The Libyan Parkour Players Union (LPPU) was formed in June 2016 as an organization whose aim was to be concerned with the needs and the futures of all Parkour players in Libya. Due to the state of affairs, LPPU wanted to create an umbrella for Parkour athletes in both sport as well as other matters in life. According to LPPU, “From the love of the sport it all started, it’s the building block that our bond is built around 2014 when we decided that we wanted to share our passion with the people. We started our team and started filming and showing it to everyone so people know what Parkour is, but it wasn’t that long until the war started in our dear city of Benghazi. It became the war that would take us away from each other. Two of our co-founders, Mohammed and Farag, had to move to another city because their houses were in the war zone. We lost so many friends… some had to flee the city… many of our friends died in the war. Some of our friends found themselves lost in the middle of drugs and alcohol, never to return. We knew that we had to do something, that we needed to find a way to gather those guys and take them in and have a place to go to in the dark times. What we knew was Parkour. That is how LPPU was born”.

Some of the LPPU founders were members of the Benghazi based Parkour team “Freerun Force” Libya. Here is their story.

LPPU has participated in various of events in Libya, such as “World Peace Day”, the “Benghazi Arrived” Festival, as well as many charity fund raising festivals throughout the city. Two of LPPU’s founders Mohammed Eed and Jabr Ismaio competed in the 2018 World Parkour Championship, Mardin, Turkey and also were LPPU’s representatives from Libya to the IPF- International Parkour Federation international congress also held in Mardin, Turkey. LPPU is also concerned with training the next generation of Parkour athletes, from young children to teens and young adults, in both the physical discipline as well as the positive mindset of Parkour training.

MUHAMMED EED (below) , board member and a co-founder of the Libyan Parkour Players Union LPPU and one of the representatives of Libya in the first IPF International Congress in Mardin, Turkey in 2018.
A 25 year old architect, co-owner of Zaid architectural company, a former gymnast since 1999-2006, a Taekwondo player since 2008-2010 and a Parkour athletes since 2007. A winner of multiple national championships in gymnastics and Parkour and the 1st place winner of 2013 Libyan Parkour and freerunning championship. Mr. EED also competed in the 2018 WFPF World Parkour Championship (an IPF event), Mardin, Turkey, representing Libya.

JABR ISMAIO (below) , board member and a co-founder of the Libyan Parkour Players Union LPPU and one of the representatives of Libya in the first IPF International Congress in Mardin, Turkey in 2018. Mr. Ismaio is
a 27 year old medical student, is the head of the immigration unit of the Libyan Red Crescent-Benghazi, a former Karate player since 2000-2003, a freerunner since 2008, and the 3rd place winner of 2017 Libyan Street workout championship. Mr. Ismaio also competed in the 2018 WFPF World Parkour Championship (an IPF event), Mardin, Turkey, representing Libya. In 2019 Mr. Ismaio was honored to became a member of the IPF (International Parkour Federation) Medical Advisory Committee.

MAHMOUD YAKOUP (below), board member and a co-founder of the Libyan Parkour Players Union LPPU,
a 23year old university architecture student, a Taekwondo player since 2007-2010, a Parkour athlete since 2012, a first place champion and participant in multiple Libyan national Taekwondo championships, and the official photographer of LPPU and Freerun Force Benghazi.

FARAG ELDRISI (below), board member and a co-founder of the Libyan Parkour Players Union LPPU, a 29 year old University sports science student, a free-runner since 2010, personal trainer, and the owner of Freerun gym, Benghazi’s premier Parkour training center.

FAHEIM MOHAMMED (below), board member and a co-founder of the Libyan Parkour Players Union LPPU, A 2 dan black belt in Kyokoshin karate, athlete/instructor, a photographer since 2011-present, and fitness
Instructor for over 15years.

LPPU says, “Our vision is to grow the sport of Parkour in Libya, to guide the future generation of Parkour athletes, as the official national federation of Libya under IPF. Through the sport of Parkour and the youth, we can work together, hand and hand with Libyan Parkour athletes, to help rebuild and bring peace back to Libya. Optimism and parkour are our guides!”

Muhammed Eed and Jabr Ismaio (below) in their competition gear at the WFPF World Parkour Championship Mardin, Turkey 2018- an official IPF event.