Why PFT Exists
OUR STORY
A personal message from Kurtis Torbett, founder of PFT Academy
"Hi, I'm Kurtis Torbett, founder of PFT Academy."
If you've taken the time to visit our website, I'd like to share the story behind why PFT exists.
Many people assume that someone who has built a career around sport must have grown up immersed in it. The reality is quite different. I came from a family that didn't have much, and organised sport was often out of reach. I was also a child who struggled to fit in, spending much of my time daydreaming, exploring and simply trying to find where I belonged.
What I did have was play.
Being a child born in the 90s, my brother and I spent our days climbing trees, balancing along walls, racing bikes, practising handstands and turning everyday environments into adventures. Looking back, I didn't realise it at the time, but those experiences taught me many of the same lessons that would later draw me to Parkour, Freerunning and Tricking: creativity, exploration and seeing opportunity where others saw obstacles.
From Gaming & Comics to Extreme Sports
As a teenager, I explored plenty of sports, but if I'm honest, I also spent a lot of time gaming, reading comics and generally being a fairly overweight teenager. A career in sport was probably the last thing anyone would have predicted for me.
While I found some natural ability in traditional sports, I never found much passion for them. Everything changed when I began exploring extreme sports videos on YouTube and discovered the worlds of Parkour, Freerunning and Tricking.
If I'm completely honest, the first thing that attracted me wasn't community, personal development or some deep life lesson. It just looked cool. People were jumping between rooftops, flipping over obstacles and doing things I genuinely couldn't believe were possible. I wanted to do that too.
These sports changed my life. They gave me direction, ambition and a community where I felt I belonged. They helped build my confidence, creativity and athleticism.
A Professional Background in Movement
My passion led me to become a coach and acrobatic performer. Over the years, I have coached multiple gymnastics disciplines, studied Sports Science and Coaching Studies, performed professionally across the world, and built a career within the stunt industry as a member of the prestigious British Stunt Register.
Every step taught me something valuable about movement, people and personal development.
The Missing Ingredient: Community
Throughout my coaching journey, I noticed something was often missing: Community. Many clubs taught skills and classes well, but few created a genuine sense of belonging between athletes, parents and coaches.
I often thought about creating something different, but never acted on it until the closure of the local Freestyle programme at the gymnastics club; the only place where people could really learn these sports.
I decided it was time to act.
"Cue spending my savings on a van, taking out a loan, buying specialist equipment and having more belief than common sense."
PFT Academy was born.
Creating Opportunities & Belonging
Yes, I wanted to teach these sports, and I think I'd be lying if I claimed some grand motivation or deeper meaning behind starting the club. But as we began to grow, I realised that I wanted to create a community, more so than a club. A place where Parkour, Freerunning and Tricking could create opportunities for those who were looking for them.
"Opportunities" can be quite an ambiguous phrase, so what do I mean?
Because that is what Parkour, Freerunning and Tricking gave me. That's what I hope PFT can do for others. Whether somebody joins us for a few months or many years, if we can help bring a little more confidence, friendship, challenge and joy into their life, then we've done something worthwhile.
From Mobile Club to Purpose-Built Facility
Nearly five years later, PFT Academy has grown from a small mobile club into its own purpose-built facility, supporting families of all ages through preschool classes, Rising 5s classes, daytime classes, afternoon classes, teen classes and adult classes.
More importantly, it has become a community filled with incredible athletes, families and coaches who make PFT what it is today.
"Every stage of my journey was shaped by the opportunity to explore, learn and grow. And that changed my life. PFT Academy is simply my way of creating more of them for others."
Kurtis Torbett
Founder, PFT Academy Ltd
Thank you for taking a moment to read my story and what led to the creation of PFT Academy Ltd.
