This New Fitness Trend On The Streets Of Palestine Defies Gravity

Alena Hall

First there was Parkour, the French-based urban movement that used city landscapes to accomplish impressive acrobatic feats.

Now, there's street workout, which has a similar ethos but goes into even more extreme environments with an emphasis on functional fitness. And, according to Palestinian photographer Mohammed Abed, it is now bringing a sense of empowerment to the youth in Gaza City.

Abed told The Huffington Post that he was introduced to the global trend by his son, Osama, who discovered the local street workout group Bar Palestine in their community via Facebook. Abed found the sport fascinating, offered to create an exclusive photo story for the young men on the team, and they enthusiastically accepted.

This photograph of Palestine native and street workout practitioner Eyad Ayad is one of the many Abed captured during his time with the sports team last week. Here, Ayad engages every muscle from head to toe to suspend himself in the air horizontally, balancing above the rubble that covers most of the war-torn streets in Gaza City.

(Photo: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images)
(Photo: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images)

Street workout first emerged in New York City in 2010 and began gaining traction in the Middle East with Ayad and his team at Bar Palestine in 2013.

While parkour focuses on moving from one place to another in the most efficient way possible, street workout is all about using existing constructs to perform athletic feats and crazy calisthenics. It takes headstands, push-ups and pull-ups to an entirely new level.

The art of street workout is even more striking in Abed's photos as the Bar Palestine team practices their best moves among the destruction and turns their streets into a fitness playground. In the middle of the siege with the borders closed and communities just beginning to heal, youth life in Gaza City is particularly turbulent. Poverty and unemployment are the norm rather than the exception, according to Abed, and this sport gives these young men hope.

"Bar Palestine decided to practice the game in Gaza because it doesn't exist in Palestine yet," he said. "The members adore the game and follow the hard exercises through YouTube channels. The team members [are] determined to introduce their selves (sic) to the world as a team from Gaza... but they don't have [a] professional coach, athletic federation or place for practicing. They do not find work, [and] do not have possibilities to travel to express their talents which they learned online. They didn't find anything better than forming a team to do what they love, and performing sports movements in the streets."

(Photo: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images)
(Photo: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images)

While this Palestinian club is clearly impressive, they are far from the only team in the game. The World Federation of Street Workout and Calisthenics has been around since 2011 and the first Street Workout World Championship was hosted in Latvia that same year.

Since discovering the street workout movement in Gaza City and photographing this particular group of young men, Abed began encouraging his son to join in while he studies at the nearby university. He has few hobbies amid the siege, and has now seen firsthand how beneficial this sport could be for him.

Take a look at the amazing new photos of the Bar Palestine team below, combining the arts of strength and balance in some seriously impressive ways.

Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Members of Palestinian sports group Bar Palestine perform on the beach in Gaza City on August 7, 2015. Street workout, which is still new in Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Members of Palestinian sports group Bar Palestine perform on the beach in Gaza City on August 7, 2015. Street workout, which is still new in Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on the coast of Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on the coast of Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian Mahmoud Nasman, of team Bar Palestine, suspends during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian Mahmoud Nasman, of team Bar Palestine, suspends during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian Eyad Ayad, of team Bar Palestine, suspends during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian Eyad Ayad, of team Bar Palestine, suspends during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on the coast in Gaza City on August 2, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on the coast in Gaza City on August 2, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on the coast of Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on the coast of Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian Bakr al-Makadmeh, of Bar Palestine group, flexes his muscles during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian Bakr al-Makadmeh, of Bar Palestine group, flexes his muscles during street exercises amid the destruction in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on a roundabout in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.
Palestinian group, Bar Palestine, take part in street exercises on a roundabout in Gaza City on August 3, 2015. Street workout, that is still new to Gaza, is a growing sport across the world with annual competitions and events.

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Romanian Twists Step 1

Keep feet and shoulders off the ground by placing all your weight on your butt. Flatten your back and twist side to side to touch the dumbbell to the ground without dropping your feet.
Keep feet and shoulders off the ground by placing all your weight on your butt. Flatten your back and twist side to side to touch the dumbbell to the ground without dropping your feet.

Romanian Twists Step 2

Goblet Squat

Keep your back flat and send hips down and back towards the ground. Try to keep feet flat or slightly weighted towards the heels while sitting back and down. Work towards getting the crease in your hips below the crease in your knees. Hold elbows in tight against the body and keep dumbbell or kettle bell close to the chest
Keep your back flat and send hips down and back towards the ground. Try to keep feet flat or slightly weighted towards the heels while sitting back and down. Work towards getting the crease in your hips below the crease in your knees. Hold elbows in tight against the body and keep dumbbell or kettle bell close to the chest

V-Ups

Lift shoulders and legs at the same time. When you reach the height of the V-Up all weight should be balanced on your butt. Keep legs as straight as possible. To make it easier, leave arms down so your hands can balance you on the floor. To make it more advanced, raise arms over your head and towards your feet at the top of the "V".
Lift shoulders and legs at the same time. When you reach the height of the V-Up all weight should be balanced on your butt. Keep legs as straight as possible. To make it easier, leave arms down so your hands can balance you on the floor. To make it more advanced, raise arms over your head and towards your feet at the top of the "V".

Burpee

Squat until hands touch the ground in front of you then hop both feet back to a plank position. Lower down until chest touches the floor and push up into a plank. Hop feet back in by your hands and stand up, jumping as high as you can.
Squat until hands touch the ground in front of you then hop both feet back to a plank position. Lower down until chest touches the floor and push up into a plank. Hop feet back in by your hands and stand up, jumping as high as you can.

Burpee Step 2

Dumbbell Snatch

Squat down to pick up the dumbbell with back completely flat. Push through the feet to stand up while bringing the dumbbell overhead. Keep the arm straight and dumbbell close to the body until the hips are completely open, then you can bend the arm, leading with the elbow to "flick" the dumbbell overhead.
Squat down to pick up the dumbbell with back completely flat. Push through the feet to stand up while bringing the dumbbell overhead. Keep the arm straight and dumbbell close to the body until the hips are completely open, then you can bend the arm, leading with the elbow to "flick" the dumbbell overhead.

Dumbbell Snatch Step 2

Kettle Bell Swing

Use your hips. Keep your back flat while sending the hips back and hinging at the waist. Shoot your hips forward to swing the kettlebell overhead. Be sure the bottom of the bell swings as well; don't let it go limp in your hands
Use your hips. Keep your back flat while sending the hips back and hinging at the waist. Shoot your hips forward to swing the kettlebell overhead. Be sure the bottom of the bell swings as well; don't let it go limp in your hands

Kettle Bell Swing Step 2

Kettle Bell Swing Step 3

Superwoman/Superman

Lift arms and legs off the ground at the same time while squeezing glutes at the top.
Lift arms and legs off the ground at the same time while squeezing glutes at the top.

Dumbbell Row

Start in a hollow body, rounded back position. Squeeze your abs and glutes to maintain a good shape while lifting. Lift the dumbbell straight up to your armpit and lower with control. Switch arms and repeat
Start in a hollow body, rounded back position. Squeeze your abs and glutes to maintain a good shape while lifting. Lift the dumbbell straight up to your armpit and lower with control. Switch arms and repeat

Mountain Climbers Step 1

Place one foot up by the palm of your hand. Extend the other leg as far back as possible with a straight leg. In one movement, jump and switch the legs to the same position on the opposite side
Place one foot up by the palm of your hand. Extend the other leg as far back as possible with a straight leg. In one movement, jump and switch the legs to the same position on the opposite side

Mountain Climbers Step 2

Tuck Jump

Jump and bring the knees into the chest then round out your back into a hollow body at the top of the jump. Land with a flat back and a slight squat to absorb the weight of the jump. This is definitely an advanced move.
Jump and bring the knees into the chest then round out your back into a hollow body at the top of the jump. Land with a flat back and a slight squat to absorb the weight of the jump. This is definitely an advanced move.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.