Czech Parkour Association

The Czech Parkour Association (Česká asociace parkouru, z. s.; abbreviated ČAPk) is a Czech registered association (spolek) that brings together parkour clubs and practitioners in the Czech Republic. It was established at a founding meeting held in Prague on 31 January 2015, attended by 28 people from the Czech parkour scene, and was formally registered among associations on 29 April 2015. Its stated aims include supporting physical and mental training, personal development and a healthy lifestyle among members and the public, cooperating with leading traceurs, spreading knowledge about parkour training, and making parkour accessible to the general public. The association is headquartered in Brno. ČAPk operates as a national umbrella body rather than a commercial company. It supports the construction of parkour halls and playgrounds, produces methodological publications to standardise terminology and teaching systems, and participates in the preparation of instructor licensing programmes (Level III and Level II parkour instructor, formerly Instructor of Leisure Activities with a focus on parkour) under the Central School of the Czech Sokol Community, with accreditation from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. It also organises a series of parkour competitions built on parkour traditions, and has negotiated the hosting of World Chase Tag events in the Czech Republic, including selecting a national team for the European World Chase Tag championship in London. Governance is provided by an Executive Committee (Výkonný výbor) of five members, elected by the association's council. The first council of 11 members was established by election on 29 April 2015. Leadership has changed several times: an early presidium included Jan Haluza, Pavel Cibulka and Gabriel Harangi; in 2019 Patrik Gabryš, Michal Filipin and Daniel Samek took the helm and the abbreviation changed from ČAP to ČAPk; and following the resignation of chairman Michal Filipin, a new board elected on 16 June 2023 is chaired by Jan Pospíšil, with Patrik Gabryš as first vice-chair and Daniel Samek as second vice-chair. The association also maintains a Community Commission and an Educational Commission. In 2020 ČAPk approved a new logo and, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, cancelled spring competition cups in Brno and Frýdek-Místek; in June 2020 the first Czech National Championship in World Chase Tag was held in Prague. The same year the association joined the Association of Sports Unions of the Czech Republic (Sdružení sportovních svazů České republiky). It has also partnered with the community portal #projectfreemove and prepared a parkour methodological plan for the Czech Gymnathlon association. The association's official portal is capk.cz, which lists upcoming events such as Jungle Run 2025, Brno Takeover 2025, the 2024/2025 Czech National Championship, Level III licence courses in Brno, and IMA Style Night 2025.

The Czech Parkour Association (Česká asociace parkouru, z. s.) was founded amid the growth of parkour in the Czech Republic. Its founding meeting took place in Prague on 31 January 2015, with 28 participants from the Czech parkour scene. An 11-member council was elected, which in turn chose Gabriel Harangi, Pavel Cibulka and Jan Haluza for the presidium. The association was officially registered among associations on 29 April 2015 and established its seat in Brno. In its early years, activities were decentralised: members collaborated on projects to build parkour halls and playgrounds, prepared methodological publications to unify terminology and teaching systems, and took part in preparing instructor licensing programmes (Level III and Level II parkour instructor, formerly Instructor of Leisure Activities with a focus on parkour) under the Central School of the Czech Sokol Community, with accreditation from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Between 2016 and 2018, member clubs were established where parkour training took place. The association In Motion z. s. organised the annual IMACoN competition, Gabriel Harangi worked with hriste.cz on building parkour playgrounds, and further training meetings were held across the country. The largest gatherings, in Prague under In Motion and in Brno under Pavel Petržela, attracted over 130 participants. At the end of 2018, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) incorporated parkour among its sports. Like a number of existing world parkour associations (Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and others), ČAPk took a negative stance. Following this, the association added to its programme the organisation of a series of parkour competitions built on parkour traditions. In 2019, Patrik Gabryš, Michal Filipin and Daniel Samek were elected to lead the association, and the abbreviation changed from ČAP to ČAPk. The association launched its official portal capk.cz. Board members began developing cooperation with the Czech Union of Sport, the Czech Olympic Committee and other federations. In November, the association negotiated the hosting of World Chase Tag Czech Republic and the selection of a national team for the European World Chase Tag championship in London. In 2020, the association approved a new logo. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, spring competition cups in Brno and Frýdek-Místek were cancelled. In June, the first Czech National Championship in World Chase Tag was held in Prague. Later that year, the Czech Parkour Association joined the Association of Sports Unions of the Czech Republic (Sdružení sportovních svazů České republiky). Jan Pospíšil prepared a parkour methodological plan for the Czech Gymnathlon association. Members also became partners of the community portal #projectfreemove in cooperation with the parkour group Freemove. In 2021, at the annual meeting, the Executive Committee proposed a structural change that was adopted. Elections approved changes at the highest leadership positions. At the beginning of the year, interest in membership increased. The Executive Committee met regularly once a month. Leadership continued to evolve: the presidium from 9 April 2015 to 29 April 2018 consisted of Director Jan Haluza, First Secretary Pavel Cibulka and Second Secretary Gabriel Harangi; from 2 June 2019 to 16 January 2021 the leadership was Director Patrik Gabryš, First Secretary Daniel Samek and Second Secretary Michal Filipin; and from 17 January 2021 the presidium was Chairman Michal Filipin, First Vice-Chairman Patrik Gabryš and Second Vice-Chairman Daniel Samek. After Michal Filipin resigned as chairman, a new board was elected on 16 June 2023 at a meeting of the ČAPk presidium: Jan Pospíšil became chairman, Patrik Gabryš first vice-chairman and Daniel Samek second vice-chairman. The Executive Committee currently has five members, including Antonín Tomáš and Romana Hladíková. The association also has a Community Commission and an Educational Commission.

• Founding meeting held in Prague with 28 participants; 11-member council elected.

• Association officially registered; first council of 11 members established by election.

• First presidium takes office: Jan Haluza (Director), Pavel Cibulka (First Secretary), Gabriel Harangi (Second Secretary).

• International Gymnastics Federation incorporates parkour; ČAPk takes a negative stance.

• New leadership elected: Patrik Gabryš, Daniel Samek, Michal Filipin; abbreviation changes from ČAP to ČAPk.

• Association negotiates hosting of World Chase Tag Czech Republic and national team selection for European championship in London.

• First Czech National Championship in World Chase Tag held in Prague.

• ČAPk joins the Association of Sports Unions of the Czech Republic (Sdružení sportovních svazů České republiky).

• New presidium: Michal Filipin (Chairman), Patrik Gabryš (First Vice-Chairman), Daniel Samek (Second Vice-Chairman).

• After chairman Michal Filipin resigns, new board elected: Jan Pospíšil (Chairman), Patrik Gabryš (First Vice-Chairman), Daniel Samek (Second Vice-Chairman).

National umbrella association for parkour in the Czech Republic, focused on community, education and competition.

• Czech National Championship in parkour

  Annual national parkour competition.

• World Chase Tag Czech Republic

  National World Chase Tag event and team selection.

• Level III and Level II parkour instructor licences

  Instructor licensing programmes accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

• Methodological publications

  Publications to unify parkour terminology and teaching systems.

1. 1Parkour ČAPk – Česká asociace parkouru – oficiální webcapk.cz
2. 2Česká asociace parkouru – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Česká asociace parkouru – Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org