“They say a Family that plays together stays together.” This saying certainly echo’s the feelings of the “Martin Family” who began gymnastics in 1972 as parent and athletes and years later they are still in gymnastics as coaches of their own private club. CVGC is a family owned and operated business and has been since 1986.  Combined, CVGC has well over 100 yrs. of coaching experience.  With the head coaching staff being all family members, this unique training facility can offer you a staff that is not constantly changing.  Each of the 5 family members is safety certified and skill evaluators from level 1 through elite.  This unique environment allows the Martin family to become apparatus specialists.  Although all are certified to teach all levels on every event, the staff has chosen to master each event individually in order to optimize training time and to ensure that the athletes are receiving the best training from a highly qualified event specialist.

The Martins love of gymnastics began with the sisters Day, Dawn, and Durette competing for Verdugo Gymnastics Club in Glendale,Ca.  Mother La Ree, having owned her own dance studio, became interested in coaching floor routines and choreography.  Eventually after many successful years as athletes and coaches, all female members of the “Martin Gang” turned totally to coaching.  They opened their own Jr. Olympic age group program in 1986 at Crescenta Valley High School where they continued to coach the High School teams to many CIF championships until June 1993.  CVGC moved from CV high that year and is presently located in a beautiful state of the art facility in San Dimas, CA.  Each member of the family found their own place within the family business.  Day Martin specializes in vault & bars and is our strength trainer, Dawn (Martin) Center specializes in floor and optional choreography as well as being the lead facilitator of the compulsory and optional competitive programs, Durette (Martin) Lively is our business administrator and specializes in optional beam.  Up until 1995 all the Martin's (Day, Dawn, Durette, Darren, Damon) where involved in the family business.  The two brothers, Darren and Damon, otherwise known as “salt and pepper” (blonde, black hair), where known throughout the gym as the “flying Martin bros” as both brothers specialized in uneven parallel bars.   They are now retired from the sport, but continue in spirit through dedicated support.   La Ree  Martin is the Head Coach and owner of Crescenta Valley Gymnastics. 

The Martins have trained and raised hundreds of young gymnasts for many years and have a history of winning not only in USAG (USA Gymnastics), but in the world of USAIGC (United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs) as well.    Over these years the gym has qualified many young gymnasts for collegiate scholarships and takes pride in developing a well rounded athlete that can excel in any sport.  Some of their athletes have gone on to become nationaly ranked competitors at their sport of choice and gymnastics has paved the way.  Not too mention many continue on with what they love and have dedicated much of their lives to doing; GYMNASTICS.  For many of them, gymnastics has created a foundation, a solid building block to becoming a mature adult while creating  a lifetime of memories. 

Gymnastics has changed a great deal over the years.  The days of  wood beams, peds covered with resin, oval bars, horse hair mats, are no longer.  A new era has begun.  Today's sport offers all new state of the art equipment that consists of four inch spring floors, padded and spring loaded beams, wide flexible bar sets vaulting tables and the Martin’s have seen it all change.

                        Today the family goals are the same as the day they began.  They want to pass on their love of the sport to others and at the same time help children to build self-esteem, strength, coordination and mental focus.   In short, Crescenta Valley Gymnastics is not merely a training facility for future gymnastics champions, it is a commitment to team (family).  CVGC is a “FAMILY” we laugh, we train, we cry, and we endure pain.....Together!!!