Coach Yousef

I love to move!

I have been an athlete my entire life and have experience and training in a variety of disciplines, including (but not limited to) breakdancing, martial arts, track and field, football, weightlifting, and, of course, gymnastics. My sister, Michelle, was my first coach when I was growing up, but I did not begin formal training until the age of 18—much later than most gymnasts. With the ambitious goal of competing at a national level, I had a lot of catching up to do, so I trained heavily for over seven years with coach Ronney Richard. Throughout this process, I not only improved in gymnastics but also noticed extraordinary gains in my overall fitness, mobility, and performance in every other athletic activity I pursued.

Ultimately, my dreams of competing were stifled by the obligations and responsibilities of adulthood. I could no longer spend hours a day training, so instead I began to fill that time with coaching. Having developed a deep passion for gymnastics, I made it my mission to share its benefits with adults of all ages, athletes in different fields, and anyone looking to improve their fitness and learn something new.

I began my coaching career in 2005 at Menlo Park Gymnastics, where I trained extensively for five years under coaches Pearce Wagner and Ronney Richard. In 2010, I moved to Gold Star Gymnastics and, over the next 12 years, coached nearly every class offered, helped develop both the competitive and recreational boys’ programs, and personally grew the adult gymnastics program into the largest in Northern California. In late 2021, I decided to pursue my own venture, Silicon Valley Gymnastics, full-time.

I grew up in Palo Alto, California, and still live here with my wife and son. I studied marketing and entrepreneurship at SDSU and SJSU, respectively. In my spare time, I love to move, read, write, cook, travel, listen to music, and spend time with family and friends.

I am a certified:

• USA Gymnastics Professional Coach
• XPT Performance Breathing® Coach