Simon Lee of Street Workout Barkids
Simon Lee (center) founded Street Workout Barkids, an outdoor workout regime taking place in parks in Tin Shui Wai. He tells Yannie Chan about park exercising etiquette and how not to intimidate teenagers.
HK Magazine: When did you start working out in parks?
Simon Lee: I began in 2012 after I saw videos online of people doing really cool gym moves in the park. The exercisers looked elegant and extremely fit, so I tried to do the same in Tin Shui Wai. I became quite obsessive at first—one hour each before and after work. It works! I used to be very skinny, and now I’m quite muscular.
HK: Did you feel embarrassed to exercise in public?
SL: Not really. There’s this 61-year-old man who works out in the park quite often, who I think of as my sifu. He showed me how to do moves like pull-ups. If I can look like him when I am 60, that would be super awesome. He encouraged me to work out in parks, and when I decided to form an organization, he had my back as well.
HK: How many members are in Street Workout Barkids?
SL: We have about 200 members, and about 50 come to our classes on a regular basis. During a full class, we fill the playground doing push-ups and then we take turns doing pull-ups at the bar. It is quite a sight—not too different from the morning tai chi classes you see in other parks. Aunties and uncles usually observe on the side and join in when we’re doing moves they like.
HK: Tin Shui Wai’s nickname is the “City of Sadness.” What’s that about?
SL: Tin Shui Wai is one of the poorest districts and, yes, many young people in the neighborhood come from troubled backgrounds. We’ve had people with triad links come to us and being rather rude, but after a while, they started to work out with us. Also, a year ago, you’d see many smoking and drinking beer on the playground. But not anymore! They saw us getting fitter and decided to join. I don’t know if it’s because of us—I’m fairly sure it’s not—but the community has gotten much more intimate.
