From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Australian Parkour Association
(APA) is an incorporated
association concerned with the promotion and teaching of parkour throughout Australia.
At present, the APA has 133 active members, while many times that
number have attended or regularly attend APA-run parkour
classes.
Purpose
The APA enunciates its purpose as to nurture the development of
parkour in Australia and seeks to achieve this through a number of
means. Primary amongst which include, teaching parkour through the
provision of classes and workshops, acting as a representative body
for those who practice parkour and advancing positive portrayals of
parkour in the media.[1]
Formation/Origins
In November 2005 the idea of forming a national association to
represent parkour in Australia began to be discussed amongst a
group of Melbourne Traceurs. One catalyst had been the threat of legal action leveled against several
members of the Melbourne parkour community – despite their being
unconnected with the incident. As events were clarified amongst the
potential plaintiffs, threat of legal action faded. However, the
possibility of lawsuits left an indelible impression upon those
involved.[2] The APA
now provides members and instructors with “protection of the
members and office holders against personal liability for debts and
other legal obligations of the organisation.”[3]
Simultaneously, there was also concern that parkour was being
inaccurately promulgated in Australia.[4]
Globally, there has been significant controversy regarding the philosophical underpinnings of
parkour.[5] Amongst
those who would later form the APA, there was a strong adherence to
the non-competitive and altruistic principles laid down by parkour
founder David Belle.
According to current APA president Mathew “Chippa” Campbell:
|
“ |
Basically we had been
watching how businessmen were getting in on the top floor and
exploiting parkour for their own ends. Doing things for their own
gain rather than doing what was right for parkour. We wanted to
have an organisation/people representing parkour in Australia who
put parkour first and money second as the recognised leader of
parkour in Australia |
” |
|
—Matthew Campbell,
|
Following discussions initially localised in Melbourne, similar
groups in Sydney and Canberra were contacted and quickly included,
their contributions refining and completing the concept. On the
21st June 2006 the Australian Parkour Association (APA) was formed
and registered nationally in August 2006.[6]
Teaching
Pursuant to the APA's aims, weekly classes accessible to the
general public are run in several major cities throughout
Australia. At present the APA runs classes in Melbourne, Sydney,
Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Newcastle. [7]
Pursuant to being a registered incorporation under Australian law,
the APA is a non-profit organisation, with
most instructors and assistant instructors volunteering their time.
In addition to weekly classes the APA has been involved in
organising workshops for disadvantaged and at-risk youths.[8]
The APA
and the Media
In furtherance of the APA's stated objective of positively and
accurately representing parkour to the wider community, members
have been involved in numerous media appearances. In September
2007, members were involved in a high profile piece for 60 Minutes, which
was broadcast nationally during Sunday prime time on Channel 9.[9]
Following the 60 Minutes piece, numbers at classes experienced an
explosion.[10] Many
of the interviews with the APA were not included and the final
piece was not as the APA had hoped and expected. In addition to
this involvement, the APA has contributed to numerous newspaper,
radio and local television features, at times being the central
focus.[11]
References
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