Gymnastics???

So my step son came to us last night and said he was thinking about taking gymnastics. He is always running around the house doing handstands, headstands, flips, etc....so I think he would be good for it. My wife asked me if I thought it was "girly." I told her that one of my best friends when I was kid did gymnastics. He did the rings and bars and everything else. Now I don't think this local place has the rings and bars because it is mainly a Karate studio that allows the gymnastic classes to take place on their off days. I would much rather him take Karate but he says he is scared to try and I don't want to push him into doing anything....but I do talk karate up because I think that path would be better for him to venture down.

Anyway, my question is what are your opinions on gymnastics? Is it "girly?" I know that it will for sure get him into shape.

My daughter has been doing gymnastics for about 6 months now. She loves it and I think it is awesome for the kids, either boy or girl. The physiques on these kids is amazing and the flexibility is great. I don't think it is "girly" at all. My daughter does have 3 years of martial arts experience as well and I think this has only helped her in gymnastics.

I say let him give it a try! We can't make them do what "wer" want them to do or they will not ever enjoy it!

I agree. I have no problems with him doing it. I think it will be great considering the stuff he does around the house. It's right up his alley. My wife just brought the question up and I thought I would throw it out to you guys. I told him that the physiques on the guys that have done gymnastics their whole life are ridiculous!!

I think it depends... I wouldn't worry soo much if he was the kinda kid that caught snakes and threw worms at girls. But if he thinks fishing gets your fingernails dirty id worry a little.

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Originally Posted by badcompany487

I think it depends... I wouldn't worry soo much if he was the kinda kid that caught snakes and threw worms at girls. But if he thinks fishing gets your fingernails dirty id worry a little.

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Haha!! Nah, it's nothing like that. He loves fighting, riding four wheelers, getting muddy, stomping frogs, and hates taking showers. I think we are okay as far as that goes.

Well let him roll with it... think of all the girls he will be hanging out wih

i would try and find a better gymnastics place in your area. You might as well have him learn and get the most from your money. My friend run a competitive gymnastics gym and there is no replacement for a good coach and learning the real thing.

Gymnastics is deffinetly good for kids. Boys or girls. Karate is too though. I took it for almost 6 years and as long as you go to a good place its awesome!

Ya, that would be awesome to get him to a good gymnastic gym with good coaching. He could learn the rings, the parellell bars, the horse...those dudes have massive strength. I remember long time ago when charles poliquin was living a few minutes away, he said he got a group of gymnastic dudes and took them into the gym and they never worked out with weights before. He said damn near every one of those guys could bench 300 once they leaned how to do it.. .Plus, I think some of those olympic gymansts went on to become movie stars and married really hot super model type chicks. I cant remember their names.
Whatever you do, It is really great that you have an interest in helping your step son. He is a lucky kid to have you to help him out. Good luck.

plus will help him if he does karate or football or wrestling...

Anything that gets them up and active is good.

Too many kids these days sit in their rooms by themselves playing video games, becoming antisocial hermits.

Gymnastics takes some skill, no doubt. This may help later on if he transitions into any other sport.

i was in gymnastics from 8-12/13.....i wasn't able to continue because the high schools dropped the men's program....otherwise i would have continued (i'm only 5'5" so the sport fits)....as far as being girly? absolutely not....it's a power sport....plus when he's in high school he'll be getting some female gymnast action!

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Originally Posted by Rapunzel

Gymnastics is deffinetly good for kids. Boys or girls. Karate is too though. I took it for almost 6 years and as long as you go to a good place its awesome!

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Yeah, karate would be my first choice and I still say things about karate to try to get him to take it. Not pushing him into it, but I'll say things like "Man, I wish I could have started karate when I was your age." Just stuff like that. He wants to take it bad but he is afraid to try anything new. He's afraid people will make fun of him for some reason. I am trying to get him out of that.

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Originally Posted by Dzone

Ya, that would be awesome to get him to a good gymnastic gym with good coaching. He could learn the rings, the parellell bars, the horse...those dudes have massive strength. I remember long time ago when charles poliquin was living a few minutes away, he said he got a group of gymnastic dudes and took them into the gym and they never worked out with weights before. He said damn near every one of those guys could bench 300 once they leaned how to do it.. .Plus, I think some of those olympic gymansts went on to become movie stars and married really hot super model type chicks. I cant remember their names.
Whatever you do, It is really great that you have an interest in helping your step son. He is a lucky kid to have you to help him out. Good luck.

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Yeah, those guys have to be crazy strong to do what they do. Well, the thing is I never had the opportunity to do all of the things I wanted to when I was a kid. So I knew that once I had a kid, I would do everything possible to allow him/her to participate in anything that they wanted to. He has a ton of natural athletic ability and I would hate for him not to find his "thing" to show off that talent.

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Originally Posted by tiny

Anything that gets them up and active is good.

Too many kids these days sit in their rooms by themselves playing video games, becoming antisocial hermits.

Gymnastics takes some skill, no doubt. This may help later on if he transitions into any other sport.

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Agree 150%!!! I can't stand to see him sitting around with his Ipod or on the PS3. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind him playing sometimes....hell, the PS3 is pretty fun. But I am definitely against kids being couch potatoes. Right now it is CRAZY HOT in our area, so I am a little more sympathetic. But he still has to do his chores before playing anything. He is a really good kid and doesn't give us many problems (besides normal kid stuff), so I can't complain too much