atreideslioness: (escape)
Ghanima Atreides ([personal profile] atreideslioness) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2009-06-14 09:18 pm

Keeping Your Advantage: Terrain and You, Week VI [Monday, Period 4]

When students arrived in the Danger Shop today, they'd see an obstacle course, modeled after rooftops and walls, about six-to-ten feet off the ground, foam mats all over the floor.

"Good afternoon," Ghanima said cheerily. "Today we're looking at remaining mobile in an unfamiliar urban environment. To this end, we are studying parkour, or l'art du déplacement."

"When lost or being pursued in an unfamiliar city, sticking to the streets is the equivalent of painting a target on your back," she continued. "A stranger will stick out like nothing else, and sometimes an alternative view of your surroundings can be unbelievably helpful."

"Parkour is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as smoothly, efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment—from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls—and can be practiced in both rural and urban areas. Parkour practitioners are referred to as traceurs, or traceuses for females."

"Now, parkour is a physical activity that is often categorized as a sport or an extreme sport; however, parkour has no set of rules. Most experienced traceurs think of parkour as a discipline closer to martial arts. It is often said that 'the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it.'"

"The primary characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as rapidly as they can, but also in the most direct and efficient way possible. This characteristic distinguishes it from the similar practice of freerunning, which places more emphasis on freedom of movement and creativity. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, both short and long term, part of why parkour's unofficial motto is être et durer - to be and to last. Those who are skilled at this activity normally have an extremely keen spatial awareness."

"So, today, you'll be trying it out on a smaller scale," she said, going over some of the basic moments with the students. "For those of you that manage this course, I'll switch the Danger Shop over to an actual urban environment, and you can feel free to take a run at a slightly more realistic scenario."

[OCD up!]

Re: During the Lecture

[identity profile] heartflames.livejournal.com 2009-06-16 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
Eleanor followed along, careful of where she placed her feet. "In a way, I was at the support services once. Ellie took me while I was a kitten. I may have to attend one or two of those as well, just to see what they're about. I doubt I would be useful in a fighting capacity."

Re: During the Lecture

[identity profile] blondecanary.livejournal.com 2009-06-16 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Besides, how can any of us work well together, if we don't know people in different groups?" Dinah said, and hopped off the last barrel. "So yeah. Not everyone's cut out to do the fighting, but that's not the only part. And if it's magic that's needed, or just medicine, it won't be the lead part."

Re: During the Lecture

[identity profile] heartflames.livejournal.com 2009-06-16 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
She nodded, "True. And sometimes even if one is of the same group, if you'll excuse the term as I wouldn't wish to categorize people, a person may need additional help."

Eleanor also hopped off the last barrel, not too far behind Dinah. "If they don't wish to admit that they need it," she smirked.

Re: During the Lecture

[identity profile] blondecanary.livejournal.com 2009-06-16 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
Dinah grinned back at Eleanor, thinking of some people she knew. In each group. "Exactly."

Re: During the Lecture

[identity profile] heartflames.livejournal.com 2009-06-16 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
She just chuckled and grinned, glancing around. "I think I have the basics of it now. Thank you, Dinah."

Re: During the Lecture

[identity profile] blondecanary.livejournal.com 2009-06-16 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
"Welcome!" Dinah grinned. "And good luck on your next run."