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Giant leap for Parkour in Afghanistan

Herat Parkour and Freerunning Team overcome obstacles to bring the discipline to Afghanistan’s streets.

Parkour is a training discipline using movement developed from obstacles.  Photo: Ali Latifi
Parkour is a training discipline using movement developed from obstacles. Photo: Ali Latifi
By 
Ali M Latifi
24 Nov 2013
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Herat, Afghanistan – From the Qalai Iktaryuddin – which for 2,000 years housed various emperors, including Alexander the Great, to the tomb of Queen Goharshad – who presided over an empire stretching from the Tigris to the Chinese borderlands, the western city of Herat has long been considered one of the centres of Afghan history and culture.

With their flips, vaults and spins, four young men in Herat hope to continue the city’s legacy as a vanguard in Afghan culture by introducing the discipline of Parkour to Afghanistan.

Alireza Bayat, Raziq Dostyar, Habib Mohammadi and Hossin Amiri first discovered the sport online three years ago. They were transfixed by videos of traceurs effortlessly using their agile bodies to transform walls, ramps and stairways from mundane artefacts of daily urban life into obstacle courses.

Since then, under the tutelage of Dostyar, the boys have taken the discipline from the computer screen to the streets of Herat.

“Parkour is all about finding creative ways to surmount everyday obstacles,” Bayat told Al Jazeera of what appealed to him about the discipline.

Though skateboarding, graffiti, hip-hop and rock music have all made inroads in various Afghan cities, the Herat Parkour and Freerunning Team is the only squad of its kind in the country.

Still, Bayat says the four have only ever received praise from the wowed onlookers when the squad takes over the streets of Herat on Friday afternoons.

The criticisms they have received are few and far between. When they approached the Herat Olympic Committee for assistance, Dostyar said the squad was told “Parkour is symbolic, not a sport”. For their parents, the traceurs said the threat of physical injury has led them to ban all talk of Parkour around them.

Despite the setbacks, the four twenty-something Heratis continue on their endeavour in hopes of serving as pioneers of a new cultural endeavor in Afghanistan.

an extremely negative image with regards to democracy and freedom of speech in Egypt after the June 30 revolution

Hossin Amiri demonstrates his skills the western city of Herat. Photo: Ali Latifi
Hossin Amiri demonstrates his skills the western city of Herat. Photo: Ali Latifi
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The obstacles Parkour participants like Hossin Amiri must overcome are physical and mental. Photo: Ali Latifi
The obstacles Parkour participants like Hossin Amiri must overcome are physical and mental. Photo: Ali Latifi
Parkour originated in France, but Habib Mohammadi, left, and Hossin Amiri have formed a troupe to bring the sport to Afghanistan. Photo: Ali Latifi
Parkour originated in France, but Habib Mohammadi, left, and Hossin Amiri have formed a troupe to bring the sport to Afghanistan. Photo: Ali Latifi
Habib Mohammadi demonstrates his agility in Parkour training. Photo: Ali Latifi
Habib Mohammadi demonstrates his agility in Parkour training. Photo: Ali Latifi
According to Parkourtrain.net, the purpose of the discipline is to get from one place to another in the most efficient manner possible, as Hossin Amiri demonstrates.  Photo: Ali Latifi
According to Parkourtrain.net, the purpose of the discipline is to get from one place to another in the most efficient manner possible, as Hossin Amiri demonstrates. Photo: Ali Latifi
Alireza Bayat says the discipline is about finding creative ways to surmount everyday obstacles.  Photo: Ali Latifi
Alireza Bayat says the discipline is about finding creative ways to surmount everyday obstacles. Photo: Ali Latifi
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Amin Dostyar is another member of the young Herati who have jumped at the chance of mastering the art of Parkour.  Photo: Ali Latifi
Amin Dostyar is another member of the young Herati who have jumped at the chance of mastering the art of Parkour. Photo: Ali Latifi
From left, Habib Mohammadi, Hossin Amiri, Amin Dostyar and Alireza Bayat first discovered the sport online three years ago. Photo: Ali Latifi
From left, Habib Mohammadi, Hossin Amiri, Amin Dostyar and Alireza Bayat first discovered the sport online three years ago. Photo: Ali Latifi

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