Parkour isn’t the first sport that comes to mind when one thinks of Beijing. How did you get involved in it? Before Beijing, I was in the United States Air Force and stationed in Hawaii. That’s where I first got into parkour. I stayed with it and, since coming to Beijing, I now teach the Urban Ninja League through Sports Beijing and I also teach a class at Club Hero.

What is parkour exactly? I teach Sarutobi parkour, which focuses on surmounting barriers. It sounds physical, but as soon as you start doing it you begin seeing objects from a different light and thinking of how to get around them. Everyone has problems in their life that seem insurmountable, but by looking at them from a different angle, the answer can present itself. That’s what I teach.

What else do you focus on in your class? We have three main goals and they are vaulting, climbing and balance. One of our first classes is learning how to fall, which is extremely important. Then we begin teaching students that it is better to land on all fours as opposed to just your feet. From there we move on to vaulting or getting up to surfaces above one’s head.

So when do you get to start doing backflips off the wall?That’s actually free running, which is different from parkour, and emphasizes more aesthetics and acrobatics. They have some beautiful moves. But parkour is about getting from one place to the other in the most efficient means.

How can people get involved? I teach on Sundays at ISB and Tuesdays and Thursdays at BCIS. I also teach at Club Hero on Sundays, and that class is open to anyone.

Interview by Zachary Franklin

DETAILS What: Sarutobi parkour Where: Sports Beijing and Club Hero Tel: 5838-5388 (Sports Beijing) 8919-3290(Club Hero)