Superheroes of today. A new era of parkour

Parkour became widely known in Russia after the release of Luc Besson’s movie “Yamakasi” in 2001. Three years later, thanks to the movie “District 13”, this street movement became a favorite of many in our country. Now parkour is regaining its former popularity and will soon become an Olympic sport. Daniil Spirtus, the founder of the Parkour School in Moscow, told “Championship” about the stages of development of the movement in Russia and plans for the future.

– Daniil, tell us about parkour, how would you characterize it?
– Parkour is movement, overcoming obstacles. Parkour is an art that helps to develop the whole body: from legs to head. It is a whole direction in which you develop both physically and spiritually. By training your body, you train your spirit. Parkour shows that it is important to move forward and go towards your goal. Many traceurs (people who do parkour) use the philosophy of parkour in their lives. When faced with a problem, you either fear it, stop, or overcome it.

As early as next year, parkour will become an Olympic sport.

Parkour clearly shows how to succeed in life. Not every person can climb a four-meter wall, jump from a height, land softly and do somersaults. It’s a whole science of proper movement.

– When was parkour born?
– Parkour originated 25-30 years ago. The founders of the movement are Frenchman David Belle and Sebastian Foucan from the Yamakasi team. Fukan later moved to England and started the freerun movement, which is now growing worldwide. Freerun is aimed at artistry, closer to filming in movies, it has a lot of acrobatics and stunts. Parkour is more fitness, training and movement through the perception of your spiritual world.

– What are the differences between freerun, XMA and triking and parkour?
– Freerun is one of the directions of parkour, but there are more acrobatics and tricks. These are acrobatic elements that are performed on the plane. Freerun is now a world competition, for example, Red Bull Art of Motion.

Tricking came out of martial arts, from XMA. It includes trick elements that follow each other. Often tricking takes elements of freerun and vice versa. In tricking are bundles, which are labeled kicks. Thanks to these kicks you perform acrobatic elements. In tricking are valued acrobatic elements, kicks and technique. There are a lot of professionals from Russia in tricking, who work and tour the world. Tricking is a very famous direction in Moscow. XMA – this direction is quite new in Moscow, it is working with weapons: nunchaku, katanas, sticks.

– When did parkour start to develop in Russia?
– Parkour appeared in Russia about 15 years ago. After the movie “Yamakashi” the parkour movement began to develop actively, and after the release of “District 13” everyone was sick of it. Now the whole world is covered with parkour.

– How long have you been doing parkour?
– I’ve been doing parkour for about 15 years. I was one of the first who started to propagandize and develop parkour in Russia, which is what I do to this day. For so many years I have not left this movement, I develop it, I do dance and acrobatic shows. In our shows we use acrobats, parkour constructions, we give master classes, we do movies and clips. We have a parkour school – Black Panther – and a dance-acrobatic project Jump Evolution. Jump Evolution is a commercial project that works on events, corporate events, shoots. We also have two of our own Black Panther halls. The first hall is a parkour park that has a team of professional athletes. They coach, train, and make sure parkour evolves. They make sure that our team is in the top teams in Russia. The second hall is our dance studio.

Tracers are the real superheroes of our time.

– Where did your love of parkour begin?
– We used to go to the unfinished building of the house of culture after school and play Cossack robbers and salki. We used parkour skills to run and hide. Of course, we didn’t realize at that time that it was called parkour. We were running up there at heights, it was scary, but you don’t feel it as a kid. I had a friend who told me about parkour. Then I realized that there were a lot of people like me, they got together and trained together. It was exciting. Parkour is a sport, a drive, it enters you and stays for a long time. Besides that, parkour gives you good physical skills. You become strong, strong, powerful, you can do somersaults, run without stopping, climb high. Tracers are real superheroes of our time.

– Did you play sports before parkour?
– Yes, I was professionally engaged in soccer and martial arts. Later on I switched from soccer to parkour.

– Do you train now to keep yourself in shape?
– Yes, of course. Parkour requires strength. When you train, your body swings and becomes powerful. All of our guys are in really cool physical shape.

– How many hours a day do you work out?
– It varies from person to person. The guys I have on my team train every day. That’s the norm and the basics. I train a little less because I don’t have enough time. I have halls and my own show, I also put on productions, choreograph, perform. Despite this, my foundation and core is classic parkour.

– Do you watch your diet?
– Yes, of course. A year ago I stopped eating meat, I eat only fish and drink a lot of water. I’m in good physical shape, my level doesn’t drop. Good nutrition and training make me who I am.

– Many people think that parkour is a very extreme sport. Do you agree with this?
– Parkour is not an extreme sport. People who don’t know how to train do somersaults and think it’s parkour. Kids who climb on the roof also call it parkour. Parkour is a sporting activity that requires special training. If you don’t have it, you don’t need to take any risks. You can not jump from a 30-meter tower into the water, without preparation. Any direction can be called extreme if you don’t know how to do it.

– Have you had any serious injuries throughout your time in parkour?
– I’ve only had professional bruises. I’ve been a stuntman for 10 years, so I’ve had some knee problems, but that’s all treatable. There was also a hand injury I got when I was setting a record for a flak (acrobatic element). But it’s fine now, it’s all healed.

– What is the strangest or most dangerous place where you have practiced parkour?
– The most dangerous place is Sparrow Hills, between the highway and the subway. At one time we practiced there, on the rooftops, but only professionals. My training is not about climbing on a bridge or a roof. That is not my training program. To promote social media pages, to shoot a music video or to work with sponsors, we can climb on the roof, it’s not a problem for us. We are paid for it, it is our commercial component. I myself don’t do somersaults from roof to roof just because I wanted to. We do it when we have insurance, mats and all the necessary professional conditions.

– You have two teams – for parkour development and for your show. Are the line-ups of the teams different?
– Yes, they are two different teams. Black Panther team develops parkour, and Jump Evolution Snow is more creative and commercial.

– When was your parkour team and the Parkour School formed?
– Our Parkour School was formed eight years ago, in 2009. We opened first in the Moscow region, then in Moscow, we were in different metro stations and now we moved to Sokolniki Park. In the park, we first did a summer project, then a winter one. This is a place in one of the park’s pavilions. It’s a warm room where there is a sports zone, a wrestling hall. This is one of the best parkour gyms in Russia.

– How many people teach at the school?
– The composition of the team has changed, now there are five people in it. After the opening of the gym in Sokolniki we completely renewed the team. We recruit professional and organized athletes who are suitable for our activities.

– You don’t take newcomers to the team?
– No, but we give them the opportunity to train in your gym for free. If they are a good fit for us, we will take them on the team.

– How many people sign up for the parkour school?
– Right now we have 30 people signed up. People come and they like it.

– Do you have girls enrolling?
– Yes, of course. At the moment we have five or six adult girls and six little girls.

Parents realize that parkour is not a jump from roof to roof, it is a very serious fitness and a great workout for the whole body.

– And how old are the children who come to you?
– They are seven, eight, nine years old. They want to train on their own, and their parents bring them to us. They watch their kids learn how to carefully climb, jump, and practice their body balance. We have a whole workout program for the kids. Parents realize that parkour is not about jumping from rooftop to rooftop, it is very serious fitness and a great workout for the whole body.

– Tips for beginner traceurs. What is important to consider for a beginner?
– I would advise traceurs who are just starting out to try everything in the halls, rather than watching videos then repeating them on the street. Go to professional parkour schools, where you will be shown, taught and explained how to practice properly. Then your level will grow faster. Training with professionals, you will understand what you are doing. Strive for professionals and you will become one yourself!