Almaden Spirit Athletics

Almaden Spirit Athletics ("ASA") is a small, co-ed gym in the Almaden District of San Jose, specializing in Cheerleading and Hip-hop Dancing for students of all ages. They offer group classes, private classes, and seasonal teams. The first thing I will tell you about ASA is that it is a welcoming, safe, friendly environment that tends to draw people in. My 14-year-old daughter first approached ASA simply because she wanted to develop cheer skills for High School Cheer. She had NO experience with tumbling, stunting, dance or any aspect of cheer, she had only the interest. After a few months of group classes, some very helpful private lessons, and an amazing experience with an ASA mid-year team, my daughter tried out for High School cheer and made the team easily. She was much better equipped than almost everyone else who tried out. Yet, she is not currently on a High School team. Read on for that story. ASA is not what one would call a "hardcore" gym. But if you love your child, and want them to be happy, or if you are a student who loves being part of a great environment, and learning, and having fun learning and growing and competing, and if you value a safe, supportive, friendly environment above all else, then there is no place better than Almaden Spirit Athletics. At ASA, everyone makes a team. No matter what your skill level, or experience, even if you're an absolute beginner, there is a team opportunity for you there. You don't have to take classes to participate, although the classes are really great (and the private lessons are highly recommended as well!) and a lot of fun on their own. A class is a great way to ease in, and have some fun, for very low cost, just to get a feel for the place. After our first visit there, my daughter and I were hooked. ASA is not huge. They are a smaller facility. They have teams on cheer levels 1-3, and they have prep and elite hiphop teams. But they are full of great coaches, many of whom trained there, and some of whom have gone on to professional cheer! ASA is also full of great students who genuinely care for each other and work together to help each other out. The environment here is better than anything you will ever find anywhere else, and is an experience not to be missed. And the reason that all of this works out so well ie because of the guiding hand of the gym owner, and the fantastic gym manager, both of whom work very VERY hard to make sure everything works as well as possible. ASA teaches more than dance, and cheer. ASA teaches teamwork, respect, support, and caring for others. Life lessons are very effectively worked in to team training as students learn how to be a part of a team (and what it means to BE on a team), and grow both as individuals and as team members. I don't think ASA is any more expensive than any other gym is - but the VALUE of what ASA teaches its students is PRICELESS. I mentioned that my 14-year-old daughter has participated in group lessons, private lessons, and a mid-year team over the past 9 months or so. The most powerful thing I can tell you about ASA is the ending to the High School story. Turns out my daughter's High School could not even compete with ASA. She went to High School tryouts for three weeks, made the team, came home that evening, and said "I'd rather pay to cheer with ASA. High School cheer just seems empty by comparison." Finally... two weeks ago, on the way back from a practice, my daughter, who like most 14-year-old girls seems to have a perpetual air of gloom about her, looked over at me as I drove and said, "Dad, I'm happy." I gave ASA a copy of my Amex card the moment I got home. Any of you with kids reading this knows that this needs no further explanation. ASA did that. Priceless.

Fantastic coaches, encouraging environment, they care about the entire child - mental and physical well being!

I go there as an athlete and its amazing 👏 👏

I cheer there