Project Gravity Magazine by Project Gravity Magazine

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CHASING AND EVADING IS IN OUR DNA ”

SUBSCRIBE: PROJECTGRAVITYMAG.COM | UK EDITION | MAY 2021

AS SEEN ON CHANNEL

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS:

GIRL POWER BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!

Neve Harvey

Female Athlete of the Year.

Expressive Arts Academy Acro Dance Champions.

ON I T I D E FIRSTGRAVITY MAGAZINE CT

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FROM THE EDITOR

WELCOME TO THE VERY FIRST EDITION OF PROJECT GRAVITY!

We are so excited to finally be able to bring this to you; it’s been a longheld dream of Nathan’s (the founder and general boss-man!) for years and years. And now it’s here, we can’t wait to tell you all about it. Project Gravity is the UK’s first magazine of its kind, focusing entirely on all aspects of dance and movement from parkour and freerunning to cheer and breakin’. There are some amazing clubs, groups and teams in the UK, many of them based in our amazing hometown, Birmingham. Each one has a thriving scene that before Covid hit, was growing faster and faster all the time. But the pandemic came along and these groups - like all sports - were hit hard. Since then they’ve had to adapt. They’ve shown unbelievable creativity and tenacity and do you know what? They’ve survived! And now they’re working on making the next year the biggest and best yet - from simply training together again to World Championships - their eyes are firmly on the road ahead. In this very special, first issue, we touch base with some of the brightest stars in these amazing fields. Stars like Neve Harvey, the 13 year-old martial artist who was named Female Athlete of the Year 2020 and is a self-confessed ‘bad ass’, or Bboy Swifty, the brilliant internationally renowned dance event host, MC and Council Member/Midlands representative for Breakin’ GB. We also have an exclusive interview with Tribe: Cheer, Dance & Fitness and Team Phat, as well as loads of other features including music, unreal photography and amazing vegan food from a freerunner turned pro-chef. We really hope you enjoy the first issue of Project Gravity as much as we enjoyed putting it together and please follow us on social media to keep up to date.

Nathan Salmon Director info@project-gravity.com Claire Middleton Editor editor@project-gravity.com Hayley C-Oakes Production Manager advertising@project-gravity.com

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PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

PROJECT GRAVITY TEAM.

CONTENTS

ISSUE: 01 MAY 2021

CHASING AND EVADING IS IN OUR DNA The story behind the crazy success of World Chase TagTM

12 TRICKING | GIRL POWER, BACK WITH A VENGEANCE! (DID IT EVER GO AWAY?) Exclusive interview with Neve Harvey, Female Athlete of the Year. BREAKIN’ DOWN BARRIERS Bboy Swifty

SPOTLIGHT Anthony Lloyd, Photographer

TRICKING | NO LIMITS One Tricker’s mission to make tricking accessible for all.

STAGE | IT ISN’T ALWAYS EASY BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING The journey of a street dancer turned model - turned West End performer.

EVER PLAY TAG AS A KID? WELL THAT’S WHAT WORLD CHASE TAG™ IS!

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MUNCHIES | MAKING A DIFFERENCE The power of plant based-eating

UK FORMS All the latest from the UK form team.

TALENT | HITS FROM THE 80 GRAM’ Our pick of the best pics from Instagram.

DANCE | FOR THE LOVE OF DANCE “When you truly love something, have a passion for it and have an amazing bond, nothing will stop you from doing it”

CHEER | CHEERLEADING A thriving up and coming UK sport.

DANCE | IMD LEGION Project Gravity gets the lowdown

PARKOUR The sport that shows you what’s possible!

LIFESTYLE | HOW WAS IT FOR YOU ? Lockdown’s impact on mental health and how exercise can help.

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PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

BEATS | TOP 10 TRACKS Our favourite music picks from the Breakin’ scene.

‘CHASING AND EVADING

IS IN OUR DNA’

The story behind the crazy success of World Chase Tag™

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Then you’ll know how much fun it is. But did you ever think it could be taken to such a level that it could be a worldwide sporting phenomenon? Well that’s what World Chase Tag™ is! This fast-paced and exciting version of competitive tag has become so popular in the last few years that it’s appeared on some of the planet’s biggest TV networks, including NBC and Channel 4, and it’s attracting a huge fanbase.To find out what the buzz is about, we spoke to the Founder and CEO of World Chase Tag™, Christian Devaux, who was more than happy to give us an insight into this thrilling sporting sector. - 7-

PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

EVER PLAY TAG AS A KID?

SO, FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW, COULD YOU GIVE US AN OUTLINE OF WHAT WORLD CHASE TAG™ IS?

Basically, World Chase Tag™ is our version of competitive tag. The main format we use is a team format with a maximum of six athletes per team played under a specific set of rules as follows: • Each match is the best of 16 chases. • Each chase is twenty seconds long and has one chaser and one evader from opposing teams. • The winning athlete in each chase must stay on as the evader and the losing athlete is replaced by a teammate who comes on as the chaser for the next chase. • A team is awarded one point when their athlete successfully evades their opponent for the entire duration of the chase (i.e. 20 seconds). • Tags must be made with the hand (i.e. NOT your foot). WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND ITS CONCEPTION?

My son was always hassling me to play tag and by the time he was around 10 years old (2013) our games had evolved and had become really sophisticated! Around that time, he wanted to know if he was better than me, so we devised a timing system using two iPhones to time how long each of us was on “it” during a oneon-one game of tag. We had so much fun with that format that I researched whether I could patent the timing system and it turned out that I could. So I did! But a patent on a game as old as mankind is pretty useless unless it has an application.

So I started to play more tag with other people. I started a meet up group with my son in Hyde Park just using barrier tape as obstacles which

was a lot of fun. But once the winter came, the numbers dropped so we moved into an indoor space using weird obstacles like plastic piping that I bought from B&Q, punch bags and exercise balls, amongst other things. Around that time, Parkour Generations - who had much sturdier obstacles to interact with - had just opened and so we started using their space.

the difficulties involved, with Tupelo’s help we were able to host an event in Atlanta, Georgia that was initially broadcast on NBC Sports Network in the US and Channel 4 in the UK. WORLD CHASE TAG™ HAS GAINED MASSIVE POPULARITY, WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LIKE IT SO MUCH?

Then, my brother Damien joined me in the business, and we utilised the meet ups to refine and adapt our format and in 2016 we decided to host our first event using our own obstacle designs that Damien had made in our back garden. The first event had some amazing athletes including Daniel Ilabaca, Joseph Henderson and a whole team of Storror athletes. The event was won by Marrero Gang and their best athlete, Greg Ball was the standout performer of the event. Footage from that event went viral and within 18 months, footage from World Chase Tag™events received more than 150 million views on social media via various third-party sites including ESPN, TMZ, Barstool Sports, USA Today, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights, Worldstar, Uniland, Lad Bible, 9Gag and Viral Thread.* In the eight months following WCT3 in September 2018, World Chase Tag’s™ YouTube channel received more than 30 million views and it went from having 30k subscribers to over 200k. In June 2019 World Chase Tag™ hosted the European Championships and WCT4 which was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 was an extremely difficult year for us and we had to cancel many events that were being planned in several countries. However, we had been in talks with a US-based production company called Tupelo-Honey Productions for over 12-months and we eventually formalised our relationship with them by taking an equity stake in WCT. And despite

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I think chasing and evading is in our DNA.Tag is the default sport that all kids around the world resort to when not being told what to do by adults. It drills into the basic human response to fear – the instinct of flight or flight. And if you consider why humans have grown to dominate the planet, I believe it comes down to two essential skills: our ability to chase (hunt / kill) and our ability to evade (not get killed by a predator or an enemy). When we designed the rules and format, we kept it short and exciting. Our mission statement is: “We want to see the best people chase”, and we’ve been lucky enough to have some of the most amazing athletes take part. When you see these amazing athletes doing what they do on the quad, it’s truly remarkable and fortunately, it’s also highly entertaining to watch! HOW ACCESSIBLE IS IT TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A GO? DO YOU NEED SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT?

If you don’t have a parkour gym or Chase Tag™ facility near you, you can make your own obstacles with whatever you have access to. Many of our older videos were just us playing in various locations using barrier tape or cable ties e.g. in Delhi, India - https://www.instagram.com/p/

BTHD9BZjPOS/

Seeing Chase Tag™ being embraced by other countries around the world and those teams then coming to compete at a World Chase Tag™ event. This has happened several times and it unites the Chase Tag™ community in their love of chasing regardless of background and that is an amazing feeling to be a part of. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORLD CHASE TAG™? WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?

I would like to see more Chase Tag™ being played around the world and I’d like to establish leagues and events so that teams can qualify for regional events, national events, then continental events (e.g. EMEA, Pan-America, Asia etc.) and then the World Championships. I’d like to attract sufficient sponsors and media partners so that athletes can transition from amateur careers to professional careers and create a sustainable community for everyone involved.

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU ENJOY PERSONALLY?

I enjoy most sports, but I particularly like to watch Parkour videos (not so much parkour comps, unless it’s skills or “Own the Spot”), MMA, Boxing, Football, American Football and Ultimate Frisbee. And sports that I’ve enjoyed taking part in include Chase Tag, Skiing, Slalom Water Skiing, Open Water Swimming and Bouldering. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MENTION?

I’d just like to add that because Chase Tag™ is a relatively new concept, it takes time to give potential sponsors the reassurance they need to trust that World Chase Tag™ is here to stay. If people want to see more matches, I would ask them to encourage their local community and their friends to visit our social media, particularly YouTube and to like, comment, share and subscribe. If sponsors can see a high level of engagement and begin to feel that this is a valuable community to invest in, they will provide funding that will allow us to host more events. Public support is literally what will make the

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difference between success and failure. The more successful we are, the more we stay in control and the less likely it is that TV shows will be able to exploit what we do for short term gain which destroys our community and takes valuable revenue from ourselves and our partners. If this has piqued your interest in World Chase Tag™ and you’d like to find out more, you can check it out here www. worldchasetag.com.

*Some of these posts can be viewed on the following links; Newsweek - https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=qKpRkBaUGiU BBC’s Mike Bushell - https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=T4pPXQPWCoo Transworld Sport - https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=n0MbNW1IkNo 60 Second Docs – https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=9eQtbIMJ4TE AFP News – https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=ge-wv7nUd6o ** An interesting video to back this statement up is: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=Pex3qahzwm8&t

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WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR WORLD CHASE TAG™ JOURNEY SO FAR?

‘WE WANT TO SEE THE BEST PEOPLE CHASE.’

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: John Meyer

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www.worldchasetag.com @worldchasetag @worldchasetag @worldchasetag worldchasetag

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PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

INFO BOX

TRICKING

GIRL POWER BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!

(DID IT EVER GO AWAY?)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NEVE HARVEY, BAR TRICK PARKOUR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.

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We love to celebrate success here at Project Gravity, especially the success of youngsters who have been awarded for hard work, dedication and tenacity within a specific sporting field. That’s why we’re so proud to feature Neve Harvey, an up and coming martial artist who was recently named Female Athlete of the Year at the age of just 13! In what is undoubtedly a busy time for Neve, we were lucky enough to grab some time with her for a chat. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING NAMED FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR! HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Being named female athlete of the year is pretty crazy and it still really hasn’t sunk in. Just to be nominated by other athletes is pretty cool but to actually win is just mind-blowing. The fact that people think I’m good enough to win gives me massive confidence in what I have done over the past year. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INTO MARTIAL ARTS?

I got into Martial Arts by mistake really. Up to about three and a half years ago I was in a local dance group, performing at events and competitions like pretty much every little girl. The dance teacher at the time wanted us all to learn flips to add to the choreography of our routines, so she took us all to a local movement centre called UTX for a taster session. I was the youngest person in our dance group at the time at just 10 years old, so the instructors there picked me out straight away as I was the smallest and probably the easiest to chuck around! That day pretty much changed my direction. Firstly, the moves people were doing in that gym were insane, Sam Kojo (Check out our feature on Sam on page 28) and Omid were on the spring floor in one corner doing a crazy amount of continuous gainer switches and triple corks and you had team UTX in the other corner training Martial Arts and weapons looking like something out of a Marvel film. I was just constantly staring around the room thinking how this stuff was so cool and definitely me. I remember at the end of the session speaking to my dad and saying ‘I need to come back here, can you speak to the instructor to see if I can come back’. Those instructors turned out to be Nathan Salmon and JJ Battell, and that’s how my Martial Arts journey began. I never went back to the dance group; I swapped the outrageous costumes and fake tan for a gi and a set of Karmas! Best move ever!

INFO BOX www.bartrickparkour.com @bartrickparkour @bartrickparkour Bar Trick Parkour

a laugh! I do get nervous before I start but I have the best teammates and coaches that really get me mentally set. When I hear their voices before I start it really helps but when the music starts, I do flip into competition mode and things get serious.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT IT?

Competitions! I absolutely love everything about competing; I love travelling to an event with my teammates, I like the atmosphere when you first walk into the event, I like how everyone is checking everyone else out when you are warming up, seeing what moves and tricks you are doing. I love doing a really hard trick that’s not in my form in the warm up just to see other competitors’ faces wrong I know, but it helps me to relax and gives me a bit of

Fear and putting unnecessary pressure on myself. Fear of hurting myself has been a big thing for me. Now that the tricks are getting more extreme, having the confidence to chuck the move is a big challenge and having the self-belief to go for the move is a big mental blocker that I have had to overcome. Luckily, I have some great people around me who have helped me reset. The best advice I have been given is, while you are just standing there thinking about it, you’re not doing the move, so chuck the move, take the hits because the rush of landing the move makes the pain disappear. Unnecessary pressure has slowly crept up on me lately, as I have landed some big moves and people are noticing what I have been doing I have felt some pressure to keep smashing out the big moves every session. I have had to learn that every session is not going to be amazing, I am only 13 so just having fun with the moves is now my main focus.

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WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE BEING INVOLVED AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL NOW?

‘

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NAMED FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR IS PRETTY CRAZY AND IT STILL REALLY HASN’T ” SUNK IN.

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PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

“ BEING

‘

If you want to keep fit, travel, be part of an amazing team and have some of the best friends you could ever make, then what have you got to lose? Also being recognised as a serious bad ass is amazing!

’

CAN ANYONE TAKE UP MARTIAL ARTS?

Most definitely, and even more so in the current situation. You don’t need a massive area to train and there are loads of places online to get lessons, ideas and tips. It’s a great way to keep fit, have self-discipline and feel part of a team. If you have the confidence to compete then you can meet some great people from all over the UK and abroad, plus let’s face it, when you say you do Martial Arts, it’s pretty cool! WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE THE CORE SKILLS YOU NEED TO DO IT?

I would say that firstly, you must have the desire and dedication to do Martial Arts. If you’re not happy to train regularly and put in the hard hours, then getting to a high level is not going to happen. Stretching is also a regular thing that you need to pay attention to. Stretching will increase your ability to achieve certain moves and kicks that will help you stand out from the crowd. Most importantly, the thing I have learnt lately is to have fun. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Things will happen if you keep practicing, but it’s important not to kid yourself into thinking that will just do, if you push yourself, take yourself out of your comfort zone and take a risk every now and again, the good times will come back, trust me! WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?

Like everyone else, I just want to get back to competing and travelling to loads of different events. I love competing and that’s where I seem to push myself even harder. Hopefully the future will be kind to me and I will keep developing my skills to keep me at the top of my game. My big ambition is to hopefully turn professional when I am older. I would like to get into the film industry; seeing my name on the end credits of a film in my local cinema would be amazing. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WILL TAKE AWAY FROM BEING FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR?

That other people with the same goals and ambitions think I am good enough. It gives me great confidence that I am heading in the right direction and that if I work hard and keep pushing my boundaries, who knows what I can achieve. HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?

What has really helped me overcome these challenges has been talking and opening up about what’s worrying me. I am lucky that some of the world’s best trickers and Martial Arts performers train where I do so they really help me out. I had a really good conversation with one of my teammates before Christmas that has really helped me in understanding that I can achieve what I want. I am not the first person to go through tough times and things will happen eventually, I just need to take it easy and enjoy my training.

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WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER YOUNG GIRLS THINKING ABOUT STARTING MARTIAL ARTS?

https://www.nowayholsay.com

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ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Holly Keavney

BREAKIN’

BREAKIN’ DOWN BARRIERS.

BBOY SWIFTY

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ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Eva Berten

The Breakin’ world is a really tight community. Everyone knows each other but it’s really welcoming. There’s a lot of teaching going on, lots of groups focused on getting young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods into something more productive, more creative and less damaging than other things they might be tempted into.

Breakin’ is described by Breakdancing Ninja as a ‘street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement that originated among African American and Latin American youths in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s’. These days, it’s a fully-inclusive type of dance, with a huge following and a passionate and dedicated fanbase. We love catching up with b-boys and b-girls at Project Gravity and finding out what makes them tick and what’s happening on the scene.

GREAT! SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR SIR SWIFTY?

I’m also a Personal Trainer so I’m focusing on keeping fit and healthy and staying well in these crazy times. My next aim is to spread the word of Break Mission around the world, when Covid-19 allows me to!

In this issue, we focus on none other than the mighty Sir Swifty! Having been a dancer for 20 years, Swifty (Leigh Evelyn) made the transition to MC-ing back in 2006 and has been hyping up crowds ever since at some of Europe’s biggest Breakin’ events. SO WHAT GOT YOU INTO BREAKIN’?

I was a skater. But then I saw Adie King at an event and I was blown away. He was doing all these windmills on the ramp and I was instantly inspired. I asked him how I could get started and he told me about Sounds of the Street. It was so inspirational, I was just hooked straightaway. Adie then became my teacher and mentor! HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO HOSTING AND MC-ING?

I started MC-ing at a Loughborough University event back in 2006 and loved it. Then I just worked my way up, working for free just to get the experience. Then after a few big breaks, I found myself making a success of it. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, DANCING OR HOSTING?

Ah, I can’t answer that! I love it all. I couldn’t do one without the other, they’re too intertwined. CAN ANYONE GET INTO BREAKIN’?

Yes! Anyone can Break. Whether you’re skinny or big, black or white, rich or poor - it’s open to all. You just have to understand where it’s coming from. You need to embrace its roots, its culture and what it’s saying. As long as you acknowledge that and pay homage to it, anyone’s welcome! It’s all about spreading unity, peace, love and understanding. I LOVE THAT. HOW CAN PEOPLE GET INTO IT THEN?

Just start dancing! There are loads of events and groups around, so just give one a go and see what happens. Some of the main ones are Break Mission in Birmingham, Leeds the Way in Leeds, obviously, Just Jam in Newcastle and Rain Crew in London.

INFO BOX See more of Swifty on Instagram @sir_swifty

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‘ Br

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, y r o t his

.’ e r u t l u c nd our

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Anthony Lloyd

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a n o i s s a our p

SPOTLIGHT

ANTHONY LLOYD PHOTOGRAPHER

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PHOTO CREDITS: Anthony Lloyd

David 'Enos' Hotton - Break Mission X Just Jam

Break Mission X Just Jam

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Gustas - Bside Festival / Break Mission

SPOTLIGHT >>> ANTHONY LLOYD AGE: 31 Has been involved in photography since the age of 17 (14 years). Favourite thing about photography is meeting new interesting people and learning about their journeys and learning different cultures and artforms. - 24-

Remix - Bside Festival / Break Mission

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PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Lloyd

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PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Lloyd Break Mission X Just Jam

PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Lloyd Nakari 'Shigekix' Shigeyuki - photoshoot

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PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Lloyd Kevin 'Yeskev' Le - photoshoot

PHOTO CREDIT: Anthony Lloyd Tommy Boost - Break Mission X Just Jam

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lightworks@izunvais.uk @lzunavis @zeromediatv @breakmission

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ANTHONY LLOYD CONTACT:

BREAKIN’

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TRICKING

NO LIMITS ONE TRICKER’S MISSION TO MAKE TRICKING ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL He said: “I learnt from my time tricking that you can only get good at something if you believe you can. If you don't imagine yourself succeeding in the future then you won't be able to stay motivated through the hard times. I wholeheartedly believe Kojo’s Trick Lab will be a lot bigger in the future and that gives me the motivation I need to get it to that point.”

Bursting onto the scene in the early 2000s, tricking has gone on to become a bit of a phenomenon. An edgy mix of moves inspired by martial arts, gymnastics and breaking, tricking is a freestyle discipline that has grown rapidly over the past two decades and is attracting newbies from far and wide. Kojo’s Trick Lab is the world’s leading online teaching resource for tricking. It’s full of resources for those interested in tricking to learn everything they need to know, including the basics, how to tackle tougher tricks, nutrition and insights from professionals.

Sam knows what he is talking about as he’s been tricking for about ten years and

But did Sam Kojo, founder of Kojo’s Trick Lab ever think it would be so successful? Well, we asked him and he told us! - 34-

his love for it is still as strong as ever. He said: “I love the act of tricking as the moves feel great to do. I think the lessons I learn from it in terms of how to overcome challenges and achieve goals are what keep me going after so long.” SO WHAT WAS THE CATALYST FOR MAKING THE MOVE FROM STUDENT TO MASTER, AS IT WERE?

Sam’s answer was simple; he explained: “My main motivation for creating a teaching resource was seeing how a lack of information and support stopped me from reaching my true potential. This made me want to change things so that new trickers had the chance to access all the information they would need to improve as fast as possible, from anywhere in the world, instead of being limited if they don’t happen to have a great coach nearby.”

We asked Sam to explain the biggest obstacles he’s faced and how he’s managed to overcome them. “There have been many challenges since starting the site,” he said. “The biggest ones included breaking my ankle six months after starting, the website being hacked and having to learn how to deal with taxes!

dition and stretch my ankle daily. After over two years of that my ankle is doing pretty well!”

“Although my doctor told me that I would never be able to trick again after breaking my ankle, I fully believed that I would. This belief gave me the motivation I needed to con-

Looking towards the future, Sam said “I want to make Kojo’s Trick Lab an entertainment platform for tricking as well as an educational platform,” Sam explained. “I plan to organise real world events and tours then host the aftermovies on my website.” - 35-

PHOTO CREDIT: Knots and Shots Photography https://instagram.com/knotsandshots?igshid= 14wvw8y291roc

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And there’s certainly no lack of resources for visitors to the site to use. There are countless video tutorials ranging from the beginner to expert level, an analysis section packed full of helpful videos, a nutrition area full of tips and guides on how to fuel up before a session and how to manage your diet in general as a tricker. There’s also information on how to manage your mindset, stretching and mobility skills and training techniques.

We asked Sam what advice he would give to other young people who are looking to take up tricking as a hobby, or even a career. He answered: “My advice for anyone getting into tricking is to view all tricks as something you can do but need to take some action. For example, you don't doubt your ability to go to Wales. You'd just need to drive or take a bus or a train. You need that same perspective for tricking! You can do a double backflip you just need to do a few thousand backflips, a couple hundred double backflips on a trampoline, a couple hundred into a foam pit, a couple hundred onto a crash mat and then you've got it. View all tricks like that and there's no need for stress or doubt, you just take the necessary steps to achieve what you want. Kojo’s Trick Lab plays the role of a car in your journey to Wales, it makes getting to your destination comfortable and fast, but you still need to be the driver!” PHOTO CREDIT: Lab Supply Co. https://www.kojostricklab.com

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INFO BOX

If you want to check out Kojo’s Trick Lab, take a look at www.kojostricklab.com - 37-

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“YOU CAN ONLY GET GOOD AT SOMETHING IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN.”

STAGE

‘IT ISN’T ALWAYS EASY BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING’ - 38-

THE JOURNEY OF A STREET DANCER-TURNED MODEL-TURNED WEST END PERFORMER. ‘The world would be a lonely place without the arts’. These are the wise words of Simeon Beckett, a former street dancer who’s so passionate about the performing arts, that he’s dipped his toe in almost all of them. Most recently (pre-Covid-19!) he’s been gracing West End stages with his talent, starring in the critically-acclaimed ‘Everybody’s Talking about Jamie’ and ‘Motown the Musical’, to name just two. Here, he tells us about his career to date, what he loves about the industry and his hopes for its recovery after what has undoubtedly been the hardest year for the arts in recent times. YOU’VE HAD AN INTERESTING CAREER JOURNEY SO FAR, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THAT? So far, my career has been really fun. I’ve been blessed with many opportunities that once I only ever dreamed of and I’ve experienced things that I never expected to. From working with artists, to performing in musicals, to then seeing myself in adverts. The best thing about it all is that it’s always changing and I’m always doing something different. The journey isn’t always easy but you have to keep pushing and enjoy the process. That way, good things will always come to you.

seriously and if people understood that we do this for a living, just like any other job. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING DANCERS AND PERFORMERS TRYING TO MAKE A CAREER THESE DAYS (PRE-COVID)?

I was a bit of a latecomer to the performing arts industry. I used to play a lot of football before I began dancing, however I always had a love of dancing, acting and singing and used to take part in school talent shows. The film “You Got Served” had a massive impact on me, as it made me want to dance and really inspired me! WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT IT? It would have to be the experiences and opportunities I’ve been given through performing. It’s brought me some great lifetime friendships.

HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES? By not comparing my journey to anyone else’s and just focusing on me. Everyone has a different path and a different story which is what will make you unique. It’s not about trying to be too different as I think sometimes that can backfire. It’s more about staying true to who you are and embracing and developing that. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? To just be happy with what I’m doing. I believe happiness is the key to success; whatever you do you should just make sure it keeps you happy. Then you can build on that with whatever you choose to do.

OBVIOUSLY COVID-19 HAS CAUSED HAVOC FOR THE INDUSTRY OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS; HOW HAVE YOU COPED? It has been very tough and there have been times I’ve thought about giving up. But you have to keep yourself inspired. My Mum has been very helpful with this, encouraging me to keep going and keeping my spirits high.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUNG PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT STARTING DOWN THE SAME CAREER PATH AS YOURSELF? There are so many things I could tell people, but the main points would have to be:

WILL THE INDUSTRY RECOVER IN YOUR OPINION? WHAT COULD BE DONE TO HELP IT? I think it will, it’s just going to take time. It has to recover because the world would be a lonely place without the arts. I do think it would help if it was taken a lot more

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• Take your time and don’t rush yourself, it’s all about the journey. • Be able to take criticism and learn from it. • Believe in your talent and work hard but make sure you have fun.

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HOW DID YOU START OUT AND WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE WORLD OF PERFORMING ARTS?

The competition is a big challenge. It’s constantly growing with more and more people trying to break into the industry going for jobs that you also want. But I genuinely believe that working hard and just being a nice person goes a long way and eventually, it will pay off somehow.

“WHATEVER YOU DO YOU SHOULD JUST MAKE SURE IT KEEPS YOU HAPPY.”

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@simeonbeckett | @simssimmoss

DANCE “The emotion and connection you can feel through dance is incredible and watching my students progress and the joy it brings them is what makes me happy. It’s really inspiring.”

FOR THE LOVE OF DANCE ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Amal Fawsi @expressive_arts_academy___

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“WHEN YOU TRULY LOVE SOMETHING, HAVE A PASSION FOR IT AND HAVE AN AMAZING BOND, NOTHING WILL STOP YOU FROM DOING IT.”

mal Fawsi founded the Expressive Arts Academy in Nottingham in July 2016 after having worked for an array of dance schools and gymnastics clubs. Enjoying phenomenal success in the 5 years since its conception, the Academy has gone on to win many competitions. Most excitingly, it’s recently been selected to represent team England in Spain this year at the dance World Cup, plus in 2019 - just 3 years after it opened - it became world champion with the amazing Acro duet from Shenea Fawzi and Kyra Chapman. . WHAT LED YOU IN THIS DIRECTION?

I started dancing at the age of 5 and won a scholarship to attend the Arts Educational School in Tring. I’ve always had a love for dance and creativity and it’s been amazing to share it with so many. WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT DANCE?

I love the way it makes you feel. The emotion and connection you can feel through dance is incredible and watching my students’ progress and the joy it brings them is what makes me happy. It’s really inspiring. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THE ACADEMY?

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?

CAN ANYONE TAKE UP DANCE?

Yes, dance is definitely for anyone. Everyone should try it, no matter their age. WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE THE CORE SKILLS YOU NEED TO DO IT?

Everyone has to start somewhere, just like when you first start at the gym. I wouldn’t say you need a core skill, you just have to want to do it or have a love for it. Dance is expressive and comes in many forms. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?

We’ve managed to overcome these challenges simply because of the fact that when you truly love something, have a passion for it and have an amazing bond, nothing will stop you from doing it.

Even though it’s been a tough time lately with us not being able to be in our studio, I am so excited for the future. We have the dance World Cup in July and so fingers crossed we will be able to get back out there and showcase all the students’ hard work and talents. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WANT YOUR STUDENTS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR TIME AT THE ACADEMY?

That no one is them and that’s what makes them so special. I also would like them to have fallen in love with dance forever.

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It can be challenging because being a teacher you wear so many different hats. Making sure you cater to each child’s needs can be hard work. To many of the students, you’re not just their teacher, you become family because we spend so much time together. Lately, the biggest challenge has been keeping everyone motivated and positive on zoom chats during lockdown. But they have been the most supportive group of students and parents during these times and it hasn’t stopped us training and improving.

CHEER

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Future Cheer

www.tribecoventry.co.uk @tribe.coventry @rlselitecheer

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RLEADING

A THRIVING, UP AND COMING UK SPORT

POM POM IN SIGHT!)

When you think of cheerleading, what images come to mind? Perky, blond American girls with ra-ra skirts and pom poms right? Well, not anymore. Cheerleading has become a serious sport and is becoming huge in the UK. Physically tough and athletically challenging, it’s a real contender in the sports world and has been steadily attracting a loyal and committed following for the last few years.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE TEAM

RLS elite has been going for 16 years. We started in a modest sports hall with just a few kids, but now we’re in a much larger property, and have grown to have about 250 members. We have capacity for up to 900 children per week once all restrictions are lifted and we can get back to some sort of normal.

To find out more, we spoke to Kim Stevenson, the Director of Coaching with RLS Elite, based at Tribe: Cheer, Dance & Fitness in Coventry. RLS Elite is a team of athletes aged from four to adult mainly coming from local areas, but some travel from as far as Wales for their new adult team, Apocalypse. They attend competitions across the UK and are hoping to secure a bid to compete at the World Championships in June 2022 both with Apocalypse and two of their junior teams, Vision & Venom. Here, Kim tells us all about what she loves about the world of cheer, what the future holds for the sport, and the challenges that UK grassroots sports in general are facing as they try to get back on their feet following the Covid-19 pandemic.

HOW’S THE PREP FOR THE COMPETITIONS GOING?

Comps run from June to July this season due to Covid. Competition providers are hoping to salvage something for this season as restrictions start to lift, providing they can be run in a safe manner for all attending. They have a great back up though of virtual competitions where we submit a filmed routine for scoring and receive our results a little later on. With regard to this year’s World Championships, they are now due to take place in September. They are usually in April, but because of Covid we aren’t sure if any UK teams will be going at the moment. However, we are now on a par with the American, Canadian and Japanese teams. It’s a thriving sport and is growing fast here in the UK.

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(AND NOT A

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN CHEER AND WHAT MAKES IT SO POPULAR?

I’ve been involved in competitive Cheer for 25 years and have travelled all over the world competing. It’s a really thriving circuit and is the fourth fastest growing sport in the country! I think it appeals to people because of its combination of gymnastics and dance. Gymnasts like it because of the social element that you don’t generally get with gymnastics. And dancers like it because you tend not to get the catty side that you can sometimes get in dance. There’s a really nice team spirit in cheer, with lots of encouragement and teamwork. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU AND THE TEAM HAVE FACED? HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THEM?

A big challenge is the stigma of what people think Cheerleading is. People still think it’s little girls running around with poms poms. They don’t realise it’s so sporty and athletic. People also don’t realise that boys do it too! The co-ed side of Cheer is really great, and very popular. One thing I am very excited about is the fact that we have just started an adult team called Apocalypse which is aimed at retired athletes. All of them have competed for their country at some point, but then when they reached a certain point, they were being asked to pay to compete. So we’ve funded them to train and compete for free to encourage them to come out of retirement and form an all star, collaborative team. We’ll push this for a World Championship bid if we can for this year or next season. We feel that Cheer really needs a professional element to help it to be seen as a real sport. Additionally, Sport Cheer England was established a few years ago, and they are also trying to raise the profile of the sport.

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Coaching wise, it’s seeing the kids grow. Some of the kids I used to teach now bring their children to me to learn. It’s a real niche community and we all see each other at the various competitions and so we become close. The teamwork behind Cheer is so positive and so we really try to get that across to people so they can understand what a great sport it really is. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR CHEERLEADING AS A SPORT AND FOR THE TEAM?

For the team, breaking the mould and thinking outside the box in order to push the sport forward. We’re focusing on grassroot levels from age 5 to 20, so that they can eventually compete at world level.

For sport in general, we just need to concentrate on getting over the pandemic. No one has really been able to train this year which has really put us back. Hopefully we can get back to where we were pre-Covid and get people back in the gym and then go from there. - 47-

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WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT SO FAR FOR YOU?

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CHANCE2DANCE STUDIO TOUR

Have your dancers missed out on performing or competing this year? Are you teaching classes and creating content, but don’t have anything to work towards? Do you have class routines, competition routines or even a full show prepared and ready to go, including solos to group pieces and everything in between? If so, we will bring CHANCE2DANCE to you! We will transform your dance studio (or a space you have hired) into the CHANCE2DANCE stage with a dance floor, back drop, lighting and production – the full works! We can also film all performances for your dance school and provide you with each routine individually edited in digital format for you to use in any way you wish; such as to sell to parents, to post on your social media for advertising/promotional purposes or to share with your dancers for them to enjoy and share themselves.

What is included in the C2D Studio Tour? • •

•

Harlequin dance floor – up to 15 metres wide by 8 metres deep Pipe and drape system to create a stage back drop that will go up to 3 metres high and 15 metres across. Stage wings can also be created if needed. Professional lighting with a variety of colours to enhance choreography and costumes. This will also include lights at the front of the stage to detail facial expressions on camera. The lighting will be operated and controlled by a lighting technician. Filming and editing of all performances (if applicable).

Covid-19 Safety Precautions

•

A full Covid risk assessment will be completed prior to arrival at your venue Team C2D will be in full PPE throughout the filming process and will maintain social distancing Perspex screens will be placed between the lighting desk and the dancers on stage

Choose your package, date and time slot at the following link www.calendly.com/chance2dance

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• •

DANCE

IMD LEGION

PROJECT GRAVITY GETS THE LOWDOWN ON

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Jodie Mason, IMD Photographer

@imdlegion

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front of thousands of people at iconic venues such as the Hammersmith Apollo, Excell London, o2 Arena and Wembley Arena.

Street Dance really took off in the 2010s with the arrival of super popular acts like Diversity and Flawless. Established in 2010, Londonbased IMD Legion was an integral part of the movement, attracting youngsters from all over the country to put their time and effort into dance rather than other avenues they may have been tempted down. IMD has gone on to become one of the UK’s leading dance crews, citing this as their purpose:

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SO FAR? Every year has its challenges, but lockdown has definitely been a big one. Working out how to manoeuvre around the restrictions has been tough. But if we remove lockdown from the picture, it was probably in 2015 when we were on Britain’s Got Talent. At the time I had three acts that I was working with - one was an IMD member I was choreographing for called Bonetics, then there was IMD itself, then I was creative director for a group called Entity. Juggling them was challenging. Additionally I had another young act who was on a TV show called Next Step on CBBC, and I was helping him out with coaching etc. So that year was manic, trying to manage four acts back-to-back. I was wearing a lot of different hats at that time - I was choreographer, music producer, sorting out mixes etc, I was also working alongside Brian Friedman and working hard to keep him happy, so it was a lot of work!

“To rise, learn, grow and be bold with every passing moment, setting high standards, a drive for success ,be a major impact, constantly persistent, setting levels or matching them whilst always keeping the audience entertained and on the edge of their seat. We aim to be grand and consistent with every quality of work produced on and off the stage, fighting for success as much as we need to breath , giving our all today for the next generations with and around us tomorrow.” To find out a little more, Project Gravity’s Claire Middleton spoke to Omar A Awuah, the founder of IMD Legion. In this two-part feature, part one looks at the concept behind the crew, the challenges Omar has faced and why he thinks Street Dance’s popularity has passed its peak. OMAR, PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT IMD LEGION. Sure, we started in 2010 with the initial concept of getting young boys off the street. I took a bunch of lads and put the crew together and from there we went on then to do our first competition which we won straight away! After that we just expanded. It was quite revolutionary at the time, because it wasn’t that common to have young lads wanting to dance. Then, with acts like Diversity and George Samson, there was a big spike in boys wanting to take up dance. Before then, it was all about football, but at this point in time things changed and dance was becoming a popular choice for lads. IMD has gone on to enjoy some real success. We’ve been on several national tv shows like Britain’s Got Talent, Got to Dance and X Factor, and have featured on music videos for artists such as Charlie Sloth, Naughty Boy, Mc Fioti and more. The crew has been lucky enough to perform in

In my opinion, it’s dwindled a little recently, although I’m sure some people would argue with me on that. But I think that it was natural. The hype that was created by acts such as Flawless and Diversity was great for the UK, because before that dance was just something you did for fun, whereas in various other countries it’s always been taken a little more seriously. But these acts burst onto the scene and got everyone into dance, which was great but that kind of hype can’t last forever. Check out IMD here https://www.imdofficial. com/#imd

Don’t miss part-two in the next edition of Project Gravity when we’ll be talking to Omar more about his work and IMD.

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HOW BIG IS THE UK’S STREET DANCE SCENE AT THE MOMENT?

PARKOUR

THE SPORT THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT’S POSSIBLE!

UNIQUE. NO RULES. UNLIMITED POTENTIAL. RB: Yeah, we have definitely been in the spotlight a few times from Jimmy the Giant’s video on us, Max Ward making a mini-documentary on Klaus, to the Storror boys voting us the best team of the year, which is incredible! Aside from the growing reputation we have in London, we are just continuing with what we’ve always been doing - training together and making content that we hope shows our true personality.

Parkour is an up and coming, exciting and undeniably scary sport that’s attracting more and more people all over the world. Using nothing more than your body and the environment around you, it’s everchanging and always unpredictable - which is probably why it’s so popular! We spoke to one of the UK’s most upcoming parkour teams - Team Phat - about what got them into parkour, what challenges they face and what the future holds for the sport.

DM: 2020 has been one hell of a year! Everything that happened for the team, from achievements like the Storror awards to the trips we managed to take and all the movements we progressed. Most of all for me personally, it was my comeback year. At the start of 2020 I didn’t even feel strong enough to train at all. Never would I imagine being where I am now! I am beyond thankful for

So, here we go, Project Gravity would like to introduce Orlando, Ronnie, Luke, Klaus, Abdullah and Devon - aka Team Phat! IT’S EXCITING TIMES FOR THE TEAM; YOU’RE QUICKLY ON THE RISE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING FOR YOU? - 52-

the healing that Phat has allowed me to gain and the progression everyone has pushed me to accomplish! WHAT LED YOU INTO PARKOUR?

AW: I’ve always been into jumping and climbing at my local park and I would go there every day just trying to get better at it. Also, as a kid,in the block of flats I lived in there were groups of shed rooftops that I would run on and do small roof gaps. I loved doing that and would never imagine being able to do the bigger ones just because back then they looked impossible. It wasn’t anything technical, it just appealed to me from a very young age without realising what it was. Then at the age of 12, I saw clips of people doing parkour in “people are awesome” videos back in 2012. And from that moment I set my mind on being able to learn to flip and it literally just started from there. I haven't stopped since.

LH: I always had a lot of energy as a little kid and I was very into sports but hadn’t found one that quite suited me. One day my friend told me he’d started going to parkour classes and that it was loads of fun. I had no idea what parkour was so I looked it up when I got home and spent ages looking at awesome movies of people flipping and jumping over stuff. The next day I asked my friend if I could tag along with him to the class and soon started going every week. OD: My Dad and Uncle made World Chase Tag (WCT), and it turns out that freerunners are generally better at it so I did WCT a few - 53-

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KG: I used to do inline skating but after a few severe injuries I decided to stop. Soon after, me and a friend were just jumping around and stumbled across some parkour videos which showed us what was really possible. From there we just kept on training to the present day.

“ I love how unique it is and that it has no rules. You can simply go out with friends and enjoy hitting gaps. Also, I’m a big fan of how it challenges me mentally, helping me learn things I can use in my everyday life.”

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years before parkour, in its early stages and so I found out about it through that. RB: When I was a kid, I watched the French movie ‘District 13’. My mind was blown when David Belle did the underbar through the upper window and ended up jumping the iconic manpower gap in the opening scene. I always instinctively climbed up on walls, jumped off high places and vaulted fences instead of going through the gate. Eventually, I picked it up and haven’t stopped since. DM: I first got into parkour after playing all the Assassin’s Creed games. This was when I was much younger, never actually setting out to properly learn it, and never progressing beyond standard tree climbing. Only after turning 13 did I start going to classes and decided to realise my ambition to get good at parkour. I fell in love with it in every way!

AW: Before, my favorite thing about parkour was conquering challenges, like having a set goal in mind and then building up over time and training to break and complete it. I loved the feeling of satisfaction I got from seeing results after a long period of training. However, now I just love the overall control I have over my body that years of training has given me and, just having the ability to move across environments with full confidence to see a route and move. Of course, it's also amazing how much inspiration you can take from other athletes and friends that can completely shape the possibilities that you see at a spot. That makes me feel that the potential for progression is totally unlimited. LH: I love how unique it is and that it has no rules. You can simply go out with friends and enjoy hitting gaps. Also, I’m a big fan of how it challenges me mentally, helping me learn things I can use in my everyday life. - 55-

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WHAT DO YOU LOVE THE MOST ABOUT PARKOUR?

For example, since parkour can be quite a dangerous sport it’s taught me how to face fear and trust my instincts.

try and link them all together in a full line.

RB: The parkour community is brilliant. I had a great time prior to Covid-19, visiting different countries and meeting new freerunners. It’s quite inspiring to see how the movement differs depending on the country you go to, which in turn helps shape your movement. When I travel, I can always rely on the community to host me wherever I am, which is great as I get to save some money and of course, socialise with other like-minded individuals. It’s the same when they visit London, I return the favour to them. OD: Probably my favourite thing about parkour is creating long flow lines and solving problems that I face while thinking of one. Some of these problems are something being too hard or scary. I love breaking down parts of the line and working on them one at a time until they feel comfortable enough to

DM: I love it being the centre of life in many cases. When everything else falls through I always know movement will be there for me. Guiding your adventures, drive to travel, meet new people, build connections, build something bigger like a team, and the magnificence of the entire community! It fulfills so much for me in my life and allows me to free my mind in such a natural way. Drifting on the air for that brief moment. The float - that's true peace. WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING PART OF TEAM PHAT? WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE?

AW: It’s genuinely an honour to work with all the guys in the team - now and before we were officially Phat. Everyone is so unique and talented and it’s very exciting to imagine all the possibilities there are if we put our skills together to create something mad. At the same time that’s one of the biggest challenges, having the responsibility to push ourselves to create things and opportunities that will hopefully lead to this being our career. KG: It's such a beautiful thing having the chance to work and progress with your friends and it's something I’m often thankful for. The hardest challenge is filming in winter due to constant rain in the UK but this year we’ve taken a different approach to it by actually trying to train in the rain instead of waiting for a couple of dry days each winter. LH: It’s the best feeling being part of the team, we are honestly just a group of friends that share a passion and motivation for parkour.The motivation this gives is unparalleled and I can’t wait to see how far we can go. RB: The mindset of the guys is something else. Unusual amounts of optimism are what one would say but this definitely creates a

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new environment that shapes the training. No matter what, there’s always a way to navigate the challenges we may face. When it comes to facing parkour challenges, however, it may appear impossible when viewing it, but with Team Phat, there is no impossible and I feel that’s what makes the team unique. Even if when attempted, it can’t be done, it just goes to show that before you create that mental barrier, it doesn’t hurt to try. This is why some of the guys are so successful because they will always believe they can achieve it. DM: It’s a lifestyle! Getting out on the vibes and gaps as much as you can.That lifestyle is the best thing that ever happened for my training and I will forever appreciate Phat. Everything we do is about staying motivated, keeping on the grind and constantly pushing yourself in new ways, even in other aspects of life other than training. Challenges come with motivation, as they do for anyone. Pushing through it is the aim just like a hard gap! In winter, wet weather or injuries and general issues in life can be challenging, and lots of things cause challenges which can affect motivation for creating Phat content, but we’ll always strive to surpass it!

AW: We overcome challenges by having a slight schedule for the amount of work and extra bits and bobs we have to do around the parkour. Since parkour is our lives it’s always been fairly natural for us to create content and keep training, as it’s just what we all enjoy doing and this space we created to post content is just for us to share what we enjoy. LH: Right now I’ve been battling with a foot injury for six months, for the first few months I wasn’t able to train at all and it made me realise how important parkour really is to me and how much of a fundamental role it plays in my life. During this time I’ve had to find different ways of staying fit, I’ve enjoyed going - 57-

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HOW DO YOU OVERCOME CHALLENGES?

“I love it being the centre of life in many cases. When everything else falls through I always know movement will be there for me.”

to the gym and have also bought a boxing bag which I use quite frequently. During lockdown I set myself a lot of ridiculous fitness challenges to keep myself busy, for example, I managed to do 1200 pushups in one day! Now that I have noticed a little improvement in my foot I have been able to start training again. Although I still can take minimal impact I’m still loving being out with friends and hitting gaps. So that I am not hurting my foot I’ve been trying to practice more flowy movements, incorporating more spins and vaults into lines and bigger, riskier jumps. This shows that injuries help us adapt and learn new areas of parkour, helping us progress physically and mentally. RB: Weather can be a tricky one especially during the winter, however it doesn’t stop us. Rain, snow and even a global pandemic may hit, but there’s always a way. For example, when it rains, there are a few alternatives that we have available; train in undercover spots, or train in the wet. The difference in training in the wet is the style of movement that we practise. Doing big jumps or flip pre’s may not necessarily be viable in this situation, so instead, we focus on smaller flow type moves or even commit to jumps that push us a little but require total precision to avoid slipping. That comes with practice but eventually, you develop a great technique that when training when it is dry is a breeze compared. There is no challenge we cannot overcome. We overcome most things mainly by motivating each other and supporting each other with encouragement. We make sure we keep on track with any jobs we've been set to do and when we’re not feeling the best, the team will always boost morale with friendly advice to help us push through. CAN ANYONE TAKE UP PARKOUR? AW: It’s definitely easier to get into it when you’re younger and have more free time but it’s a very welcoming and fulfilling sport, as you can practice and learn with very minimal setup. I would recommend anyone to give it a go, even to have the basic level to vault fences and - 58-

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Team Phat Photography

climb walls to give yourself that extra sense of freedom that you could if you wanted to.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR PARKOUR?

OD: Obviously, parkour is as hard, scary, or dangerous as you make it. You can start with small jumps or moves and as you slowly progress you are able you do more diverse movements and bigger jumps.

LH: Hopefully parkour will be added to the Olympics and other major sporting events. It would be great for it to become more mainstream so that there would be more ways for people to make a living out of it.

RB: I don’t see why not, there are a lot of people out there with different circumstances who have proved that anyone can truly take up parkour. At the end of the day, parkour involves using your body as a tool to manoeuvre in whatever way you see fit, so as long as you have one of those, you are set!

RB: Parkour will be constantly evolving. We will see new styles, tricks and challenges that only level up the things being thrown these days. I would like to see parkour merchandise at the same level as Palace, Thrasher and Vans, or even for sports brands to invest in shoes specifically tailored for Parkour.

DM: I believe it comes down to whether you're the kind of person that metaphorically dances or watches people dance at the side. Either you fail when you first try and become driven by that or you decide you can’t then you proceed in the comfort zone. With the driven mindset in life, anyone can achieve their parkour goals, with the correct approach and determination.

DM: Parkour is about 20-30 years behind skateboarding; it’s following the same tracks and I hope to see it follow that path.This would include a truly sustainable lifestyle for many passionate athletes including sponsorships of all kinds, tons of teams, a huge clothing industry, backing from big companies such as Nike and Adidas, heaps of high-quality parkour parks and soaring popularity! - 59-

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@ team_phat

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OD - Orlando RB - Ronnie LH - Luke KG - Klaus AW - Abdullah DM - Devon - 61-

PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

TEAM PHAT

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CLUB FIRST AID AT WORK COURSES UNDRAISERS PAEDIATRIC COURSES FIRST AID AT WORK COURSES

STUDENT FIRST AID

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CLUB FUNDRAISERS

LIFESTYLE

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

LOCKDOWN’S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW EXERCISE CAN HELP

BY CLAIRE MIDDLETON

As restrictions on lockdown number three start to ease, it’s a good time to take a minute and reflect on the last twelve months. What crazy times they’ve been! Some found lockdown almost unbearable, whilst some actually enjoyed the enforced slowing down of life and having the time to take stock of things. Some, myself included, felt like they belonged a little in each of these groups. One thing is for certain, the nation’s mental health has taken a battering. 12 months of restrictions, three national lockdowns and a whole year without hugs, all set against a backdrop of daily scaremongering and terrifying news reports full of death tolls and infection rates. So are we on the brink of a national mental health crisis? And what can we do individually to help nurse our minds back to health? - 64-

According to Mind*, over 50% of adults and more than 75% of young people admitted that their mental health has worsened during lockdown. Mind’s report showed that ‘young people are more likely to have experienced poor mental health during lockdown than adults’, and ‘many without previous experience of mental health problems have experienced poor mental health during lockdown and have seen their mental health and wellbeing decline’. An adult who was surveyed told Mind: “I normally have very good mental health. Over the past month I’ve become more anxious about all sorts of things and also been crying about things, which I don’t normally do. Some days I’ve slept very badly. I live alone and feel very lonely and isolated – not something that normally bothers me.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE AND MOVEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH We know that exercise is good for you. We know it’s good for your heart, for keeping weight off and for keeping you fit. But it’s also incredibly good for your mental state. Proven to enhance mood, improve sleep and help you deal with anxiety, stress and depression, exercise could be a key component in helping you navigate your way through, and out of, lockdown with minimal damage to your mental state. According to helpguide.org, studies have shown exercise is helpful in treating mild to moderate depression just as effectively as antidepressants! A study carried out by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that 15 minutes of running or an hour of walking each day reduces the risk of serious depression by 26%. Exercise is a fantastic weapon in the fight against depression for many reasons. Here are just some: Exercise encourages changes in the brain, such as neural growth and decreased inflammation. It creates new activity patterns, invoking feelings of calm and wellbeing. It releases endorphins. It gives you time out of your day and away from negative thoughts.

So now we’ve established that exercise is a good way of staving off depression and other mental health problems. Now, we need to look at how to incorporate it into your everyday life. Gyms and sports clubs have been closed for a long time now, thanks to the pandemic. However, lots of sports clubs and groups have been meeting virtually and training online via Zoom and Google Meet. There are also countless exercise classes on YouTube you can follow from the comfort of your own home whenever you have the time. You can choose anything from streetdance to cheerleading - the choice is endless. Of course, for many nothing beats the exhilaration of putting on your trainers and getting outside for a run or a walk. The combination of fresh air and exercise, as well as the change of scenery, is a brilliant way to boost your mood and get yourself going for the day. However you choose you incorporate movement and exercise into your life, do it safely and make sure you consult your doctor if you feel that your mental health is getting out of control. Stay safe! *Mind’s survey and report can be found here: https://www.mind. org.uk/media-a/5929/the-mental-health-emergency_a4_final.pdf?

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This is a serious issue, and one that’s bound to have a significant impact on society for years to come. However, there are things we can do to lessen the negative effects of restrictions on our mental health, an important one being exercise and fitness.

MUNCHIES

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: THE POWER OF

PLANT-BASED EATING. Mitch Lee is a top vegan chef and a former freerunner, so he knows the value of a good diet and how important it is to eat right when you’re an athlete. Since turning vegan back in 2016, he’s discovered just how easy it is to enjoy a varied and healthy plant-based diet, and has created countless delicious and exciting recipes to back up his claim that there’s really no need to buy meat or dairy in this day and age. We caught up with Mitch to chat about his transition from freerunner to chef, the benefits of a vegan diet and what the future holds for him. He also chats to us about his mission to spread the word of veganism, how he’s helping to end child hunger and shares one of his stunning recipes with us for you guys to try at home.

YOU’RE A FORMER PRO FREERUNNERTURNED CHEF. THE TWO SECTORS ARE FAIRLY DIFFERENT; WHAT LED YOU TO YOUR WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

For me, diet was always an important factor in my training. It's a part many people often overlook. It can affect your energy, mood and even recovery. When I was freerunning I'd always make energy bars, high protein snacks, or have enough food with me to keep me fuelled up for the day. I used to run a food blog under the name 'Macro Mitch' and would share my recipes on social media. Eventually this love and passion for food opened opportunities for me to make money and work with exciting brands until I got to the stage where I wanted to pursue it further. That’s when I began working in a restaurant. WHY DID YOU LEAVE PRO FREERUNNING?

I was never an exceptional athlete. I knew what I could do well and I knew how to market myself and communicate it effectively to get fantastic opportunities. But eventually I couldn't keep up with the new generation - 66-

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who were far better than me. As I was getting older, I needed a more regular income and so the restaurant job went from parttime, to full-time, to eventually managing the restaurant. This led me to pursuing my own business at Mitch's Kitchen where I was, once again, back in control. DO YOU MISS IT? DO YOU STILL DO A LITTLE IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Yes! I went out and trained a couple of times last year and hadn't lost too much movement-wise, it just felt much more rigid and my trust in my own power and control had basically gone. I love seeing the Storror (www.storror.com) guys still doing their thing; it's very nostalgic and does tempt me to get back out and train. I'm more into bouldering/indoor rock climbing now, but training with the old 3RUN boys Chase (Armitage), Chris (Lodge) and Paul (Jones) means we still throw in elements of freerunning. I don't think I'll ever lose that expression of movement. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING A CHEF?

As with freerunning, I'm completely selftaught. I'd try recipes I would find online and tweak them, never scared to try new things and see what I could create. I took my 'think outside the box' attitude into my cooking and the creative freedom is very similar to freerunning - only I can now eat my creations! As a chef, the most rewarding moments are when you get really positive feedback on something you've created, you put a lot of passion and energy into the food so it's nice to know that’s not lost on people. HOW IMPORTANT IS DIET AND NUTRITION TO FREERUNNERS AND OTHER ATHLETES?

Diet is super important in the long term, - 68-

“...THERE ARE PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO EVERYTHING, FROM STEAK TO EGG TO KRISPY KREME DONUTS. THERE REALLY IS NO NEED TO BUY MEAT OR DAIRY ANYMORE.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A VEGAN? WHAT LED TO THAT DECISION?

I went vegan during Veganuary (going vegan for the month of January) in 2016 after the restaurant I was working in decided to go completely plant-based too. My wife was already following a vegan diet and so I decided to give it a go and then just kept it going. I realised I wasn't missing out on anything by not consuming animal products and it was also making me more creative as a chef. In 2021 there are plant-based alternatives to everything, from steak to egg to krispy kreme donuts. There really is no need to buy meat or dairy anymore. IS A VEGAN DIET GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY ACTIVE, SUCH AS SPORTS PEOPLE?

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE RECIPES YOU HAVE CHOSEN FOR US?

Tofu is one of the most stereotypical vegan ingredients and it gets such a bad rep! I'm here to say 'GIVE TOFU A GO!' It's a fantastic source of protein, it's unrefined and unprocessed like many of the meat alternatives available and when cooked right it's a fantastic replacement for chicken or meat in a meal. This sesame crusted tofu recipe is one of my favourites to show people how good tofu can be - it's from our Rainbow Sushi Bowl meal and it's also been featured in Vegan Living Magazine. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?

We're on a mission to show people how delicious and easy it can be living a 'Fast-Paced Plant-Based®' lifestyle. We want to make a difference in the world, saving the lives of animals, reducing the impact on the planet and providing meals to those in need. For every meal sold we donate a life-changing meal to some of the world’s poorest children, by working with Mary's Meals and Work For Good. Watch this space!

A whole-food, plant-based diet is a fantastic choice for sportspeople. You can get all the nutrients you need to thrive in your sport as

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: Mitch Lee https://mitchskitchen.co.uk

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but when you're young you can get away with eating most things, especially if you are out training all the time and burning all that energy. I have trained or worked with professional athletes from various sports and it's amazing how many of them don't care about their diet or focus on nutrition or what they eat. What we eat really does matter. Freerunning is such a high energy sport that you need to be getting in plenty of carbohydrates for energy along with good sources of protein and fats to aid recovery and muscle growth.

long as you eat enough of the right foods. You have athletes like Lewis Hamilton, Venus Williams and even Chase Armitage in the freerunning world, performing at the top of their game on a vegan diet. I feel the knowledge, research and stigma around being a 'weak' vegan has very much gone now, helped along by documentaries like 'The Gamechangers.' That said, you can also be a very unhealthy vegan nowadays with all the vegan junk food available, so it comes down to the quality of the food you eat!

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'GIVE TOFU A GO!'

For more information:

www.mitchskitchen.co.uk www.instagram.com/mitchskitchenuk www.facebook.com/mitchskitchenuk - 71-

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INFO BOX

Tofu has a bad reputation in the non vegan community with many people claiming they don’t like it. My answer to that is ‘you haven’t tried it cooked properly!’ Here’s a recipe that proves tofu is the natural king of meat alternatives! Once baked, the texture becomes almost chicken like and would convince even the biggest of meat eaters - That’s why we use it in our Rainbow Sushi Bowl (www.mitchskitchen.co.uk) with rave reviews from all our customers.

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! Y O J N E

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MARTIAL ARTS

REAL LIFE NINJA DYLAN STANBRA -

TEAM UNITE/AKA

We had a quick catch up with Dylan Stanbra from Team Unite/AKA to find out about what he’s been upto. What have been the highlights of your time with the team so far? The highlights for me would be travelling to Italy for the WTKA World Championships to represent England and winning seven world titles in CMX forms. My other two big achievements have to be being the three times grand winner for CMX and traditional forms at the Unity World Games and of course, achieving my first Dan black belt in 2018. How long have you been into karate and what do you love about it? I started eight years ago, when I was four years old. I love being able to travel all over the world and create bonds with new people from all over the globe. What do you find most challenging about it? The most challenging thing for me is getting to a high level and trying to maintain my skill set in order to be able to keep training at a high level. What is a typical week like for you? I train hard 5 days a week and have the time at the weekend to relax and get my mind in shape for the comps. What advice would you give people who are thinking of taking up martial arts? I think if you put your mind to something you want to do then you can do it. Just never give up. You need a good mindset and you have to want to learn. Also, it’s important that you don’t give up when it gets tough, because trust me, it does!

merges with Team AKA. I would also like to travel more and enter more comps around the world, to gain more experience and get as good as I can get. Would you recommend martial arts to other people? I would encourage anyone to start martial arts as it has changed my life, in the best way, and I’ve got to meet some awesome people within the martial arts community and make loads of friends along the way. Dylan’s coaches, Kady Robinson and Chloe Flower (founders and principle instructors of Team Unity and Team AKA), had a few words to add. They commented: “We are really proud of Dylan’s hard work and dedication which have led him to being in the top four of the SMA online tournaments. Dylan did amazingly well at our last face-to-face competition - the Irish Open. Then, throughout lockdown last year we trained via Zoom, which at times, was really challenging. We are proud that Dylan and the rest of the team adapted so well and continued to put the work in and support one another. We enjoyed watching Dylan compete in his back garden against some very talented forms competitors. It’s fantastic that UK competitors had the chance to compete with people from all over the world. Dylan smashed it! We are looking forward to getting back to training and seeing Dylan progress even more.”

@dyl_teamunite_official @unite_ma @teamuniteuk Team Unite/ AkA & Unite Martial Arts Email: unite.ma.uk@gmail.com

How do you feel about the future? I’m really excited for the future when Team Unite

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“Dylan smashed it! We are looking forward to getting back to training and seeing Dylan progress even more.”

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Coach, Kady Robinson

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World Top 10 2ND PLACE CREATIVE FORMS

11 & under black belt 4TH PLACE TRADITIONAL FORMS

male black belt 11 & under

Final Four 4TH PLACE CREATIVE FORMS

11 & under black belt - 76-

London Open 2021 £69,000.00 1st Place £10,000.00 2nd Place £1000.00 3rd Place £500.00 4th Place Entry refund.

Details: https:// smoothcomp.com/en/event/4337 The London Open Online Martial Arts Competition 1 Video, 3 Styles, 6 Divisions

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Email: admin@nmacgb.net Facebook: National Martial Arts Committee Great Britain www.nmacgb.com

SAM-4K STUNT ACTION MOVES SAM-4K (Stunt Action Moves 4 Kidz) is the only national children’s training programme that gives children aged 10 years and up the opportunity and insight into the stunt action and screen fighting industry with seminars and courses that will be made available and offered out to the younger generation. They will be under the professional instruction and guidance from some of the best current film & TV movie action performers and stunt personnel. SAM4-UK’s aim is to build a national database of children with passion and the dream that one day they may become the next big stunt double or actor. We cover not only action moves, but we also go behind the scenes to look at filming, acting, production and coordinating. We are excited to present the next SAM4K-UK seminar, on Sat 29th Aug 2021, 1 pm till 4pm, at the new TSD-UK Tricking and Martial Arts Academy Sheffield. This venue is complete with sprung floor, air tracks/pads trampoline, spurge pit, stunt wires, combat and Boxing Academy, outside climbing and freerunning frame, cafe and bar with hot and cold food and drinks on sale all day. The cost is £40 per person, with an end of course certificate and presentation awards with TV & Film Action stuntman/actor, Mark Strange, off the back of his performance with Bruce Lee in the award-winning martial arts movie, lpman 4. If you wish to learn some of the spectacular stunt Action TV & Film Moves then this is for you, if you are aged nine years or over and with or without combat experience. Places are going very fast, so book today! Contact SAM4K on 01142 880 300, Mobile: 0796 193 5685 or Email: sam4kidz@hotmail.com

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CUSTOM GI The Simply Custom Kata Gi was born out of a frustration when trying to find a karate gi that fits properly, feels comfortable to train, teach and compete in, and is of a high quality. The problem with the "off the shelf" sizes is that they often need alterations to get the right fit, just adding to the already high price of most good quality Gis on the market. For this reason, we decided to make every single gi a unique made to measure custom fit. We have also made it affordable at £129.99 - considerably lower than other custom cut Gis. Extensive research went into finding the right material with a number of prototypes created before finding the perfect weight, thickness and feel. Created by England Kata coaches Ady Gray and John Gardiner, the Simply Cusdium weight gi with the snap and feel of a heavyweight, consistent in quality to the most popular brands on the competition circuit.

Email: simplycustomgi@gmail.com Order Form: https://form. jotform.com/203406621337347.

PHOTO CREDIT: Grace Baron

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To get your own Simply Custom Kata Gi for the return to the dojo, simply find us on Facebook at: Simply Custom Kata Gi

TALENT

HITS FROM THE ‘GRAM! Insta: @ella.martialarts Sport: Martial Artist, Tricker Team/Club: @Sheffielddragons_ Age: 16

Insta link: @cheer.rosyy Sport: Cheerleading Team/Club:@Oblivionallstars Sponser(s): @Bowalicious Ambassador Age: 15

Insta link: @_jesspee.cheer Sport: Cheerleading Team/Club: @tycoons_allstars Sponsor @elite_athletics_apparel Age: 15

Insta: @sophierolinsonx Sport: Dancer Team/Club:@addictdanceacademy @marshonvenu Age: 18

Insta: lilah.dance07 Sport: Dancer Team/Club: @dancenationacademyuk Age: 14

Insta: @george.wtx Sport: Tricker Team/Club: @wighttricks_academy Age: 14 yrs old

CHECK OUT THESE INSTAGRAM PICS FROM SOME OF THE BEST ATHLETES AND MOVERS IN THE UK. To be featured in 'Hits from the 'gram, hashtag your posts with #projectgravitymag to be entered into a draw at the end of the year for the chance to bag £1000! Also, be sure to like, share and follow us on Insta for previews and special offers.

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Insta: @salmon19087 Sport: Parkour Team/Club: @theurbanartsacademy Age: 16

Insta link: @ruby.mackayyy Sport: Taekwondo Team/Club: @gajoktaekwondo_20 Age: 12

Insta link: @logan__macleod/ Sport: G-tramp / Tricking Team/Club: @hadukentricking Age: 17

Insta link: @ethanchonghay Sport: Breakin, Dancer Team/Club: @2realboyzofficial Age: 8

Insta link: @tae_cheers Sport: Cheerleading Team/Club: @emca_allstar_cheer Age: 20

Insta link: @mac1.twz Sport: Breakin Team/Club: @trinitywarriors danceacademy Age: 17

Insta link: @hrocket_rev Sport: breakin’ Team/Club: @weareswagout @dancexite @rewireduk Age: 15

Insta: @acrokeeley Sport: Dancer Team/Club: @thedanceplaceblackpool Age: 12

Insta: @hermione_gh Sport: Dance Team/Club: Youth diamondsDancer Agency | @bonnieandbetty Age: 12

Insta: @jack_robin5on Sport: Parkour Team/Club: @fluidfreerun Age: 16

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Insta: @sophiefranklindance Sport: Dancer Team/Club:@thedanceplaceblackpool @acrodanceassociatesuk Age: 13

Insta: @Dakotafinn_LTA Sport: Dance Team/Club: @lumsdaletheatrearts Age: 7

BEATS

BREAKIN’

TOP TEN TRACKS

BY DJ JAM FU 8.

10.

Hot Music Soho

Jimmy Castor Bunch It’s Just Begun

Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself, And You Be Yours (Part I)

Funky Drummer James Brown

Manu Dibango African Battle

Eric B & Rakim Don’t Sweat The Technique

Hot Pants Road The JB’s

Dennis Coffey Theme From Black Belt Jones

Donald Byrd Rock Creek Park

Soul Power ’74 The JB’s

@jahmaijones_spact | @jam_fu91

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Entry to our MOVE dance challenge with Sam and Nathan from Diversity is now open.

To enter visit our website www.awardcity.co.uk - 83-

PROJECT GRAVITY MAGAZINE | ISSUE 01|2021

Move dance competition details VOTING NOW OPEN!

Joining VoiceBox VoiceBox is a new platform for young people, led by young people. When we say young people, we mean mid teens to mid twenties – like us. We want it to be somewhere you can talk about stuff that you find interesting or important – including things that you’ve experienced yourself. You can say what you want and engage with what other people are saying too.

How can I join? Right now, we want people to make great content for VoiceBox. By content we don’t just mean written stuff. Blogs and articles are very welcome – but we also want to see videos, music, graphic design, comics, memes, poems… You tell us. We also don’t just mean serious issues – we’re hoping for a mix. What do you care about? What interests you? Do you have a perspective or experience that other people might be interested in or entertained by? Email content@youth-zone.com what it’s about what kind of content it is (blog, video etc) who you are (name, age, country)

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1 - 3 October 2021 | Birmingham NEC, UK Future Cheer have partnered with the Arnold Sports Festival UK to bring you a one of a kind cheer extravaganza at the world’s largest health, fitness & multi-sport festival. Presenting ‘Legends of Cheer’, a 3 day invitational event designed to showcase everything that makes the cheer sports community so special. Experience the Arnold Sports Festival, UK.

http://www.futurecheer.net/ | fcadmin@btconnect.com | 020 8669 2555

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The Legends of Cheer Invitational at the Arnold Sports Festival UK

Urbansports, Arts & Lifestyle Magazine www.projectgravitymag.com

ALL PHOTOS | CREDIT: IBS

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