Guide to Gymnastics

At Spokane Gymnastics, the coaches focus on encouraging the development of strength, skill and character through gymnastics training in a positive environment. We strive to offer a program where every student has the greatest opportunity to succeed, no matter what their level or goal.

We strive to balance teaching proper gymnastics skills, terminology and progressions in a fun environment where students are taught by breaking down the elements of the particular skills, hands-on “spotting” and training, low student-to-coach ratios and positive reinforcement. We believe that gymnastics is not only one of the most rewarding sports with unlimited benefits to other activities, but also FUN!

Gymnastics not only increases strength, flexibility and balance, it is also encourages hard work, discipline and determination.

Spokane Gymnastics Xcel Program

Xcel is an alternative USA Gymnastics competitive program offering individual flexibility to coaches and gymnasts. The goal of Xcel is to provide gymnasts of varying abilities and commitment levels, the opportunity for a rewarding and ongoing gymnastics experience.

Xcel levels include: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond

Additional Gymnastics Disciplines

Rhythmic Gymnastics – routines are choreographed to music and are performed on the floor. Gymnasts include body elements involving dance, combined with the angling of small equipment involving a rope, hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon, of which only four of the apparatus are competed each quad. The choreography must cover the entire floor and contain a balanced choice of jumps, leaps, pivots, balances and flexibility movements.

Acrobatic gymnastics – combines dance, gymnastics skills and synchronization. Engaging choreography and brilliant attire are also part of the sport. There are five events incorporated within the acrobatic discipline. The events are women’s pair, men’s pair, mixed pair, women’s group (3) and men’s group (4). Each pair/group performs routines featuring gymnastics tumbling skills and partner balances. Balancing skills highlight the athlete’s strength and flexibility through pyramids and static positions at the top. Dynamic skills involve somersaults and twisting with landings on the floor or catches by the bottom partner. Routines are performed on the same spring floor that artistic gymnasts use to perform floor routines. Athletes of varying heights, weights and body types are needed for acrobatic gymnastics. Smaller, more flexible athletes are needed as tops, while taller and stronger athletes are ideal for base positions.

Parkour – the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one’s path by adapting one’s movements to the environment. It is a physical discipline of French origin in which participants run along a route, attempting to negotiate obstacles in the most efficient way possible. Skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves are employed. The goal of a practitioner of parkour is to get from one place to another using only the human body and the objects in the environment. The obstacles can be anything in one’s environment, such as buildings and rails. Several coaches at Spokane Gymnastics are Parkour Level 1 and 2 Certified through the World Parkour and Free-running Federation.

Ninja Zone – a dynamic, obstacle-based training program that combines gymnastics, parkour, climbing, and strength skills. Athletes learn to navigate a variety of obstacles using running, jumping, swinging, vaulting, and climbing movements while developing agility, coordination, balance, and total-body strength. Classes are designed to be progressive and skill-based, encouraging athletes to problem-solve and adapt their movement to each obstacle. Ninja Zone emphasizes safe technique, body awareness, confidence, and perseverance while allowing athletes to challenge themselves at their own level. The program is performed on specialized equipment including tic tac blocks, bars, and other modular obstacles that can be reconfigured to create new challenges. Ninja Zone is ideal for athletes who enjoy high-energy training and non-traditional gymnastics pathways while building functional strength and athletic movement.

Spokane Gymnastics offers instructional gymnastics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Ninja Zone, and Parkour Gymnastics. Individual coaches are available to teach Acrobatic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Cheer.