“No compromises, no backing down,
I am who I am, and I walk my own path!”
As one of the founders of the City Monkeys Parkour Club,
He is the initiator of the China Parkour Global Tour project,
With nine years of experience organizing national extreme parkour competitions,
And has served as the host of the National Parkour Championship for 11 consecutive sessions,
His name is Yan Shisan—one of the earliest pioneers of parkour in China—
Who is now measuring the length of the world through parkour, exploring diverse landscapes across the globe.
How did you first choose parkour as your sport?
Yan Shisan: At the end of 2008, I ran into Dashe, who was practicing parkour on the streets of Beijing. I discovered that someone was actually doing what I’d seen in *District B13*. Without hesitation, I quit my media job. We clicked instantly and co-founded “City Monkeys.” From then on, a wild journey in parkour began.
So far, what’s been the most unforgettable experience you’ve had with parkour?
Yan Shisan: The most memorable was when we faced a maritime disaster in the Philippines and were on the brink of death. We were stranded at sea for 12 hours. A storm hit, and the captain told us the boat was out of fuel, leaving us stuck between three islands. We called rescue teams, but no boats were willing to risk coming to our aid. Then we contacted the embassy to get in touch with patrol teams, but they didn’t have suitable boats either. Finally, we reached out to the Philippine Navy, and that’s how we were rescued. There were 18 parkour athletes on board—if our boat had sunk that day, China would have lost 18 friends who loved parkour.
Given how dangerous this sport is, do you still plan to keep going?
Yan Shisan: The essence of parkour isn’t the sport itself—it’s the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. By constantly accepting new challenges and breaking boundaries, we gain an indescribable sense of accomplishment—even a feeling of rebirth. That’s why we’ll keep going—we’ll run forever.
Do you have any advice for those currently practicing parkour or wanting to get involved? Are there any special gear requirements?
Yan Shisan: I always believe people should do something they’re passionate about, or they’ll regret it in old age. We happened to catch the golden era of parkour in China. Twenty years earlier, no one would’ve been into it, and twenty years later, it might be too mainstream. So, stick with what you love and go for it boldly. As for gear, parkour doesn’t require anything special—just stretchy, loose clothing, good shoes, and a camera to record your moves—like a Drift action camera. That’s all you need.