At just 18 years old, Ryan Campbell from Northville, Michigan, is already making waves in the world of parkour and freerunning. A first-year member of APK Grey and a decade-long trainee with Phoenix Freerunning, Ryan’s journey is a testament to relentless dedication, raw talent, and a passion for movement that defies gravity. From clinching the speed competition championship at the Michigan Parkour League (MPL) at age 15 to training for the high-octane world of World Chase Tag, Ryan’s story is one of grit, growth, and boundless ambition. This biography dives deep into his early beginnings, meteoric rise, and vision for the future, painting a vivid picture of a young athlete poised to redefine parkour’s competitive landscape.
READ ALSO = Amin Ashraf, Flipping the Script on Parkour and Purpose in Beavercreek, Ohio
A Childhood in Motion: The Spark of Parkour
Born and raised in Northville, Michigan, Ryan Campbell grew up in a suburban setting where open spaces and playgrounds became his first training grounds. From an early age, Ryan was restless, always climbing trees, vaulting fences, and leaping over obstacles with an instinctive flair. His parents, recognizing his boundless energy, encouraged him to channel it into sports, but traditional activities like soccer or basketball never quite captured his imagination. It wasn’t until he stumbled upon parkour videos online at age eight that Ryan found his calling.
“I remember watching these guys flipping over walls and running across rooftops,” Ryan recalls. “It wasn’t just cool it felt like freedom.” Inspired by pioneers like David Belle and the urban artistry of free running, Ryan began mimicking movements in his backyard. What started as playful experimentation quickly became an obsession. By age nine, he was training regularly, practicing basic vaults and rolls on makeshift obstacles around Northville.
READ ALSO = The Rise of Brian Prince, the World’s Tallest Parkour Stuntman
Joining Phoenix Freerunning: A Game-Changing Mentorship
At 10, Ryan’s parents enrolled him at Phoenix Free running Academy in Livonia, Michigan the state’s only dedicated parkour gym. Founded in 2015, Phoenix Free running offered a safe, structured environment for Ryan to hone his skills under professional guidance. It was here that he met Jesse Harrison, a seasoned parkour athlete and coach who would become a pivotal figure in his journey.
Jesse, a former member of APK Blue, saw something special in Ryan a rare blend of speed, agility, and fearlessness. “He was this skinny kid with endless energy,” Jesse says. “But what stood out was his focus. He’d try a move a hundred times until he nailed it.” Under Jesse’s mentorship, Ryan progressed rapidly, mastering complex techniques like precision jumps, cat leaps, and kong vaults. Phoenix Free running’s obstacle courses, designed to mimic urban environments, became Ryan’s playground, where he spent hours perfecting his flow and building explosive strength.
READ ALSO = Frank Mejia Parkour SuperStar
Rising Through the Ranks: The MPL Speed Champion
By age 13, Ryan was competing in local parkour events, catching the attention of Michigan’s tight-knit free running community. His style was distinctly fast-paced, prioritizing efficiency and momentum over flashy tricks a trait that set him apart in competitions. In 2022, at just 15, Ryan entered the Michigan Parkour League (MPL) speed competition, a grueling event testing athletes’ ability to navigate obstacle courses in record time.
Against seasoned competitors, Ryan’s performance was nothing short of electrifying. He blazed through the course, chaining vaults and wall runs with surgical precision, clocking the fastest time of the day. Winning the MPL speed championship at such a young age cemented his reputation as a prodigy. “It felt unreal,” Ryan says. “I’d been training for years, but that moment showed me I could really do this.”
The victory wasn’t just a personal triumph it put Northville on the map as a hub for emerging parkour talent. Ryan’s win inspired younger athletes at Phoenix Free running, proving that dedication could lead to greatness, no matter one’s age or hometown.
READ ALSO = Elijah van der B, From Parkour Prodigy to World Chase Tag Aspirant in Alexandria, VA
A New Challenge: Training for World Chase Tag
Ryan’s success at MPL caught the eye of APK Grey, a competitive parkour team known for its prowess in speed and strategy. In 2024, at age 17, Ryan was invited to join as a first-year member, a significant milestone in his career. The team, part of the broader American Parkour (APK) community, specialized in World Chase Tag a fast-paced, tactical sport where athletes chase or evade opponents across a quad filled with obstacles.
Spurred on by Jesse Harrison, who had competed with APK Blue, Ryan dove into Chase Tag training with characteristic intensity. Unlike traditional parkour, Chase Tag demanded split-second decision-making, endurance, and strategic thinking. Ryan spent months refining his footwork, studying opponents’ patterns, and building stamina to outmaneuver chasers. “It’s like parkour on steroids,” he explains. “You’re not just moving you’re outsmarting someone trying to catch you.”
His training regimen is grueling: daily sessions at Phoenix Free running, sprint intervals to boost speed, and strength workouts targeting core and lower-body power. Ryan also incorporates mental conditioning, visualizing courses to sharpen his instincts. His natural speed, honed over years of competition, gives him an edge, but he’s working to master the evasive maneuvers that define top Chase Tag athletes.
READ ALSO = Mark Toorock, The Hero Who Brought Parkour to America
Life Beyond Parkour: Balancing School and Ambition
Despite his athletic achievements, Ryan remains a grounded 18-year-old navigating the challenges of young adulthood. A senior at Northville High School, he balances a demanding training schedule with academics, aiming to graduate with honors in 2025. His favorite subjects physics and math reflect his analytical approach to parkour, where angles and momentum are critical.
Outside the gym, Ryan is a typical teenager who enjoys gaming, hiking with friends, and exploring Michigan’s trails. He’s also passionate about inspiring others, often coaching younger kids at Phoenix Freerunning. “I want them to feel what I felt when I started,” he says. “Like they can do anything if they keep moving.”
Ryan’s family plays a crucial role in his success. His parents, both professionals in Northville, have supported his unconventional path, driving him to competitions and cheering from the sidelines. “They’ve always believed in me,” Ryan says. “Even when I was flipping off couches and freaking them out.”
READ ALSO = Mark Bowles Parkour
The Road Ahead: A Vision for Greatness
As Ryan looks to the future, his goals are as ambitious as his leaps. He aims to compete in national Chase Tag events with APK Grey, with dreams of representing the U.S. on the global stage. Beyond competition, he hopes to grow parkour’s presence in Michigan, advocating for more training facilities and community events. “Parkour’s still niche here,” he notes. “I want to show people it’s not just stunts it’s a way to challenge yourself.”
Ryan is also exploring a career that blends his love for movement with his academic interests. He’s considering studying kinesiology or sports science, fields that align with his fascination with human performance. Whatever path he chooses, one thing is clear: Ryan Campbell is just getting started.
Why Ryan Campbell Matters
In a world where sports often demand conformity, Ryan embodies the spirit of parkour freedom, creativity, and resilience. His journey from a Northville backyard to competitive arenas reflects a universal truth: passion can transform obstacles into opportunities. As he vaults toward new heights, Ryan isn’t just chasing tags or titles he’s chasing a legacy that inspires others to move boldly through life.
READ ALSO = Matthew ‘Brother’ Wachtman, Ellicott City’s Parkour Prodigy Redefining Movement and Healing