Mumbai’s parkour scene has witnessed rapid growth over the past decade, evolving from a handful of enthusiasts to a thriving community. This momentum was on display on January 11, when nearly 30 athletes competed across South Mumbai during Skill City, a multi-city parkour battle organised by the Mumbai Movement Academy
Participants showcase their skills at the viewing deck at Chowpatty
If your friends jumped off a ledge, would you do it too? For the growing parkour community in Mumbai, the answer to this age-old trick question is a resounding yes. A decade ago, you could count parkour athletes in the city on the fingers of one hand. Today Mumbaikars across the board seem to love the game of jumps, rolls, climbs and vaults. On January 11, nearly 30 of these enthusiasts took over popular South Mumbai spots to compete in Skill City, a multi-city parkour battle organised by the Mumbai Movement Academy (MMA).
“The growing interest instils optimism in us for the future,” co-founder Dr Rishi Prasad had told us in conversation about the sport two years ago. A physician who picked up the sport while studying medicine in Russia, Prasad is certified by the UK-based body for coach certification, Art du Deplacement and Parkour Teaching (ADAPT). Assisted by co-founders Cyrus Khan and Krishna Mehta and a growing crew of trainers, here’s how the report card looks two years later.
Ritika Mishra aces a balancing act
People’s game
“In 2019, the sport took off in the age group of 16 to 24 years; mostly collegians,” Prasad reveals. Today, the demographic has shifted. We learn that the age bracket of 28 to 35 years, comprising working professionals and first-time parents, has shown the most interest. The founder attributes this to the growing hunger for thrill amid the gruelling city life. At the contest last weekend, beginners and professionals performed vaults, climbed walls, and showed off flips in a scavenger hunt-style time trial.
Ritika Mishra, a 33-year-old businesswoman, took to the sport months ago to get fitter, and also have fun outdoors. “I was terrified of my first jump. I didn’t think I could land it,” she admits. She’s come a long way, with a third-place win at the weekend competition. “Parkour has not only made me physically fitter, but it helps me feel confident in day-to-day movements. For instance, I’m better equipped to rebalance myself in case of a fall or a slip,” she reveals. An essential skill on the roads of this city, if we may add.
Athletes climb and vault over railings as part of an exercise. Pics/Ashish Raje
There’s another driving force keeping Mishra on her toes. The community faces an evident dearth of female representation at the moment. “I’d love to see more women take the leap. I can assure them, it’s not as difficult as it seems,” she adds.
Let’s talk infra
We’ve heard of grants for cricket grounds and basketball courts, but how do you build infrastructure for a sport that is practised in public places? The answer lies in inclusive public parks and gardens. “Most equipment in Mumbai’s public gardens today cater to either toddlers, or senior citizens [think air walkers, gym bikes]. We need more workout bars, ramps, and walls. This will help not just parkour, but sports like skateboarding and calisthenics as well,”
Prasad suggests.
An athlete performs a flip
Some venues like the Kamala Nehru Park in Malabar Hill and the Carter Road skatepark are athletes’ favourites, but the city could do better, he believes. Inspiration lies westward, in Europe, where public park designs make considerations for adventure sports and provide safe and solid structures.
The next jump
While there is no official parkour regulatory body in India, the community has taken upon itself to create a buzzing cross-city collaborative schedule including annual events in Ahmedabad, Pune and Mumbai. This year, professionals are looking forward to the USA Parkour Cup in March, as well as the Parkour Earth World Championships in the Czech Republic in October.
For now, the coaches are heading back to classrooms. “More than 12 schools in Mumbai have shown interest to make parkour an extracurricular activity. We’re confident this number will grow,” Prasad says. Come April, a first-ever inter-school parkour tournament will be organised for these rising stars. No such thing as ‘too cool for school’, these days.
Dr Rishi Prasad and Ritika Mishra
Learn the sport
. Mumbai Movement Academy
AT Venues across Santacruz, Juhu, Bandra, Andheri, Kemps Corner
LOG ON TO @mumbaimovementacademy
. Flow United School of Movement
AT Maharana Pratap Circle, opposite GST Bhavan, Mazgaon.
LOG ON TO @flowunited.sm
Before you leap
MMA’s checklist for beginners heading for their first session
. Start low: Begin with ground-level exercises and build strength
. Clear path: Do not climb/vault/swing into spaces if there is no convenient return path
. Check your heart: Parkour is a cardio-intense discipline. Those with cardiac ailments must consult their doctors before beginning their journey
. Keep clean: City spaces belong to everyone. Clean any shoe imprints, sweat marks and dust off the surfaces when you leave
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