A new urban sport, parkour, is hitting the streets. It has evolved from obstacle course training into a fitness option for young people. In parkour, the outside world is the gym!
Mark Toorock, who teaches the techniques of parkour at his fitness gym, says that parkour is a method to train the body and mind using obstacles as the medium. He says that this new sport is demanding and takes years to master.
But Toorock, who used to be a martial arts expert, says that everyone can benefit from learning the basic skills involved in parkour like running, jumping and crawling (爬行). These are the things that humans used to have to do all the time.
Georges Hebert, a French navy officer, was so impressed by the effortless athleticism of African tribes that he devised a training method based on running, climbing, jumping, balancing and throwing. The word parkour comes from parcours de combatant, the French term for a military obstacle course.
Dr Kenneth Kao explains that the sport of parkour is not extreme — it is the environment which is extreme and dangerous. Being outside, jumping off railings and flipping over park benches can be quite frightening, so parkour courses in gyms concentrate on practicing all the individual moves to make everything easier.
| A．Gyms provide thick floor matting (垫子) for rolling and rubberized boxes for jumping over. |
| B．The bridges, buildings and railings (栏杆) of each and every city are the equipment. |
| C．Every action in parkour is natural, so everyone must have the ability to move in this way. |
| D．Parkour was introduced into china in recent years and has gained popularity. |
| E．But today, due to modern transport, these basic skills are no longer used on a regular basis. |
| F．The French word for people who participate in the sport is traceurs or traceuses. |
| G．Beginners should realize that they won’t be jumping over buildings any time soon! |
相似题推荐
Physical education plays a vital role in the students’ development and growth. According to recent medical studies, physical well-being of a student is directly related to his or her performance whether in class or in the office.
It’s a link to good health.
Many doctors today agree that obesity is a serious health risk. Without any form of diet management and control with the numerous processed food students intake every day, a student’s health can easily be at risk to many diseases. Physical education in school is a preventive measure to teach students the value of regular exercise.
It promotes academic learning.
Physical health allows students to function better in classrooms. A good cardiovascular system developed from regular exercise promotes excellent blood and oxygen circulation.
It builds self-trust.
Students who are active in physical activities are more confident with themselves according to most social school studies. It’s probably because of the self-discipline and dedication to excel in a sport that brings out the best in students. In school, the physical education program introduces these sport activities to students.
It promotes a physically active lifestyle.
The purpose of physical education is to instill in students, at an early age, the value of self-preservation and choosing a lifestyle that is good for both the mind and body.
| A．The article will give you reasons to agree. |
| B．It is the best way to cure your illnesses. |
| C．The value of physical fitness can never be overstated. |
| D．It’s a preventive measure against disease. |
| E．They can make choices about which sport they get involved in. |
| F．Some students prefer to abandon such activities. |
| G．This means more nutrients circulate throughout the body. |
【推荐2】Everyone knows that running is a good way to stay in shape. The simplicity of running appeals to many people. You don’t need a lot of complicated or expensive equipment; you just need a good pair of running shoes. Well, that idea is changing.
This is not a surprise to the Tarahumara Indians, who live in northwest Mexico. The rough terrain (地势) in their area makes it easier to travel on foot than by horse or by car. Traditionally, the Tarahumara were hunters. They follow their prey over long distances, sometimes, for days, until the animals became exhausted.
But here is the amazing part: Tarahumara runners don’t wear running shoes. Tarahumara shoes are very simple. The sole (鞋底) is a piece of rubber held to the foot with homemade belt. These rubber soles protect against sharp objects, but they don’t provide any support or cushioning.
How is it possible that some of the best runners in the world don’t wear running shoes? Scientific studies are beginning to point to something the Tarahumara have known for centuries: Human beings are built for running barefoot. In a recent study, researchers used a video camera to examine how athletes run when they are barefoot.
| A．The study revealed that barefoot runners land on the middle of their foot. |
| B．Some researchers suggest that perhaps you do not need shoes at all. |
| C．As a result, for the Tarahumara, running very long distances became part of daily life. |
| D．Many of these shoes have higher heels that are equipped with special materials. |
| E．As the force of impact drives the foot toward the ground, the arch flattens and expands. |
| F．In response to this research, shoe companies started to reconsider the design of running shoes. |
【推荐3】How often do you exercise? A new study found that most kids aged 12 to 15 weren't getting enough physical activity. The results were based on about 800 kids. As part of the study, the kids tracked and reported on their own activity levels, and took physical exams.
U. S. fitness guidelines suggest an hour or more of physical activity every day. According to the study, only 1in 4 U.S. kids get enough physical activity.
"It's certainly worrying to see that our kids have such a limited amount of physical activity each day,” said Dr. Stephen Pont. He is an expert on children's health.
Few kids in the study met the guidelines on physical activity that raises the heart rate and makes people breathe harder. Overall, about 25% said they got an hour of that kind of exercise every day. Kids also reported on which activities they did most often outside of school gym class--basketball for boys and running for girls.
The study found that fat teenagers were less active than normal-weight girls and boys. Fat girls were slightly less active than normal-weight girls, but levels were similar among overweight and normal-weight boys. The study also said that the percent of fat children aged 2 to 19 was 17%, or about 12.5 million kids.
"There's always room for improvement," said Tala Fakhouri, who was the leader of the study. She also said the results provide useful information to help with fitness campaigns such as Let's Move, which was initiated by Michelle Obama in 2010. To inspire kids to eat right and get in shape, Michelle visits schools and holds exercise events. She also calls on schools to offer regular gym classes.
The study also found kids who get physical education at school may get better grades.
1. What is the result of the new study?| A．800 kids don't get enough physical activity. |
| B．Most U.S. kids don't get enough exercise. |
| C．Kids should get physical activity every day. |
| D．It's important to take physical exams. |
| A．Swimming. | B．Basketball. | C．Running. | D．Gym. |
| A．To help kids to keep fit. | B．To provide useful information. |
| C．To offer regular gym classes. | D．To hold exercise events. |
| A．be less active than fat children | B．be more willing to help others |
| C．do better in their studies | D．try their best to get in shape |
