Trans friendly gymnastics space, ahoy, all in one of the most uniquely awesome buildings I've ever had the honor of round-off back tucking my way through. More on both below.
I kind of can't believe I didn't write a review here sooner, considering how much I love this place and the people who make it great.
So! Figure skating is one of my major passions, and it's the sport I've trained in for well over 20 years. Gymnastics has always had a special place in my heart though, and if I'd had the time, I almost certainly would've focused on both as a kid.
I've taken a few gymnastics classes over the years, but mostly stopped my involvement in the sport after high school. Then, back in early 2013, I got the itch to try it out again as I was nearing 30. I'd just moved to San Francisco and was delighted to find a gymnastics and circus skills training center so close by. Even better? They offer adult tumbling classes for people with a variety of skill levels, from complete beginner to I-used-to-do-this-on-a-college-team-and-want-a-few-technique-reminders.
The space itself is one-of-a-kind, with towering ceilings, an upstairs viewing area, tumble track and tramp (those are two separate things, for the uninitiated), full floor, aerial equipment, and all the apparatuses you'd see at a run-of-the-mill gymnastics competition.
Or, you know, the Olympics.
I hear they've also recently installed a foam pit, which means I kind of need to get my butt back there to try it out.
I want to be detailed here about my experience as a transgender adult participating in classes at Acrosports, as I don't feel that a previous reviewer accurately described Acrosports' approach to trans individuals who participate in the curriculum. Moreover, accusing a business of gender discrimination when there happens to be none appropriates the very real oppression many trans children and adults experience. Not cool. (The reviewer claimed her daughter was not allowed to join a boy's gymnastics class due to gender discrimination and expressed concern for parents who might want to put their trans/gender nonconforming children in classes, when it seems more accurate to say the issue was more one of the reviewer's own schedule conflicts).
As a transgender (female-to-male) athlete who hadn't yet legally changed my name or started medically transitioning (translation: I went by a male name but still sounded and looked a bit more feminine than your average bloke), I never know how people are going to respond to my presence in a sports class. Or anywhere, for that matter. Acrosports' adult classes aren't divided up by gender, but the concern was still there for me. It's emotionally exhausting to be misgendered or treated differently than others just because I'm trans, and it unfortunately happens more than it should, even in a city as progressive as San Francisco.
I was nothing short of relieved (later, impressed) by how the staff and coaches at Acrosports handled my presence in their adult tumbling class and open gym sessions. My chosen name didn't match the name on my credit card they had in their system. Not an issue (and I was always greeted with a friendly smile and a class ticket with my preferred name written out in neat block letters upon arrival - total bonus). I had questions about strength training for traditionally male apparatuses (like rings and the high bar). No one told me I should focus more on, say, the balance beam. There was also very little misgendering (and none done deliberately, to my knowledge), which was awesome.
Oh yeah, and I learned a pretty epic round-off back handspring in the process.
I haven't been to Acrosports in awhile due to the craziness that is life as of late, but I'm still in touch with a handful of the wonderful people I met there (students and staff/coaches alike). Simply put, these people are just so awesome and passionate about their work that it's hard not to want to stay connected to see how they're finding innovative ways to share their love of acrobatics with our local Bay Area community.
Also, I want to point out that teaching adults can be a bit of a challenge. Our needs, abilities, and acquisition of new skills is often very different than what works for most kids. I know this as a skating coach of 10+ years. I've taken classes with four coaches at Acrosports (Tonya, Andre, Micah, and Carl), and they all seemed very knowledgeable about the sport, as well as incredibly cognizant of adult abilities and, in turn, our potential limitations. They push you to exceed your own expectations but respect your judgment if you decide you shouldn't be doing a specific element. They can do this because they understand how to convey concepts like proper technique and build upon skills you've already mastered when teaching you new, more advanced skills. This is the cornerstone of a good athletic program, in any sport.
In sum, highly recommended! Give it a try. read more