IT'S THE WEEKEND: The Great Outdoors - Meet the freerunners of Gwent

FREERUNNING burst on to our television screens ten years ago and since it has continued to grow in popularity with teenagers look for a way to express themselves.

Freerunning is defined as the art of expressing oneself in his or her environment without limitation.

It featured in a documentary, Jump London, on Channel 4 in 2003 with its roots adapted from the discipline of Parkour.

The aim is for people to quickly and efficiently overcome obstacles in their environment in a safe manner, using only their bodies and their surroundings to propel themselves.

Movements include running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling, crawling, depending on what movement is deemed most suitable in each given situation.

It is non-competitive and is usually used in a creative, and sometimes playful, reinterpretation of urban spaces.

Will Callard, 18, from Henllys in Cwmbran took up freerunning four years ago.

He said: “When I was about 12 I took up gymnastics for about two years, but I didn’t really like it as it was too structured and disciplined.

“Then I saw that the gym were doing free running sessions and I decided to try it out and have done it ever since. I think I was a little bit nuts as a child.”

He explained that freerunning for him was about keeping fit and he used it as a stress release.

He said: “Whenever I had a bad day at school it was something for me to do to express myself.

“It’s a way for teenagers who may not like competitive sports to be active and learn skills at their own pace.”

He started uploading clips of his moves to his you tube channel that now has over 850 subscribers.

Clips show him in various locations around Torfaen and Newport.

Will can be seen vaulting over obstacles, jumping and landing accurately with his feet on a narrow ledge, jumping and catching a ledge with the hands, and using a rolling motion to help absorb large impacts when he lands.

He was also sponsored by Urban Freeflow to promote Freerunning and he went on to star in a video to promote a book release that was used on the internet.

Will is now at The University of the West of England in Bristol studying for a degree in Biomedical Sciences. But he still finds the time to get out and practise on the weekend.

When he first moved to Bristol it provided a way for him to instantly make friends with other local people, who are also keen freerunners.

He said: “I still really enjoy doing it. It’s all about having fun and just giving it a go.

“Freerunning is open to anyone. I wasn’t a very good gymnast, so I don’t think that people who have never done any sport should be put off from giving this a try.”

However, freerunning does come with dangers, which Will warns that people have to be prepared for, as you would with any sport.

He explained that over the years he has broken his metatarsals, sprained his ankles and wrists, needed six stitches in his leg, cut his knees, as well as breaking his fingers on numerous occasions.

He said: “I do have my own limits on what I will try. Before I jump something I tend to go and have a look once and then just go for it, so that you don’t get too nervous.

“It’s all about having fun and using your environment around you in a creative way to quickly get around.”

He explained that his favourite place to freerun is in Vauxhall in London as there are lots of different size walls to jump from.

But he added that he can freerun anywhere, whatever the setting.

The founder of freerunning, Sébastien Foucan, featured in an action sequence in the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

He plays a small-time terrorist who in the scene is being chased in a construction site roof-top chase after whom James Bond is chasing.

The scene implements many of the moves used in parkour.

In the 2007 movie Live Free or Die Hard, a hit man played by Cyril Raffaelli), uses parkour to escape detective John McClane, played by Bruce Willis.

Just starting out as a free runner is Richard Perry, 29, from New Inn.

His interest began after he saw it advertised in a gym near his house, and felt like trying his hand at it despite not having done anything of the sort since school.

He said: "I did a little gymnastics at school but nothing since. There can be a lot of gymnastics involved but people can pick it up no matter what their fitness level."

Since taking it up in February, he finds it helps him to relax after a busy day at work and he attends as an alternative to going to the gym.

He said: "I haven't had much of a chance to do it in pubic, but the gym provides a good space to learn.

"I was able to master a back flip very quickly and I'm now fairly confident at them, but doing it outside would be completely different."

He explained that he loves the feeling of accomplishment after achieving a move, as he never thought that he would be able to do it.

He said: "I enjoy flipping the most and I want to continue to get better by picking up more and more skills.

"Some people think I'm nuts, especially at my age, but others think its pretty cool, so the reaction has been quite mixed."

He explained that age does come with its downfall as he can take a bit longer to recover than some of the younger free runners, but it is all part of the challenge.

He said: "I have proved it can be picked up and done at my age and you don't have to be in your teens to take it up."

So far his injuries have been limited as he stays within the confides of the gym.

He said: "Quite early on I landed a back flip funny and had a sore neck but nothing major and hopefully I never will."

As he continues to train he is finding that his strength is improving as well as his flexibility. Training also provides an all round warm up.

Richard added: "I do it for myself and it has helped my confidence although not enough to do it in public yet, but maybe one day.

"I think anyone can do it and with a little bit of dedication you can advance pretty quickly at it."