What is the United States Parkour Association (USPK)? Everything You Need to Know
If you're part of the parkour community, you've likely heard the acronym USPK more and more frequently this year. But what exactly is it? USPK stands for the United States Parkour Association.
In most established sports, there are nonprofit National Governing Bodies (NGBs) that represent, promote, and develop the sport. Until recently, parkour lacked such a body. That’s where USPK comes in. Over the years, it has been diligently working to create an organization that emerges directly from the parkour community.
According to the USPK website:
The United States Parkour Association (USPK) is the National Governing Body for Parkour, Freerunning and L’Art du Deplacement in the USA. It is a non-profit organization formed by members of the parkour community, committed to growing and protecting the discipline of parkour through events, education, and outreach. Learn more about governance (link)
A 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2018, USPK works to bring together all of those involved in our practice: practitioners, students, parents of students, professional athletes, business owners, community leaders,and general enthusiasts.
They hold six core values that uphold the integrity and impact of the communities they support:
Transparency – Establish trust with our community by showing our work to allow community understanding and input
Inclusion – Promote diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as priorities for our community, and zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind.
Be Useful – Actively searching for ways to serve our community as an organization and at all levels
Don't Be Evil – With great power comes great responsibility; don’t abuse it!
Adaptability – Willingness to learn and change as we grow
Accountability Always – Strive to serve our community in the best way, and accept responsibility and feedback to learn from our mistakes.
2024 marked a significant year for USPK, as it brought many of its long-term visions to life.
Open-Sourced Resources
USPK provides access to education and inclusivity for anyone starting parkour. Their website provides a variety of resources, everything from parkour shoe recommendations to links on mental health and disability support:
Education – certifications, books, video, additional resources
Training Resources – training parkour, training outdoors, online resources
Equipment – shoes, DIY obstacles, obstacles for purchase
Competitions and the USPK Pipeline
This year, USPK had its first successful National Championship run via their national circuit, now recognized as the largest in the U.S. The structure operates as a pyramid system:
Local Competitions: These are small-scale events like in-house gym competitions.
Regional Competitions: Events such as the WCPKC finals or USPK qualifier events take place here.
National Competitions: The best from the regional rounds advance to the USPK national finals.
International Competitions: Finally, top athletes can compete in the Sport Parkour League, held in Vancouver, Canada. Competitors from around the world face off in three categories: Speed, Skill, and Style.
This format gained considerable attention in 2024, proving to be a major success. With more parkour leagues joining the circuit, competition involvement is expected to grow even further.
The Role of Competitions in Parkour’s Growth
While parkour's relationship with competitions has always been a topic of debate, the sport’s growth continues to attract more emerging athletes. For many, parkour is no longer just a personal hobby but a potential career path.
Competitions have propelled numerous athletes into the spotlight, paving the way for sponsorships and collaborations. This development mirrors what has occurred in other urban sports like skateboarding and BMX, which eventually professionalized, allowing athletes to turn their passion into a profession.
For example, Red Bull currently sponsors a handful of parkour athletes and runs the Art of Motion competition, one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
Join USPK and Support the Cause!
Did you know you can join USPK as individuals or as a business? They have different membership options that give you different benefits. But why would you want to join USPK?
Impact: USPK is at the forefront of advancing the growth and development of parkour in the United States. As a member, you will directly contribute to these efforts and help create positive change in growing the parkour industry.
Community: Members form a supportive network of individuals who share your passion for an inclusive parkour community. Whether through events, competitions, or through our online community, you will connect with like-minded people and build lasting relationships.
Education and Development: USPK supports the needs of the members through providing resources and establishing basic standards to protect community interests and safe practices.
Advocacy: USPK advocates to further public legitimacy of parkour and its health benefits through nation-wide efforts to raise awareness of parkour culture, history, and safe practices. As a member, you will have the opportunity to participate in advocacy campaigns and amplify your voice for change.
Membership Benefits:
Spot Athlete Injury Insurance: Parkour with confidence knowing you have injury insurance covered world-wide!
USPK Competition Circuit Access: Participate in local, regional, and national USPK competitions.
Events: Join USPK-sanctioned workshops and community gatherings.
Discounts: Enjoy special offers on USPK merchandise and partner services.
Voting Rights: Help shape the future of USPK by voting in our elections.
How do I sign up?
Support NEPK by referring us when you sign up before the end of October 2024.
Visit https://www.uspk.org/join/ to sign up.
Select from different membership tiers that best suit your interests and budget, and click “Sign Up”.
Complete the registration link - make sure to write in “Nebraska Parkour” in “Which Gym/Community do you train with?”
Keeping Parkour True to Its Roots
While the sport grows, there’s a movement to ensure parkour remains in the hands of its practitioners. USPK’s mission is to safeguard this vision. By organizing standardized events like competitions, USPK is setting an example of what the parkour community can create while keeping the core essence of the discipline intact.
At the same time, USPK is showing the wider world that parkour is a legitimate, multi-dimensional sport worthy of investment—whether monetary or otherwise.
If you want to learn more about USPK and its initiatives, visit their website at USPK.org.