Specialty Gymnastics
The Y is the starting point for many children to learn about becoming and staying active, and developing healthy habits they’ll carry with them throughout their lives. Gymnastics is a wonderful development tool emphasizing strength, balance and agility. Our goal is to provide a safe, fun, and encouraging environment for kids to learn gymnastics, build confidence, and make new friends. Depending on the age and skill level of your child, the YMCA offers private, semi-private, and group gymnastics programs.
We offer several gymnastics program options for children and teens so your kids, big and small, can build confidence and self-respect while improving their strength and flexibility!
Looking for a different gymnastics program? Find all of our gymnastics programs, events, and other activities here.
New Standardized Curriculum
We’ve standardized our gymnastics programs across San Diego to provide our gymnasts with a clear path to advance their skills. View our Gymnastics Progression Path Guide!
SPECIALTY CLASSES
Parkour
Our parkour classes teach skills like vaulting, precision’s, flips, climbing techniques and more. These skills are used together to move through all sorts of environments. Students learn to break down more complex movements and concepts into more simple steps for progress. Not only does this condition the body to adapt, but also trains the mind to look at the physical world in a whole new way.
Little Ninjas (Ages 3 - 5)
Designed to match a preschoolers boundless energy, introduce your little ninja to parkour while working on coordination, speed, and balance while enhancing motor development and eye-hand coordination. Rotations on various gymnastic equipment teach children to run, vault, climb, and roll over obstacles.
Find Preschool "Little Ninjas" Parkour Gymnastics Programs
Beginner Parkour (Ages 5 - 17)
Learn to safely maneuver through your environment in a fun and creative way using parkour techniques teach how to use your body and mind to overcome any obstacle they face. Students will build their agility, confidence, strength and flexibility in skill-focused rotations while learning to run, vault, flip, climb, and roll over obstacles.
Find Beginner Parkour Gymnastics Programs
Intermediate Parkour (Ages 6 - 17)
Your athlete will learn expand on techniques learned in Beginner parkour. Our coaches will focus on more advanced drills and each class will emphasize learning proper techniques and increasing strength, confidence and flexibility. Students will learn how to run, vault, flip, climb, and roll over obstacles. The goal of these classes will be to teach students how to safely maneuver through their environment in a fun and creative way. Coach evaluation required.
Find Intermediate Parkour Gymnastics Programs
Advanced Parkour (Ages 6 - 17)
Expanding on techniques learned in previous parkour levels, athletes will safely maneuver through various environments, allowing them to use their bodies and creativity to overcome any obstacle. Various equipment is used to increase agility, determination, strength and flexibility in skill focused rotations. Coach evaluation required.
Find Advanced Parkour Gymnastics Programs
Homeschool Parkour
Designed with the flexibility of homeschoolers in mind, this combination level parkour class will teach athletes how to safely maneuver through their environment in a fun and creative way using parkour techniques, teaching them to use their bodies and mind to overcome any obstacle they face. Students will increase their agility, confidence, strength and flexibility in skill focused rotations while learning to run, vault, flip, climb, and roll over obstacles. Coach evaluation required.
Home School Parkour Gymnastics Programs Coming Soon
Tumbling
Our tumbling classes teach students techniques that reduce stress on joints while providing step by step instruction on how to create and maintain momentum to help increase a students power, safely, while tumbling. Like other forms of gymnastics, tumbling fosters physical strength, flexibility and stamina.
Beginner Tumbling (Ages 5 - 17)
Designed for beginner tumblers to learn proper technique, increase strength and flexibility. Tumblers are introduced to proper body positioning and terminology as they learn about the muscle groups responsible for each tumbling skill and the importance of sequencing and timing. Students will learn forward and backward rolls, handstand, handstand to a bridge, standing backbend to a bridge, and a kick over from a bridge.
Find Beginner Tumbling Programs
Intermediate Tumbling (Ages 6 - 17)
Intermediate tumbling students will build on skills, strength and flexibility gained in beginning tumbling. Students will be taught back handsprings in staged progressions, utilizing specialized equipment and develop a strong round off rebound. Conditioning emphasis is placed on shoulder and back flexibility as well as leg strength which is all needed to progress through curriculum. Coach evaluation required.
Find Intermediate Tumbling Programs
Advanced Tumbling (Ages 6 - 17)
Advanced tumbling students work on front tumbling and multiple trick skills and combinations. Tumblers refine their skills while adding multiple back handsprings, back handspring to a back tuck, back handspring to a layout, and a layout full twist. Coach evaluation required.
Find Advanced Tumbling Programs
Cirque
Cultivate your aspiring acrobats’ strength, body awareness and confidence in our cirque classes. Students will dive into skill work on the trapeze, fabric, hand balancing, partner work, and object manipulation to build a strong foundation in technique and artistry while encouraging creative expression.
Preschool Cirque (Ages 3 - 5)
Designed to match preschoolers' boundless energy, introduce your little acrobat to the world of Cirque while focusing on coordination, flexibility, strength and balance and enhancing motor development and eye-hand coordination. Rotations on various equipment teach children beginning cirque techniques such as aerial and ground skills as the building blocks for higher-level trick development.
Beginner Cirque (Ages 5 - 7)
Cultivate your aspiring acrobats’ strength, body awareness and confidence in this beginner cirque class. Students will dive into skill work on the trapeze, fabric, hand balancing, partner work, and object manipulation to build a strong foundation in technique and artistry while encouraging creative expression.
Intermediate Cirque (Ages 6 - 17)
Expand on the fundamentals built-in beginner cirque with a focus on growing technique, conditioning and broadening creative expression. Acrobats continue to work on trapeze, fabric, hand balancing, partner work, and object manipulation while expanding vocabulary in acrobatics, aerial, and juggling, and working to increase stamina, strength, and flexibility. Coach evaluation required.
Advanced Cirque (Ages 6 - 17)
Advanced cirque students will expand on fundamentals built in prior levels while continuing to work on trapeze, fabric, hand balancing, partner work, and object manipulation while expanding vocabulary. Independent, pair, and group work increase self-awareness and confidence, stamina, strength and flexibility. Coach evaluation required.
High Flyers Cirque (Ages 6 - 17)
High Flyers gymnasts begin on the ground with basic climbing, foot and hand locks. Then take to the air to flip, drop and descend. Music, choreography, strength and flexibility are also large components of this program. Coach evaluation required.
Cirque Gymnastics Programs Coming Back Soon
TNT Gymnastics (Ages 5 - 17)
Our trampoline classes are designed to help develop and progress from basic to more advanced skills on trampoline as well as in tumbling. This class will facilitate skill development as well as body and air awareness through work on trampolines and floor.
TNT Pre-Team Gymnastics
TNT pre-team participants must be able to safely and successfully complete TNT gymnastics core competencies to build on more advanced skills in preparation for competition. Coach evaluation required.
TNT Gymnastics Programs Coming Back Soon
Homeschool Gymnastics (Ages 5 - 17)
Designed with the flexibility of homeschoolers in mind, this combination level gymnastics class will teach gymnasts proper technique and increase strength and flexibility.
Gymnasts will practice age appropriate skills such as cartwheels, handstands, round-offs and bridges while rotating through various gymnastics equipment including tumble track, bars, beam, vault, and floor.
Homeschool Gymnastics Programs Coming Back Soon
Cheer (Ages 5 - 17)
Cheerleaders will learn the basic fundamentals of cheer in this non-competitive class.
With a focus on arm motions, jumps, stunts, and specific cheer terminology, athletes will gain proper technique and routine sequence while incorporating basic tumbling skills such as rolls, bridges, handstands, and cartwheels. Stretching and conditioning are important components to achieving proper cheer strength and stamina.
Cheer Programs Coming Back Soon
Find Specialty Gymnastics at a Y Near You
Many of our YMCAs offer specialty gymnastics classes — check the program finder for options at all locations. Learn more about the Y's full progressive gymnastics programs on our gymnastics page.
Gymnastics Policies & FAQ's
The health and safety of our participants and staff continue to be our top priority. Additionally, there are things that our gymnasts must know and bring to our classes. Our gymnastics programs follow state, local and federal guidelines to ensure a safe experience.
View Gymnastics Policies & FAQ's
Questions? Contact Us!
Want to know where your gymnasts fits into our classes and programs? We're here to help you figure this out! Whether you are just starting out or considering joining a team, our gymnastics staff are here to support you with any questions you have!