What started as a sport to indulge with friends has turned into a serious business for a team of young traceurs (practitioners of parkour) who are constantly pushing the limits to literally reach for the stars. Although parkour has been around for some time, the novelty has not worn off. The speed of movement, the ease of jumps and twirls and smooth landings has helped create an enigma around the sport that is nothing short of daredevilry. And young traceurs continue to infuse an aura of awe and amazement among their viewers and followers.
The Parkour Oman team has earned due recognition from the sporting and entertainment sections of the society and have shows and events to prove their growing popularity. From shows in schools and colleges to large-scale events at Muscat Festival and the Festival of Colours held last year, their growth has been exponential and they continue to push the envelope of challenge. For them, parkour is the art of escape, albeit with gymnastic moves.
The team got initiated into the sport with tentative steps, as they took comfort from the global arena to master daring acts. For the core team members of Parkour Oman, it all began as a sporting activity to indulge with friends in the evenings. “We were friends playing the sport and training with each other in the parks, beaches and old buildings,” states team member Ahmed Khalid Al Yahyai. Soon they mastered the ropes of the sport and gained confidence in their skill to go all the way. “We decided to form a team that makes parkour shows and make people see what we do. We made the first parkour team in Oman…” he adds, pointing out that he started training three years ago with his friend on weekends at his home.
It was the constant training and hard work, which the team put in, that helped them to establish their credentials in the sport. It hasn’t been a smooth run though. “At first this sport did not appeal to my family; but after a while, when I became better…and better, they were the ones who supported me,” notes Ahmed.
Traceurs, who have mastered the sport, equate the associated emotions to a type of freedom. For traceurs, parkour is an exhilarating experience that suppresses all inhibitions. It is more of a state of mind rather than a set of actions, as it is all about overcoming and adapting to mental and emotional obstacles, alongside the physical barriers. This requires parkour enthusiasts to first learn the art of patience and combine it with hard work.
However, Oman has yet to find a right groove for enthusiasts to learn and indulge in the sport. As Ahmed points out, “We do not have any clubs for parkour, but people love the sport and want to learn. Yes, we can teach them in beaches and parks but it’s not safe; we need designated places to train. If we had a club we could teach them in better ways…”
Until then, it is best to watch and learn.
