PUHI — Latisha Alo started out as a wrestler. She is still a wrestler, but after using gymnastics to enhance her skills in wrestling, she came back, said Kay Leonard, one of the coaches at the Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy in
PUHI — Latisha Alo started out as a wrestler.
She is still a wrestler, but after using gymnastics to enhance her skills in wrestling, she came back, said Kay Leonard, one of the coaches at the Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy in Puhi.
“She came for private lessons before leaving for Colorado where she went on to earn a gold medal in wrestling,” Kay said. “But she liked gymnastics so much, she came back and after we asked her if she wanted to be part of the team, she’s now one of the group.”
Unfortunately, a school assignment kept Alo from working out with the rest of the Hoku Hui, or Star Group, during last night’s practice, but Kay said she will be part of the show that unfolds Sunday at the center stage area of the Kukui Grove Shopping Center starting at 1 p.m., sharp.
“The kids are determined, and their goals are plentiful,” Jack Leonard, the head coach of KGA, said. Jack, who was awarded a Hall of Fame ring for his involvement in gymnastics by his high school, said that determination is what keeps bringing the kids back.
During his 35 years of coaching gymnastics at all levels, Jack said, “There is a certain mystique about being upside down. The kids love to be upside down, and when they learn they can do other things, it intrigues them more. They have insatiable appetites for learning.”
As Kula Hui student Lani Johnson went through one of her warmup moves, Jack pointed out that there are a lot of other moves involved in the move that resembled a ballet movement.
“Her head is straight ahead, her legs are spread apart and she can’t see what is happening with her back leg,” Jack said. “If she does it wrong on the beam, that’s a wake-up call.”
According to the KGA Web site, “We believe that the best coaches know how to break a trick down more ways than someone else,” the Leonards state. “So, if saying it one way isn’t getting the message across, then we need to come up with a different way to convey it.”
Jack said gymnastics got a boost when Olga Korbett made her appearance in gymnastics. Since that time, Nadia Comaneci kept the spark alive in 1976, and many more notables have kept aspiring gymnasts motivated, Jack said.
KGA gymnasts will be representing the three groups that range in age from 6 through 15 years old when they open their show.
The Iki Hui, or Small Group, was working out with Daphne Therese on the back handspring trainer, the youngsters rolling back on the padded trainer, and with Therese’s help, flipping and ending with the familiar hands-up gymnast pose.
Hoku Hui, or Star Group, has the most gymnasts, and Kula Hui, or Gold Group, are the older students.
“The gymnastics excitement just never stops,” Jack said. “About the time interest begins to wane, another personality appears to give it a boost.”
For more information, people can call KGA at 245-8863, or visit its Web site at www.kauaigymnastics.com.
