Parkour is an exiting and exhilarating sport, with just one mission: to get from one place to another, as quickly as possible, while negotiating the obstacles between. Also known as the “art of displacement” and free running, this crazy form of exercise is performed by many adrenaline junkies, including Creighton students.
Arts & Sciences sophomore Christopher Wong loves the sport and has been wanting to start up a Creighton parkour group since his freshman year. All the way from Hawaii, Wong participated in Hawaii Parkour classes in high school. He described the experience as unforgettable.
“It was one of the best times I have ever had and I learned a lot about myself and about others,” Wong said. “It was a very diverse group of people ranging from a 13-year-old, to those in their 50s and had children of their own. I learned about my limits and my capabilities and how I can confront my own fears at my own pace.”
There are many reasons to enjoy parkour, according to Wong, and parkour is not just “about doing the most dangerous stunt or amazing trick, its about bettering yourself with respect to others and the environment.”
To become an official club at Creighton, the process is much harder than one might think. Wong said he is still waiting for official approval. In fact, Wong has sent, yet again, another application this semester to get an interview, to try and convince the Student Activities Office why this club should be considered.
But, Wong is not alone in his journey to make this club official. His friend, Arts & Sciences sophomore Nick Than has been very supportive and helpful in this process, along with fellow Arts & Sciences sophomores Mark Martinez and Matthew Taira, who help out whenever they can. Another big supporter of Wong’s goal is the leader of Omaha Parkour Group, Jonathan Rolfsen.
“A bunch of us in Gallagher were looking for something to do, and Chris asked us if we wanted to help start a club and do parkour. After the first practice, I would have to say that I just loved it,” Taira said.
As of now, Creighton’s Parkour Club has 40 members. However, Wong hopes to increase the amount of people who come to practices more consistently. Wanting to have more members that are both willing and dedicated to the club.
Anyone interested in parkour is encouraged to join and no previous knowledge of the sport is needed to participate.
“You don’t have to know anything about parkour, we can teach you,” Wong said. “We train with Omaha Parkour and its leader, Jonathan, is ADAPT certified, [a type or parkour certification] It’s always fun to have a wide variety of people, you get to meet new people that way and learn a lot of interesting things from them.”