BUILDING STUDENTS PART 3: AN INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE MURRAY

1. Do you remember what first interested you in parkour back in Year 6?

Jamie (wearing blue, front) at our 2018 Christmas Jam

When I first joined in Year 6, I remember being interested in the posters showing parkour skills. I thought they looked really cool and wanted to be able to do the same.

2. Which parkour skills did you enjoy learning the most?

The tic-tac and feet-first underbar were always my favourites because they’re moves I’d seen in games like Assassin’s Creed, and I could do them at speed. When I first completed these milestones, I mostly felt relief — being able to keep up with the rest of the class was the main feeling.

Jamie training rail balance at height during lockdown

3. What’s the biggest mindset shift you’ve had through training?

I realised there was no point complaining about scary moves or planks. I would just force myself to finish them. I also learned that everyone progresses at different speeds, which really helps when coaching and supporting people at school.

4. How did you stay motivated during the 2019–2021 lockdowns?

I didn’t notice much difference, other than training outside. It actually made the moves feel more real and applicable.

5. What inspired you to become a youth assistant coach?

At 13, it was partly about getting work experience and earning some money. Coaching 4–14-year-olds is challenging in many ways, but it’s incredibly rewarding to watch kids grow, stick with parkour, and improve. My favourite moments are when a student takes my advice, improves, and realises they can do the move they struggled with.

Jamie (age 14) leading the warm up and technical drills (at the local youth centre) to primary school children from St Bartholomew's Primary

6. How has parkour shaped who you are today?

Jamie ( age 16 ) coaching acrobatics at Forest Hill School

Coaching parkour has made me more patient and resilient. Coming back after a major injury wasn’t easy, but parkour taught me how to get back up. My advice is not to hesitate — hesitation causes most failures and injuries.

7. If you had to sum up your parkour journey in three words?

Freedom, awareness, and confidence. Even when learning specific moves, I’m always looking around, thinking about how I could use my skills in the environment around me.

Jamie ( age 17 ) coaching younger students through fear while practicing parkour (at St Bartholomew's Primary)

As you move into the next stage of your life — applying for university and beyond — how do you plan to use the physical and mental skills you’ve developed through parkour?

Since learning parkour, and later teaching it, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that things are rarely as scary as they first seem, and that problems often only appear intimidating until you face them. This mindset can be applied to many aspects of my future life, such as managing heavy workloads, confronting new experiences, or navigating friendship challenges. The ability not to overthink an obstacle and to simply commit and jump is, to me, invaluable.

Beyond this, the communication skills I’ve developed through coaching parkour students have helped me grow significantly as a person and will undoubtedly support me in my future endeavours. I used to be very quiet and unsure of my words, but working with the London Parkour Project has helped me mature, build confidence, and truly come out of my shell.

Which skills from parkour do you think will be most valuable in university life?

As I move into university, I believe the resilience and tenacity I’ve gained through parkour will be incredibly valuable. Much like recovering from an injury and returning stronger, failing a test, accepting it, and then working towards the next challenge is the mindset I plan to carry forward. Parkour has taught me that setbacks are not endpoints, but opportunities to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.