Jump Thailand! Parkour and free running in Bangkok
The sound of a runner’s feet approaches, skipping lightly along a path. He effortlessly slices though the air, turns sharply, and jumps over a bench, landing with ease on the opposite side before rolling forwards and back up to his feet, continuing on along the 
path. Another runner nearby stands tall before leaping several feet from one wall to another; he lands gracefully as a slight breeze picks up across Benjasiri Park next to the Emporium.
These are members of Thailand’s first (and only) active free running collective. Anshul, Shayan, Dhruv, Arun and Gee (aged between 19 and 22-years-old) met each other through study. “I watched the Jump Britain show [a free running documentary shown on UK TV station Channel 4 in 2005] last year and then went to the States and saw there were people doing it over there,” explains Anshul. “So when I came back I told these guys and we formed our own group.”
Free running is the discipline of traveling from point A to point B with as fluid a set of movements as possible. It is heavily inspired by parkour, which is the physical art of movement. Whereas most people choose to walk along a path to get somewhere, a free runner looks at the environment he finds himself in and sets himself the challenge of getting to the same place in a different way.
“There’s all these structures and buildings in the way wherever you go,” says Shayan.
“Back in years gone by, people used to walk, they used to run, but now our chances are limited, so this is a way of rebelling against the norms of society.”
Anshul adds: “It’s like if you’re walking on a sidewalk, anyone can use it, but this is breaking free. There are so many alternative ways to move. You can use a wall or anything.”
It’s easy to look at free runners and question why they do it. “What people don’t understand they will mock,” says Shayan. “Anything that’s new, people won’t care about.”
Free running goes deeper than the general public often gives credit for. It serves several purposes, as Anshul explains: “Some people think it’s a philosophy, like a martial art, and people can relate to it in real life. Some people just do it for fitness, and some see it as a sport. Some people want to put it into competition while others want to keep it as a philosophy because they don’t see why someone’s move should better than someone else’s.”
The group is very focused on looking after its best interests. “First, we always concentrate on safety,” says Anshul. “We don’t want people to get the wrong idea. If you watch a movie, you see people jumping from buildings and stuff, and we don’t want people to associate that with parkour and free running. In the States, when I went to jams, we teach people the basics first.”
Injuries are still a hazard of the sport, however. Shayan once tore a ligament in his ankle when he landed the wrong way after performing a basic jump. Undeterred, he learnt from 
his injury and tried to motivate himself once more to improve. “When I got injured,” he says, “I couldn’t do the same move for three or four months because I had the fear in the back of my head. But it never made me want to stop.”
Anshul explains how free running is in us all: “If you think about it, we all love to be playful with our surroundings from an early age, like jumping over a bench or a trashcan. It’s in us, but this is giving it a name. You can actually do it and move through your environment more fluidly.”
Shayan offers some advice to anyone interested in free running: “You should train hard, definitely warm up, and learn to warm down, go to websites, and do as much research as you can. Safety is the most important thing. Learn to balance your body and know where your center of gravity is. You don’t want to be standing on a building and fall off. There’s a lot of stamina and strength training needed.”
With that, Shayan scurries off, barrel-rolling over a bench as he goes. Next time you’re walking to work, or next time you’re strolling along the street o the way to 7-eleven, take a look at your surroundings and imagine how you could get to where you are going in a more interesting way; that’s what free runners do.
This article will appear in One2Go Magazine next month. It was written at the end of last year.
Techno' tags: Free running, Parkour, Thailand, Bangkok, Extreme sports Asia
can u contact me back man
we are setting up a free runner group in bangkok
08770XXXXX [edited - Matt]
Cool article. Can you send me the contact information for these guys? I'd like to meet them. And I live right across the street from Benjasiri Park.
Hi, I'm coming to Bangkok next month and I'd love to meet some people who do parkour or free running. Can you help me get in touch with these guys?
Thanks!
D.
Hey Matt. Great article, I saw the magazine from my friend, Anshul. I'm getting a copy soon from Peter Smith, hopefully. Mag looks great. =) Thanks for all this man. Appreciate it.
hey, cool article, I've been interested in freerunning for a while now, can you please send me some contact info. I'm currently working in Bangmod, near KMUTT.
Cheers.
Hi,
im planing visit Bangkok next year.
Im doing Parkour here in Germany since 2 years.
It would be nice if we can meet us ;)
Greetz,
Andi
PS: You can contact me via my Site or at info[at]blackcraven.de
I have own TV program in Channel 5. We are interested in Free Running activity and really want to shoot and On-Air this activity. Please kindly contact us via e-mail: pannusa@prime-edition.com.
Do u let anyone else train with you? what should i do if i want to start training with u guys so i will have someone to give me advices and suggestions????
Hi all. you can contact us actually if you like to learn parkour or free running. My email is pk-th@hotmail.com.
or call me cell number +66-89-455-6907
by the way, I'm one of the guys mentioned in the article.
I have just moved to Bangkok and was wondering how do i get in touch with this parkour group?
Robert, hi. you can contact me. i put my email and number above.
Http://streetstyle.forumfree.net/
Come and visit us … Trying new people like you to make friends and be more informed about the world of parkour, break dance, hacking,writing,skate,beat… and more.
We have opened a forum … Subscribe … you expect.
I can't speak English ใครรู้ภาษาไทยช่วยแอดมาคุยด้วยหน่อยได้ไหมคับผมอยากเล่นกีฬานี้มาก
Pung_puiwa@hotmail.com Thank you
i'm very intersting
pls contact me
msn : captpae (@) hotmail.com
i wanna join your team
Train me please
i’m very intersting
pls contact me
opiyas@hotmail.com
hi
do you have a demo reel i can use your skills for movies if intrested write to to
thanks
nijoo
Hey everyone who is interested to contact us or join parkour in Thailand…we now have a forum up. Come check it out!
http://www.thailandparkour.com/forums/
i am interesting in this sport
where i can practise in thailand? there is a school or gym for this sport?
Dude, i , Bangkokian, interested in yr cool free running.
Did u have any group or association here?
I wanna be one of yr menber, thanks.
Today i have join with shayan and Anshul at thamasat Rangsit
It is very good and fun for us
Shayan and Anshul, they are professional and borned to be this sport
555
It's Really!!!!!!!
Free running that I practicing in Thai-Japan Dindang Wase3… Coming and join us
hello i m practising parkour in switzerland and i m in bangkok a few days and want to train with locals where can i find guys. hope to meet you
Hey Guys,
Thai-Japan Dindang Wase3 is a bit far. Do you have group like in Silom area or what ?
Joey
Hi all! I'm a girl, 21 years old, looking for a parkour trainer for 3-4 hours a day. It may be in Bangkok, may be in Railey (there're is also a possibility to make rock-climbing).
About the payment we can agree additionally – that's not a problem. I want to train for about 2-3 weeks. Write me!
Hi,
Need to shot a commercial in India, so looking for parkour and free runners. Who are interested pls call or email.
Firefly Productions
Junaid Pandrowala
+91 98217 26585
fireflyproduction@gmail.com
hello i'm Dylan and i really want to learn free running in bangkok if there is a school or trainers that will teach me please contact me
call 0838470007
Hi, I would love to meet up with you guys and interview you all for my new online magazine, I'm based in London, and like to contact you Matt and the others within this article, could you please email me @ adela_rm(at)yahoo.com? Plus also give my email to the others if they want to be interviewed too!
hey!
do you know if they are still active?
if so, please give me a contact, cos i would love to practise in bkk! thank you so much!
Hi everyone, if anyone who is interested to train in Bangkok, please contact me at 0844600067 or email pk-th(at)hotmail.com.
Thanks
can u plz contact me…..+919529540612…:)
after 2 month later i will come Thailand for learn martial art tricking…is there any tricking gym in Bangkok?…plz reply
Hi!
Parkour and martiar arts tricking are my dreams. Everybody, who have info, pls, contact me in twitter: @motosai_com
Please contact me.
We're looking for freerunners to make a PARKOUR lifestyle movie in ASIA.
Regards.
matt
Contact Shayan in Bangkok: pk-th@hotmail.com.
Hi, i living in bangkok ramkhamheang , i doing parkour , i want join to group , please contact me http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001312885308
thanks to all
what's it like running parkour in Thailand?
Hey Guys, Parkour Generations is now established in Bangkok. If anyone interested to learn and/or train Parkour/Free running, please contact us at asia@parkourgenerations.com or visit our facebook page for info. wwww.facebook.com/parkourgenerationsasia.
Cheers
Chris