News: Outrun bullets & bad guys with the prowess of a cat

French film Banlieue 13 introduced David Belle and the art of parkour to the the world. Haven't seen it? How about James Bond's Casino Royale? Belle choreographed the opening chase that garnered the film much of its praise and laurels.

Belle began as a young kid obsessed with gymnastics and martial arts. Much of his influence comes from his father, a military fitness expert who grew up in Vietnam. Belle's military roots are tantamount to the parkour philosophy.

As the founder of parkour, Belle remains quite vocal on what defines parkour versus the practice of freerunning. Belle is a purist. He contends that parkour must not include unnecessary acrobatics. Freerunnning is chock full of acrobatics, flips, flourishes; plenty of moves that would get you killed in a chase. Any move that compromises one's speed or efficiency is not true to parkour's doctrines.

B13 is not Belle's first or last foray into film. His IMDB profile is impressive and growing. Belle's work as a traceur is apparent beyond his on-screen work. In many ways, Belle has reinvented the chase scene. Since the release of B13, four large studio releases have featured parkour foot chases. Many more are currently in-production.

Watch Belle escape a gang of armed thugs with the explosive agility of a cat and the grace of a ballerina.

French film Banlieue 13 introduced David Belle and the art of parkour to the the world. Haven't seen it? How about James Bond's Casino Royale? Belle choreographed the opening chase that garnered the film much of its praise and laurels.

Belle began as a young kid obsessed with gymnastics and martial arts. Much of his influence comes from his father, a military fitness expert who grew up in Vietnam. Belle's military roots are tantamount to the parkour philosophy.

As the founder of parkour, Belle remains quite vocal on what defines parkour versus the practice of freerunning. Belle is a purist. He contends that parkour must not include unnecessary acrobatics. Freerunnning is chock full of acrobatics, flips, flourishes; plenty of moves that would get you killed in a chase. Any move that compromises one's speed or efficiency is not true to parkour's doctrines.

B13 is not Belle's first or last foray into film. His IMDB profile is impressive and growing. Belle's work as a traceur is apparent beyond his on-screen work. In many ways, Belle has reinvented the chase scene. Since the release of B13, four large studio releases have featured parkour foot chases. Many more are currently in-production.

Watch Belle escape a gang of armed thugs with the explosive agility of a cat and the grace of a ballerina.

Click to play Do a speed vault video (will open in new window).