This week, we interviewed Josh Brady, a local free-runner paving his way to success on the streets of Brighton. Josh meshes his creative abilities in design, photography and videography with his passion for the daring adventure sport: free running.
The result is something quite spectacular – Josh’s Instagram is an amalgamation of stunning landscape photographs and petrifying jump shots.
We were keen to ask him a few questions about the nature of his career, the risks involved, where he trains and if he’s ever got into any trouble while on the job.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3MyN0lAda7/
How did you get into free-running?
I was always active when I was younger playing every sport but it was just around the time parkour first started popping up on the TV and internet. It just seemed to fit me well. I started very small going outside and doing easy things, learning from others.
When did you start?
I was always jumping and climbing around but started training properly at about 16 – so around 8 years I’d say.
Do you work as part of a team or on your own?
I am not part of any team but I rarely train on my own, usually with other local people.
Is there a difference between parkour and free running?
Everyone has a slightly different opinion on this but for me personally, they are one of the same.
How did you make a business out of free running?
The industry behind free running is still very new so there are not many people at all that are able to make a living from it. For me personally, I use social media and my videos on there to gain partnerships and commercial opportunities but I do also supplement this with other work using my experience to help other companies, brands and creators produce their own social media content. This is just my route, there are some athletes who rely on competitions and prize money and some who are part of groups which then profit off merchandise sales. Everyone is still very much trying to figure out how to make a career in free running more viable without also ruining the nature of the sport. As it becomes more commercially recognized there is definitely going to be more opportunities.
Who films/edits your videos?
For the most part, I produce all the videos myself, just using friends who I am out training with to help film. As I said I also do video production for other clients so I just do the same things for myself basically.
What led you to this career? Do you have an athletic background?
I have always been very active and sporty. I never like being stuck inside so this gives me a great outlet. It also allows me to travel a lot which is a fantastic part of it. I always loved an adventure so I guess this is also partly what drew me towards it. More than just practising the physical side of the sport a big element is just going out and exploring, experiencing new places and finding new challenges which definitely appeals to me.
Where do you train?
I wouldn’t say there is one specific spot, there are lots of different areas around Brighton that I go to regularly but really you can train anywhere.
How do you scout out the perfect location?
Just lots of exploring, plus the community is very open so if someone finds somewhere good it won’t be long before you hear about it. Sometimes I use google earth to scout out possible spots.
Have you ever got in trouble for free running?
Not really, we sometimes get asked to leave or stop but we would always be accommodating. We don’t cause any damage and what we do is in no way against the law so there should be no reason for any trouble.
Do you have to ask permission to free run/film on certain sites?
90% of the time we are on public property but if it is someones private land we would definitely ask permission. You get a mixed bag of reactions to that but often people are pretty happy to let us train and watch.
Is there a talk-board/group?
Most towns will have some sort of Facebook page or group chat for people to say when they’re out training. That makes it easy for people new to the sport or the city to get involved.
Do you do free runner meet ups?
Yes, there are jams that go on throughout the year in lost of different places. Everyone in the community loves to travel so you often get people coming from overseas, these give a great opportunity to see new areas and meet new people.
How would you recommend others get into it?
I would say message a local group or just an individual that trains in your area and go and join them. I guarantee whether you’re a novice or an expert they will be happy to show you around and help you with advice.
Where is your most memorable free run site?
To be honest my favourite place to train is always a new one. Getting to a place you have never been before and seeing all the new possibilities is the most rewarding.
Are you able to make a profit from free-running?
I personally need and like to do my other video and creative work as well as free running, this stops me from feeling too much pressure to train and potentially making it not enjoyable. However, there are athletes out there who live 100% off training and this will become more common I’m sure as the sport continues to grow.
Do you know anyone who has died or been seriously injured by free running?
I don’t know anyone that has died from doing free running, I’m hoping it stays that way. The community is all about safety and staying within your abilities. The body is excellent at judging this, especially with experience.
Have you ever had any bad injuries yourself?
I have had no serious injuries just the odd bump or scrape. It is a lot safer than it looks, there is always a lot of preparation and experience that goes into each thing. I would never do something I wasn’t 100% sure I could do. I have honestly had more injuries from football and rugby, in those sports, you aren’t just responsible for yourself, there are other people that are out of your control.
When I get asked about the risks I say, It’s just like getting on a plane or in a car, that is a huge risk we all take, if something goes wrong it could be fatal, but the probability of something going wrong is so low that we are happy to take that risk. For me doing a jump is the same, there is a risk I could get hurt, but because I have done it 1000 times, the probability of something going wrong is low.
Do you know any female free runners?
Yes, there are a lot more girls training now which is great, Lynn Jung and Katie McDonnell are two of the most well known and both of them often train in Brighton.
Have you heard about the free runner who climbed the shard? Will you continue free running knowing the potential prison sentence?
I have seen it however, this is the media misrepresenting. Climbing a building to take pictures is not doing free running. He is not a free runner, this often gets misunderstood as people still don’t know a lot about the sport. Still, I think it is crazy he is being given a prison sentence. When people climb a mountain it is heroic and brave but because this is in an urban setting it is somehow seen differently.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2wn-8MnDCK/
Make sure to give Josh a follow on Instagram and keep supporting local free runners and their creative content.
