If you’ve spent any time in the world of parkour— you’ve probably come across the term “freerunning.” Sometimes it’s used interchangeably with parkour, other times it seems to mean something entirely different.
So… what’s going on here?
Let’s break it down.
In the early 2000s, the French founders of modern parkour - known as the Yamakasi, began sharing their discipline with a global audience. When the BBC collaborated with them to produce a documentary called Jump London, the producers had a problem: the word “parkour” was unfamiliar and hard to market to English-speaking viewers.
To solve this, Yamakasi member Sébastien Foucan coined the term “freerunning.” His reasoning? It’s like running, but with more freedom.
The documentary was a hit, and suddenly a whole generation of young Brits and Americans were inspired to start their “freerunning” journeys.
As parkour gained traction, philosophical differences emerged. The Yamakasi, rooted in military-style training, emphasized efficient, pragmatic movement—getting from point A to point B as quickly and safely as possible.
Foucan, however, believed in creative expression. He incorporated flips, spins, and elements of gymnastics and tricking into his movement style. This led to a split:
Parkour:
Efficiency, practicality, metrics
Freerunning:
Creativity, aesthetics, freedom
Even throughout Europe, “freerunning” became the term for the more expressive style.
By the early 2010s, most athletes practiced a mix of both. Arguments over semantics—like “Does a flip count as parkour if it’s faster than doing a vault?”—were prevalent.
Parkour started to take precedence as the catchall term for all obstacle based movement. The general consensus was:
All freerunning is parkour, but not all parkour is freerunning.
In 2016, the Sport Parkour League helped settle the debate with its three-part competition format:
This framework embraced the full spectrum of movement and made the term “freerunning” largely obsolete. Today, it’s all considered parkour—just with different emphases.
As a parkour coach and athlete, I identify most with the Skill and Style aspects. I’ve competed in national speed events and World Chase Tag (a Speed-focused competition), and I’ve taken on tough challenges across South Florida that showcase Skill.
Currently, I’m working on flips, cartwheels, and other acrobatics—so maybe one day I’ll be a full-fledged Style athlete too.
It’s worth noting that Speed, Skill, and Style often overlap—creative vision can shape a Skill challenge, and Style runs may demand serious speed, for example.
While “freerunning” is no longer considered a distinct discipline, you’ll still see brands and facilities using the term. Why?
A) It reflects when the organization was founded (early 2000s)
B) Some argue it’s still a more marketable term to English-speaking audiences than “parkour”
But for today’s athletes, coaches, and students—whether kids, teens, or adults—it’s all parkour. No matter if you're focused on speed, skill, or style, you're part of a community that values health, creativity, and personal growth!
