Boy, do I feel humbled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MeiwLLZjDo

Incredible.

I can't get it to play!!! or any of the showreels for that matter! But I did look at some of the related videos. Damn that's awesome!

Um, a lot of that actually looks really dangerous.  I don't know, call me old fashioned, but I think it's lame when people misuse their athletic gifts.  Hope to gd some 12 year old doesn't try to jump off a building now...

It probably is exceedingly dangerous. But also incredibly cool. 

Wow...

He's a freerunner or Parkour Traceur isn't he? It's not as crazy dangerous as it looks for the experienced practicioner. Like all amazing feats of physicality you need both talent and coaching to reach the level of skill on display here, but you don't start at this level if you have even vague contact with a traceur group.

Bet he doesn't worry about counting calories.  ha ha

That's awesome. I'd love to see a bloopers reel though lol.

Original Post by ftay:

Um, a lot of that actually looks really dangerous.  I don't know, call me old fashioned, but I think it's lame when people misuse their athletic gifts.  Hope to gd some 12 year old doesn't try to jump off a building now...

You could just as easily say that of the kick @ss parkour scene at the beginning of Casino Royale, or any movie that involves a lot of risky stunt work.

Stuntwork in movies is lame?  Okay then....

And if a 12 year old is trying to copy a James Bond film, any stunt work, geez, for that matter anything they see in a film (ie "Trainspotting"), then are are some serious issues their PARENTS need to deal with.

Original Post by melkor:

He's a freerunner or Parkour Traceur isn't he? It's not as crazy dangerous as it looks for the experienced practicioner. Like all amazing feats of physicality you need both talent and coaching to reach the level of skill on display here, but you don't start at this level if you have even vague contact with a traceur group.

 

 Yep.  Parkour has been around for some time.  My son and his buddies love it - they've been doing freerunning for a couple of years now.

Santo - like the kids who lit themselves on fire trying to copy a Jacka$$ stunt? Come on guys - it's in the title!

Original Post by santonacci:

Original Post by ftay:

Um, a lot of that actually looks really dangerous.  I don't know, call me old fashioned, but I think it's lame when people misuse their athletic gifts.  Hope to gd some 12 year old doesn't try to jump off a building now...

You could just as easily say that of the kick @ss parkour scene at the beginning of Casino Royale, or any movie that involves a lot of risky stunt work.

Stuntwork in movies is lame?  Okay then....

And if a 12 year old is trying to copy a James Bond film, any stunt work, geez, for that matter anything they see in a film (ie "Trainspotting"), then are are some serious issues their PARENTS need to deal with.

 I think it's fairly arguable that there is a huge difference between the influence factor on a kid from watching a professional film vs. a homemade YouTube video.  That said, I don't really see what the point of your post was, other than to attack someone for a simple opinion.  I think that's lame, too, FYI. Have a great day!

Original Post by alex4422:

That's awesome. I'd love to see a bloopers reel though lol.

OUCH.  Yeah, I can't only IMAGINE how many injuries he's sustained getting to this point...

Original Post by ftay:

Original Post by santonacci:

That said, I don't really see what the point of your post was, other than to attack someone for a simple opinion.  I think that's lame, too, FYI. Have a great day!

That person on the YouTube video may very well be a a professional just filming his workout routine.  Why it was published on YouTube, I don't know, but if a kid is so influenced by YouTube videos that they want to try everything they see in them, there's still a parental control issue.

I posted a rebuttal to your implied assertion that 1) it's lame when people use their physical gifts in that manner and 2) that people shouldn't post those videos on YouTube because of impressionable young people.  If you want to classify that as a "lame attack", well, you are, of course, entitled to your opinion.

You have a great day as well.

Sigh. He filmed himself jumping over his friend's moving car, jumping into some guy's face off a wall, ripping his clothes off, etc. I mean, come on, workout routine? I think one should also be a little more realistic about the impressionability of young people and how difficult "parental control" can be for a parent. It happens. And parents aren't omnipotent.

Yes, I do think it's lame when someone uses their athletic talent to engage in cheap stunts like that. That's just my philosophy about the body, and my own opinion that some of them were, in fact, cheap stunts. I just don't see how it's a constructive use of the body. He's not working in controlled stunt conditions in a lot of the clips, and the ridiculousness of some of the stunts struck me as immature. Anyway, that's my personal opinion, as it relates to my beliefs about the athletic endeavor. I have no desire to further argue about this. I think you're giving me too much credit by claiming you need to rebut any "implied assertions," but please, feel free to rebut at will as these assumptions develop in your psyche... or provide more movie references. You really dated yourself with Trainspotting, there.

Original Post by ftay:

I think you're giving me too much credit by claiming you need to rebut any "implied assertions,"

I didn't claim I "needed" to rebut you - this is the Lounge, so I just thought I'd throw it in there. 

Yes - workout, or training routine.  Or maybe a video as an application to get a job in a......movie.  It's a constructive use of the body because it's a marketable skill, one which has been demonstrated to be used in a recognized and legitimate industry.

No, parents aren't omnipotent, but they are responsible.  Not the person on YouTube who decides to share with thousands of people, including young ones who have been taught some discernment by their parents.

And knowing about "Trainspotting" doesn't necessarily date someone, only that they know a little cinematic trivia - which can be accessed on YouTube, BTW.

Err, this is Fitness, actually, but again - this is Damien Walters. British Olympic gymnast, professional stunt man, and Parkour traceur at the top of his form.

 It's not some random bloke of the street, Damien was on the British Oly team and helped win the World Championship in 2003.

Trainspotting was made in the mid-90's... if that's dating anyone, wow do I feel old...

Original Post by melkor:

Err, this is Fitness, actually, ...

Oops - sorry.

Hey, given how much I hang out in the Lounge these days it's easy to make that mistake ;)

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Trainspotting was made in the mid-90's... if that's dating anyone, wow do I feel old...

It was 1996 - so say, a 12 year old who was paying attention to pop culture would be 25 now.  You must be such a geezer.