Prague's Parkour Scene Reaches New Heights

Outside of more traditional Czech sports, such as hockey, football, and table football, there is another sport, an athletic epidemic that is growing more and more popular among many, that involves incredible acts of strength and agility – one that can test the human body to its very limit. 

“For us, it’s more than just a sport; it’s a lifestyle,” says Sahir, one of the members of a professional parkour team from Prague.

What first was considered to be a nerdy, or even shady pastime, has evolved into something considered genuinely cool. The initial perception of parkour in the Czech Republic wasn’t so enthusiastic. “It’s interesting to see how people’s reactions change with time,” says Tomáš Dohnal (also known as ‘Tomcany’), one of the leading members of the InMotion parkour team in Prague. “In the beginning, they thought we were criminals or vandals, like the people who spray graffiti on buildings. And today, they usually say – oh wow, parkour! How cool!”  

These days, Urban Sense is sponsored by none other than sports giant ADIDAS Originals, and also phone company, HTC. InMotion also features prominent sponsorships, such as Czech energy company, Big Shock. 

There are a number of hangout spots for free running and parkour. Perhaps the biggest in Prague is right at the Vltavská metro stop, by the river, above which is a strange outdoor area with plenty of columns, slopes, and walls – all of which facilitate the choreography of great stunts. While this spot is often used by vagrants and homeless people, every now and then, the Czech parkour community meets there to show each other their tricks.

“Homeless and parkour guys. We live in symbiosis.” Tomáš says jokingly. “There are many possibilities there. We get together sometimes for a “jam” [a term parkour practitioners use to refer to big meet-ups]. Many people come from all over the Czech Republic, and even Slovakia to these jams.” When they meet, Tomáš tells me there can often be over 100 people.

Aside from that, I’m told that Prague (and other large cities) are architecturally perfect for parkour purposes. The grey communist edifices of Prague’s not-too-distant communist past, once used to represent an orderly monochromatic society, are now repurposed for chaining together series of acrobatic stunts. As Tomáš told me, the blocky columns and constructions easily lend themselves to a wide variety of tricks. 

But what about when it’s cold? “In winter, there is a gym to practice parkour,” says Tomáš. In fact, Tomáš is wearing his gear during our interview, heading to the gym to practice his technique once we finish.

Tomáš, who plans to study film at FAMU (and filmed the video below of Sahir), remembers how he first was inspired to do parkour from watching videos online. “I thought to myself, ‘Oh parkour is about jumping and shooting videos. I could do that! But then I found that it was so much more.” .

“I think a special thing about Czech parkour is that we have real team spirit,” says Tomáš.  If someone has some trouble with a jump or a trick, someone will always help him to make sure that he is okay.”

Once a year, Urban Sense organizes a parkour competition, for Czech and Slovak parkour athletes, called ArtMoving. However, for both Tomáš and Sahir, the competitive aspect is totally beside the point; what was more important was all of these people, with a shared passion for parkour, gathered in one place and enjoying their sport with mutual respect and admiration.

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