Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 56, March 2014 | Page 16

Running and Sport

Falling
into the
Run
Overcoming obstacles, creating ‘routes’ in one’s natural environment and
getting from point A to B in the most efficient way... Parkour and free
running athlete Kundai Kenji Murapa from Zimbabwe chats about the
latest craze to hit SA, the risks that come with his stunts, and how fitness
helps his creativity. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

MA: For those who don’t know,
please explain what parkour / free
running is.
KM: It’s a form of training where you
negotiate obstacles in your natural
environment. Apart from the physical
running, jumping, swinging and climbing,
there is mental engagement and problemsolving skills. When parkour athletes train,
we ‘jam.’

How did you get into it?
I found out about it online and with some
background in dance and basic martial arts

as a kid, I definitely had the basis for
it. Eventually, I learnt the basics and it
became a hobby. I found some people to
train with and it developed into a passion
– and now I’m getting paid for something
I love. There’s a growing market for it in
SA, and I’d like to see parkour grow with
more crews and opportunities.

How does overall fitness and
strength play a role in your jams?
Your fitness improves your technique.
You need to be strong and we do a lot of
conditioning to get to a state where we
Multiple exposure
photography
highlights the
dynamism of
parkour.

can perform at our peak. Our bodies
need to deal with intricate movements
and skills, so we have to maintain that.
Soon, my team Sabotage Elite will be
doing some cross-fit classes because
conditioning sets the tone for longevity
in the sport. I also do a lot of obstaclebased marathons and races. I love those
events because it engages stamina and
creativity!

There’s obviously a lot of risk that
comes with the sport. Have you
experienced serious injuries?
I was competing at a meet called
Urban Sessions where I fell through a
wooden floor that had collapsed. I fell
one storey and I seemed alright at first,
until I patted myself down and saw a
nasty gash on my knee – right before a
marathon I was supposed to do the next
day! But for me, parkour has never been
dangerous. An athlete’s priority is to train
safe and within our means. People get
fixated on the flash and danger of the
sport, when it’s not like that. I pursued it
because the sport pushes your body and
mind to the limits.

You founded your own team,
Sabotage Elite. How often do
you guys meet and where do
you like to jam?

Images: Dimitri Daniloff

The team meets the first Saturday of
every month, and we’re involved in a lot
of commercial and community projects
that get the word of parkour out there.
There are 12 members now, with the
core being in Pretoria. Personally, my
favourite place to jam is a place at the
University of Pretoria and any gym. A
gym’s springy floors are a help, and we
like to use the equipment for some of
our skills.

16

ISSUE 56 MARCH 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

You won the parkour competition
at the Mr Price Pro and there are
more comps and opportunities in
the country. Any plans for you in
2014?
The Mr