If you're a female practitioner of the gravity-defying movement discipline known as parkour, or if you're interested in learning how to do it, some upcoming events will offer opportunities for women to learn more about or further advance their skills.

Parkour, if you're not already familiar with it, is a sport that evolved out of military training in France and involves traversing over urban environments and obstacles as efficiently as possible by running, climbing, leaping, vaulting, swinging, acrobatics, and other dynamic physical feats.

This year, the eighth annual North American Women's Gathering will be held in Vancouver.

It'll take place from July 27 to 29, based at the parkour facility Origins Parkour (2655 Main Street). July 27 and 28 will be dedicated to women only while July 29 will be co-ed.

The weekend will consist of numerous activities, including workshops, training sessions, competitions, a beach barbecue at Spanish banks, a film festival, a hike in Lynn Canyon Park, and various jams around town.

The gathering is free to attend but registration is required.

Any filmmakers with female-based or made films about parkour are welcome to submit their films for possible screening at the festival.

For full details about the weekend, visit the Women's Parkour Movement website.

Meanwhile, Origins Parkour will also be offering an introductory series for women in June and July for those new to the sport.