Meet the Sugru-ers: Sebastien Foucan

Sébastien Foucan, one of the founding fathers of Parkour / freerunning (and Sugru-er!), is awesome. He's that guy from that amazing opening scene in Casino Royale and he's performed on tour with Madonna. Hollywood glamour aside, he spends most of his time dedicated to practising and developing his skills and his discipline, and teaching children and people of all ages, away from the public eye. 

Look at how amazing he is at what he does. He’s been at the forefront of the movement for over 30 years and even more so now that the UK has finally recognised freerunning as an official sport. His work and life philosophy reminds us that to live creatively, it’s important to keep doing your thing - only time, practice and doing doing doing can lead to mastery and new ideas. Oh, and he uses Sugru Mouldable Glue to fix things, like his earphones :)

Here are six ways we can all learn from Sébastien how to live a more creative life. 

1. Play

Freerunning is more than it appears to be. Some people see it as trespassing but in essence it's about embracing the freedom of childlike play, just trying something because you feel like doing it. No big expectations, just giving things a go even if they don't make sense to others. "We celebrate activity and playfulness whilst constantly challenging our mental and physical limits. It's more than just jumping, it is a health-driven way of life.” 

2. Give things a go

"You have to take some risks, but that's part of life. Sometimes you fall down, but falling down is a part of your learning. Not everybody can be a champion, but the most important thing is that you can try. It's a journey to become a champion, and through this journey you learn something."

3. Express yourself

Finding ways to genuinely express your point of view is a beautiful thing. "Free running is not exclusive, everybody should have something to do that takes them out of their mind, out of the fixed path and social systems, expressing yourself beautifully in your environment".

4. Keep doing your thing, only practice leads to mastery

Sebastien became and remains one of the best at what he does because he just kept doing it, over and over again, and pushing himself to experiment and try new things. Turning up, every single day. "Practice, practice, practice!"

5. Think about how you can make a positive impact on the world

Everything is connected, and for Sebastien, everything can be looked at in a philosophical way. He's jumping, running and climbing, and he's also reflecting on his choices and observations. "There's a link between everything, like in [the teachings of] martial arts, it's about energy and how we are all connected. Everything we do affects other people negatively or positively. I say, 'your life is a road, your feelings a guide, your body a vehicle'."

6. Surround yourself with people who inspire you

“We need inspiration to build ourselves. It doesn't have to be someone famous, it can be the very people around you, their attitude, their positivity, someone who's very strong.”

Thank you Sebastien for inspiring us and we're proud to have you as part of our community of fixers and makers!