Parkour started in France in the 1990s with a nine-member group dubbed Yamakasi (meaning strong in one’s person). They based their challenges on martial arts and Asian culture, and considered George Herbert, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jean-Claude Van Damme as major influences. Their popularity grew and the sport found itself in documentaries, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, an ESPN segment, and various video games. “Parkour is movement without limits, it’s freedom in motion, pure and raw,” says enthusiast Tropicana Danny. He is an administrator of the Parkour Rhode Island Facebook page. “It’s the art of getting places in the most creative, efficient, and explosive way possible. You’re not just running or jumping, you’re flowing. You’re turning the city into your playground, flipping the script on what’s possible. Walls and obstacles are just opportunities to flex your mindset and your skills.”
“Parkour isn’t just a sport – it’s a practice,” adds Polvo, founder and head instructor at AMP Academy Gym.” Parkour is natural movement. It’s a return to what we were always supposed to be doing. It is a way of life; It’s a way of seeing the world.” Parkour has since grown into a niche sport. It can be done anywhere, either individually or with a group of supporters. There are outdoor spaces with areas specific to parkour (Father Lennon Park in Providence is an example). Sky Zone Providence, AMP Academy, and HUB Parkour Training Center all offer classes. The Facebook group that Tropicana Danny moderates has 708 members. “Getting into the Parkour community is simple: show up, stay curious, and bring your energy,” Tropicana Danny says. “You don’t need to be a ninja from day one. Just start moving. Find a local jam, hit up a training session, or connect with people online who are about that life. The community is welcoming. They support instead of judge.” “People are more nervous than skeptical,” Polvo says, adding that AMP has a meticulously crafted curriculum that has everything broken down into the safest way to learn. “It’s not that they don’t think it’s an effective exercise so much as that most people think they can’t do it, so a lot of people never try. Most people think they’re going to get hurt, so they hide from the challenge. It takes a person who wants to try something new and is willing to feel silly as they learn.”
Parkour has both physical and mental benefits. Tropicana Danny notes that it builds strength, agility, and confidence in a different way than other sports. There is a challenge that individuals set for themselves, which makes it unique. “Your body gets sharper, faster, more capable, but the real glow-up is mental,” he says. “You learn to stay calm in chaos, to trust your instincts, and to face fear with style. Parkour doesn’t just train the body. it unlocks the part of you that’s been sleeping. You stop seeing limits. You start seeing moves. It’s a pure vibe.” “Parkour is far from just lifting weights in a gym,” Polvo says. “Parkour puts us in a different place in our minds. It gives us the opportunity to find a solution. When there’s an obstacle in front of us, it’s not a barrier; it’s a challenge, and challenges are meant to be overcome. It’s not just about the physical obstacles – it includes the emotional challenges, relationship challenges, and professional challenges.” Tropicana Danny learned about parkour during a life rough patch. Everything felt off after his stepdad left the family. One day, he decided to take a walk from his south-side home to downtown. That walk found him climbing, jumping, and moving differently, “just trying to feel something real.” He met James Montero, an original member of the Parkour Rhode Island crew, who introduced him to the world of parkour.
“That moment changed everything,” he says. “I realized there was a whole world I hadn’t tapped into yet. Eventually, I started introducing and influencing parkour to many people in high school and it became a growing family. Parkour gave me something when nothing else did and I’m still chasing that feeling every time I move.” “The Parkour community is so unbelievably welcoming,” Polvo says. “It’s hard to find a person who does Parkour who isn’t immediately welcoming and happy to teach a new person. A stranger could walk up to somebody training Parkour in the park, and that person would put their own training on hold to help bring somebody else into the art.”
Paul Goyner and his nine-year old son participate in parkour on Wednesdays. It has become a bonding experience for the duo and something they both look forward to weekly. Cole dubs it “Spiderman practice,” “Batman training,” and “ninja school.” “Getting kids active is difficult,” Goyner says. “I like the parts where my kid does lots of running, jumping, and climbing instead of sitting and staring at a screen.” Tropicana Danny goes on to say that parkour is an activity where “individuals from all walks of life come together to explore movement as a path to self-knowledge.” He notes that there are no teams or trophies. The community is there to pick someone up when they try a move that fails and cheer them on when they succeed. “When one person overcomes an obstacle, all bear witness and are uplifted,” he adds of the positivity. “What makes this community unique is its deep-rooted ethos of mutual support and inclusivity. Newcomers are not seen as novices but as fellow travelers on the path.” I would encourage everybody to try Parkour. There are amazing schools and gyms all over the country, and each one has something different to offer. Every instructor has different experiences and perspectives and has so much to teach. When taking up Parkour, it’s important to remember to go at your own pace. You know better than anybody what your body is capable of. Others will encourage you and push you to push yourself, but it’s important to remember that you are the only one who knows best, and you should never do something you don’t think you’re ready for. Safety should always be your top priority when training parkour. Looking cool comes second. People trying to get involved can reach out to any of the venues listed above or do a quick Google search to find some different parkour places and groups. They could also look up moves on YouTube and start small in their backyard before looking to participate with other individuals.
“Once you’re in, you don’t just exist, you move differently and you see the world differently,” Tropicana Danny says of the life-changing benefits of parkour. “Parkour is more than movement, it is a philosophy of freedom made flesh. At its surface, Parkour is the art of navigating one’s environment through running, vaulting, climbing, and jumping. But beneath that surface lies something far more profound: a discipline that trains the mind and body to overcome not just physical obstacles, but internal ones.” •
For more information, call AMP Academy at 508-5671002 or ampacademygym.com. To join Parkour Rhode Island, visit https://www.facebook. com/share/g/1J3Kh4tB7e/
