In Rampur, a city known for its rich Nawabi history, a group of young men has transformed the remnants of that era into their personal parkour training grounds. Disused courtyards, locked playgrounds, and old structures are no longer just relics of the past; they've become launchpads for aspiring athletes. For nearly two decades, these self-taught individuals have been using these overlooked spaces to hone their parkour skills, long before the sport gained widespread recognition in the area.
Mujahid Habib is considered one of the pioneers who helped popularize parkour in Rampur. He recalls how it started in 2007 when he was a teenager. At the time, he and his friends would imitate stunts from Jackie Chan movies and give their moves random names. It wasn't until he saw Hrithik Roshan performing similar jumps in the movie "Dhoom 2" that his friend Waseem identified it as parkour, opening Habib's eyes to the larger world of the sport.
Habib continued practicing on staircases, rooftops, and drains, utilizing whatever was available to him. In 2009, he formalized his passion by forming Team Leonine with five other members. Aamir Zameer Khan, a founding member, remembers their early morning training sessions, starting at 5 a.m. on the Kosi riverbank, where the sand provided a soft landing. They later moved to Nahid Ground, a location that was always locked, requiring them to jump over a 10-foot-wide drain to gain access.
Parkour gave them a new way to explore their surroundings. Mujahid and his friends have not only founded and popularized Parkour in Rampur, but the quaint little district in Uttar Pradesh has become a breeding ground for the sport, now boasting the best free-running team in the Indian parkour scene. Rampur and its local team gained recognition at the Red Bull Indus Trail where Kuwaiti parkour athlete Mohammed Al Attar (Mo) picked Mujahid as one of the most promising participants from the event.
Some members of this group have even transitioned their parkour skills into the film industry. Aman Kumar, who trained with the group, moved to Mumbai and has worked as a stuntman in Bollywood movies like "Baaghi 4", "Sultan", and "Devara". According to Kumar, directors appreciate working with parkour artists because they possess the ability to adapt to real locations and don't rely on wires. Their expertise in landing and adapting to various environments provides more control and reduces the need for extensive editing.
The journey of Rampur's parkour enthusiasts highlights how passion and dedication can transform overlooked spaces into hubs of athletic innovation. What began as a fascination with action movies has evolved into a thriving community, with some members even making their mark in Bollywood.
