Students:
Find something you love to do.
Recognize your talent
Work with your coach to develop strength, flexibility, and agility so that you can continue to find more moves that you love to do.
Coaches:
Do what you love to do. Teach, Tumble, Spot, Play, Inspire.
Minimize risk through progressive training.
Create communication among children and parents.
Support each child in developing their intelligence for a life time of psychological and physical responsiveness.
©Tom Caravaglia
En español
Big Flip
When my godchild Vikingur first learned to walk, I would hold his hands and swing him. When I put him on the ground, he would run to me with his arms up, eager to do it again. Each swing was a little higher. One day his hips were over his head, I let go of his hands, and he did a back somersault. As soon as he touched the ground, he said, “Again.” Vikingur called it the big flip. For two years, I was his acro partner. When he turned four, he asked if he could do the flip on the trampoline. He bounced four times, stretched his arms, snapped his legs into his chest, spun around, kicked out, and landed.
In moments like this, children experience what they will be like as adults. They make their own decisions with the confidence that comes from good experiences. The awareness that they are getting stronger and smarter is their coach. Anyone who teaches a child should respect the coach inside the child. When the child and I listen to each other, we use words less and observe more. We see movement in our eyes and hands that tell us what is essential. We speak a language of reflex and instinct that lifts bodies higher and holds them in the air longer so that we can experience exhilarating moments of clarity.
Will
“Hi, Rudy.” I just met him, and he greeted me like we were best friends. “Look what I can do.” He ran jumped and dove into the big fat mat. I watched him and remembered how much fun it is to be in a safe place to be free to go too fast to lose balance to bounce and roll. He ran back to me, “Did you see what I did.” That is how I met Will. Five years old, and he had accomplished what I believe is most important in life. He knows who he is and how to take care of himself, and he knows how to create a good relationship. Will has always been a charismatic communicator.
Whether he is performing for the NBA as a member of the Brooklyn Nets acro team or thrilling children as the mascot for the Mets, he continues to have the childhood freedom of knowing himself and the adult freedom of developing mind and muscle to reach his potential.
Will inspired me on the day I met him, and he still does.
Vihanny
Lehanny, Vihanny's mother taking her first jump on trampoline.
Education begins with knowing ourselves and applying that knowledge to a goal.
Joshua
Each child will teach you about themselves listen and respond and you will develop trust.
Ayami
These photos were taken during class to show the children their form and document their progress.