Urban freeflow
Encyclopedia
Urban Freeflow is a UK based limited company that was started in 2003 and is active in the discipline of free-running.
, they managed to capitalise on the momentum of parkour as its popularity grew. The reputation built at this time allowed them to grow to be the most prominent group within the scene and it has allowed them to continue to enjoy success today, much to the dismay of many practitioners within the scene.
The corporate structure of the group was compromised in 2005 when Companies House dissolved the trading company for failing to meet their statutory filing obligations. At this time, Ez and former partner Mark Toorock (M2) split and Ez formed a new company, Urban Free Flow.
The company has a well established website, although the popular forums have been shut since 2010. Through the website they also sell branded clothes, many of which feature the Urban Freeflow glyph logo. On the company's online store, it is described as the 'first EVER brand of Parkour & Freerunning,' as well as claiming 'The Glyph logo has since become recognised globally as the symbol of Parkour & Freerunning.' Claims such as these have been known to offend and frustrate other traceurs, as Urban Freeflow are seen to exert dominance and influence on the scene thanks to clothes sales rather than involvement in pioneering the scene.
, the founder of parkour. UF does however have some affiliation with Sébastien Foucan
, the founder and lead ambassador of freerunning. Worldwide Jam
may have also contributed to some of the criticism of Urban Freeflow because of an ongoing feud between UF and Worldwide Jam.
Many people in the worldwide parkour community also accused UF of distorting the image of parkour, associating it with the flips and artistic movements of freerunning and tricking. Because of this, in 2006 many UF team members walked out. Some critics have even gone as far as making public demonstrations against Urban Freeflow, such as burning UF memorabilia.
Furthermore, Urban Freeflow was criticized for organizing freerunning competitions sponsored by Barclaycard
. The critics believed that freerunning, like parkour, should be a non-competitive activity. There are also complaints of the corporate nature of the event, many freerunning sites saying that the introduction of merchandising and sponsorships would compromise the true nature of the sport. To this one of the founders of Urban Freeflow, Ez has replied "The people who are saying this are the ones who don't have any sponsorship,". However many people practicing parkour and freerunning believe that they are "free" disciplines and they don't belong to corporations, sponsors and medias.
Sébastien Foucan has since commented on the matter, that free running is about following your 'own way,' and though he himself does not personally believe in competition, others might believe that to be their 'way.'
, 28 Weeks Later
, Devil's Playground, Punisher War Zone
.
Documentaries: Jump Britain
, Urban Freeflow, The Way
, Planet Parkour, Boost - Urban Running, Some Truth About Youth, How Bruce Lee Changed the World.
Promotions and Commercials: Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Adidas
, Ecko
, Redbull, Guinness
, BT
, Nokia
, Sony Ericsson
, Barclaycard
, Schwarzkopf
, Ford, Snickers
, Swatch
, SAP
, Canon, Speedstick, Relentless
, Hewlett Packard.
Live Performances: Toyota (3000 spectators), Royal Navy (10,000 spectators), Hewlett Packard (2000 spectators), Mercedes (2000 spectators), Microsoft (1000 spectators), World Freerun Championships (2000 spectators), Nokia (6000 spectators), Mayor's Thames Festival (750,000 spectators over two days - although it is highly unlikely that every visitor over the two days would have experienced the Urban Freeflow performance).
about free running
. Directed by Mike Christie and produced by Carbon Media, it is a sequel to Channel 4's Jump London
. Two of the three free runners from Jump London, Sébastien Foucan
and Jérôme Ben Aoues
, appear alongside the members of Urban freeflow, as they interact with numerous famous landmarks all over Britain.
Another section of the documentary sees various members of Urban Freeflow go on a 'pilgrimage' to Lisses
, France, where parkour was founded. The trip includes a visit to the famous Dame Du Lac climbing wall.
The free runners tackle some of the UK's most iconic sites including Edinburgh Castle
and the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland, the Giant's Causeway
and Derry
's walls in Northern Ireland, the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff, the Tyne Bridge
in Newcastle and the International Convention Centre
in Birmingham.
Origins
Established in 2003, Urban Freeflow (UF) was founded by Paul Corkery (known as Ez), a former boxer who saw an opportunity to monetize the fledgling movement of parkour. As the first moverFirst-mover advantage
In marketing, first-mover advantage or FMA is the advantage gained by the initial significant occupant of a market segment. It may be referred to as Technological Leadership. This advantage may stem from the fact that the first entrant can gain control of resources that followers may not be able...
, they managed to capitalise on the momentum of parkour as its popularity grew. The reputation built at this time allowed them to grow to be the most prominent group within the scene and it has allowed them to continue to enjoy success today, much to the dismay of many practitioners within the scene.
The corporate structure of the group was compromised in 2005 when Companies House dissolved the trading company for failing to meet their statutory filing obligations. At this time, Ez and former partner Mark Toorock (M2) split and Ez formed a new company, Urban Free Flow.
The company has a well established website, although the popular forums have been shut since 2010. Through the website they also sell branded clothes, many of which feature the Urban Freeflow glyph logo. On the company's online store, it is described as the 'first EVER brand of Parkour & Freerunning,' as well as claiming 'The Glyph logo has since become recognised globally as the symbol of Parkour & Freerunning.' Claims such as these have been known to offend and frustrate other traceurs, as Urban Freeflow are seen to exert dominance and influence on the scene thanks to clothes sales rather than involvement in pioneering the scene.
Criticism
Despite having over a million registered users on its website, Urban Freeflow has polarised opinion within the parkour and free-running communities for its self appointed leadership of the movement and its commercialisation of what many consider to be a grass-roots movement. Due to its position as the largest UK based group, it is the popular choice for new traceurs, thus guaranteeing it a constant stream of new customers. However, many become disillusioned over time, and migrate towards other groups which better represent their ideals. It has been criticized over the years more than any other free running or parkour group. It stems from the fact that they claim to be the "Official Worldwide Freerun/Parkour Network", while the website is neither multilingual nor affiliated with David BelleDavid Belle
David Belle is well known as the founder of Parkour. Belle founded Parkour based on his training and the teachings from his father Raymond Belle. The discipline has since spread around the world and now has adherents in virtually every country...
, the founder of parkour. UF does however have some affiliation with Sébastien Foucan
Sebastien Foucan
Sébastien Foucan is a French actor of Guadeloupean descent. Along with David Belle he is considered one of the founders of parkour and is the creator of free running. He is known as a representative of, and ambassador for parkour and free running to many countries...
, the founder and lead ambassador of freerunning. Worldwide Jam
Worldwide jam (magazine)
Worldwide JAM or WWJ is currently an Internet based magazine aimed mainly toward the Parkour community. The magazine itself features a multitude of articles ranging from the appearance of parkour in the media including when members of the street team appeared on an episode of the BBC's motoring...
may have also contributed to some of the criticism of Urban Freeflow because of an ongoing feud between UF and Worldwide Jam.
Many people in the worldwide parkour community also accused UF of distorting the image of parkour, associating it with the flips and artistic movements of freerunning and tricking. Because of this, in 2006 many UF team members walked out. Some critics have even gone as far as making public demonstrations against Urban Freeflow, such as burning UF memorabilia.
Furthermore, Urban Freeflow was criticized for organizing freerunning competitions sponsored by Barclaycard
Barclaycard
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Retail and Business Banking, is a global payment business. The Barclaycard was the first credit card introduced in the UK, coming into service in 1966. It enjoyed a monopoly until the introduction of the Access card in 1972....
. The critics believed that freerunning, like parkour, should be a non-competitive activity. There are also complaints of the corporate nature of the event, many freerunning sites saying that the introduction of merchandising and sponsorships would compromise the true nature of the sport. To this one of the founders of Urban Freeflow, Ez has replied "The people who are saying this are the ones who don't have any sponsorship,". However many people practicing parkour and freerunning believe that they are "free" disciplines and they don't belong to corporations, sponsors and medias.
Sébastien Foucan has since commented on the matter, that free running is about following your 'own way,' and though he himself does not personally believe in competition, others might believe that to be their 'way.'
Past Projects
Feature Films: Breaking & Entering, Blood & Chocolate, Casino RoyaleCasino Royale (2006 film)
Casino Royale is the twenty-first film in the James Bond film series and the first to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
, 28 Weeks Later
28 Weeks Later
28 Weeks Later is a 2007 British/Spanish film sequel to the 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Days Later. 28 Weeks Later was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and released in the United Kingdom and United States on 11 May 2007...
, Devil's Playground, Punisher War Zone
Punisher: War Zone
Punisher: War Zone is a 2008 comic book action film directed by Lexi Alexander; based on the fictional Marvel Comics vigilante/anti-hero the Punisher. It is the third film to depict the Marvel character Frank Castle...
.
Documentaries: Jump Britain
Jump Britain
Jump Britain is a 2005 documentary about free running. Directed by Mike Christie and produced by Carbon Media, it is a sequel to Channel 4's Jump London...
, Urban Freeflow, The Way
The Way
The Way may refer to a spiritual path:* The Way or "Tao" of Taoism* An early term for early Christianity * The Way of the Cross, a Catholic devotion to the Passion of Christ....
, Planet Parkour, Boost - Urban Running, Some Truth About Youth, How Bruce Lee Changed the World.
Promotions and Commercials: Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
, Ecko
Ecko
Eckō unltd. is a brand of urban lifestyle clothing founded by fashion designer Marc Ecko, that has been popular since the late 1990s, and moved into the mainstream urban culture in the early 2000s. It is most often associated with hip-hop people. The style is based on graffiti art.The creation of...
, Redbull, Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
, BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
, Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
, Barclaycard
Barclaycard
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Retail and Business Banking, is a global payment business. The Barclaycard was the first credit card introduced in the UK, coming into service in 1966. It enjoyed a monopoly until the introduction of the Access card in 1972....
, Schwarzkopf
Schwarzkopf
Schwarzkopf refers to:- Place name :Germany:* Schwarzkopf , a mountain of Bavaria, Germany* Schwarzkopf , Berg im Nordschwarzwald* Schwarzkopf , a mountain of Bavaria, GermanyCzech Republic...
, Ford, Snickers
Snickers
Snickers is a brand name chocolate bar made by Mars, Incorporated. It consists of peanut nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel, enrobed in milk chocolate. Snickers has annual global sales of $2 billion....
, Swatch
Swatch
Swatch is a brand name for a line of wrist watches from the Swatch Group, a Swiss conglomerate with vertical control of the production of Swiss watches and related products...
, SAP
SAP AG
SAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
, Canon, Speedstick, Relentless
Relentless (drink)
Relentless is the brand name of an energy drink created in February 2006 by The Coca-Cola Company. It has been compared to energy drinks such as Red Bull, and is known for its sweet taste. The drink has also been the subject of court proceedings for breach of trademark by Relentless Records...
, Hewlett Packard.
Live Performances: Toyota (3000 spectators), Royal Navy (10,000 spectators), Hewlett Packard (2000 spectators), Mercedes (2000 spectators), Microsoft (1000 spectators), World Freerun Championships (2000 spectators), Nokia (6000 spectators), Mayor's Thames Festival (750,000 spectators over two days - although it is highly unlikely that every visitor over the two days would have experienced the Urban Freeflow performance).
Jump Britain
Jump Britain is a 2005 documentaryDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about free running
Free running
Freerunning is a form of urban acrobatics in which participants, known as freerunners , use the city and rural landscape to perform movements through its structures...
. Directed by Mike Christie and produced by Carbon Media, it is a sequel to Channel 4's Jump London
Jump London
Jump London is a documentary first broadcast by Channel 4 about parkour and free running in September 2003, directed by Mike Christie and produced by Optomen Television. It later spawned a sequel, Jump Britain that first aired in January 2005...
. Two of the three free runners from Jump London, Sébastien Foucan
Sebastien Foucan
Sébastien Foucan is a French actor of Guadeloupean descent. Along with David Belle he is considered one of the founders of parkour and is the creator of free running. He is known as a representative of, and ambassador for parkour and free running to many countries...
and Jérôme Ben Aoues
Jerome Ben Aoues
Jérôme Ben Aoues has been practising parkour since he met Sébastien Foucan, almost immediately after the creation of the popular movement art parkour...
, appear alongside the members of Urban freeflow, as they interact with numerous famous landmarks all over Britain.
Another section of the documentary sees various members of Urban Freeflow go on a 'pilgrimage' to Lisses
Lisses
Lisses is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France.One of the main landmarks of the town is the Dame du Lac, a man-made architectural climbing structure in the Parc du Lac , which is commonly used to practice parkour on, but is currently closed to the public, due to...
, France, where parkour was founded. The trip includes a visit to the famous Dame Du Lac climbing wall.
The free runners tackle some of the UK's most iconic sites including Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
and the Forth Rail Bridge in Scotland, the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
's walls in Northern Ireland, the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff, the Tyne Bridge
Tyne Bridge
The Tyne Bridge is a through arch bridge over the River Tyne in North East England, linking Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. It was designed by the engineering firm Mott, Hay and Anderson, who later designed the Forth Road Bridge, and was built by Dorman Long and Co. of Middlesbrough. At the time...
in Newcastle and the International Convention Centre
International Convention Centre, Birmingham
The International Convention Centre is a major conference venue in central Birmingham, England. The centre includes Symphony Hall and it faces Centenary Square. The building has another entrance leading to the canals of Birmingham. The Convention Quarter area, which includes Brindleyplace, is...
in Birmingham.