The drama continues and the intensity increases as we get inevitably closer to the release of the highly anticipated sequel B13 – Ultimatum. In episode 18 David is yet again being chased. No Parkour this time though, just a foot race between David and men from DISS in a hungry SUV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClbMKC3wXQE
David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli team up in episode 17 for some hand to hand combat preparation and fighting sequences. Including some fantastic glimpses of Parkour navigating by David and Cyril, this featurette is definitely one of the most entertaining behind the scenes looks at B13 – Ultimatum thus far!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTxsNlkXy5o
After a brief holiday break the madness continues with more behind the scene looks at the upcoming film B13 – Ultimatum. After the historic jump in Episode 15 David are still left having to make a getaway. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GMD5hczBoo
The Efficiency Principle is a new training principle created by MisterParkour.com. It seeks to correct and replace the erroneous ideas put forward by the efficiency paradox in an effort to aid Tracers across the world in implementing proper training methods in their own progressions.
Parkour is a utility art based on overcoming obstacles quickly and efficiently. Much of the Parkour community has found it amusing that to become better at this you have to train “inefficient movements.” (a misconception in and of itself which we will address shortly.) This enthusiasm has recently led to the coining of the phrase the “efficiency paradox” defined as training inefficient movements to promote efficiency. Unfortunately the “efficiency paradox” is a physiologically misguiding principle, and it should be permanently discarded from Parkour terminology in favor of the physiological accurate training concept known as the Efficiency Principle.
To say that Tracers train inefficient movements to promote efficiency is physiologically inaccurate (we will explain this momentarily). However, because of the linguistic novelty of the purpose of Parkour (namely, efficiently overcoming obstacles) and many common methods of training which do not encompass this type of movement, it is logical to see how some could erroneously and inadvertently support the Efficiency Paradox. Nevertheless, this concept has no credence once one understands two basic, foundational training principles that blatantly contradict the Efficiency Paradox. These concepts are What is Training? and Training vs. Performance. Analyzing these two training concepts proves the Efficiency Paradox inaccurate and also simultaneously provides the basis to found the Efficiency Principle.
The concept of true and proper training discredits the Efficiency Paradox because it contradicts the definition of the Efficiency Paradox. Contrary to the definition, correct training always reinforces efficiency of movement to the point that saying one is training “inefficient movement” is kind of like saying the color blue smells like roses. Neither statement makes any sense. Of course the rebuttal is that one could “move faster” or “move more efficiently”, but one must realize that efficiency in movement has absolutely nothing to do with speed, and efficiency in training has nothing to do with performance value. Efficiency has to do with optimizing output and minimizing waste given a certain input. Suffice to say that just because someone is not running as fast as he/she can does not mean that he/she is not moving efficiently or training efficiency.
The definition of the Efficiency Paradox not only puts forth physiological misguiding training principles by erroneously telling people to train inefficient movement (something that can not be done in proper training), the term also erroneously unites the two independent concepts ideas of Training and Performance. In opposition to the Efficiency Paradox the concepts of Training and Performance are two distinctly different actions. We do not perform so that we can perform better, and training is not a part of performance. Rather we train (concept 1) so that we can improve our performance (concept 2). The Efficiency Paradox however, erroneously assimilates and unites these two ideas. By explaining that we train inefficiency, the concept directly correlates Training and Performance by implicitly defining training as a lesser level of performance (the inefficient performance to be exact). Some may see this as a linguistic formality but it is not. The Efficiency Paradox is therefore in contradiction to the Training vs. Performance principle, and in this it is further misguiding and flawed.
The efficiency paradox puts forth erroneous physiological principles that are exposed when analyzing the What is Training? and the Training vs. Performance concepts. When combined, these two concepts not only defeat the Efficiency Paradox, they also create the new Efficiency Principle:
The Efficiency Principle is the act of training efficiency so that one can perform efficiently.
In the first person perspective one can explain the Efficiency Principle by saying, “We train efficiency so that we can perform efficiently.”
It is the linguistic novelty of the term Efficiency Paradox that has made it so widely publicized in the Parkour community. Unfortunately in spite of its originality, the Efficiency Paradox is an physiologically erroneous term, and its perpetuation is the direct result of a misunderstanding of the two principles What is Training? and Training vs. Performance. On the other hand, the Efficiency Principle is an accurate training guideline that succinctly explains the purpose and goal of training from a Parkour perspective through physiologically sound doctrine. Consider the Efficiency Paradox not only dead, but in the sentiment of Parkour, inefficient.
In the 5th behind the scenes episode of B13 – Ultimatum we said, “Pay special attention to David’s movements at :37 in the video… [it] is… an incredible testament to his athleticism.” We promised to explain this statement, and now we are keeping true to that promise.
Most people see David jump from buildings and awe at his athletic ability. In reality, even the simple things he does are awe inspiring from an athletic perspective. To this day no one has provided an accurate physiological explanation as to how David can do what he does, but simply enough it is through his seemingly inconsequential movements which we can understand and explain it.
What is so incredible about David’s movements at :54 of Episode 5 is his dexterity and range of motion (also shown in his window perched position in :58 of Episode 15). These are signs of the dynamic tension he has achieved in his muscles. Dynamic tension is the perfect state of muscular equilibrium, where every muscle is proportionally strong in correlation to every other muscle in the body. Not having dynamic tension (also known as having a lack of muscular integrity) creates unnecessary tension in the body, and pulls the joints into an improper alignment causing the body to move compensatively and inefficiently. One of the most obvious signs of a lack of muscular integrity is a lack of range of motion. A lack of integrity also commonly manifests itself in aching joints (forget all of the “itis” diagnosis’, it is caused by a lack of muscular integrity). Injuries in Parkour of every kind are almost always the result of a lack of muscular integrity as well.
David’s body has been trained into a perfect functional state characterized by this dynamic tension which is why he is able to do what he does. Most peoples see the big movements David performs, the man power gap at 1:44 in his Et Vous? video, or the massive building to building leap he did at 1:07 in the BBC commercial, and are in awe. But we would argue that far more inspiring are his subtle movements that clue to why he is so capable. You can see it in his abilities to immediately change direction as in his lateral jump at 2:53 in the French News Feature. You can see it in his explosion from a standing position at :47 in the Accrohes Toi video (notice there is absolutely no tension in his body when he jumps). You can see it in his leg movement at 30:19 during his interview at the New Yorker Festival. You can see it in his resilience to absorb shock in his jump over the railings at 1:43 in the Speed Air Man video and when he drops from the overpass later in the video at 2:21. And you can clear your mind of any confusion you have from David’s famous fall on the UCLA campus. The fact that he walked away uninjured was also the result of his perfect muscular integrity.
All of David’s abilities as well as his resistance to injury can be credited to the dynamic tension of his muscles. This analysis of course circles back to present day David where we can verify our claim. Many Tracers train for only a short time and begin suffering from physical aliments. Others train for a long time without aliments, but then are all of sudden seriously injured. Both instances are the result of a lack of muscular integrity. David on the other hand has never been seriously injured. Furthermore he is in his mid 30’s and he is stronger, faster, and more capable than ever. He has no joint pain, no shoulder, knee, or wrist issues, and he continues to perform feats of athleticism that a few decades before would have thought impossible by even the most capable humans. How can David perform such incredible feats of athleticism? Maybe we should not ask how David can do what he does, but rather how we can attain that same dynamic tension that will enable us to follow in his footsteps.
The date is finally set! February 18, 2009 will be the official release date of B13 – Ultimatum. As the sequel to the David Belle starring Banlieue 13, B13 – Ultimatum is already the most anticipated Parkour featuring film in history. Included below is the film’s first released trailer, and if it reveals anything about the movie it clearly exhibits the fact that this sequel is going to be full of even more thrilling action than its predecessor. With building leveling explosions, breathtaking choreography, eye popping acrobatics, nail biting chase scenes, and of course David Belle, B13 – Ultimatum is sure to be one of the most exciting films of year. We think it will be deserving of much more prestigious accolades but only time will tell in that regard. For now we hope that this teaser and our previously featured behind the scenes episodes will be enough to tide you over for the two arduous months until its European release.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_s0sq53j3M
After not appearing since Episode 7, David Belle has returned from his hiatus from the behind the scenes features of B13 – Ultimatum! And what a return it is! This time he and Cyril are doing a jump so big so that the crew had to implement safety equipment. Whether, though, David would actually need the cardboard landing zone to do the jump is still being debated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z04VVhIevmk
The behind the scenes look at B13 – Ultimatum continues on MisterParkour.com with episode #14 of the series. In this episode Cyril continues the fight from featurette 13, but now he has moved downstairs to confront the drug packagers. Unfortunately, in addition to packaging drugs they are also good fighters. Go figure :\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_bvwAJAa8s
The action continues with another behind the scenes glimpse of the upcoming film B13 – Ultimatum due for release in February of 2009 and starring David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli. This 13th featurette continues this series’ tradition of unveiling exciting action sequences in the film for anticipatory audiences. Cyril is back in the club and this time he is dodging bullets and swords in order to stay alive. The large white guys make the end of this episode vaguely reminiscent of a scene in the original Banlieue 13. This time, though, Cyril doesn’t rely on cinder blocks to take his man out. An expensive painting should do just fine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkHW4JX6Jdw