Q&A: Khalil Bryant’s Journey in World Chase Tag
How a U-M applied physics graduate student found speed, strategy, and community in the world’s fastest game of tag.
For most graduate students, balancing research and coursework is a full-time endeavor. But for Khalil Bryant, a fifth-year Applied Physics PhD student at the University of Michigan, there’s another challenge that keeps him on his toes—literally. When he’s not studying complex physics problems, Khalil is sprinting, dodging, and leaping through the high-intensity world of World Chase Tag (WCT). A lifelong athlete with a passion for parkour, he recently competed in the WCT Open Tournament in Atlanta, where he and his team put their agility and strategy to the test. In this Q&A, Khalil shares how he got involved in the sport, what it was like competing on the “quad,” and how his academic mindset helps him navigate the fast-paced world of competitive chase tag.
Can you start by sharing a bit about your background?
My name is Khalil Bryant and I am a 5th year graduate student in the Applied Physics program. I am originally from Wayne, MI and completed my undergraduate in physics at the University of Michigan.
How did you first get involved in World Chase Tag, and what drew you to the sport?
I have been doing parkour recreationally since I was in high school and climbing and jumping even before I learned about parkour. After joining the parkour club at the university and becoming one of the leaders, I have met others who became World Chase Tag competitors. One of the other parkour group leaders, Will, expressed that I have promise in the sport and invited me to practice at an official quad and eventually compete in the tournament.
Can you tell me a bit about the tournament structure? (When, where specifically, who all competed)
The World Chase Tag competition was December 7-8 at the NYX Training Center in Woodstock, GA. The competition was a smaller open tournament so anyone could join but those who do well enough qualify for the Championship tournament for World Chase Tag. People from the previous Championship competition and some of the best in the world were there.
What was it like competing in the tournament in Atlanta? Can you describe the atmosphere and your most memorable moment?
The entire experience was very intense. Being our team’s first time there, I was really nervous to even warm up on the “quad”, the area in which the chases are done. Getting past that, and changing my perspective from an effort to win, into an effort to learn as many strategies and techniques as I can, made the anxiety change to excitement and curiosity. There are plenty of memorable moments, my favorite would probably be when my teammate got our first successful evasion of the tournament, and cheering him on.
What skills or qualities do you think have helped you excel both in your academic work and in this sport?
My curiosity and focus allow me to have a clear head when discussing and deliberating on strategies in chase tag and solving problems when it comes to academic endeavors.
Is there anything about your experience as a graduate student that has influenced your approach to World Chase Tag?
I wouldn’t think so since chase tag appeals to an interest I have had long before graduate school.
What do you enjoy most about the sport, and how has it shaped your life outside of academics?
I enjoy the athletics of the sport since they are most relevant to parkour and not strict in terms of form but more so on speed. Because I have been doing parkour for so long, I have plenty of the prerequisite skills for this sport. In gaining these skills, I have met people and gone to places that have made big impacts on my life by influencing some of the more important decisions I make for my life’s direction.
Who has been your biggest inspiration or support system throughout your journey in this sport?
My friend and coach, Will, is the most supportive person for me in this sport and who wanted me to participate the most. He believes that I have the potential to be one of the best competitors in the world for this sport.
Looking ahead, do you have any specific goals for your future in World Chase Tag or in your academic career?
For this year, our team is planning to practice at different “quad”s owned by parkour gyms across the country and develop strategies to be prepared for next year’s tournament. The goal is to perform better at this tournament than the last.
Header image: Khalil trains at the Dexterity Depot gym in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.