LAST month, the Newbury Weekly News reported that a couple of youths had been chased across town centre roof tops by police while practicing an activity know as free-running.
In response to that, two teenagers contacted the newspaper to set the record straight about the differences between responsible free-running and dangerous illegal tresspassing.
Edward Gee, aged 16 from Kingsclere, aspires to become a barrister having just completed his GCSE’s at Lord Wandsworth College, but enjoys free-running and "Parkour" in his spare time.
Firstly, he says, there are three different practices that often get confused with each other.
Parkour, which was founded by French man David Bell, involves moving from point A to B in the most efficient and economical way possible by leaping over obstacles as they are encountered.
Free-running is largely the same as Parkour but is more concerned with moving in an aesthetically pleasing manner by flipping over objects and gaps in a gymnastic fashion.
“Tricking” is the final discipline in which the body is used to its maximum potential in a free-form style of non-combat martial art.
Ed is devoted to his hobby and aims to live a healthy lifestyle to enable him to perform some of the high-impact moves associated with the sport.
Ed said that many free-runners devote a large amount of time to indoor gym training to prepare their body for the physical rigors of the activity before venturing onto the streets.
He said that one popular gymnasium in Basingstoke attracts Parkour enthusiasts from all over the south for training sessions on Saturdays.
According to Ed, there aren’t many good spaces within Newbury’s urban landscape to safely practice the sport but many council’s set up Parkour Parks which are similar to skateparks.
Ed said: “People see it and they just think its kids messing around but some people have devoted their entire lives to it.”
"Parkour can really help people from bad backgrounds turn their lives around because it requires a lot of devotion and a healthy lifestyle.”
He added: “It’s something that does not hurt anyone and I just wish people wouldn’t see it in a bad light.”
Ed’s friend Mike Corr from Fleet practices free-running around the town.
He said: “Yes it can be dangerous but you really have to know your own limits.”
“In a lot of the occasions where people have hurt themselves, perhaps jumping across rooftops or high gaps, they weren’t trained free-runners and were just messing around.”
“It’s really just about knowing your limits.”
Ed added: “We frequently get kicked out of places when we’re not doing anything wrong - even parks, because it’s a misunderstood pastime.”
Click on the view video link above to watch the pair's ground-level demonstration and interview.