AFPK Presentation TimelineNEW

GEORGES HÉBERT: Méthode Naturelle (early 1900s)
RAYMOND BELLE: Vietnam/French military -->
French pompiers (1950s-1980s)
EARLIEST GROUP (1980s): David Belle, Châu Belle Dinh, Phung Belle,
Williams Belle, Yann Hnautra, Frederick Hnautra, David Maigogne,
Sébastien Foucan, David Foucan, Guylain NʼGuba Boyeke, Malik Diouf,
Charles Perrière, Laurent Piemontesi
TRACERS GROUP (1990s): David Belle,
Kazuma, Romain Moutault, Jérôme Ben-Aoues*,
Stéphane Vigroux, Johann Vigroux, and others
YAMAKASI (1990s): Châu Belle-Dinh,
Williams Belle, David Belle, Yann Hnautra,
Sebastien Foucan, Guylain NʼGuba
Boyeke, Malik Diouf, Charles Perrière,
Laurent Piemontesi
MAJESTIC FORCE (2005-present):
Châu Belle-Dinh, Williams Belle, Yann
Hnautra, Guylain NʼGuba Boyeke,
Laurent Piemontesi (ADD Academy)
* If you use the “Bien Dit” textbook, Jérôme Ben-Aoues is featured in the Level 3 book.
PARKOUR GENERATIONS (2007present):
Dan Edwardes, François ʻForrestʼ Mahop,
Stéphane Vigroux
ADAPT Parkour Teaching Qualification (2009)
From “Ciné Parkour,” Dr. Julie Angel, PhD, 2011
BRATZ, ALISSA
Friday, May 18, 2012 2:35:28 PM CT
URBAN FREEFLOW (2003-present):
Sébastien Foucan, Stéphane Vigroux,
and others
400,000 YEARS AGO: Prehistoric
man uses parkour as a natural
function of survival
LATE 1980s: Raymondʼs teenage son
David, along with siblings, cousins, and
friends, begins playing and exploring
movement and training ideas, based on
Raymondʼs philosophy and teachings.
They train in Lisses, Sarcelles, and Evry.
EARLY 1900s: French naval officer Georges Hébert
develops his Méthode Naturelle, from observing
indigenous peoples during his tours of the DOM-TOMs.
Méthode Naturelle becomes the basis of physical
training for the French (and later worldwide) military
(Parcours du combattant). Hébertʼs motto: “Être fort
pour être utile,” is later co-opted as a motto for parkour.
1988-1997: David and his friends focus on
their training, developing a training
methodology, ethics, values, and spirit.
Development is organic, collaborative, and
deeply personal.
LATE 1950s: Raymond Belle,
orphaned in Vietnam, is taken in by
the French Army at age 15, receives
military education and relocates to
France. His athletic prowess
distinguishes him among the
sapeurs-pompiers.
1997: YAMAKASI group forms (see attached)
Davidʼs brother Jean-François asks the group
to perform for Paris Firefighter event. JeanFrançois begins filming the group, and they
receive their first media coverage.
1999: Raymond Belle dies
1998 - 2000, SCHISM AND UPHEAVAL, INCREASED EXPOSURE, SEARCHING FOR IDENTITY
* David Belle begins to use the term “parkour” rather than “parcours” or “art du déplacement”
* David pursues an acting career, releasing early videos on the internet. Filmmaker Luc Besson invites Yamakasi to be in a feature film
* Stéphane Vigroux begins training with David Belle; David and Sébastien Foucan break off from the Yamakasi and form TRACERS group
with Stéphane and other newcomers (see attachment)
* Media coverage increases
* 2000: Yamakasi perform as ninjas in the film Taxi 2, and film Luc Bessonʼs Yamakasi, Les Samouraï des Temps Modernes, 2001
2001 - 2004, CRITICAL MASS / MEDIA INFLUENCE
* Thomas Couetdic begins training with TRACERS members Johann Vigroux, Sebastien Goudot, and Michael Ramdani in Lisses and
Tours
* Châu Belle Dinh and other members of the YAMAKASI begin teaching small groups
* Stéphane and Johann Vigroux begin training with Sébastien Foucan instead of David Belle
* British televsion documentaries “Jump London” and “Jump Britain” created, featuring Sébastien and his group. The term “Freerunning”
is coined, under the assumption that “parkour” would not be an accessible term for the audience.
* Urban Freeflow website launches, (manufactured) split between “parkour” and “freerunning” widens
* Documentarian and parkour scholar, Dr. Julie Angel, begins her Ph.D. research on the discipline
* David Belle & Stéphane Vigroux film Luc Bessonʼs Banlieue 13 (released in 2004)
From “Ciné Parkour,” Dr. Julie Angel, PhD, 2011
BRATZ, ALISSA
Friday, May 18, 2012 2:35:28 PM CT