Meet the UAE’s first female parkour coach

As a sport, parkour is all about getting from point A to point B as fast and as efficiently as possible, overcoming any and all obstacles along the way. This also sums up Amal Murad’s journey to becoming the UAE’s first Emirati parkour coach.

“When I started training in the gym, I tried all sorts of different sports until I came across parkour and immediately felt a connection, like it was made for me,” the athlete said. “A lot of people tried to convince me to go for gymnastics instead, but what I love about parkour is that it is ‘freestyle’, which is a perfect fit with my personality.”

Parkour is relatively new to the region, so facilities are few and far between for now. But that didn’t deter Amal, who actually sees it as an opportunity.

“I felt like I wanted to introduce this sport to my society and community. I didn’t set out to be the first woman to teach this sport in particular, but sometimes, you just need a little bit of inspiration or encouragement, and I hope to encourage girls through my practice.”

GIRL POWER

Murad was recently part of an inspirational film by Nike featuring professional and everyday athletes from the Middle East titled إيش حيقولوا عنك؟ (“What Will They Say about You?”). The campaign was inspired by the idea that trying something for the first time and pushing beyond your personal boundaries and fears can lead to positive change and, in the instance of sport, to a healthier lifestyle.

Murad faced this question too but found that taking it slow and communicating her passion effectively helped her overcome the barriers. “At first, you may have to prove to your family that you’re capable by believing in yourself,” Murad advised. “Not that you must go against them; just take small steps, like starting classes in an all-female gym.”

Fortunately for her, she enjoyed full support from her family. “I am blessed with a family that believes in sports and its power. Not just my parents, but also my extended family. My sister was in the national basketball team, and my cousin was a goalkeeper and now owns the gym I train in,” she added.

Her real challenge was breaking the stereotypes that existed outside. “I felt because I was the only woman doing this sport, I had so much more to prove, especially to the boys. And it’s funny how you see them getting intimidated; when they see a girl doing what they can’t do, they work so much harder. So that’s pretty cool, that in a way I’m not only encouraging women, but I am encouraging men as well,” she remarked with a smile.

THE NEXT GENERATION

Murad hopes her commitment to excellence is paving the way for the next generation.

“I personally get my strength mostly from the strong women in my life, so I am hoping I can be that source of inspiration for others. You see, we are too scared to try something new because we feel like we are going to be judged, but this is just in our heads. You just have to remain true to yourself and your goals.

“You can break as many barriers as you like as long as you stay true to your roots and respect your family and country.”

As she continues to train to be a better athlete and trainer, she also aspires to be a better role model, and through her latest association with Nike, she hopes her message will reach a wider audience.

*Images courtesy of Nike Middle East

© MySalaam.com 2017 All rights reserved