Tricking — an acrobatic art form that combines kicks, twists and flips from martial arts, gymnastics and dance — originated during the 1960s as Taekwondo masters added unique moves outside the normal boundaries of martial arts. It eventually gained more popularity in the 2000s thanks to eye-popping YouTube videos of the sport.
Senior Bryce Lee has been tricking for a year at Loopkicks Training Gym in Santa Clara. After watching his sister post videos of herself tricking on Instagram, he was inspired to pick up the sport.
“I wanted to have a new sport, and my sister said I would like tricking since it was really fun for her,” Lee said. “The first class was free, so I figured: ‘What do I have to lose?’ I tried it and the people were really cool so I just kept going.”
The sport is a perfect combination for Lee. He did gymnastics from third to fifth grade and then taekwondo for all of middle school.
While there were some similarities in the movements, when Lee first started, he found the mental block of learning tricks — like a backflip — difficult to overcome. After getting used to the movement, he found other tricks like kicks to be easier with his prior knowledge of taekwondo.
Courtesy of Bryce Lee
Lee works on performing a backflip with his coach.
Tricks range in difficulty, taking Lee hours to learn. Currently, he is working on the B-Twist, a butterfly twist with a full rotation. Lee typically goes to the gym two or three times a week, with classes starting at 7 p.m. After warming up for 20 minutes, he spends 40 minutes with different coaches who help him learn and practice new skills.
“We have a really great team of coaches that have stations with different practices where they build it up for you,” Lee said. “One station would have backward drills and another you just jump. On your own during open gym is where you get the reps in, but the coaches are always there if you have questions.”
During practices, Lee practices one trick until he thinks he has it 70% down and then performs it with other combo tricks to help with the speed and motion of performing the trick in a routine.
“Sometimes I think I know how to do something and then I try to add an aerial before it and it completely changes how I go into it,” Lee said.
Lee usually spends another hour at the open gym where around 20 participants gather and take turns doing a variety of combo tricks. The gym has a spring floor where most people perform the tricks, but also tumble tracks, air tracks and trampolines available for trickers who need more bounce to help them learn the tricks.
Courtesy of Bryce Lee
Lee completes his first aerial on the floor.
Courtesy of Bryce Lee
On the tumble track, Lee practices his front flips.
While Lee quickly grew to love the sport, he found his initial classes to be intimidating due to the number of advanced, highly acrobatic athletes the sport attracts.
“For the first few months, I didn’t go to any open gyms because I was too scared,” Lee said. “They would all go to the floor and throw these crazy tricks that I’ve never seen before and I was still there struggling to do my backflip.”
After meeting another tricker his age who stayed for open gym, Lee was encouraged to reach out to other athletes and coaches, building a stronger relationship in the tricking community.
“The people are really welcoming and I just had to take that first step,” Lee said.
While Lee only goes to classes, he plans to compete in the future. Since attending a tricking gathering in August — where individual trickers showcase their style in a set of combo tricks along with tricks to perform on the spot — Lee has been inspired to compete in the upcoming winter gathering.
While the intricate twists and flips initially drew his curiosity of the sport, Lee later found himself enjoying the experience partly due to the large supportive community and gym culture, helping him build confidence. The gym also became an environment where he could freely express himself.
“I could befriend people of all genders and ages. Some of my closest friends, who I don’t even know their age, are college graduates that I never would have talked to before,” Lee said. “I just really love having a place where people don’t care about what grade you are or what major you’re going into. It’s just about improving yourself.”
For beginner trickers, Lee notes that there is a steep learning curve to get over the feeling of being watched all the time — as he felt self-conscious for the first couple of months — but wants to remind them that people of all ages are often also trying something new at the same time.
“By starting it, you’re probably helping someone else who was scared of also starting, so just try it out.” Lee said. “Skill level doesn’t really matter when you are going into tricking, and people are going to welcome you no matter what.”
