Freerunning
Find out exactly what freerunning is in the latest episode of Red Bull Origins, and see how the internet and social media are pushing its evolution.
Whether you know the name or not, you’ve definitely seen freerunning. You may have seen it on screen in incredible film and television action sequences. You’ve almost certainly seen it on social media when incredible clips from the likes of Dominic Di Tommaso and Pasha Petkuns or contests like Red Bull Art of Motion go viral. You’ve probably even seen freerunning in the flesh, courtesy of the ever-growing community that’s active in towns and cities around the world.
There's a good reason for that: freerunning is a sport on the up. It's the young upstart of urban sports that's rise and development has gone hand-in-hand with that of the internet, smart devices and social media – and that's why you need to know about it; because it's only going to get bigger.
Hit play on the latest episode of Red Bull Origins in the player at the top of the page and read on to find out everything you need to know about freerunning…
01
What exactly is freerunning?
The clue is in the name. It’s running free in a world designed to contain and order the lives of billions of urban dwellers.
Essentially, freerunning is the art of moving through the urban environment in whichever way you want, limited only by your imagination and your body’s physical capabilities. Jumps, flips, spins, drops, gap jumps, you name it. Any movements you can dream up to travel through the urban world in a fast and exciting form are welcome in freerunning – there are no limits. The result is a uniquely creative way of moving through the built environment.
02
What is the history of freerunning?
Just like motion pictures, the metric system and world-beating pastries, we’ve got the French to thank for bringing freerunning into the world.
What we know today as freerunning has its roots in the development of military, athletic training and obstacle courses to promote efficient and confident movement, but it all really kicked off in the late ‘90s in the Paris suburbs. There, the Yamakasi crew developed parkour in the local housing estates and shopping precincts.
Inspired by the military-influenced training of founder David Belle’s father, and the discipline and philosophy of martial arts, the group developed their way of breaking free from the structure of urban environments and moving across them how they wanted, with spectacular and elegant results.
The big jumps from roof to roof, multiple-storey drops and leaps over cavernous gaps that we all recognise today originated with the Yamakasi crew there on the suburban outskirts of the French capital. They also gave freerunning its first-ever viral moment when grainy camcorder footage of Belle leaping a huge roof gap at a spot known as ‘Manpower’ hit TV stations all across France and Europe, inspiring thousands to start training parkour.
“It went viral long before viral video was even a thing and it was all over French TV,” says Turkish freerunner and parkour athlete Hazal Nehir in Origins. “That video was the spark and since then athletes have shared videos and continued to push the sport.”
03
Are parkour and freerunning the same thing?
Both yes and no. We know, that’s not exactly helpful, so let us explain.
Parkour is where it all began and the name has entered the mainstream lexicon so that any similar activity simply gets called that. But there are some significant and subtle differences between parkour and freerunning.
As you'll learn in Origins, former Yamakasi member Sébastien Foucan coined the term freerunning and pushed creative expression to the fore in his take on parkour. So, whereas parkour is more about speed and efficiency: running, jumping and constant forward motion, in freerunning, any movement goes. Whether that's flips, spins, twists or moves you saw in an old Charlie Chaplin silent movie, a video game or borrowed from a B-Boy – if you can do it, you can do it.
There's also more freedom when it comes to locations in freerunning. The concrete jungle still dominates, but increasingly athletes are stepping out of this environment to show freerunning in a whole new way and in totally unexpected places. Whether that’s Jason Paul recreating classic ‘80s video games, Pasha Petkuns becoming a human pinball, or freerunning’s biggest contest, Red Bull Art of Motion, taking the leap off land and onto sailing boats for the 2021 event.
Nehir puts it best: “There a are no set rules and that’s the beauty of it. Everyone can move differently and show their own unique style. This is what makes the sport fresh.”
So, yes, freerunning is an offshoot of parkour and firmly rooted in that culture. And, yes, the lines between the two do absolutely blur into each other at times. But, no, it’s not identical, and it’s not just another word for the exact same thing, okay!
There are no set rules and that’s the beauty of it. Everyone can move differently and show their own style
04
Check your phone to see a sport evolving in real time
Think how much and how quickly you developed from ages 10 to 20. That’s the incredible trajectory freerunning is currently on. It’s a young sport whose evolution has been phenomenal, playing out right before our eyes on smartphones and computer screens in a way no other sport has done.
As Origins highlights, freerunning is probably the first sport that grew up in tandem with the internet, and it’s that direct link to the digital explosion that’s not only driven its growth to all corners of the world but also the jaw-dropping speed at which it has moved forward technically. “It’s so intertwined with internet culture. The community has always been around the internet, even in the early days,” explains UK scene stalwart and parkour historian Jimmy the Giant in the film.
Affordable video cameras helped parkour get off the ground in the early days of DVDs and dial-up internet forums, but the Big Bang moment of YouTube’s launch in 2005 really opened the world up to freerunning. If there was a moment that freerunning went global, it was that. Suddenly, not only could anyone could see it online easily – turning a huge wave of new recruits on to the sport – but it also became an online video database of tricks and spots that pushed the level of the sport forwards at warp speed.
With rapid smartphone development, 4G roll out and then another game-changing platform launch, from Instagram in 2013, following in quick succession, it’s never been easier for freerunners to show the world what they’re doing. All you need is to drop your phone or GoPro in your pocket on your way out to explore.
It’s the perfect social media sport as well – quick, thrilling, a little bit dangerous looking, but relatable – so it’s no wonder that freerunning is exploding in popularity, with the likes of Di Tommaso getting hundreds of thousands of views on Insta posts. Jason Paul’s Last Call For Mr Paul video even takes the honours as the most-viewed Red Bull video ever. Watch it below to see just why.
As Nehir emphatically states in Origins: “The sport wouldn’t be where it is without the internet and social media.”
05
Who are the freerunners I need to follow?
Jason Paul – A true legend of the game, the German has done it all in freerunning, from winning Red Bull Art of Motion multiple times to dreaming up some of the most creative and most-watched videos the sport’s seen. Follow him here.
Dominic Di Tommaso – Widely regarded as one of the most progressive athletes in the sport today, the Australian’s videos in iconic cities in the Freerunning Around the World are a must-watch. Follow him here.
Hazal Nehir – A trailblazer who’s pushing freerunning in her native Turkey and one of the most prominent and inspiring female’s in the sport, she’s even been nominated for a Taurus World Stunt Award for her work on the Hollywood film 6 Underground. Follow her here.
Pavel' Pasha' Petkuns – If it's originality mixed with a sense of humour you're after in your freerunning, Latvian dynamo 'Pasha' Petkuns is definitely worth a follow. The two-time Red Bull Art of Motion winner is truly one of a kind. Follow him here.
Krystian Kowalewski – The defending Red Bull Art of Motion champion is one of the most dedicated and adaptable athletes out there, equally comfortable flowing on sailing ships and in rocky forests as he is on traditional terrain. Follow him here.
Noa Diorgina – The youngest Red Bull Art of Motion champion ever, Diorgina won the 2021 edition in style and announced herself on the world stage as the future of female freerunning. Keep an eye out for big things from her. Follow her here.
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