Parkour is a happening sport that has made an exciting debut in the UAE. Tempo chatted with Hesham Kamel, founder of UAE Parkour, and members Eyad Almarouj and Steve Moss, of the only organised parkour group in the country.
Kamel explains that parkour requires a person to move from point A to point B as efficiently as possible using certain types of movements like vaults, wall runs, precisions and cat leaps “through the quickest route, and around any object that may lie in the way – whether wall or a large jump.”
Originally developed as military course training in France, Parkour has been recognized as an art and sport of human movement, that includes balancing, jumping, handstands, climbing and flips.
Almarouj describes the movements, “Parkour is mostly about efficiency involving speed vaults and jumps. It also features ‘freerunning,’ where flips and tricks are involved, but these are not optimal for speed.”
UAE Parkour was founded in 2006 in Abu Dhabi, and the team plans to expand around the country. The team, currently comprised of 10 dedicated practitioners, trains in the ‘urban art’ which includes freerunning and ‘tricking’.
Kamel says awareness about the sport is increasing. “People come to watch our high flying stunts at our training spots around the city and to see our shows,” he says. The team has weekly jams on Fridays that change locations each week. At the jams the team shares ideas for jumps and movements and learns new techniques while helping one another. The jams are open to anyone who wants to join or watch.
The team practices as often as they can throughout the week. Kamel says he trains almost every day, “I try mainly to improve my body shape and skills with my training routine.”
What inspired the group members to do parkour is their shared passion for the movement and the spirit of the sport. To Kamel parkour is more than a sport, but more of a lifestyle. Prior to parkour, he was a gymnast with Muai Thai background, a martial arts group, but he says that he always believed he could challenge his body even more. So he threw his energy into parkour. “I hate rules, so parkour gives me freedom to improve my own style and vision.”
Moss became involved with parkour growing up in London. “It looked exactly like the kind of thing I spent my childhood doing, and it looked like fun. I got into parkour after I saw a BBC advertisement on Jump London”.
Almarouj and other members of the group were inspired to start after watching the French film District 13. “It is an uncompetitive, friendly, challenging and a great way of expressing your creativity.”
For aspiring parkour athletes Kamel suggests gradual immersion. “Enjoy the training journey and don’t stress about getting fast results, because perfection takes time. Have fun with what you practice and keep it safe.”
Moss’ advice is: “Don’t go for the big jumps first. Start small and build up strength. Parkour is all about learning what you are capable of, so start with small challenges and make them bigger as you conquer your fears.”
Moss adds that parcour is a different kind of experience that gives new meaning to sports and active living. Joining parkour, you will meet with “traceurs” and “traceuses” – male and female parkour practitioners. “They are the nicest people you could ever want to meet. We’ll show you what you are capable of and open your eyes to a new type of freedom.”
For more information go to www.uaeparkour.com or email Kamel uae.parkour@gmail.com.
By Sophia Grifferty
