A: Welcome back to Listeners' Garden. I'm LPC.

B: And I'm DS. In their pursuit of a higher quality of life, people in China are getting more actively involved in fitness activities. Enjoying the fun and health benefits of sports has become a trendy lifestyle choice for people of all ages.

A: And in addition to traditional workouts, people are offered a diverse array of modern fitness alternatives. Some new arrivals are becoming increasingly popular in China, giving people more options to experience the thrill of sports.

B: Some of the new sports test your physical skill, and some others challenge your courage. The extreme sport of parkour seems to be a test of both.

A: Parkour is an outdoor activity that aims at moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, regardless of any obstacles in the environment.

B: Unlike many other extreme sports, parkour requires no special equipment. The practitioners move forward at the fastest speed and conquer all the obstacles that crop up, using only the abilities of their bodies without the assistance and protection of any gear.

A: Parkour is both a sport and an art of movement, moving in a way where you won't let anything stop you. Every single move requires perfect control and great coordination.

B: Many people say the movements in parkour seem to share some similarities to the martial arts feats shown in Chinese kongfu movies. But parkour is an exotic sport to China, taking root in the country for only three years.

A: The sport originated in France in the 1980s. To parkour practitioners, an entire city is their arena, where any structure can become an obstacle to leap over.

B: Parkour quickly became popular in France. It was even introduced to the French military, and later to the British army, as a way of training.

A: The sport became known to Chinese people after blockbusters hit Chinese cinemas showing off excellent examples of parkour, such as Banlieue 13, Casino Royale and Bourne Ultimatum.
 
B: These films all featured the exciting scenes of lithe people running, climbing, vaulting and jumping from point to point using the art of parkour. Their superb skills stimulated many young people's interest in the exotic sport, which they think is a brand new fitness, recreational and lifestyle option.

A: Parkour has got a vivid and interesting Chinese name called "pao ku," literally meaning running cool.

B: That's really a perfect translation. And this challenging sport is indeed an extremely cool movement. Many young people joined the club for fun, but soon fell in love with the sport. 

A: Parkour is a physically challenging sport. So some people think it's an exclusive activity for the young, and some others think parkour is too dangerous and adventurous, incurring great risks of injuring oneself. 

B: To protect practitioners from being injured, formal training is needed for every beginner to master the basic and key movements. 

A: As more and more fans join in the sport, parkour clubs have sprung up in many big cities. So far, there are over 200 parkour clubs around the country, involving more than 100,000 members.

B: The first Chinese movie featuring the theme of parkour started shooting in September. Many players in the film are chosen from the country's best-known parkour clubs.

A: And to further boost the development of the sport in China, the General Administration of Sports and the China Extreme Sports Association organized the first National Parkour Tournament at the end of October in Beijing.

B: Some 150 experienced parkour practitioners from 30 leading parkour clubs nationwide showcased their superb skills amid the cheers and applauses of spectators.

A: Organizers say the tournament will be held regularly to promote the culture and spirit of the sport and select excellent teams and practitioners to join in international parkour competitions.
 
B: Parkour is a new sport for the modern age, when people are always looking for something novel and exciting to enrich their lives.

A: Parkour is really cool, but like many other extreme sports, it does have dangers. So when you practice it, the most important thing you should bear in mind is safety.