Please introduce yourself…
Hi am Ryan and am 26yrs old
Were is your home town?
Liverpool
How did you find Parkour?
I cant remember not doing it, i was 7 when i was doing backflips and jumping off stuff, but back then it didnt have a name.
i was just the crazy kid, then at 14 i studied a korean martial art called KUK SOOL WON for 5 years, and mixed it with my self taught gymnastics
to create multi level moves. at 18 i got my first stunt job on the spiderman show “marvel super heroes go live” it was then when i decided
to use my skills for a career. I dont limit my self to a paricular category like freerunning or parkour. i just move… i’m in the movement category, if you need me to marital arts, i can
gymnastics? i can be that too… even breakdancing, i just want to master my own body, write my own rules and not follow a pre-decided criteria of what
someone else thinks is the right way to move.
Who has been your inspiration in life?
i grew up watching alot of jackie chan movies, and was amazing how creative he was, they guy has done everything! people say the french started parkour.
but they only gave it a name. this stuff has been around for centuries, and my influences has been friends and family.. and jackie.
Have you ever had a bad injury?
in 11 years i’ve only had 2 major injuries. i snapped both the bones in my left leg, tib and fib, clean in half, bones tour their way through tendons, ligaments, muscle and eventually the skin.
and last year i separated my shoulder, so the collar bone no longer attaches to the joint. its doesnt stop me it just looks weird, remind me to show you that one.
in the minor list we have:-, rolled both ankles, broke 4 toes, broke both little fingers on each hand, twisted my right knee in its socket and had key hole surgery to remove a piece of ligament,
cracked chest plate, broke both bones in my right arm, smashes my head on a bar, chipped my front 2 teeth, (expensive)
this is what happens when you have no instructor or teacher to tell you what not to do, or what works and what doesnt work.
i had to figure it out for myself. but now i can teach others so that they wont have to go through it, they can learn from my mistakes
How has Parkour changed your life?
parkour has changed my life on a number of levels, mainly being able to accept things. people dont seem to realize why i do this, its not to make money or to compete and be the best.. or even to have fun.
when your in the “HABIT” of overcoming obsticals physically, you brain is only in the habit of overcoming things mentally, every one has their own mental issues.
some people loose their jobs… others loose family members, we all have our own obstacles, parkour, on a mental level helps you to come the quickest solution to fix the situation… or overcome them.
when i jump and fall, i’m not unhappy,.. i;m happy because i learn from it, its still a step forward, so why would i be unhappy to progress?
when something goes wrong in life… dont have an emotional response first… figure out what you need to do and do it, because i’m already… and in the habit of overcoming things. there is no stopping me.
what ever i want in life, i’ll figure out a way to get, i call it “parkour brain traning”… the world is mine, and essentially your world is yours.
its not a sport or even a discapline/art… its a life style
.
Any hobbies?
action choreography, and capturing the creativity, i didnt study media for 5 years for nothing, i love making short movies with the Airborn team
Advice for beginners?
never train alone, you will only ever view the world from your own point of view until you train with others… friends and family, they will help unlock new doors.
How did Airborn start?
I drew the Airborn logo on a napkin in a chinese restaurant on brighton peer, while working for Universal shows as Daredavil. 7 years ago…. airborn became a production company, a private class,
a public worshop, a school for beginners and finally.. an agency for professional athletes.
Also in 2007 i became the first founding member of the WFPF, and the only redbull sponsored freerunner in the world.
how do you over come a fear of doing a move is there steps you take?
its different when i’m working. i know what my body is capable of and what its not… but i just blank out now, i dont even think about it… go with the flow, and i trust myself to create and exit if it goes wrong
but this only comes with experience. repetition is a good way of overcoming fears. being relaxed is essential.
is there any trick/moves you are working on at the moment?
i’m always open to new movements, but i tend to stay away from the big, major huge tricks, its a real short game if i keep doing them, there is only so much impact the body can take, ligaments dont grow back after a while.
so i dont really have to work on a trick.. i think of it, test it, then do it, you’ll see some of the new stuff i’ve been throwing in MTVs Ultimate Parkour Challenge.
have your every used parkour in a real situation?
whats a real situation? to escape? nah… i know its about efficient movements but stick to the creative movements because… well… parkour is obsolete,
no one is ever chasing me, and its much more “EFFICIENT” to get in the car drive to point B.
just being creative and expressing myself and my style is much more fun
Who do you love going out and training with?
Kev stokes! he’s the man, and fantastic with a camera, he filmed most of my 2009 reel, Micheal turner is also a dude, great to train with, such a happy guy.
But if i;m doing action choreography, my bro Anthony is the best there is, we work so well together because we know each others timing.
if there is one place you could be right now were would it be?
Back home with my family, best 3 thing on this planet is Love, family and friends. dont need money… if you have those 3 things, you’ll be the richest man alive.