5 Types of Parkour

Michael Jacobsen

12 Apr 2026 — 2 min read

Parkour can be defined as moving with obstacles, but there are different styles of training which are hard to make sense of. In my opinion, there are 5 types of parkour which each have a distinct approach and different styles of their own.

1. Traditional Parkour

This is classic parkour training, which focuses on practicing fundamental techniques to move around obstacles in the most efficient way possible. All the other types of parkour can be seen as variations or extensions of this base.

Mastering foundational movements like jumping, climbing, and vaulting, allows you to start embracing bigger obstacles. This is a good type of parkour to test your courage.

2. Freestyle Parkour

Also known as freerunning, this style of parkour incorporates flips, tricks, and expressive movement into obstacle-based training. Freestyle parkour includes a wide range of sub-styles, such as off-axis movement, tricking, gizmo, street acrobatics, and obstacle flow or “dancing.”

This is a good style of training if you want to express yourself and expand your creative freedom.

3. Adventure Parkour

Adventure parkour is a mission-based style of training that consists of large-scale, long-distance, multi-challenge routes. Examples of these exploratory adventures include accessing rooftops, traversing under bridges, bushwhacking, and trespassing. (I do not condone illegal activities.)

This type of parkour can be incorporated into other adventure sports like hiking, bouldering, and cliff jumping. It sharpens your senses and survival instincts. This is a good style of training, if you're aware of your surroundings and practice safety.

4. Ninja Parkour

Ninja parkour is simulated adventure-course training that often includes moving obstacles, tools, and lots of things to swing and climb. Ninja gyms feature ready-to-go courses that let people jump in with minimal training and provides fun mission-based challenges in a safe and structured environment.

This type of parkour is great for birthdays and date nights, or playing parkour games and just having fun.

5. Fitness Parkour

Fitness parkour is the practice of obstacle movements as part of a fitness routine for strength and conditioning. This type of session can involve drilling basic movements or incorporating obstacles into a circuit.

This type of parkour is a great, if you want to get in shape or stay fit. It's also an easy way to get started, by adding new moves into your workout to build functional strength.

Michael Paul Jacobsen

Grouse Mountain, Greater Vancouver, Canada

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