The business, founded in 1982 by Richard and Mary Ann Basham, has evolved from a single 5,000-square-foot facility into a multi-location powerhouse, offering gymnastics, cheerleading, ninja training and high-energy special events across Tomball, Cypress, Cy-Fair, Spring and The Woodlands.
Owner Aaron Basham, now the second generation leading the company, grew up inside the business and said the heart of the program has remained unchanged: a foundation-first approach, exceptional coaching and a genuine love for helping children discover self-confidence through movement.
“We take care of the customers, both the athlete and the parent,” Aaron said. “We want to make sure we’re doing what we should every single time: every class is truly beneficial, every event is epic and every birthday party is five-star.”
From beginners to Olympians: a program with range
Cypress Academy is known for its robust recreational classes, which form the foundation of everything they do. Beginner and preschool levels help children learn basic skills, build confidence and fall in love with movement.
From these early levels, coaches identify the occasional athlete who shows the desire and ability to advance further. This creates a natural pathway toward intramural teams at all locations and XCEL programs offered across all facilities.
Its competitive legacy is equally deep. The original Huffmeister location is home to Cypress Academy’s elite program, where the top 1% of athletes have advanced to world championships, college scholarships and even the Olympic stage.
Cypress Academy’s Olympians include:
- Jonathan Horton: 2008 Olympic Silver and Bronze medalist, and 2012 Olympian
- Raj Bhavsar: 2008 Olympic Bronze medalist
- Chris Brooks: 2016 Olympian
- Asher Hong: 2024 Olympic Bronze medalist
Where cheerleading and ninja take center stage
Over the years, Cypress Academy has expanded into complementary programs that resonate with a wide range of children.
The cheerleading program was originally launched in 1999 as a sign-up team. Now operating as Prodigy All-Stars since 2007 and led by Renee Basham, Aaron’s wife, the program creates a competitive but welcoming space where tumbling, teamwork and performance all come together.
Cypress Academy Ninja was established in 2020 at the Huffmeister location. It quickly became a hit, especially among children seeking an alternative to traditional gymnastics. The next step was opening a standalone facility in the Tomball/Spring area. The 27,000-square-foot facility includes 13 warped walls ranging from 4.5 to 18 feet, progressive obstacle courses and six in-ground trampolines to make sure the ninjas can flip.
They offer classes for children as young as walking age to teenagers, with the goal being strength, balance, self-confidence and, of course, fun. Additionally, they offer a four-hour Friday Night Ninja event nearly every Friday.
Epic birthday parties and Parents’ Night Out
Special events are a major part of what makes Cypress Academy beloved by families. Birthday parties, both at the gymnastics and ninja facilities, are branded “Best Birthday Ever.” They are structured, fully staffed experiences where instructors run activities, lead games and handle everything from setup to cleanup.
“We take care of everything; it’s the easiest party ever,” Aaron said. “Parents can just show up and enjoy the moment while we handle the details.”
Parents’ Night Out, Friday Night Ninja, Parents’ Day Out and Ninja Day Out are equally popular. They offer a variety of themed nights, such as glow parties, laser tag, carnival, flip and slide, to name a few.
These events are hours of high-energy activity while parents get a day or night out, too. Cypress Academy typically hosts 13 Saturday-night events each year, many drawing returning groups who plan their date nights around the schedule.
How are coaches hired and trained?
Cypress Academy’s coaching philosophy centers on developing exceptional instructors through comprehensive training and a clearly defined coaching standard. Aaron explained that every coach—regardless of background—goes through extensive in-house education focused on safety, strong fundamentals and purposeful mentorship.
Cypress Academy uses a unified training system that ensures consistency, quality and accountability across all locations. Coaches are continuously developed, evaluated and mentored, creating a culture where high expectations are the norm and excellence is taught—not assumed.
This commitment to training and consistency has allowed Cypress Academy to grow its footprint while maintaining the same level of coaching quality in all of its markets. Many coaches who thrive in this system go on to serve in leadership roles, carrying those standards forward and helping shape the next generation of athletes and instructors.
Looking ahead: growing with the community
The next major chapter for Cypress Academy is the upcoming Katy location, a 59,500-square-foot facility combining both gymnastics and ninja under one roof. The facility is slated to open in late 2026. Existing staff from within the company will help lead the site, a reflection of the company’s commitment to promoting from within and maintaining its family-centered culture.
Even with expansion, Aaron said the mission remains rooted in the principles his parents established: personal relationships, warm instruction and a small-gym feel no matter how large the footprint grows.
Click here to learn more about Cypress Academy of Gymnastics or to register for classes today.
A list of locations can be found here.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
