Morgan: This first video titled “Storm Freerun – Volume 1” was the video that made Storm a household name. Highlights are Tim showing off his signature breakdance/freerun fusion style, and his badass freerun-ghostride of the “Livwr” (Livewire) Audi, in the beginning.

Badass freerun-ghostride of the “Livwr” Audi

Morgan and Brad: In the “Livewire a Year of Redbull Comps” video, all the highlights of Tim Shieff’s 2011 Redbull Art of Motion events are compiled into one epic video. I love this video because it was all performed live, without the weeks and weeks of practice time that usually precedes the filming of moves in high-end videos. These are the sort of moves that Tim can pull off at the drop of a hat!

“Livewire a Year of Redbull Comps”

Brad:I think what’s most impressive to me is not the flips or big moves but all the little things leading up to it. His precisions look so easy and the handstand traveling around the pegs is ridiculous.

Morgan:The final video is part of Tim’s “Livewire GOES” series. Filmed in Bangkok with guest stars Team Farang (A high-level team made up of foreigners living in Bangkok), this video is the only one in the series not to feature the documentary voice-over style of the rest of the series. Though the normal style of the series is awesome, this video is a much better display of his skills.

“Livewire GOES” series.

On March 4th, I attended the grand opening of Urban Evolution’s second facility in Manassas, VA. As others have elsewhere lauded, this gym is an impressive tribute to alternative fitness. But what I think of when I remember March 4th isn’t the facility so much as the people who made it happen, and the incredible gift they shared with us that day.

I brought several friends with me on the unseasonably warm late winter Saturday on which opening was held, and by the time I arrived, the massive open space was packed with traceurs, gymnasts, members of the Alexandria gym (like myself), and many kids and adults from the community who were exposed to the art of parkour for the first time that afternoon. I jumped into an Introduction to Parkour class and then began to move around with my friends as they splintered into areas that interested them most. Over the course of the day, we jumped on trampolines and the tumble track, swung on poles, crawled across pavement, stood on our hands, climbed up on boxes, and performed aerial silks (the highlight of my day). Some of this was done under the careful instruction of Urban Evolution professionals. Some of this was done completely on our own.

With the exception of silks, all of these were things I had done before. I have been a member of Urban Evo since May of 2011 and have taken quite a bit of parkour. But somehow on that Saturday everything felt new. The open floor space, bursting with skilled and not-yet-skilled athletes, was exuding a sense of hope and freedom I have rarely felt before. Every obstacle became an opportunity to try something new. Every failure was simply a future chance to succeed. Seeing someone do a flip, I did not think, “I cannot do that,” so much as, “If I keep coming here, if I keep working at it, I will be able to do that.” I wasn’t the only one. Optimism spread like a contagion that day; you could see it on every face, on every drop of sweat hitting the floor, on every hand stretched into the air, on every grimace of strain and grin of triumph.

For me, Urban Evolution means freedom. The classes teach a freedom of doing something with your body that you didn’t believe was possible, whether it be lifting a weighted bar over your head, a handstand pushup, a wall-run, a back handspring, a vault, or hanging from the air in a bolt of cloth. At Urban Evolution anything is possible. If you want to do it, you can, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday. The instructors are there waiting for you if you’re ready to make it happen.

Never has that sense of freedom been more tangible than it was during the grand opening of the Manassas gym. Like it did to the hundreds of other people who came in that day, it washed over me, filling me with a renewed feeling of hope and drive to succeed. And it has stayed with me ever since. I’ll be celebrating my one year anniversary with Urban Evo soon, and more than ever, I look forward to my trips to the gym throughout the week. On Fridays (and soon Wednesdays) I now do aerial silks in Alexandria, and every Saturday I go to Manassas to practice gymnastics where our instructor, Eugene, is teaching me to do a back handspring. I can’t do it yet, but one day soon I will.

Thank you everyone who has made and continues to make Urban Evolution possible. You are a source of hope. You are a gateway to freedom. You are awesome. Can’t wait to see you at the gym.

Sincerely,

Kate Goff

Back in June of 2011 I got the following email:

Name:  Shyam Avinash Deolalikar

Age:  19

Nickname:

Hometown:  Bethesda, Maryland

When did you start training in Parkour?

June 2011

When did you join the UE community? Why?

I joined the UE community last June, inspired to learn Parkour/Freerunning  by a traceur from New Zealand named Sam Hight. His “big guy parkour” videos on YouTube showed how he could move regardless of his weight and inspired me to start training. Prior to joining UE, I practiced some movement but I was totally uncoordinated and confused.   Urban Evolution built the foundation needed for me to grow, I learned how to practice parkour/free running. At Urban Evolution, I faced my first challenges and eventually overcame them.

What are the greatest changes that Parkour has pushed on you?

Parkour has changed how I see the world and how I view myself. Every time I go on a run or do some flow I enter a state of bliss. I love any movement and I cannot stop. The reason I love movement is because it is meditative.  I feel in a state of peace when I train. When I moved to Tulane University in New Orleans, I started other disciplines such as judo, Capoeira, and Aikido. While training for parkour, I have incorporated some elements of movements into my routine. In Capoeira you learn fluid ground based movements that flow from one in other. In Judo and Aikido you learn how to take impact from different types of falls.  They all exercise your mind as well as your body, just like parkour/freerunning.

What are your accomplishments since you started Parkour?

I lost a total of 60 pounds in the last year.  I conditioned my body to get stronger. I can do things that I could not imagine doing. I am in the best shape of my life.

I am much faster than I was before. I can train longer and at much higher intensity. I just feel so happy every time train.

What do you like about training in Parkour at Urban Evolution?

The mentality of the instructors – every instructor has their own style to share with you and there is always something new to learn. I love how Urban Evolution puts emphasis on the basics because without that I never would have a good training mentality. The lessons I have learned through my experience at Urban Evolution will always stay with me.

What do you like about training outdoors?

My love for training outdoors is the main reason why I love Parkour/Freerunning. I have gained a much deeper respect for the environment around me. The more I train the more I realize that the mentality that I develop through training is almost a reflection of how I feel at that moment – truly happy.

 Every railing, pole, wall, tree branch, bar, patch of grass, or mound of dirt has something to teach me. You learn to use your imagination to shape your training and to meet your own goals. There are endless possibilities in one’s environment. I love learning more about myself every time train. Training has truly changed the way I look at my life and how I want to live my life.

Almost a year later I still do Parkour because…

-          I love the little successes that keep me going.

-          I love every moment I go out to train

-          It changed the way I feel about myself.

Do you have any advice for UE members?

Find your own way. Be creative. Go out there and have fun. Do not care about what others think of you. The only person in control of your life is you. Approach each challenge with an overwhelming desire to achieve your goal. Also approach each challenge logically, thinking it through but not thinking too much; when you’re ready you will know and you will just do it without any second thoughts.

Every challenge is going to test you and it will be a constant battle. Regardless of how many times you fall, you’re the one who must decide whether you will come back to it.

The reason I lost weight is because I focused on getting fit; I strengthened my body,  and since I focused on getting strong first, my fitness improved and new successes in Parkour occurred at a breathtaking pace.

Learn from others – don’t take others advice as an insult – just learn and reap the benefits of knowledge.

Train with your friends, it will make every moment memorable.

—-

On May 12 and 13th, 2012, vitaminwater and Urban Evolution are sponsoring one of the greatest names in the world of Parkour and Freerunning, and bringing him to Urban Evolution!

Day 1 May 12th: Outdoor Jam

On Saturday, May 12th, we’ll meet at UE Alexandria, and then hit a variety of Parkour hotspots for a jam (free, of course):

10am – Meet at Urban Evolution Alexandria (Blue Line, Van Dorn Metro)
10:30am – King St. and Old Town (Blue Line, King St Metro)
11:30am – L’Enfant Plaza (Yellow Line, L’Enfant Plaza Metro)
1pm – Rosslyn / Gateway Park (Orange / Blue Line, Rosslyn Metro)
2pm – Ballston “Miracle Mile” (Orange Line)
3:30pm – head back to Urban Evolution Alexandria
4pm – 7pm – Indoor Jam and playtime!

Day 2 May 13th DJ-Parkour-Barbeque with Livewire at UE Manassas

On Sunday, May 13th we’re going to all head over to UE Manassas (8442 Kao Cir) for an indoor jam and training session starting at 3pm until close. The regular day-pass $21 rate applies to non-gym-members. Members can join for free. Non-members email info@urbanevo.com to register.

Come hang out with one of the biggest names and nicest guys in the Parkour and Freerunning community!

Check out Urban Evolution’s Parkour Day Camp!

Each day our session will start with a warm-up and conditioning session led by the instructor geared towards making the camper fit for Parkour and other sports they might be involved in. After the warm-up, the camper will start off their day with Parkour-related techniques and progress through a specially customized Day Camp Curriculum by the Urban Evolution Instructors.

In addition to skill development, participants will take part in other fun activities and games. Participants will also be introduced to other movement related activities including gymnastics, tricking culminating at the end of the week with a obstacle course challenge.  In addition, the camper will learn key elements that will be applicable to all aspects of their life such as:

• Solving problems and make good decisions
• Approaching challenges creatively
• Learning respect for others and their environment
• Challenging themselves physically and mentally
• Enjoying physical recreation and the outdoors, and
• Getting a very different ‘out of the box’ perspective on how they stay fit, even as adults!

So come see one of the most unique events in DC on April 14th!

Organizer:B-Boy Rain
DJ Tocksick (Lab Ratz) and DJ Lyte (Soldiers of Sound)

Register here!
http://goo.gl/esMRL

These incredible Japanese Martial Arts systems–referred to as Koryu Bujutsu (“old method warrior arts”)– literally shaped Japan’s history.

These arts are almost impossible to find anywhere, even in Japan, but we’re lucky to have a group here in the DC Metro area that studies and teaches them. This is NOT aikido, jiu-jitsu, or BJJ. It’s the real deal. It is not watered-down. It’s downright brutal, and it’s immediately obvious how practical and useful this art is in the real world.

We are very lucky to to have a Sensei that moved to VA 10 years ago who has inside knowledge of these systems and is willing to come to our place and share his insight, knowledge and expertise for a special seminar event.

No experience is required; but if you have experience with martial arts, you *should* attend, as you’ll get a glimpse of some incredibly interesting and subtle techniques during this event. Come prepared to learn and experience the raw power of these arts and get a glimpse of the inside knowledge that is not shared openly with the public.

Over the course of 4 hours, we will work on a variety of techniques that have real applications in today’s world. There will be a small fee ($30) that allows you to experience these awesome Martial Arts first hand.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Registration:

http://goo.gl/XCgyi

We invite you to come for a full day of activities and an open house. Doors will open at noon, and the new gym will be offering free Intro and Basics classes starting at 1pm, with events and food all day long!

So come join us for a great milestone in Urban Evolution’s growth as a community and help us make this a great start for your favorite gym!

For event details, please visit our Facebook event page! Thanks, and we hope to see you on the 3rd!