Forget the dusty gyms and repetitive sideline chants. In Beijing, kids are trading traditional after-school activities for the high-flying, gravity-defying world of competitive cheerleading. This isn’t your older cousin’s pep squad; it’s a dynamic fusion of elite gymnastics, powerful dance, and theatrical performance, all set to pulsating music and led by the trusty team of instructors at Flips and Kicks.
In the heart of a city known for its ancient traditions, these young athletes are being trained in a sport that is way cooler, far more intense and radically different than anything you’d imagine.
Can you tell us a bit about Flips and Kicks?
Gladly. We have been active on the Beijing market since 2012, working with the majority of the big international schools, such as The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun and Shunyi (BSB SLT and Shunyi), International School of Beijing (ISB), the Canadian School of Beijing (CISB) and Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) to name a few. We’ve also worked with many of the major hotels in Beijing, like the Kerry Centre and Pudong Shangri-La.
We focus on FUN in sports. We believe that if you enjoy sports, you naturally create a positive attitude toward physical activity and the social aspects that come with it – something very important in today’s society.
We focus on gymnastics, martial arts (karate and BJJ) and cheerleading for our own programs. In addition to our own programs, we collaborate with international schools for their ASA programs, where we offer a wide range of activities such as multi-sports (most likely our biggest program), dance, cheerleading, karate, and Brazilian jujitsu.
Currently, we mainly work with ISB and WAB, and we have had a fantastic and positive working relationship with them for over 13 years (time goes fast!). On top of this, we have year-round camps for kids with different themes like sports, theater, stunt work, Dog & Agility camp, Astrid Lindgren’s world with Pippi Longstocking, etc.
What classes do you offer, and what age are the kids who attend?
We offer a wide range of services and classes:
ASA Programs:
– Karate
– Brazilian Jujitsu
– Multi-Sports
– Dance
– Cheerleading
– Action Movie ASA
Our Own Programs:
– Gymnastics at WAB – Mondays 6pm-7.30pm, age 6-15 (divided into age groups)
– Gymnastics at WAB – Sundays 9am-12.30pm, age 3-15 (divided into age groups)
– Karate at ISB – Saturdays 10am-2pm, age 3-adult
– Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at ISB – Tuesdays & Fridays 6pm-9pm (Family BJJ, Kids, and Adults)
– Cheerleading at WAB – Mondays:
• 6pm-7pm (ages 6-11)
• 7pm-8pm (ages 12-15)
In addition, we have year-round camps: Multi-Sports Camps, Dog & Agility Camp, Action Movie Camp, Beach Volleyball Camp, and Astrid Lindgren Camps (drama, acting, storytelling, music).
We’re so excited to hear that you’ve started a cheerleading class! Tell us a bit about it.
Thank you. We are excited as well. We have started cheerleading before, but due to the slow market after Covid and some schedule conflicts, we put it on hold for a while. On request from parents and the community, we have now started up again.
From experience, it takes about six months to get a good program off the ground. But we restarted the program because the parents specifically requested it, so we’ll see how it goes. Some other international schools have a strong cheerleading foundation, and we look forward to catching up with them.
WAB also has a very strong international and American community, so we are happy to offer our services to them. Starting in January, we will also offer cheerleading in the WAB ASA program.
How is the cheerleading class different from gymnastics?
To be honest, they go hand in hand. Much of the skill set is the same – good coordination, flexibility and strength. What you learn in gymnastics you can use in cheerleading and vice versa.
We focus on synchronized cheerleading with and without pompoms, combined with basic acrobatic skills. Pumping up the music and pumping up the crowd is always fun. The competitive aspects between schools are also fun and something we can develop together with the international schools in the near future. That would be very cool.
Cheerleading and gymnastics always do warm-up games together, and it’s always a BLAST.
Are there any misconceptions about cheerleading classes?
I think there are misconceptions about almost all sports, to be honest.
The standard scenario is you try a few classes and quickly conclude it’s “no fun.” But like with many skill sets, it doesn’t become fun until you feel comfortable with your own abilities.
A stereotype for both gymnastics and cheerleading is that they are mainly girl-dominated sports. Boys love gymnastics, to be honest – they just need a good coach and a positive training environment. The same goes for cheerleading.
See it as something fun, something that keeps you healthy and fit, and, most importantly, something where you can have FUN.
What’s the most fun part of cheer practice for the kids?
The benefits are many. New and old friendships are important. Sports should be a social activity, not a task. Team and school spirit matter.
In cheerleading, you have three important parts:
- Self-development and training
- Team spirit
- School spirit
You train to bring energy to both the team and the audience. But like everything worth doing, it’s hard work, too.
If a kid has zero gymnastics/cheerleading experience, do you recommend they start?
ABSOLUTELY. We are open to everyone who wants to train and have fun in a positive environment with top-qualified coaches. You can have zero experience and still develop very positively – both physically and personally.
When are the classes, and how long is each session?
For cheerleading, each class is one hour.
– Ages 6-11: 6pm-7pm
– Ages 12-15: 7pm-8pm
The classes are held in the ES Gym, next to the gymnastics hall.
How can our readers get in touch?
Contact Coach Fredrik to book a tester class or get more information.
Website: www.flipsandkicksplus.com
Phone/WeChat: 13718462044
Email: info@flipsandkicksplus.com
Do you offer a free trial class for kids?
All our programs include a free tester class.
For jingkids readers, we offer a 10 percent discount for all our classes for the next block, as well as for our winter camps.
Offer valid until Dec 15.
Images: Flips and Kicks, Freepik
