Recreational Beginners
The right first class. Forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, handstands, pullovers on bars and walking the beam — taught step by step so every child leaves with a new skill.
1× or 2× per week
North Miami · Recreational & competitive gymnastics
Olympic-level coaching. For every child.
JLF Elite Gymnastics is led by Head Coach José Luis Fuentes — 2008 Olympian and Pan American all-around champion. Recreational classes, competitive team and private lessons — every athlete, from a first forward roll to a Level 10 routine, trains under coaches who have competed for their countries. Taught in English and Spanish.
Inside the gym
2008 OlympianBeijing — all-around & pommel horse finalist
Pan American Champion2007 all-around gold, Rio de Janeiro
National-team staffCoaches from Venezuela & Cuba's national teams
Ages 5 – 18Beginner classes through Level 10
Head coach & founder
José Luis Fuentes
An Olympian who spent more than a decade representing Venezuela on the world stage — and now spends his days teaching North Miami kids the same fundamentals that carried him there.
Coach Fuentes competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he reached the finals in both the all-around and pommel horse, and won the all-around title at the 2007 Pan American Games. His international career spanned four Central American & Caribbean Games and multiple Pan American Championships podiums. At JLF Elite, he builds every program on the habits that made him a champion: precise technique, patient progressions, and a gym culture where effort is recognized every single day.
2008 · BeijingOlympic Games — Individual all-around finalist; pommel horse finalist (top 8)
2007 · Rio de JaneiroPan American Games — All-around gold, pommel horse gold, parallel bars silver
2008 · Pan Am ChampionshipsPommel horse gold, parallel bars gold, horizontal bar silver
2002 – 2014Central American & Caribbean Games — Ten medals across four Games, including two golds
Programs
Two paths. One standard.
Whether your child is here for one class a week or training toward a competitive career, they learn from the same coaches, with the same attention to technique and safety.
Recreational
Classes for ages 5 to 12
Our most popular program. Beginner, intermediate and advanced groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays, rotating through vault, bars, beam and floor. No experience required — start with a trial class.
See recreational classes ↓ CompetitiveTeam, by evaluation
USA Gymnastics Xcel and Development Program teams, from Xcel Bronze through Level 10. Year-round training under Olympic and national-team coaching for athletes ready to commit.
About the competitive team ↓
Recreational classes · 2026
Three levels, one schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:00 PM.
Choose one or two classes a week. Every child starts with a trial class and is placed in the group that fits — and moves up as skills are earned.
Recreational Intermediate
For gymnasts with their basics down: round-offs, back walkovers, cast handstands, and beam combinations, plus the strength and flexibility that make the next skills possible.
1× or 2× per week
Recreational Advanced
Back handsprings, kips, beam series and floor passes for experienced recreational gymnasts. Advanced is where our coaches identify athletes ready for a team evaluation.
1× or 2× per week
Full 2026 schedule, options & payment methods are on the recreational schedule page. Teens and athletes from other gyms: see private lessons.
Competitive team · USA Gymnastics
Trained the way champions are trained.
Our team competes in the USA Gymnastics Xcel and Development Programs, from Xcel Bronze through Level 10. Athletes train year-round under Coach Fuentes, Development Program coach Valeska Montero and Xcel specialist Carmen, compete across Florida, and have earned medals at the USA Gymnastics Region 8 Championships. Placement is by evaluation — we look for effort and attitude as much as skill.
Xcel Bronze · Silver · Platinum
USA Gymnastics Xcel: a competitive track with flexible, individualized routines and a balanced training load — three days a week.
Levels 3 & 4
The Development Program's compulsory levels. Standardized routines, four days a week, and the first state and regional meets.
Level 6 & Up
Optional levels 6 through 10: individualized routines, five days a week, and the coaching depth to pursue regionals, college and elite goals.
Private lessons
One coach. One athlete. One goal.
Private lessons are the heart of what we do. A one-on-one session with Coach Fuentes or one of our national-team coaches is the fastest way to break through a skill, prepare for a competition, or build a foundation before joining a class.
Skill breakthroughs
Back handsprings, kips, cast handstands, beam series — the skills that stall in a group setting come together with undivided attention.
Competition preparation
Routine polishing, corrections and mental preparation ahead of a meet, for our team athletes and for gymnasts who train at other gyms.
New & returning gymnasts
A few private sessions build the confidence and fundamentals that make a first group class a success — for kids and teens starting from zero.
Cheer, dance & tumbling
Tumbling passes, flexibility and strength work for cheerleaders and dancers who need gymnastics technique for their own sport.
Early Training Program
For families whose school day looks a little different.
Weekday training from 1:00 PM in a calm, uncrowded gym, with a supervised Break Program in between sessions — homework time, a snack, video analysis and mentality work — then evening training with the team.
Monday & Wednesday1:00 – 4:00 PM training · 4:00 – 6:30 PM Break Program · 6:30 – 8:30 PM training
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday1:00 – 4:00 PM training · 4:00 – 5:30 PM Break Program · 5:30 – 8:30 PM training
- Structured training across all four events, plus strength and flexibility
- Small groups with direct coaching from Coach Fuentes and our national-team staff
- Break Program: mentality podcasts, video analysis, homework time, snack & nutrition, injury prevention, gymnastics knowledge
- Flexible attendance — choose the days that fit your family
Step Up For Students
Use your Florida scholarship funds at JLF Elite.
JLF Elite Gymnastics is listed on the Step Up For Students marketplace. Families with an eligible scholarship account can apply those funds to classes, camps and the Early Training Program.
Log in to your Step Up account
Open the family portal (EMA) and confirm your student has available funds for the current school year.
Find JLF Elite in the marketplace
Search for "JLF Elite Gymnastics" and choose the program you want — recreational classes, camp or the Early Training Program.
We handle the rest
Once your order is submitted, we confirm your child's spot and reach out to schedule the first class.
Enroll with Step Up funds
Questions about eligibility or which programs qualify? Call or text (786) 508-6696 — we've walked many families through it.
Camps & parties
A week of gymnastics — or one unforgettable afternoon.
Summer & School-Break Camps
Full-day and half-day weeks in summer, plus winter break, spring break and teacher-workday camps. Gymnastics, games and open-gym time in an air-conditioned gym.
Ask about camp dates
Birthday Parties
Coach-led games, the trampolines and the foam pit, then a private space for cake. You bring the kids; we bring the energy and handle the cleanup.
Book a party
Coaching staff
Every class, led by someone who has competed for a country.
José Luis Fuentes
Head Coach & Founder
Represented Venezuela for more than a decade, including the Beijing Olympic Games. Leads the competitive team and sets the standard for every program in the gym.
Valeska Montero
Compulsory & Optional Team Coach
Coaches our USA Gymnastics Development Program athletes through the compulsory and optional levels (Levels 3–10), with the precise technique and patient progressions that build gymnasts who last.
Carmen
Xcel Program Coach
A former Cuban National Team gymnast and our Xcel specialist, Carmen coaches the Bronze, Silver and Platinum teams. She is known for breaking big skills into small, confident steps — and for building routines that play to each gymnast's strengths.
Sign up
Tell us about your gymnast.
Send this and we'll reply within one business day with class options, times and next steps — or to set up a trial class, private lesson or team evaluation.
PREFER TO TALK?
Call or text (786) 508-6696. Se habla español.
Schedules: recreational classes · team
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