Parkour, which combines running, leaping, jumping and climbing, has no rules, practitioners said.

The sport emphasizes moving as quickly and efficiently as possible to overcome obstacles and has a large following in Chicago, said Travis Polad, 21, a parkour practitioner.

“I guess you can look at parkour philosophically,” Polad said. “Instead of going around things in life you need to go over and through them.”

The practice of parkour originated in France more than 20 years ago, but has seen growing popularity due to its publicity over the Internet in recent years and the release of

“Casino Royale,” which includes a parkour sequence at the beginning, and MTV’s “Ultimate Parkour Challenge,” said Cody Beltramo, 20, a practitioner.

Beltramo said the sport allows for constant change and new experiences, so it has kept his enthusiasm.

“Parkour is one of the only things I have been able to keep an interest in after all these years without it diminishing,” Beltramo said, who first starting practicing parkour four years ago.

Chicago-area traceurs and traceuses are primarily restricted to gym sessions during the winter months due to the weather and are excited for the warmer months, Beltramo said. The cold and snow add difficulty to moves outside, and gloves can inhibit and endanger practitioners.

“The winter is a good time to learn new moves indoors so when spring comes you can practice them comfortably outdoors,” Beltramo said.

Several gyms in the Chicago area offer parkour lessons, where beginners can learn the basics of parkour in a safe environment, practitioners said. Once proficient, people practice parkour anywhere from parks to buildings. Traceurs and traceuses commonly use ledges, columns and walls to practice moves such as landings, vaults, rolls, jumps and balances.

“My friends and I are always looking for obstacles and new training spots to switch things up,” Beltramo said.

Several practitioners said the University of Illinois at Chicago is one of their favorite places to practice.

Chicago has one of the largest and oldest parkour communities in the U.S., aided by Chicago’s parkour group Aero, Beltramo said. The group’s Web site provides local parkour practitioners–males known as traceurs and females known as traceuses–with information about parkour in the Chicago area.

Parkour practitioners in the Chicago area can exchange information ranging from the best shoes to practice to planning for future meet-ups or “jams” on the Web site. About 95 percent of communication among members takes place in the online forums on the site, Beltramo said.

“We’re like a family,” Philip Ashby, 18, said. “We are one of the most closely-knit parkour communities.”

Members have the opportunity to practice with others at least four times each week. Every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, traceurs and traceuses can participate in group jams organized through Aero’s Web site. Some people do prefer to fly solo, however, Polad said.

“A lot of people like practicing on their own,” Polad said. “In groups, people are sometimes tempted to try things they aren’t ready for but see more experienced people doing.”

Safety is an issue in parkour, and practitioners are always at risk for injury. Mohammed Sultan, 21, said he broke his collarbone at a national jam and is just now working his way back after five months in a sling.

Sultan said he will continue with parkour as long as he can and encourages others to do the same.

“I would definitely love for more people to start doing it,” Sultan said. “It is kind of like a secret, but I would like for more people to learn about it just because it is so much fun.”

Traceurs said the fun parkour offers keeps them interested and engaged.

“Most of my life I have participated in organized sports where there is a coach telling you exactly what to do and you have very little freedom,” Ryan Thill, 18, said. “Parkour is basically the exact opposite.”[email protected]