With a background in gymnastics, he seamlessly transitioned into parkour and quickly made a name for himself through relentless hard work, determination, and a commitment to progression. From competing on the biggest stages to finding his feet in the stunt industry, Ed continues to push his limits and inspire others in the community.
I started training in gymnastics at the age of 2 and was involved in the sport at a competitive level until I was 14. At that age, I was looking for a new and exciting way to use the skills I had developed over the years. What drew me away from gymnastics and toward parkour was the freedom it offered. Gymnastics is very regimented, with clear rules and specific skills, whereas parkour is much more open-ended and allows me to be fully creative with my movement and the locations where I train. Once I got over the fear of flipping on concrete, there was no going back!
I think the biggest misconception about parkour is that we are all fearless. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I spend a lot of my time feeling scared or nervous about what I’m doing, and this is one of the main draws for me. Overcoming fear is a massive aspect of the sport, and each person has different techniques and ways to help with the process. Personally, I really focus on finding challenges that are similar to the one I want to tackle. This helps me visualise what I need to do when it comes to overcoming the main challenge. Nothing that people see online from me will be done without prior preparation and planning, as I want to minimise the potential for injury as much as possible.
I’ve been very fortunate when it comes to competing. I’ve competed in some of the biggest competitions in the world and have managed to podium in many of them. For me, I think the motivation for competing comes from my gymnastics days; having learned how to compete well there has allowed me to put those skills to use in parkour. I enjoy the aspect of challenging myself to complete what I have planned in a high-pressure environment. I also enjoy seeing where my level is compared to my peers. Seeing others smash their competition runs just motivates me even more to improve mine.
I see parkour evolving massively in the next few years, with the significant introduction of more outdoor street competitions last year, as well as the level being pushed in not only competitions but also in video parts. I only see this being built upon year after year. I plan to run another street competition this year in Bristol, where I will be building on the success of the last one but also improving parts that needed work last year. Additionally, I’m looking to film a high-quality video part*, which is something I haven’t done for a number of years.
*A "video part " is a section of a video project that focuses on the movement and progression of a solo individual. These can be solo video projects, or a section in a larger video for a brand, company, or team.
I have been fortunate to not only use parkour in competitions but also to apply my skill set in films. Some highlights so far have been the film Wicked, the Channel 4 TV show The Gathering, and the Danny Boyle film 28 Years Later. I was super lucky to be involved in all these productions and enjoyed the experience immensely. My plan for the future is to try to get more involved with the film and TV industry, as it’s a great way to use the skills I’ve learned over the years in a different environment. For me, the only downside to turning your passion into work is the unpredictability of it all. I hope to build the right connections and expand my skill set so that I can create a sustainable career.
A project I’m currently working on that I’m excited about is an individual video project. It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to film a full video part, but this year I’m hoping to get out and capture something special. I plan on travelling all over to ensure the clips are my best, and I have a list of ideas on my phone for potential challenges I would love to tick off. So far, I only have a few clips from a recent trip to Madrid, but as summer approaches, I will be able to really get stuck into it.
If I were to look back on the beginning of my parkour career, the advice I would give to myself is to attend as many jams and events as possible. This is how I was able to make my name known in the community and a great way to learn from others. I’ve always had the attitude of wanting to be able to do everything in parkour, so going to jams and events is a fantastic way to learn from people who have specialised in specific movements. I think this attitude has allowed me to stay well-rounded and enjoy training anywhere.
A lesson parkour has taught me about life in general is that you must work hard for the things you want. Learning a new skill is challenging and can sometimes take weeks or months to fully master. This principle can also be applied to life. This mindset makes achieving your goals more likely. Nothing happens on the first go.
Some advice I would offer to younger athletes trying to pursue parkour is to attend events whenever you can, as this is how I was able to become successful. Try to surround yourself with a group of like-minded friends to train with. This can massively help when you need advice on challenges and is beneficial if you want to film something. Look to start some form of social media; I enjoy using and posting clips on Instagram, as it helps keep my movement fresh in people’s minds. This isn’t essential at the start, but if you’re wanting to make parkour a career, then I think it will become important. My final piece of advice would be to ensure you are enjoying it. Without enjoying what you are doing, it will be very difficult to push yourself on those tough days when motivation is low, and this is when training with others will really help.
People can follow me across all platforms: Instagram (@edscott1), TikTok (@edcscott), and YouTube (Ed Scott). I enjoy posting regular content across all platforms, which isn’t just parkour but also shows how I stay active and what I get up to.
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