Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
Young gymnasts training at the Ishimoto Gymnastic School. - Contributed
ISHIMOTO GYMNASTIC School has been training Jamaicans to master the sport for 10 years. The school, which is run by Japanese national, Yasunori Ishimoto, is located at the rear of a building on Annette Crescent, off Shortwood Road in St. Andrew.
Ishimoto came to Jamaica as a Japanese volunteer and opened the gymnastic school after he completed his stint as a volunteer with the Japan International Corporation Agency.
The school has made great strides since its inception and now boasts a membership of 60 students between the age of one-and-a-half to 40 years old. The students are trained at either the recreational or competitive level. One of the school's young gymnasts, 12-year-old Shannay Gentles, is at the Elite level and could qualify to compete in the 2009 world championships.
CHALLENGES
However, the school is faced with a number of challenges, including the lack of an adequate facility.
"The space that we now occupy is 3,000 sq. ft. However, we need twice that (6,000 sq. ft) for the athletes, which is the minimum standard in the United States and other countries," Mr. Ishimoto explained.
He says because of the small space which they now occupy, the gymnasts are not able to practise on the full-size gymnastic equipment which was donated to the school in 1993 by the Japanese government. He says this affects how the gymnasts train and prepare for competitions.
"It is difficult for them to adjust when they have to perform in a full-size hall on full-size equipment," he said. "They have to choreograph their routines to use entire floor and at the school they practise their routines on a small strip. That requires a lot of adjustment," Mr. Ishimoto stated.
He said the association is trying to locate land to build a national gymnastic facility. He thinks it is very important for Jamaica to have a national gymnastic facility.
"Gymnastics is a recognised sport and we need a facility that will allow more people to participate," he stated.
MORE INNER-CITY PARTICIPATION
He and the two other persons who assist him in managing the school are anxious to have more inner-city persons participate in the school's programme.
Noelle Nicolls, team manager and assistant coach, who was a competitive gymnast for seven years, said the physical and mental discipline involved in the training make gymnasts well-rounded individuals.
"Gymnastics need more exposure in Jamaica," Noelle stated. "In the Caribbean athletes can use the sport as an opportunity to get scholarships and further their education," she continued.
Shin Nishida, a Japanese volunteer, who is also an assistant coach at the Ishimoto School, has been visiting primary schools in inner cities to expose the students to gymnastics at the physical education level. He recently completed a six-week programme with the physical education teachers and plans to go to other inner-city primary schools soon. He said he hopes the physical education teachers will incorporate the skills he taught them into their PE programmes.
They are confident that the future for the Ishimoto Gymnastic School is very bright.
"The fact that we have done so much with so little is a testament to the tremendous talent that exists in Jamaica," Noelle stated with conviction.
