Drum Magazine Issue 3 | Page 74

7 2 Drum: SPORTIVE However, it seems that Nike and Toyota don’t mind living a little dangerously these days in pursuit of the fruits of their advertising spend. Both companies have featured Foucan and many of his signature Parkour moves in European television ads. Nevertheless, interest in the sport is growing rapidly. Exact figures are hard to come by since there are currently no leagues, competitions or official associations, but there is already talk of making Parkour an Olympic sport. If the numbers of new web sites is anything to go by, this new Parkour craze could soon make Foucan a very rich man indeed. If he plays his cards right, that is. I wanted to know just what money and fame would mean to the man they call, Mister Parkour, and walked smack-bang into a rift between two old friends, and the ensuing battle between commercialism and spirituality. “Learning something step-by-step, a human being can achieve amazing things.” “If Parkour becomes an Olympic sport I can’t say it’s bad,” says Foucan, “but for me it’s not my way. This is for other people. My goal is not to make Parkour a competitive sport but to make more and more people understand Parkour like they understand Tai Chi. Tai Chi is not Olympic, but it is a discipline. I’d like everybody to practise this discipline, Parkour, in their own way, at their own level, but competition, with winners and prizes is totally opposite to my goal.” Born out of childhood play between Foucan and his former friend David Belle, Parkour’s journey from Parisian roots in the suburbs of Lisses to its present status as arguably the most compelling new sport in decades, has not been without its trials and tribulations. After appearing on Channel 2 TV in France, Foucan and Belle formed a group called Yamakazi with people they had inspired along the way. The word, ‘yamakazi’ comes from the Lingala language, mostly used in Zaire and Congo, and means ‘strong body, strong spirit, strong man’. It is an equally apt description of Foucan and his ideals for Parkour as a discipline.