Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
Westside Velocity Sports Performance and Fitness Center co-founders Chuck DeBus and Palisadian Jon Jon Park have opened a new facility in West L.A. that offers specialized sports training for athletes at every age (eight to adult) and skill level. “This is an opportunity that many parents want for their children’the chance to improve and get a leg up in athletic performance,” said DeBus, a world-renowned track and field coach. “We train athletes of all skill levels, from Little Leaguers to NFL running backs.” His clients have included the basketball’s Vlade Divac, tennis pro John McEnroe, boxer Oscar De La Hoya and baseball’s Eric Karros, as well as 177 track athletes who have made U.S. national teams. Alex Spence, a Santa Monica High hurdler who has worked out with DeBus for almost a year, has nothing but praise. “He’s great with mechanics. He knows the steps you need to take to turn you into the best athlete you can be.” “We work with kids who want to improve their athletic ability,” said DeBus, who has a degree in kinesiology from the University of Kansas. “We focus on the mechanics of speed and how to improve agility and increase power. The younger athletes are perfect for us. Their muscles have not fully developed their contractual abilities.” Travis Park (Jon Jon’s son), who plays goalie for Palisades High as well as the Galaxy Alliance Club soccer team, thinks the techniques he’s learned are helpful. “The training has increased my speed, agility and power, which are the three components an athlete needs to excel.” A young athlete who comes to Westside Velocity is first evaluated, and then guided through a three-stage training session. The opening 30-minute warm-up includes stretching and agility drills on the indoor artificial turf field. From there, the athlete goes to the rubberized 40-yard track to work on correct mechanics for 30 minutes. The final 30 minutes are spent with weights. Although one-on-one sessions are available, most sessions involve a group of five to eight athletes. Current costs are $230 to $480 a month for the sports performance facility (depending on the type of program) and $49 to $79 a month for individual membership in the personal training facility. A February British Journal of Sports Medicine article reported that physical activity during the teen years appeared to cut the risk of lower back pain in adulthood, as well as neck tension. DeBus stresses that this is the time to focus on how children can develop healthy habits while helping their bodies learn proper athletic movements, which in turn results in fewer injuries. Westside Velocity trainer Byron Paidoussi feels that with proper training, all athletes from beginners to the elite can see improvement. “Volleyball, track and field, soccer, basketball and baseball’with the running speed required in the field and between the bases’means that the techniques we work on will translate to all sports.” He continued, “Speed is a skill that can be taught; an athlete can take up to two-tenths of a second off a 40-yard dash by working on the mechanics. Even if a person has great genetics and is already fast, with perfect running technique, he can still be taught to run faster.” While athletes are training upstairs in the new facility, Velocity also offers a spa-like fitness club downstairs, with 12 trainers on staff. Clients fall into a range of categories from occupational athletes like firefighters, police officers and military personnel to competitive adult athletes. Training Director Jon Jon Park will oversee the fitness club, where parents can work out while watching their kids train upstairs, via closed-circuit, flat screen TV’s on all the equipment. The staff also offers one-on-one training for individuals interested in a comprehensive fitness program. “That’s the beauty of this facility,” said Park, a former Olympic swimmer for Great Britain, body builder and son of three-time Mr. Universe winner Reg Park (who lives in South Africa). “We have access to both floors, so trainers can go upstairs to the performance center to train with their clients as well.” Westside Velocity Sports Performance will have a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 11835 Olympic Blvd. (corner of Bundy). The pubic is invited to tour the climate-controlled, 14,000-sq. ft. facility. Contact: Todd Rushworth at 478-1233 or e-mail trushworth@velocitysp.com Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Georgia, Velocity Sports Performance now has more than 50 locations nationwide (including Redondo Beach, Irvine and Anaheim), with more than 100 set to open this year. Currently, it is the only nationally franchised sports performance training company. For more information, visit www.velocity.com.
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