IMPACT Kickboxing Fitness

Started in competitive gymnastics at age 5. Trained under Dave Burgering, president of USA diving, while competing nationally on springboard and platform. Competed nationally in Horse Vaulting with Tambourine 4H Vaulters. Began training aerial silks at UCLA, and later under Shayna Swanson and straps under Andrew Adams. He has performed in Aloft’s El Circo Cheapo and has taught Aerial Silks and Tumbling at The Actors Gymnasium, MSA and Aloft Loft in Chicago. Performed Duo Aerial Straps, Bungee, double-point harness and original apparatus with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Splendour of the Seas in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Camille Yabut first encountered aerial silks in 2012 and immediately fell in love. She first started her training at Believe Fitness Studio in Los Angeles. After moving to the Bay Area in 2014 she continued her aerial study, first at Athletic Playground in Emeryville, and then here at Ascend. Camille is a firm believer that ANYONE can aerial, and is excited to share her passion, dedication and joy in silks with her students. She is honored to join the ranks of the Ascend instructors and eagerly invites you all to come and fly with us.

Claire started aerial silks in 2012, training at Nightflight Aerial Arts and later with The Circus Project as a member of their Training Company in Portland, OR. They've also been known to mess around with lyra, trapeze, and contortion. In 2015 they graduated with a degree in Theatre from Reed College, and soon after moved to the Bay. In addition to circus, they delight in discussing historical European fashion, alternative relationship structures, and Star Trek.

Colleen Richey began aerial training in 2010. A former gymnast and swimmer with a strong yoga background, Colleen brings a keen eye for the form and technique required in aerial acrobatics. She also loves the opportunity for expression and creativity that aerial dance has given her. With a combined focus on form and expression, she encourages her students to explore the art of aerial silks while building a strong, balanced, and healthy body. Colleen mainly trains aerial silks and rope. She also dabbles in static trapeze and aerial straps.

Connie Ng was bitten by the circus bug when she began her aerial silks training under Elizabeth Finn at Poletential. She has since had the opportunity to learn from many circus greats, including Helene Turcotte, Leslie Tipton, and Sarah and Rain of Paper Doll Militia, and has choreographed and performed solo and doubles acts on a variety of apparatus, including silks, rope, and trapeze, with aerial doubles partner Janelle Peters. She has a strong ballet and pilates background and is known for her clean lines and eye for detail. She is excited to be teaching at Impact and sharing her love for this art form with her students

Danny DeGregorio began aerial silks and straps training at the local climbing gym. Working with several aerial instructors, he continues learning, training, and sharing his knowledge with his students. Danny is ecstatic to be teaching at Impact. He cannot wait to get you in the air!

Elis Lopez is an IMPACT! Kickboxing Fitness success story. Mentored by Erik Wahlberg, Elis has grown from top student to top instructor and represents the values we hold dear at our studio. He is friendly, motivating, passionate, caring, and knowledgeable. Elis is ASFA Group X and CPR certified and continues to hone his already impressive kickboxing skills. Elis does this because he loves our studio and members, and we couldn’t ask for a better reason.

A martial artist for over 35 years, Erik holds a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and has trained in Kickboxing, Shotokan Karate, Jeet Kune Do, and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. He has been a solid fixture in the fitness industry for 20 years, teaching at fitness gyms all over the Bay Area concentrating in the Peninsula. 

At a young age, Evelyn began ballet, a hobby that would later on become a professional performing career. After retirement from ballet and after earning several fitness certifications including A.C.E. Functional Fitness Specialist, she transitioned her love of movement to personal training and teaching. With an emphasis on core control and alignment, she enjoys helping others optimize their own quality of movement.

As a child, Laura was often found dangling upside down from the monkey bars. Not much has changed. By day, Laura is a fourth grade teacher with a continued affinity for the monkey bars. By night, that love for acrobatics takes stage on the silks. A long time swing dancer, Laura began her aerial journey in 2014 through a connection from the dance community. It was love at first climb. Since then, Laura has trained with a passion at Ascend Aerial Arts. She has also studied with Paperdoll Militia for her teacher training. That training serves her well. From the silliness the monkey bars to the musicality of swing dancing and the conditioning of pilates, Laura brings joy to every class and performance.

Meg Ferreira discovered aerial silks in 2013 with instructor Elizabeth Finn while pursuing her doctorate in chemical engineering at Stanford University. Meg has completed 60 hours of in-person teacher training with renowned aerial duo, Paper Doll Militia (Aerial Silks Level 1 and 2), and she began working with students in 2016 as a teaching assistant at Ascend. Meg is detail-oriented and focuses on teaching proper form and technique that enables students to look beautiful in the air while also keeping them strong and healthy. Her background in theater arts informs her expression, character development, and story-telling in the air. She encourages students to explore these elements in their own aerial training. Most of all, she wants students to have fun while building strength, confidence, and community at Ascend.

Mark Posodas brings his true passions for boxing and fitness to IMPACT! An active and ranked amateur boxer, Mark delivers his KO punch in the form of gruelling but fun boxing drills and even more challenging conditioning work.

Years of training as a competitive fighter have instilled a work ethic and tenacity that has bled into all areas of Kenny’s life. A life built around an all-or-nothing mentality where commitment, dedication, and hard work aren’t catchy slogans, but a way of life. It’s this way of thinking that has allowed Kenny to achieve goals and take chances on big dreams. His commitment to helping people achieve their own goals, develop their skill sets, and remind themselves that life is too short to put dreams on hold for “someday”, makes Kenny the perfect fit for Impact Kickboxing Fitness.

Started competitive gymnastics at age 5 and competed nationally with Airborne Gymnastics. Competed nationally in synchronized swimming with the Santa Clara Aquamaids under 1996 Gold Medalist Heather Carrasco and 2000 Olympian Kim Wurzel. Began aerial training at UCLA, and later studied aerial silks under Shayna Swanson, aerial straps under Andrew Adams, and acrobatics and hand-balancing with Nourbol Meirmanov. She has performed in Aloft’s El Circo Cheapo and taught Aerial and Tumbling at MSA & Circus Arts and Aloft Loft in Chicago. Performed Duo Aerial Straps, Bungee, Lyra, double-point harness and original apparatus with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Splendour of the Seas in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Stephanie Campos has been training most of her life and with IMPACT! Kickboxing fitness since the establishment. Since training with Erik for nearly 10 years, she grew a passion to give back to the upcoming ninjas! She is a certified personal fitness trainer (AAAI/ISMA) and a graduate from SFSU with a degree in Health Education. Stephanie is motivated to help others in their fitness journeys through a tough, fun workout but most importantly living a healthier lifestyle.

Tzvetelina Tzeneva trained and competed in rhythmic gymnastics for five years in Bulgaria and then spent the next twelve years of her life focusing primarily on mathematics. After moving to the Bay Area in 2011 she got into rock climbing, ballet and dance until she discovered aerial as a way to combine all her passions. She puts an emphasis on clean movement through form and strength but also on enjoying the time in the air. She’s addicted to being upside down and can’t wait to get other people addicted too.

Taylor, a North Carolina native and recent transplant from Madison, WI, is dedicated to providing the best instruction possible in the aerial arts. She specializes in teaching aerial silks, hammock/sling, pole dancing/fitness, and conditioning.

After 7 years of gymnastics, Ziggy Sheynin started training aerial silks and straps at Impact! Kickboxing Fitness with the Ascend Aerial Arts Program in 2015. She is currently training at Kinetic Arts Center in Oakland, CA with the pre-professional youth troupe Circus Spire. With Spire, she has performed in two large productions, Circus Austerious, and Circus Panopticon, in addition to other smaller gigs and shows. Her current focus is in partner acrobatics, hand balancing, straps, and silks. She has also experience on rope, lyra, and trapeze. Ziggy wants to share her knowledge of circus and inspire others to achieve their highest potential.