3Run.

I remember when the 3run family consisted of very few members (unlike today’s 3Run family). I even remember as far back as when it consisted of more Parkour/Freerun based movements before it got more heavily Urban Acrobatics orientated. I also remember them being called Team Evolution in the very early days of forming as a group.

Their website has gone through various changes over the years. In 2004 (if you have been around the scene that long) you will remember the turquoise layout with the futuristic red and metallic gray logo ‘Super Tricks’ title and a flip in a red circle. This was the same site you had to download the videos from if you wanted to keep them rather than watch them via a YouTube channel.

Sometime in 2005 the website changed again to a more neutral gray/tan colour with three main sections for the site, Wushu, Freerunning & Street Stunts each with a silhouette image to click according to which relative part you wanted to be looked at.

Fast forward a few years to 2007 and it changed again and didn’t look to dissimilar to how it is today. It has been constantly revamped and changed through the years up until now getting more professional each time and expanding their content.

There are various videos missing online which were from the very early days of 3Run, which I can remember watching back when I had just started Parkour. Yet those same videos are now not listed on their YouTube channel nor can you find them. Maybe due to copyright reasons or for the fact they no longer desire to have those videos up which are outdated compared to today’s standard.

 

This was a video I used to watch all the time!

If I remember correctly they were one of the first groups to Gainer off the rail at South Bank and to do such flips from heights. I used to watch the way they flipped and twisted and could only wish I could one day do such things. They were big fans of the Matrix soundtracks and using quotes from the movies due to it being one of their inspirations I do believe. As a whole within the Freerunning/Tricking community they were always ones for pushing the boundaries and always first to do an extra rotation of a move or from a greater height.

 

Another iconic video is ‘Brothers Journey’.

I remember the intro alone was brilliant and still is iconic to the ones who remember the video. The corkscrew in the shopping centre, the human scales are another image of this video which still sticks with me. The way they tricked and made things look so effortless was amazing to watch, it had everyone wanting to be just like them in that respect. The video spread through the PK/FR forums and communities like wildfire. They were still influenced by Parkour at this point and had various Pk moves in their videos as you will see. They used to showcase their videos with the best flips and biggest gaps and so is what renowned them. These sort of videos are what gained them so much exposure and the great content of each video made people eager to see their new releases.

 

‘Evolution’ is another famous 3Run video which stands out when looking back through the videos.

This made sparks within the online communities as well, the music has since changed but the original content can still be seen. The video featured a two man wallflip, one person doing a wallflip under another along with tricks off high walls and over roofs and other iconic scenes.

I could list the endless videos which 3Run have produced over the years and have inspired myself and others here, but the simple fact of the matter is they produce such good quality videos (there are many on their YouTube channel.) I would be here forever explaining each and everyone.

In recent years they have produced some good quality tutorial videos which are great for understanding the biomechanics behind the movements and tricks. There aren’t many other well known people who make good tutorial apart from Kyle ‘Epic’ Mendoza.

 

Recently one of 3RUn’s videos ‘Parkour Memories’ (seen below) got everyone talking about them again in a different way.

This video went back to being pure Parkour. This in itself got the Parkour communities talking about how good the video was and how nice it is to see them doing more Parkour based movements as opposed to it being all about flips and working out in the gym to get big. In some ways that was their roots that led to all the tricking/street stunts they now do. It was refreshing to see they can do Parkour the comments cried out for more Parkour-eske moves to be done in their future videos to which I think they have listened to as a few other newer videos now have Parkour moves included in them.

Overall they have done very well for themselves holding various Guinness world records, travelling the world and doing numerous performances as well as starring in films and many more things.

People can say what they like about them whether they are being too mainstream, a bunch of show off’s, or just doing it all for the money and not promoting flips in a positive way. At the end of the day, they defined what they did and set out to make the most from it and it has worked for them. Anyone who says otherwise is jealous and you have to hand it to them they have great content and have done so well for themselves. I’m sure at least one of the videos if not quite a few have inspired many throughout the years so just think before spreading all that hate.

3Run links YouTube Channel | facebook page | 3Run site | Twitter | Myspace | Vimeo | Forum