This thread is over 10 years old, OP's kid is driving! What is happening.

one day

I was a gymnast for many years, competed through college, and I taught kids gymnastics as well. I have no natural ability (honestly, less than any other gymnast I ever met) but stuck with it a long time for love of the sport.

This is going to depend a LOT on his natural abilities, but no matter how many classes a week you take, it's going to be years until he can do a back handspring. I would say a boy starting at age 6 is likely to start working on back handsprings after about a year, and it's likely another year or two until he can do one by himself. If he has a lot of natural ability, he could feasibly be doing one in a year, but that's unlikely. If he's working uphill without any natural ability (like I was), it could be a lot longer. But I'd say you should prep him for the fact that this is 2 years of work.

The other thing is that floor exercise is just one of six events in mens gymnastics, and even floor involves a lot more skills than this. He's going to need to start with forward and backward rolls, handstands, cartwheels, roundoffs, extension rolls, etc. He's going to be working on the rings and the bars. It may not be what he's expecting. I would highly recommend starting him with one class a week. That's pretty standard. If he is liking it, I'd move to 2x a week after a year (maybe 6 months if he's really into it).

I did gymnastics for 7 years and I got a 2 year long mental block against a back handspring. I do all star cheer now. I finally got it back about a year ago, but the first time that I ever did one was after about 5 years of gymnastics. He will most likely need more that 1 practice a week to do a backhand spring.

Most of the gymnastics camps won't take 3 year olds (in Arlington/Alexandria area). Are you looking for classes or daily camp? Arlington county has gymnastics classes for 3 year olds. Daily camp not until 4 years old through that program. Seems the same for most other gyms. Maybe look for a Little Gym program, perhaps they have camps? I am looking at one area website and it seems they do have camp starting at 3. There is also JW Tumbles in Arlington and in Alexandria. They have camp starting at 3.

What about near Arlington/Alexandria?

OP: The problem with Maryland is that they have a law that children have to 3 1/2 in order to participate in camp, I think. I was hoping that my little one could do a camp program at the same place as his big brother and he will be just shy of 3 1/2 this summer. For this reason I've been trying to target DC or close in VA.

Silver Stars or Dynamite in Maryland.

On the Maryland side, I think Fairland Center on Old Gunpowder Road (Laurel or Greenbelt, I think, but you can get the address through Google) has a program. Also, if he's interested in acrobatic gymnastics, Xtreme Acro might be of interest.

I'm reviving this thread to ask if anyone has any recommendations for serious gymnastics programs for boys that are closer to DC. We are in DC (Cleveland Park). Capital Gymnastics looks perfect but Burke is a little far for us.

Anonymous wrote:For gymnastics for a boy, I would recommend (in this order)

Capital Gymnastics in Burke
or Fairfax Gymnastics in Fairfax

Thank you!

For gymnastics for a boy, I would recommend (in this order)

Capital Gymnastics in Burke
or Fairfax Gymnastics in Fairfax

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd love the recommendation of a gym near Merrifield, Centreville, or Clifton.

Thanks!

cheerleading or gymnastics...and for a boy or a girl?

Gymnastics for a boy. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:I'd love the recommendation of a gym near Merrifield, Centreville, or Clifton.

Thanks!

cheerleading or gymnastics...and for a boy or a girl?

I'd love the recommendation of a gym near Merrifield, Centreville, or Clifton.

Thanks!