Designing a new gym or adding to your existing gym can be an overwhelming process, so that is why we make sure each and every one of our customers are taken care of from the beginning – where ideas and dreams are discussed – all the way to the end – where owners and coaches step right in to the gym they’ve always wanted.
Check out this video as our co-owners and former gymnasts, Jay Thornton and Brad Thornton, break it down with a step-by-step process on how to build your gym or add on to your existing gym along with ways to provide additional streams of income to your business. With over 21 years of owning this business and being a former USA World Gymnastics Team Member, Jay Thornton knows the ins and outs of what is involved in making a successful gym come to life. And his brother, Co-owner Brad Thornton, who is also a former gymnast, has no problem applying his engineering degree from Georgia Tech as he tweaks and perfects each unique gym design to fit customers’ wishes and desires.
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A burden will be lifted once you chat with our team and realize how much American Gymnast, along with our own 3D Gym Design technology, has to offer you as one of their valued customers. Imagine seeing your very own gym in 3D on your computer, as you work hand-in-hand with American Gymnast adding final touches and additions before it is ever built. We will leave the guess work out and give you a clear perception of what your gym will look like before any construction takes place. But we don’t stop there. Once your design is complete, American Gymnast then creates a detailed quote of every piece of equipment needed to outfit your new custom gym for you to review and order. We will then make sure all of your equipment is manufactured, shipped and installed per your design so that opening day is a success! As you can see, we are a full service gym provider and we are passionate about helping others build their dreams while they build champions.
One of American Gymnast’s most exciting projects to start off the new year was upgrading and completing this installation for the USA Gymnastics Women’s National Team training gym in Indianapolis! What a CLEAN, SAFE and a beautiful asset this is for these athletes. 2020 showed us that we needed to start thinking of different ways to help gym owners provide a safer and cleaner environment for their athletes while giving parents a peace of mind as programs start back up this year. More than ever, athletes are longing to get back in the gym and do what they love – gymnastics! We at American Gymnast are doing our best to keep up with the latest and most innovative equipment so that dreams will continue to come true, champions will continue to be made, and lives will continue to be impacted by this amazing sport.
BigAirBags can be retrofitted into your old loose foam pit or we can work with you to design the perfect size and shape airbag for new construction projects. Additionally, we have portable above-ground airbags which are great for vaulting, tumbling and dismount training that can be easily moved around the gym and inflated in seconds.
One of the worst jobs in owning a gym has got to be cleaning out the loose foam pits! The thought of cleaning out all of those foam cubes and then dealing with whatever you find underneath them is enough to make you feel sick to your stomach. But by replacing your foam pit with this airbag, you will be blown away by the cleanliness and low maintenance of your new pit — the satin top sheets are anti-microbial (killing micro-organisms and stopping growth) and the sheets can be easily removed and washed. No more dirt and grime living in your pit!
Providing the safest equipment for our customers and athletes is at the top of our list and we love the features this product has to ensure extra safety for those training. Just a few of these features include an audible alarm that sounds any time a blower malfunctions or the power goes out. There is also a pressure sensor located in the airbag that is able to read the pressure within the bag and that pressure is displayed so one can determine whether it is within the appropriate limits. When the air bag is deflated, there are large, brightly colored “Do Not Jump” labels that display alerting gymnasts that it is not safe to use.
We feel this product fits perfectly into how gyms can easily transform and upgrade to keep up with the dramatic changes we have had to make in the last year. Safe, clean and effective — words that come to mind when describing this airbag.
More airbag installations are scheduled this month to provide gyms and their athletes a healthy way to train and we are truly excited about helping many other gym owners get this product set up in their facility. For information about the BigAirBag and how to get one in your gym, go to https://www.american-gymnast.com/airbags-in-gymnastics/
To keep up with the evolution of Ninja training as well as the incredible skills some of these amazing ninja athletes are demonstrating, we must provide the means with our ninja equpment. The new #agNinja M.O.T.S.1 is a MUST for ninja gyms. This rig gives gym owners and their warriors the freedom to expand their obstacle in EVERY direction–including up! You can now stack our #agNinja rig vertically to create a whole new level of height adjustments and excitement throughout your course. The Devil’s Trek obstacle shown here in this video along with the M.O.T.S.1 is just one of the many obstacle attachments that allows your ninjas to take advantage of the special height features on this rig. Imagine your ninjas now being able to soar even higher through the air as they laché to varying heights using the #agNinja M.O.T.S.1. This rig opens a new door to new and improved ninja skills. We at AG Ninja are constantly making sure we do our part to provide the means and equipment to accommodate for these fierce athletes who are ready to take ninja training to a whole new level–literally. Soar higher with the M.O.T.S.1
AG Ninja had the pleasure of designing and building this amazing ninja course specifically for Cypress Ninja Academy to kick off their brand new 2021 Ninja Program. We worked with owner, Aaron Basham, to develop a unique course that would cater to a wide range of athletes, fit the space of their gym, and match their color scheme. This video shows the course being designed and built as well as the final result, which is sure to become one of the premier ninja training facilities in the country! Check it out:
We know that ninja training is HUGE and enjoyed by all ages. If you’re considering adding a ninja obstacle to your existing gym or if you’d like to open a brand new ninja gym in your area, we would love to chat with you, hear your ideas, and design as well as outfit your own Ninja Gym! Contact us at https://www.american-gymnast.com/contact-us/ to find out more information and to talk with our design team.
Charleston, SC – nation.academy today announced the Rio Beach VillageSM through its strategic partnership with Rio Volleyball Club and its nation.academy clubSM solution. The facility will be located at the current Rio Volleyball Facility, initial renderings have been released and site inspections are underway with the nation.academy designSM team. Completion time is due to be announced after site inspections are complete.
Rio Volleyball Club has built a great regional brand since its inception in 2017. It currently has its own four court facility and typically fields up to 20 teams per season with over 200 players.
“We are excited to add beach training and volleyball with the newly announced Rio Beach Village. We are confident this beach addition will provide our Rio members a great opportunity to expand their athleticism while also deepening their understanding of the game of volleyball.” noted “Rafa” Silva, Rio Volleyball Club Director.
“In designing the first club-owned beach volleyball courts for the Atlanta area, we wanted to create something that would excite players, coaches, spectators and sponsors the minute they stepped on the sand. Integrating the Rio brand was a critical component to the success of the design concept. We’re excited to help bring this concept to life, providing metro Atlanta with top-quality beach play opportunities,” noted Brad Thornton, managing director of nation.academy designSM and COO/Co-owner of Interactive Sports Group.
“We are going to memorialize the Rio brand through the Rio Beach Villages across the country as either a standalone concept or integrated with our indoor facilities. I think our design team did a great job capturing the brand vibe that the Brazilian colors lends to the Samba spirit we want to create around these facilities,” said nation.academy Interim CEO Anthony Gebbia.
nation.academy is expected new announce design projects in the coming months in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
about nation.academy
nation.academy inc was founded by Sport Venture Group. Its mission is to become a national academy brand by developing 50 multisport facilities around the country over the next 10 years whose players, parents and staff are always committed to training and competing at the highest level possible. The club started with volleyball as charleston.academy in 2019 season, is adding eSports in 2020 and expects to add Basketball, Soccer (futsal) and Sport Performance in 2021.
North Augusta, SC – Interactive Sports Group, LLC (ISG) and nation.academy announce a new strategic partnership. ISG will power the nation.academy designSM team. with a primary focus on designing, outfitting and installing indoor and outdoor multisport facilities around the country. These facilities will provide volleyball, basketball, futsal, esports and sport performance for nation.academy members and their community.
“Designing nation.academy locations fits perfectly with our core mission at Interactive Sports Group of creating world-class facilities from an “athletes first” perspective. We are honored to have been chosen to power the nation.academydesignSM team and are excited to bring these facilities to life,” said Jay Thornton, CEO / Co-Founder of Interactive Sports Group.
”It’s been a pleasure to work with Brad & Jay at Interactive Sports Group to develop nation.academy designSM, which allows us to develop our core conceptual designs, as well as customize each site based on each individual site requirements. We look forward to working with them on many projects in the future, not only for nation.academy, but also for other sport organizations in need of quality facilities,” said Anthony Gebbia, CEO of nation.academy.
about nation.academy
nation.academy inc was founded by Sport Venture Group. Its mission is to become a national academy brand by developing 50 multisport facilities around the country over the next 10 years whose players, parents and staff are always committed to training and competing at the highest level possible. The club started with volleyball as charleston.academy in 2019 season, is adding eSports in 2020 and expects to add Basketball, Soccer (futsal) and Sport Performance in 2021.
about Interactive Sports Group
Interactive Sports Group, LLC (http://www.InteractiveSportsZone.com) is a leader in 3D design and equipment supply for commercial and residential athletic facilities. ISG designs traditional court and turf sports, and specializes in gymnastics, ninja, parkour, cheer, and fitness. ISG focuses on helping facilities maximize the best use of space for operational efficiency, athlete peak performance and safety. Consulting with customers from project conception through design, equipment selection and installation, ISG offers a top-quality product selection that includes competition and training equipment, accessories, mats and padding, and flooring.
My, how the world has changed in a short period of time. As most gym owners can attest, the new normal is hardly recognizable and if you want to stay in the game, you have to adapt…quickly. To sum it up, facility cleanliness is key going forward
One aspect of the gym everyone is a little unsure about is the foam block pit. There is hardly a gymnastics facility in the country without one. However, in today’s environment, with respect to cleanliness, foam block pits seem to come with a stigma that may have existed before but most were able put it out of their mind. There’s no denying that foam pits are challenging to keep clean. It is a process that involves hours of time and dozens of people lending a hand to make it happen.
As you may be aware, there is an alternative and you shouldn’t shy away from it. That’s right, it’s the AirBag. I can assure you, they are not just for tramp parks anymore. Manufacturers have been working hard on this product to make them a better fit for any gymnastics facility.
So, let’s get right to it and discuss the AirBag so you can make a more educated decision for your facility:
1. Fully Customizable Shape & Size – Gymnastics pits come is all shapes and sizes. “L” shapes, “U” shapes, long channels, large rectangles, and even hour glass shaped. The good news is the AirBag can be made in any shape you can imagine. So that crazy polygon hole you have in the ground can easily be filled with a perfectly customized AirBag.
2. Cleaning & Maintenance – The HUGE bonus of owning an airbag is the ease of which you can clean it. We all know too well the method for cleaning out the foam block pit – Wrangle up multiple staff members and a team of kids and start throwing foam out of the pit and then bang out each and every block. It is a tedious task to say the least. Also, foam pit blocks can be impregnated with fire retardants, which become airborne in the form of dust particles.
This is where the AirBag outshines foam block by a long shot. It has a top sheet that can be removed by two staff members in a matter of minutes. That top sheet can then be cleaned and replaced. With the AirBag you won’t have to worry about filthy socks or other nasty items sinking down into your pit and making a home for months.
In addition, Anti-Microbial top sheets are also available, which kills micro-organisms and stops growth – so no need to wash daily! It’s the same price as a normal top sheet so that’s pretty awesome!
3. Landings – There are some major differences with landing on an airbag compared to foam block. Both systems are designed to create a landing area that is extremely safe when it comes to awkward landings. Is injury possible with the both systems? Yes, of course, but the risk is substantially reduced due to how each are constructed. I think this is where gym owners are a little skeptical of the airbag system. They know foam block systems, they are comfortable with them, and they know for the most part they are very safe if installed properly.
Well, more good news on the airbag is that the technology has evolved over the last several years to create a system with redundancies and other safety mechanisms. Let’s take a look at the construction of the airbag.
One question many people have is whether or not you can bottom out an airbag. Engineers have taken this question seriously and have devoted lots of time in to creating a system that is next to impossible to bottom out. The safety zone (the bottom layer of air) is a key feature that prevents anyone from bottoming out. Well, what if the blower malfunctions and the airbag deflates? To deal with this scenario, the AirBag (aka Smart AirBag) has 3 different built-in safety features.
1. Blower Alarm – Visual and audible alarm goes off any time a blower malfunctions
2. Pressure Sensor – there is a sensor located in the airbag that is able to read the pressure within the bag and that pressure is displayed so one can determine whether it is within the appropriate limits.
3. Traffic Light – basically like it sounds. It shows a constant green when it is safe to land on the bag, yellow when there may be an issue, and red when it is completely unsafe to land
Since we are discussing landings on the airbag, it is definitely worth mentioning one really cool feature that would be appealing to a lot of gym owners. Pressure may be adjusted to allow for different types of landings on the bags. If the athlete is learning a new big skill and needs a more cushioned landing, no problem. Pressure can be reduced to allow for that softer feel, resulting in a more comfortable landing on their back or rear. Or, do you want to mimic more of a firm mat landing? This can be done as well by increasing the pressure enough for the athlete to land on their feet.
4. Aesthetics – I will keep this one short and simple. Airbags can look amazing and provide a very clean look in your facility. Your imagination is the driver of the look of the top sheet. Any design or look you want can be done on this top sheet – logos/branding, motivational words, shapes, colors, pictures, etc.
5. Throughput – This is another area where the AirBag is amazing. We all know how long it can take to get out of a foam block pit. This can sometimes take more than a minute, while other kids are standing in line waiting for their turn. The average time to exit the pit from an airbag is about 7 – 10 secs. Now you are increasing training productivity by almost 10 fold!
6. Noise – This one seems to be the deal killer for a number of folks in gymnastics facilities. Coaches fear the noise can be distracting. Again, engineers have listened to the gripes and have come up with the low noise air blower. The decibel level can be compared to that of a low level conversation.
7. Cost – This is a BIG question for most people considering an AirBag over foam block. What is this thing going to cost me? Quite simply, the initial cost of the complete airbag system (with all bells and whistles) is going to cost you more than foam block. However, if you are more interested in the cost over time, then the airbag will become the obvious choice. Long term cost analysis shows that most gym owners will recover that additional cost in about a year and half when purchasing an airbag over foam block. Think about it – very little maintenance (both staff time and actual cost), and nothing to replace for a very long time (if ever).
How about cost to run the Blower? Quite low…about $2 per day.
Based on all of the information above, the future is looking pretty bright for AirBags making their way in to gymnastics facilities. I think education on the product is key for each owner considering making the switch. We are here to answer any questions about them and can also provide a quick estimate for changing out your existing pits if needed.
Where is Ninja headed? Well, at agNinja, we have a pretty good idea where it CAN go and we are making sure we are in the drivers seat to steer it in that direction. The great thing about the sport of Ninja is that it can be done SO many different ways. Courses can be rearranged by moving obstacles around or swapping old obstacles for new obstacles. The way in which you progress through a Ninja course can be altered which can completely change the difficulty level. We want to throw one more variable in the mix – technology!
Imagine “gamifying” Ninja in a totally unique way through the use of some simple, but clever technology. What this does is it creates a variety of additional challenges for your athletes and provides a new way for them to either compete against each other or themselves. Sounds rather appealing doesn’t it? Well let’s get down to it and take a look at the future!
Here are just a few of the new and exciting things you can expect from us
Warped Walls – Imagine having a 12 foot warped wall in your facility that can only be conquered by around 10 percent of those who attempt it. Of course, warped walls can be done a number of ways to allow for intermediate ledges that younger kids can grab. We want to spice that up a bit. Imagine some interactive technology that incorporated sensors and/or buttons on the wall that tracked the the height they reached. Now throw is some basic coding to turn this in to a game. All of a sudden you have a fun challenge where two teams of kids are going head to head on warped walls and points are being tracked based on certain factors. All of this would be displayed on a few flat screens and you have yourself a completely new attraction.
Ninja Courses – Consider a similar concept with the obstacles and framing. What if we create a new set of challenges for the athlete as they progress through the course? Imagine pods being strategically placed throughout the course that the athlete interacts with. Instead of simply navigating an obstacle, they must also decide if they want to collect points and go for a pod that is in a tricky spot. These pods can be utilized to create a multitude of other games that really make for an endless combinations of fun.
Climbing – This too can be enhanced for a more exciting user experience. Again, it comes down to censored pods. You can give your climbers something to shoot for by incorporating these pods in to your existing climbing wall. It’s fairly simple and the excitement it builds those using it is priceless. Just like the warped walls and courses, a number of games can be created that can be utilized during weekly classes and especially during birthday parties.
For climbing, you can go one step further and do an entirely interactive climbing wall. such as the one pictured below
Pretty awesome stuff! Some of these things mentioned above are not something we have to wait for. They are already here and we can make it happen for you. If you are looking to retrofit something you already have or you want to create something completely new, we can help you determine what might be the best direction for you.
We’ve taken on many different types of design projects over the years so it’s always fun when something new comes along. Jams Athletics presented something a little different than what we are accustomed to. Jams is an after school program which comes with a laundry list of procedures and regulations related to their operation to which they must adhere. These procedures must be considered when working the gym design and flow of the kids through the facility. It can be tricky and safety is paramount with these type operations. From the time a child arrives to the time he or she leaves, they follow a fairly regimented schedule. Understanding where the kids need to be throughout the day played a big roll in how the facility was laid out. It was quite interesting to learn more about after school programs and their operations.
This is Jams Athletics second facility and it is substantially larger than the first. They are taking advantage of this new space by implementing some new activities such as Ninja and a soft play area. Like many business owners, they recognize that Ninja is a fun way for kids to exercise. We added in a 30ft frame section with hanging obstacles, ground obstacles along with a 10ft warped wall. It should be awesome! In addition to the new programs, they will also have full court basketball, dance and cheer. It’s really going to be a great experience for the kids.
This is a testament to the sport of Ninja and the benefits it brings to a variety of businesses. I love seeing it’s popularity continue to grow as it makes its way in to fitness facilities, schools, organized leagues and even residential back yards. Stay tuned for completed facility photos, but in the meantime, here is a video of the design
After years of providing facility design concepts and installing large Ninja and Gymnastics setups for our clients, you think you have seen it all. This thought went out the window we met a new client who was looking to build an underground sports bunker for his kids. With my jaw on the floor, I listened as he described the space what he wanted it to include — a gymnastics area, basketball court, full climbing walls, turf field, hockey rink, golf simulator, workout area, yoga room, locker room and a full Ninja Course.
This was one of those projects you dream about doing – Design concept through installation – Amazing facility – sweet family. This video takes you on a virtual fly through of this amazing fun space. Enjoy!
Don’t forget, we work in residential spaces all the time! Even if it is simply coming up with a cool and fun concept in a single room of the basement, we are happy to chat with you about your project ideas. You’d be surprised how much you can do in a small space at home. For more info, email Brad@InteractiveSportsZone.com
