Confession of a parkour lover (13)

Mingming, 27, grew up in an orphanage in Nantong, south China’s Jiangsu province. He was born with cleft lip and palate and therefore abandoned by his parents. Two surgeries has improved his facial situation, but left hearing loss, tooth loss and slurred speech.

The nurse Chen Jianxia in the orphanage named him Mingming, which means brightness in Chinese, hoping that he can grow up with a bright future. Mingming began to practice Parkour in early 2011 when he watched a French film, 13 blocks with his co-workers. In the movie, actor David Bailey’s Parkour movements deeply impressed him

Mingming overcame inferiority complex and went to cities in Jiangsu province and Hunan province then Shanghai to learn Parkour. He practiced at least three hours a day, seeking new movements and took part in Parkour competitions. He has met many people who have the same hobby then he set up a Parkour team with some local friends.

For Mingming, Parkour is a way of rediscovering himself, far beyond dangerous play. Practitioners aim to move quickly and efficiently past obstacles in their environment, using only their bodies and their surroundings to propel themselves. It is usually practiced in a creative and sometimes playful ways of running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping and rolling.