RU
A short interview for the newspaper.
Journalist (J): Hello! There’s a lot of hate around quadrobics right now, and we want to create an explainer with participants. First, what is this sport, and what does it involve?
Respondent (R): Quadrobics is a physical activity that combines elements of parkour and aerobics. It involves moving on all fours while mimicking the grace of animals.
J: How did you get into quadrobics, and what do you like about it?
R: I’ve been a therian for a long time, and as soon as I saw a bunch of tutorial videos on quadrobics, I decided to give it a try. Running on all fours is fun and good for your health.
J: Do you hold competitions, or do you just film videos?
R: There are no official competitions in Russia yet because there’s no federation or legal entity to develop regulations and organize them. But amateur competitions happen periodically.
J: What do these amateur competitions look like? Do you plan them yourselves? What disciplines are there? Where are they held?
R: A bunch of kids come with their parents, though those over 16 can come alone. They’re usually held in parks on surfaces suitable for running and jumping, like grass. There’s speed and distance running, high and long jumps, contests for mimicking animal grace, and four-legged dancing.
J: I looked into it, and therians seem to be quite an old subculture. Am I right in understanding that these are people who believe an animal spirit lives within them? What animal lives in you? Sorry if the question is inappropriate—I’m just trying to understand.
R: Therianthropy is a matter of belief. Before quadrobics, it was a very serious thing for some people, but with the quadrobics hype, calling yourself a therian has become trendy. For many quadrobists, it’s now more about external attributes—like howling or meowing—rather than anything deep. My theriotypes, for example, are a wolf and a lynx.
J: How does this belief that an animal spirit lives in you manifest?
R: It’s like believing in your totem animal. It has very ancient roots.
J: I’m trying to understand. How does it manifest, and how did you get interested in it?
R: It’s about wanting to connect with your inner nature and unlock your potential. Many quadrobists just follow the trend and say, “I’m a cat.” But it’s more accurate to feel which animal you’re drawn to, noticing which behaviors or personality traits align with it. It’s a complex and very subjective process—you can watch nature documentaries and compare.
J: So, there’s no universal system for determining this? A person just notices certain traits in themselves?
R: Yes, it’s individual. Someone can be a furry, a therian, and a quadrobist all at once, or just one of those things. It comes in all combinations.
J: Are all these movements connected by a love for nature and a desire to mimic animals?
R: Yes, but in different ways. For therians, quadrobics isn’t just a fun sport—it’s a way to get closer to their theriotype.
J: Am I right that therians are mostly an older group, not kids? Nowadays, everyone talks about quadrobics as a kids’ hobby.
R: That was true before quadrobics, but not anymore. In 2021, there were maybe 10 quadrobists in all of Moscow, aged 15–20. But as the community grew, more kids joined, and now they’re the majority.
J: Do you view this with a bit of skepticism?
R: You could think that those who started earlier would grow up and there’d be more adults in quadrobics, but many quit after a year.
J: Why? Is it tough? Is it a difficult sport? Or just a trendy fad?
R: Quadrobics requires a lot of training and above-average physical fitness. Only those who’ve done acrobatics, competitive gymnastics, or, like me, parkour, really succeed. Just getting on all fours and running gracefully without preparation is impossible. But people don’t just quit because it’s hard—many outgrow it and move on to other interests.
J: Did quadrobics form independently of therians, but they were its first followers?
R: More like the last ones. A few key YouTube videos sparked it, and when TikTok came along, quadrobics became a global trend. Therians had nothing to do with it—if they could’ve created quadrobics, they would’ve done it earlier.
J: What are the challenges with quadrobics in terms of safety? Can we say that, like any sport, it requires preparation?
R: Quadrobics is considered an extreme sport because you can injure your hands, especially wrists, which bear a lot of stress (body weight plus jump momentum). Proper technique and conditions are crucial. Like any sport, if you follow safety rules and don’t overdo it, the risk of injury drops significantly.
J: Today, people started posting about a letter from Akhmedova demanding a ban on everything not yet banned.
R: I haven’t heard about it, but I’ll check it out. I can’t imagine how they’d ban hundreds of thousands of kids from meowing and wearing masks. It’d be easier to create a quadrobics federation with clear rules and open schools alongside parkour sections—it’d be safer and more beneficial for everyone.
J: Yeah, otherwise they’ll label it a “destructive movement” and spark a wave of hate. It’s happened before—like with goths in my youth, when they were accused of everything from satanism to suicides.
R: Hmm, but goths didn’t exactly disappear back then. It’s all cyclical.
J: Have you personally faced hate? How do you live in this not-so-friendly environment?
R: Like many, I practice and film videos in secluded places. If it’s a public space, it’s during meetups with lots of participants. Haters who comment just get blocked.
J: Last silly question: you don’t go to the store with a tail and on all fours, right? It sounds scary, but people are afraid this is where it’s headed. And you don’t eat cat food, do you?
R: Haha, that’s something 12-year-olds might do—I see no point in it. Eating cat food and such are rare cases hyped up for attention. I don’t know anyone who does that.
J: Have there been any notable conflicts where someone picked a fight?
R: I’ve heard of haters breaking masks or attacking quadrobists, but I haven’t experienced it myself.
J: Can we say that those videos are mostly kids chasing clout, and they’re a small part of quadrobists? Most are just regular people with a hobby.
R: Yes, kids do it without thinking. And the media spreads it for clicks.
J: Thank you so much! If I have more questions, I’ll reach out. Should I let you review the text before publication? About the nickname, I’ll check, but we usually use a name—you can pick any one.
R: Happy to share. Feel free to reach out! ^^
