Parkour takes over the Main Line

If you've ever dreamed of competing on NBC's heart-racing obstacle course competition series, American Ninja Warrior, now's your chance!

Meet the region's first obstacle training center, Main Line Parkour in King of Prussia. Covering 9,000 square feet, Main Line Parkour is the largest Parkour center on the East Coast. (They even have an exact replica of the Warped Wall, for you American Ninja Warrior fans!)

And for those of you scratching your heads wondering what in the world is Parkour —don't worry, you're not alone.

Put simply, Parkour is the art of overcoming obstacles using your body in the most efficient and effective manner. Think running, rolling, diving, tumbling, swinging, jumping, climbing and more. It's a method of training that develops your ability to navigate obstacles (both physically and mentally) allowing for self-improvement and self-discovery.

Main Line Parkour owner Toni Filipone, found Parkour on YouTube and knew she had to try it out for herself.

"I thought it was super cool so I found other people that were involved in it and we just basically taught each other stuff," Filipone said. "Parkour has a much larger following than you'd imagine."

Filipone, a certified personal trainer who has been part of the cardio and weight training scene for over 20 years, described the discipline as something much harder than your run-of-the-mill training and one of the best forms of exercise.

"You use your whole body every time you move — and because you're doing circuit training in Parkour, you're building muscle while you burn fat, which is the optimal form of exercise," Filipone said.

Though the staff expects to gather a following of mostly teenagers and adults looking to get fit, Parkour training can start as early as age 3.

When asked what would happen if someone new to Parkour walked in and wanted to try it out, Filipone joked, "First, we put you on a 20 foot high building and push you off."

"No I'm kidding! If you came in as a newbie, Josh Russo [our Parkour Director] would teach you the basics — how to land safely, roll safely — and all of the necessary skills you need to advance from level to level," Filipone said.

The facility will offer 64 fitness classes a week, ranging from toddler tumbling to women warrior and free running to mixed martial arts. In addition, MLPK will be available for birthday parties and corporate events.

Main Line Parkour will open to the public on May 5th but for now, you can check out what MLPK has to offer during their supervised open gym hours from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m for just $12 (your first time is free!).

"I just want people to know we're a community based program and to walk in with no fear and no expectations and no judgments," Filipone said.

Main Line Parkour, 1020 West 8th Ave. King of Prussia. 610-804-3580.

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