Athletic Playground
We (normally) offer over 100 classes every week across a wide range of movement disciplines, as well as workshops, camps, open play, and community events. We have unique offerings for all ages and experience levels.
Our most popular offerings are: Parkour, Circus, Acrobatics and Aerial offerings. We offer weekly classes that are drop-in friendly, day or half day camps and workshops
More info: tapgym.com
Our child started going to parkour classes at Athletic Playground in Emeryville at that age, and is still going regularly at the age of 11. He was just assessed as being autistic a few months ago, so parkour was not something we intentionally chose as a good fit for an autistic kid, but the sensory stimulation and all the movement have been so great for him (bonus: it gets him really, really tired!). He's also vehemently anti-team sports, which apparently is somewhat common with autistic / 2e kids. While I don't know for certain, I think there are probably a lot of other autistic kids taking classes there for the same reasons.
One main difference between Upswing Aerial Dance/Tea Dancers and Skyhigh Odditorum/Kinetic Arts Center is the style of aerial. Upswing and Tea Dancers seems to be more 'dance' related while Skyhigh and Kinetic Arts Center is more circus-style acrobatics. In my experience, circus studios are very accepting of every body and ability (aerial is hard!), but one place I would recommend in particular for the 'vibe' you are looking for is Athletic Playground in Emeryville. They have a very rich set of classes for kids and adults and I think they have built a nice laid-back community for anyone to feel welcome.
I second the recommendation for Athletic Playground. My son took classes there for a couple years as a teenager. He really enjoyed it.
Have you tried Athletic Playground in Emeryville? My kids did their Parkour when they were younger. Great staff and local gym.
Athletic Playground in Emeryville! They have kids' birthday parties for parkour, it was a hit with my kids' class!
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Aug 2013
RE: Parkour class for 7 yr old?
How about Athletic Playground in Emeryville? http://www.athleticplayground.com/ My teenage son loved a recent week of summer classes. Jennifer
My daughter just did a week of Parkour summer camp at Athletic Playground in Emeryville. It turned out not to be her cup of tea, but the camp was well-run and the instructors are friendly. They offer after- school classes too: http://www.athleticplayground.com/ Sarah's mom
The Athletic Playground in Emeryville has great Parkour classes for kids. There is one on Sundays in August for 5-8 year olds. They also have all kinds of fun classes for adults! Kid Class schedule: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=4796 General website: www.athleticplayground.com Dana
May 2013
Zach Fischer and Marria Grace Kee will be running two weeks of an afternoon summer program at Athletic Playground, in Emeryville, CA, from August 19th-30th, for kids ages 7-12 and 13-18. They are professional hoop acrobats (Ninja Hoops) who travel the world teaching and performing, and they are incredibly charismatic, effective teachers, very thoughtful about pedagogy and child development and physical and emotional safety--and their classes are completely fun. I can testify that they can teach the most reluctant learner! Their classes include Parkour, acrobatics, aerials, hula-hooping, human pyramids, slacklining, obstable courses, games.... Zach also sometimes teaches ''Spider Man Training'' --look out for it in the future--to ''give you the strength and speed of your favorite comic hero''--swinging, climbing ropes, running up walls, hanging upside down. Check out ''Ninja Hoops'' on the web and you'll see some of why they are very appealing role models for kids. But in addition, they are true TEACHERS. Susan S
Parent Reviews
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