Parkour vs. Freerunning

For most everyone, there probably is no difference – the terms are likely interchangeable.

But, in a strict sense:

• Parkour is about efficiency – moving from point A to point B in the least amount of time

• Freerunning is more artistic and incorporates acrobatic movements for style alone

The word “parkour” comes from the French “parcours” which means “route,” and it’s used in the French phrase for “obstacle course.” (Perhaps there’s a mnemonic there – parkour is concerned with the pure route between two points.)

Notably, the related professional association is called The World Freerunning and Parkour Federation.

The term “freerunning” seems to be falling out of favor. A Google Trends search showed a steady decline in searching for freerunning, well below that of parkour.