hand in his pocket and does a one handed wall run. This move is especially impressive because he uses his off hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXq1_-CMAjA

David Belle Fall – Accroches Toi

This second clip shows exclusively the precision jump that David missed in the Accroches Toi video. David completes the jump successfully later in that video, however, as far as our research has uncovered this is one of only two online videos that specifically highlights a fall from David -the other of course being his famous fall on the UCLA campus seen here-.By analyzing David’s fall you can learn a lot about the safety in good Parkour technique. The one-footed precision is frequently a safer way to attempt longer distance precision jumps. By jumping/leaping into a one-footed precision you have one foot forward and the other back which allows for a safer bail and/or landing if you miss because all of your weight is not committed to sticking the jump. The one footed precision is also a good way to practice and/or gauge distances of jumps depending on the circumstances. If the ledge you are jumping to is not very high off the ground then this method is perfect. In this situation if you jump and land with the majority of your weight on your back leg –which lands on the ground- and only part of your weight on your front foot –which lands on the ledge- you can slowly progress into the jump. As you become more comfortable you can land with more and more of your weight on your front foot until you can successfully stick the precision without touching the ground. In David’s case the ledge was high up so he did not have this luxury. However, the potential injuries of his miss were likely diminished because of his good technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDd9zcQSQV4

David Belle “Live”

This last clip also provides a good opportunity to study David’s technique. Half of the footage from this video was shot from a head camera that David wore. Because of this we have a unique opportunity to see Parkour “Live” from the eyes of David while he overcomes a variety of obstacles.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2678784980977356113&q=David%20Belle%20Kazuma&hl=en

This is a great Parkour video of the Vigroux brothers hard at play. Featuring Stephane and Johann Vigroux this is a collection of footage shot from 2001 to 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASu88gc31wc

Here is a video with David Belle and some of the guys from PKCali. The footage was filmed on July 17, 2005 when David was in California. The video has some great shots of David doing precision jumps and other various moves.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4116904376572987804

Similar in production to the Le Tuyau video, here is another video called Un Lundi Cool featuring David Belle, Kazuma and some other Tracers. Just like the title “Le Tuyau” we’re not exactly sure what “Un Lundi Cool” means. However, our best guess is that is means a “cool” or “Laid-back Monday.”

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4475774904038183353&q=David+Belle+Kazuma&ei=oMUKSLXVLIHk4AKCiL2nBA&hl=en