LIHU‘E — Students from the Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy offered their parents a unique Christmas gift — an exhibition of their achievements, Sunday at the Kukui Grove Center, said Jack Leonard, co-owner of the Puhi gym facility. Kay Leonard, Jack’s wife
LIHU‘E — Students from the Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy offered their parents a unique Christmas gift — an exhibition of their achievements, Sunday at the Kukui Grove Center, said Jack Leonard, co-owner of the Puhi gym facility.
Kay Leonard, Jack’s wife and co-owner of Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy, said gymnastics is year-round and Jack offers his experience and background to help train a variety of people involved in sports, cheerleading and gymnastics.
Mark Bonilla and Nelson Acosta, former cheerleaders for Kapa‘a and Waimea high schools, respectively, currently serve as cheer coaches among their other responsibilities at the gym. The pair accompanied the Waimea High School cheer squad, KIF champions, to the 11th Zippy’s/Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association State Cheerleading Championships recently where they served as spotters for the Menehune team who became the first Neighbor Island team to capture the Medium Division state crown.
One of the new facets of this year’s exhibition included parkour, a way of movement focusing on moving around obstacles with speed and efficiency.
Jack Leonard said this has caught on at Kaua‘i Gymnastics Academy, where young children through adults study it in four different classes.
Among the studenta showing parkour moves Sunday was Tanner McDaniel. At 12, McDaniel is already the 2011 USBA 12 and Under National Champion after winning first place in the 13-18 division at the USBA Jenks Pro/Am as well as first place in the Open division at the USBA Jenks Pro/Am 2011 contest earlier this year.
The 12-year-old kept pace with the older parkour athletes, in some instances using his lighter weight to out-trick his older counterparts.
Gymnastics is the jumping off point for many sports, activities and getting through life with a fit lifestyle, the Kaua‘i Gymnastics website states.
Kay said the gym will be open through Saturday and then will close for the winter break.
However, there will be the Winter Break Fun camp on Dec. 28 and the popular Obstacle Course on Dec. 30.
Visit www.kauaigymnastics.com for more information.
