Leon Williams Jr.
President/CEO

I began training gymnastics in 1978 at the Central Queens YMCA. I started out as a street tumbler in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn and my gymnastics career began under the guidance of an instructor at the Central Queens YMCA. I gravitated towards gymnastics and became a competitive gymnast in high school. For four years I competed for Jamaica High School (1979-1983) and won second place on floor and vault in the NYC High School Championships. I instructed gymnastics at Eastern Queens YMCA for seven years and then became the Director of the gymnastics program (1985 to 1991). In 1991 I moved out to Long Island and became the Director/Head Coach for Long Island Gymnastics Academy (1991 to 1998). My dream since I was 15 years old was to open my own gymnastics Academy.In September of 1998, I became the president/CEO of Five-Star and I've been here, loving this program and its students ever since!

In addition to coaching our team gymnasts, I also teach Mommy and Me, 3-4yrs olds, recreational gymnastics and beginner Ninja Warrior classes. I have coached State, Regional and National competitors from levels 1-10.

Key accomplishments:
Proud owner of Five-Star Sports and Entertainment Academy
Director of the Eastern Queens YMCA gymnastics program (1985 to 1991)
Director/Head Coach for Long Island Gymnastics Academy (1991 to 1998)
Head coach of the USAG gymnastics team, here at Five-Star
Second place on floor and vault in the NYC High School Championships
Competitive Power Lifter (3 Years)

What I love about being a gym owner is the opportunity to instill sound character building qualities in any and all students here at Five-Star. As well as accomplishing my long term goal of creating a culture and environment which is conducive to psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social growth and development.

What I love about coaching is the opportunity to coach athletes to not only achieve physical skill success and competitive success, I also love the opportunity to teach athletes the importance of how what they believe about themselves becomes their reality and to continue the development of their character into their adult lives.

------------

Justin Conway
Resident Ninja

Justin Conway is a three time American Ninja Warrior competitor and Level Two Certified Parkour Instructor that was featured with his son Jude on the Season Five, Baltimore Finals episode of American Ninja Warrior.

When I was training for my first season in American Ninja Warrior, ninja gyms were not local to Long Island, so I would make obstacles out of my everyday environment - playgrounds, parks, unique building designs... anything I could make an obstacle out of became my Ninja training ground. In 2013 I was given a private parkour class lesson at Five-Star as a gift and I have been training there to hone my Ninja skills ever since! Parkour and ninja training at Five-Star helped me get ready to compete in the show and taught me about movement in ways that have made an immeasurable contribution to my athletic repertoire. However, actual ninja obstacles have been hard to come by on Long Island.

Seeing the need for American Ninja Warrior obstacle training, I went to work building obstacles and partnered with a gym to put together an obstacle course training event. In April of 2014 with the help of Babylon resident T.J. Allcot (The Ninjaneer) and Ninjas from the show, I started New York Ninja - a Ninja Warrior training and competition event that has been running strong for two full years now. New York Ninja has had competitors from all over the country including Geoff Britten (the first person to beat all for stages), Joe Moravsky (The Weatherman), Jaime Rahn (Captain NBC), Mike Bernardo, Chris and Brian Wilkzewski, Luis Moco, Noel Reyes, and countless others.

Seeing the success of the events and the love for ninja training on Long Island, the owners of Five-Star approached me about starting a Ninja program. I jumped at the opportunity to work with a gym so close to my heart - the one that helped me get ready for the show. Using my experience working with kids and knowledge of Ninja Warrior, parkour, gymnastics, calisthenics, and sports fitness; I developed a ninja training curriculum called Ninja Sport. I held a coach training intensive for Five-Star coaches, implemented the curriculum, installed ninja obstacles and now, we have, Five-Star Ninja Warrior! Long Island's first ninja program to cater to all ninjas from 7 years old to adult!

I compete at ninja competitions across the country and train regularly at Five-Star Ninja Warrior. I also drop in to surprise kids as guest coach at Five-Star on occasion.

Drop in to a session to try our 14 foot Warped Wall (just like on the show), our 8 foot Warped Wall for kids, or Double Salmon Ladder (if you are ready for stage two) by registering for one of our classes!

Thanks for reading this! I look forward to seeing you out there!