”Where children gather to discover the power and grace within themselves . . . “
This is the motto of Champion Gymnastics Academy, established in 1996 by Kellie and Hideo Mizoguchi, a couple with deep roots in the national and international gymnastics community. “We first opened in the Willowbrook area in Cy-Fair, moved to West Houston, and since 2004 have been at our South Mason location,” says Coach Mizo. He and Coach Kellie have built an academy that caters to the very young through young adults with an emphasis on values.
Coach Mizo’s journey has been interesting, to say the least. He came to the United States in 1974 after competing in the Japanese Elite Program in the early ‘70s. It was in Japan that he earned his bachelor’s degree (Chukyo University) before attending graduate school at the University of Oregon. There he earned a master’s degree in physical education while assisting the USA Men’s Gymnastics Team.
He started a Junior Boys Program at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics in Eugene, Oregon then joined the Junior Olympic National Team program as one of the Junior National Coaching Staff under the direction of Mr. Watanbe in 1979. In 1984 he stepped into Mr. Watanbe’s shoes as Director until 1994. Mizo is one of the few individuals still actively involved in coaching the Junior Olympic Boys Program.
In 1988 he married competitive gymnast Kellie Kavanagh in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. While still competing and at just 16-years of age, Coach Kellie became a qualified judge and at 18 began her own competitive program with a team that won the State Title. That same year she also became a NAWGJ State Judging Director. Her family helped her open her own gym when she was 20 and through the years she has coached state, regional and national champions. She’s also a nationally ranked choreographer as well as an Elite coach.
“It’s an honor that fifteen of our gymnasts have received college scholarships,” says Coach Kellie, whose goal is to coach in a positive way that teaches students life lessons along the way.
Coach Mizo and Coach Kellie have raised three children in the Lutheran faith — Kyle, Krista and Tyler. As Christians, they believe in community and the power of teamwork. Whether their students are tiny tots or international competitors, the staff at Champion Gymnastics helps students learn to work together, encourage one another, achieve personal milestones and rejoice in everyone’s accomplishments. That’s the goal.
They also help students chase their individual dreams. The strength, flexibility and conditioning prepares kids for gymnastics, but also other sports. “Physical development, coordination and confidence are the by products of a rigorous artistry,” says Coach Mizo. “We help students develop physically, but with that comes emotional development, accountability and a work ethic that they can apply on campus and in their future endeavors.”
Recreational lifestyle exercise programs help with balance and flexibility. There’s also trampoline and tumbling, back hand spring boot camp, and the ever popular cheer classes which cover the basics of motions, cheers, chants, stunts, spiriting, dance, jumps and voice projection with a little emphasis on tumbling. Advanced cheer classes are also available.
Visit champgym.com to learn more about the programs. You can email Coach Mizo at mizo@champgym.com or Coach Kellie at kellie@champgym.com.
