Editor's Note
Last month, I made an effort to more publicly open up my inbox to new authors who wanted to write for The Freerunner. The next morning, a flurry began, and emails came streaming in from everywhere. It was wonderful to see so many people with passionate opinions about life, and the ambition to put these things into words and share them with the world. From the emails I received, I noticed a trend: This month's theme seems to be centered around "definitions" and what about parkour and freerunning is really important to us.
If you have a response to any of our authors, if anything you read here makes you think outside of your normal thought patterns, go make a response and be heard! On the same note, my inbox is open to you, the reader. Email me at Janine@AmericanParkour.com to get your thoughts heard.
Janine Cundy
Editor in Chief
In This Issue
Society, Parkour, and Confidence - Part 2
Although it may seem so sometimes, being a traceur does not magically make you fearless. Parkour training is incredibly mentally taxing and sometimes in order to progress and expand boundaries, you need to come face to face with your fears and insecurities. Charles' article is a personal exploration of fear, its causes, and how he deals with it.
Comic for February
Definition
Henry Collie, our original "Parkour Games" writer, takes an introspective step into the history of definitions in Parkour. Read along as he guides us through the commonly accepted history of how parkour came to be known, and what it came to be known as. In this article, Henry invites us to really think about definitions, and whether or not we need them.
Rise: Chapter 11
In this futuristic world that Gabriel Arnold has created, Parkour and Freerunning are the most popular disciplines, and society reflects their influence. A young man, Rusty, discovers his roots and empowers himself through training the art. In this month's chapter, Rusty takes the bull by the horns and confronts Owen about a very serious subject.
Dedication
Brandon Dean has witnessed a growing problem in his community, and takes this space to call us all to take a look at our training. The traceur lifestyle is a demanding one, and if we don't approach it seriously, we quickly see the consequences. These come in many forms, from lost strength to bruised shins to more serious injuries. Does laziness ever get in the way of your progression? Do you ever find yourself staring at a screen when you could be out training? This article is written to motivate you back outside.
The Elder Traceur
This month's article is a conversation piece about David Belle's latest interview and all of the other parts of parkour that make it so much more than just a game. Like martial arts and their internal focus, Salil feels that Parkour forces us to think more deeply about ourselves and grow in unexpected ways. This article starts some really deep discussions, and we here at The Freerunner can't wait to see the comments posted.
Snowball Games
This game comes to us from another guest author! Blanc Sims took the opportunity this winter's given us to come up with a way to use the snow as a training tool. This game is a ton of fun (I tell you this with confidence, as I've tested it out for you). So grab some friends, grab some snow, and get to work! (For those of you without snow this winter, try a medicine ball or a kettlebell instead!)