acro (as in acrobatics)
and jax (short for Jacksonville)
acrojax is a training center for promoting and fostering the sports of trampoline and tumbling, springboard diving and other acrobatic-related activities in a positive, healthy lifestyle, drug-free environment. Acrojax is under the direction of former United States Olympic Training Center delegate and National Championships coach Brian Payne and his wife/business partner, Layne Thompson-Payne.
About Coach Brian Payne
Brian Payne known as "The Tumbling Guy" has also been dubbed "The Guru of Tumbling"
With over 36 years of experience, he holds national judging and safety credentials in gymnastics, springboard diving, sports acrobatics, trampoline, tumbling, cheerleading and dance. His teams have won numerous championship titles in a multitude of acrobatic related sports and he has trained athletes that have competed in World Championships in three different sports. He holds his teaching degree in Physical Education from Cortland State (NY) with concentration areas in aquatics and gymnastics, biomechanics and psychology and he did his graduate studies in Education, Business Administration at Bowie State University.
- Three time Sullivan Trail Conference Coach of the Year, Women’s Gymnastics
- Ten time Central Maryland Diving League Coach of the Year
- Eight time United States Sports Acrobatics and Tumbling Nationals Coach
- Delegate to the United States Olympic Training Center
- Published author and columnist, with works appearing in American Cheerleader, Cheer Biz News, Coach and Advisor, The Diver, Let’s Cheer Magazine
Brian has also presented for the Cheerleading Worlds Coaches Conference, National Coaches Conference, United States Olympic Development Program, American All Star Coaches Convention and United States Trampoline and Tumbling Congress and has had several featured columns in Cheer Biz magazine, some of which are; Dealing with Problem Parents and Coaching Personality Types.
About Layne Thompson-Payne, aka "Mrs Coach Brian"
Layne Thompson-Payne, also known as "Mrs. Coach Brian" is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina. She began playing the piano at age 3 and performed her first recital at age 5 but decided to become a singer at age 9 after attending her first opera. She attended Winthrop College and graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her teachers included Jerry Helton, Charles Bresslar, Fred Moses and Betty Allen. She has sung with the Texas Bach Choir, the Dallas Symphony Chorus and Opera, Opera Carolina, Carolina Voices, Impromptu!, the Festival Singers and her own group Vocal Alchemy. She is currently a soloist with the Riverside Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach and has performed with Jacksonville Symphony members, The Coastal Symphony of Georgia and the Jacksonville Masterworks Chorale performing such repertoire as The Mozart Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, The Schubert Mass, Handel’s Messiah and The Mozart Vespers. She has participated and performed in the MENC National Anthem Project, performed the National Anthem for the National Coaches conference and also does commercials in the North Florida area.
Although a musician by trade, Layne has added gym owner and trampoline judge to her career resume. She recently resigned her position as Outreach Coordinator for Riverside Fine Arts Association in order to give her full attention to the two businesses she owns with Coach Brian - Acrojax and also Super Duper Sportkids, which is a mobile program that teaches movement and tumbling to preschoolers. She is also a member of the ACE Coalition (Arts for a Complete Education) in Jacksonville and AAU/USTA.
About Coach Joshua Denmark
Coach Joshua has had 19 years of professional coaching. His credentials include:
- USAG PDP Level II Coach
- USAG Safety Certification
- Colorado E.A.G.L.E.S. State Director for 3 years (Elementary Artistic Gymnastic League and Education System)
- Certified Member of the Positive Coaching Alliance
Many of his former students have gone on to be USAG & NCCA National Champions as well as World Championship Team Medalists. Joshua is the only coach in Colorado to ever have State Champions and Regional Qualifiers make the podium in Men's & Women's artistic gymnastics, trampoline, power tumbling and double-mini trampoline - all in the same year with several National Championships qualifiers podium in the later three disciplines.
Joshua has also coached several tumbling, trampoline and double-mini trampoline National Champions from level 7 through level 10 in the 2007 Junior Olympic National Championships along with two Junior Elite Championship qualifiers on double-mini trampoline in 2008. In 2009, eight former students became trampoline national champions.
Other interesting facts about Coach Joshua:
- 1987-1991 U.S Army 82nd Airborne Paratrooper
- Helicopter Crew Chief -Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran