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They could easily be mistaken for sidekicks in a scene out of a Rajnikanth film. Over the last few years, groups of athletic men across Indian cities have been meeting regularly to sprint and leap incredibly on and off every obstacle in sight at gymnasiums, parks and beaches.
"But it is more than just jumping off things. Parkour is an internal, personal process," says Narayan Pissurlenkar, a parkour practitioner with Free Souls - a Mumbai-based group that engages in stunts just like Akshay Kumar's in a popular cola ad. The idea behind it is to get from point A to B in the most efficient way, using the body and surroundings to push oneself. Since its inception five years ago, the Mumbai group has been growing literally, with leaps and bounds. The four founding members are now also trainers and the tech-savvy lot networks and plans jam sessions through a Facebook page.
Although he had his first baby only in 2012, French actor David Belle had already become a parent in his teens. Known as the "father of parkour", he was responsible for bringing together eight contemporaries in the 1980s to develop skills inspired by French army obstacle training. It was a concept Belle's father had wished to develop. UK-based Parkour Generations' Thomas Couetdic once described parkour as having "an artistic side reminiscent of dance; efficiency like in the military obstacle courses, a bit of athletics and some spirituality like the martial arts." In his upcoming film Brick Mansions, Belle starred alongside and trained with the late Hollywood actor Paul Walker.
Most practitioners in India learnt through free online tutorials and had been practising by themselves before they assembled in groups. The action-packed film District 13 by Belle has achieved cult status among parkour followers. Some groups like Bangalore-based Chaos Faktory organise free jams. They also make short videos with parkour action to show how the movements can be adapted in Indian surroundings. Belle, who is likely to tour the country later this year, is also considering opening an academy here. His favourite place to train is the forest, which helps clear his mind of work thoughts.
Unlike other adventure sports, parkour requires little investment besides a will, strong shoes and a bottle of water. It is also non-competitive. Virtually any space can be converted into a training site. Since it is not among the most easily recognised sports locally, it does provoke curiosity. Once, when the group was repeatedly practising climbing a wall, a concerned passerby pointed at an adjacent gate and asked, "Why don't you just walk out from there instead?" Occasionally, members also face objection during practice in public spaces. "We try to explain what parkour is. If people still object, we move to different venues," says Chaos Faktory member Chetan D'Souza.
Contrary to what one might imagine, in the long-run, parkour helps to avoid injury. Practitioners, who are sometimes called urban ninjas, look for ways to preserve their bodies and move in least harmful ways. "In a dangerous situation, you cannot always be Bruce Lee and fight. Sometimes, you have to be Jackie Chan and run," explains D'Souza. While Lee excelled at combat, Chan's methods are more defensive and improvisational. Chaos Faktory and Chennai Parkour have jammed with international groups from UK.
Though groups are open to female members, their participation so far has not been high. There is a problem of perception and physically demanding sports are considered too macho for girls, say some practitioners. Parkour has definite spillovers, especially for young practitioners, since it helps one move better. "It helps them keep active," Pissurlenkar quips, "More importantly; it keeps them away from video games."
Practising the sport has moved Belle in a basic way. "In real martial arts you are obliged to hurt someone or beat him to know that you are strong. While with Parkour, the obstacle, it is only you against yourself," he says. "I understood why we are moving, why we have arms and legs."
