Cal Gymnastics Club

For an ex-​gymnast like me, this club is almost PERFECT!
The rates are really cheap… only $ 5 a session or $ 50 (or so) per semester (bring cash or check). And they are there 4 nights a week (M-​Th)!!
When I lived in San Diego, I paid $ 15 a session for a similar adult open gym at the Y. In New York, I paid even more than that at Chelsea Piers.
I shouldn’t call myself an ex-​gymnast since I never stopped doing gymnastics for more than a few months since the age of five. I’m just not serious or competitive anymore, and trust me, I’m no Nadia. In adulthood, I practice gymnastics infrequently, once a month or so, just for fun and to maintain my skill level. I learn a new trick here and there, but I’m not trying to get on the national team.
This club has a combo of adult gymnasts, martial artists, breakdancers, capeoira people, and even one or two real Cal gymnasts. It was a pretty good-​looking crowd, actually, and most people were friendly.
The one thing that I wish it had is a foam pit for tumbling. There is a tumble track and an extra-​springy tumbling strip that both lead to a crash mat. But I have dreams of learning a double full, and I don’t think I can do that without a pit.
I haven’t been there yet when the coaches are there (Mon and Thurs) so I can’t comment on them. Coaches usually get in the way for me so I don’t mind coaching myself. However, I sometimes will ask an experienced coach or gymnast to give me feedback on a certain skill. The person in charge of taking money and forms when I went this week was really sweet.

Great place to go practice acrobatics without breaking your neck.
This is the same facilities used by the UC Berkley Gymnastics teams. The place has plenty of soft mats, a bouncy floor, a couple of foam pits, trampoline, balance beams and other gymnastic apparatuses. The foam pits are nice because you can jump in head first and not kill yourself.
This is a club, not an actual class so its a bunch of folks practicing on their own or with friends. The crowd is usually a combination of gymnasts, break dancers, Capoeiristas and beginners interested in learning acro.
The folks are really friendly and willing to answer questions on how to do things. There usually is an ex-​gymnast who serves as a instructor/​adviser for anyone who has questions.
They offer a $ 5 drop-​in fee, which is great if you just wanna check it out or if you are like me and you go inconsistently.
This place is 5 stars if you have some acro experience and you just want to practice. I give it 3 stars if you’re a newbie because each night has a different instructor and the website claims they are only there from 9−10pm.
Every now and the you can find a cute girl or two in there, but its mostly guys.