“I want to help students skate with physical alignment that benefits their body, with inner peace that nourishes their mind and with passion that feeds their soul.”  – Jimmy Kuo

Jimmy Kuo is a private skating coach, consultant, technician and choreographer based in the New Hampshire Seacoast area. For over 15 years, Jimmy has had the privilege of working with figure skaters and hockey players of all ages and levels from around the world. Previously, Jimmy lived and worked in New Zealand and Canada. If your desire is to develop world-class skating technique without compromising the healthy development and functioning of your body and mind, then Jimmy is the coach for you.

What sets Jimmy apart as a coach is the non-negotiable priority that he places on well-being. This is no surprise, as Jimmy is proudest not of the certificates, degrees and titles he has earned, but rather of how he turned one of the most painful moments of his life into one of the greatest gifts. Jimmy started skating at the age of 12 and after only two years, the future looked very promising: he was already performing three different triples (Salchow, toe loop and loop) and working on a quadruple Salchow. Unfortunately, his dream of going to the Olympics was crushed at the age of 14 when Jimmy suffered a serious hip injury during practice.

Even after working with some of the best doctors and physical therapists, the injury persisted and made everyday activities, like walking and sitting, painful to perform. With no end in sight, Jimmy had to abandon skating indefinitely. Then, in 2008, his love for skating was reignited. Realizing that he could no longer force moves through sheer strength, Jimmy immersed himself in research and experimentation to relearn even the most basic movements on the floor and on the ice.

Jimmy doesn’t chase after the latest fads and trends, nor does he assume that his many years of experience mean he has nothing left to learn. Jimmy is constantly developing his skating theory, grounded in history and inspired by his personal journey to health and well-being. Filled with unique and effective concepts, Jimmy’s approach is always evolving and improving, as he continually questions commonly held beliefs and even regularly challenges his own current understanding. With his keen skills of observation and his clear instructions, Jimmy has been able to identify and address hidden issues that skaters had been experiencing for years prior to working with him.

Jimmy is particularly sought after for his expertise in biomechanics. Correct body alignment is essential for freedom of movement in skating, whereas poor body alignment can cause tension and injury that restrict the body’s ability to move freely. One of the ways that Jimmy uses historical knowledge to help students achieve correct alignment and connection of the body and mind is through the revival of figures: the special patterns blades can draw on the ice. Figures are fundamental to the art of ice skating, regardless of the discipline (hockey, singles, pairs, ice dancing, speed skating), and the typical separation between hockey and figure skating stems from a misconception of skating fundamentals. Through figures, students gain a better understanding and awareness of how the body works, so that they can more easily adapt to different styles of movement while maintaining positions and postures that promote health and longevity. With the use of figures, Jimmy has helped students qualify for elite hockey teams and achieve triples and quads with ease.

If you are interested in learning to skate or in becoming a better skater, please click here to schedule a lesson. Skating lessons and off-ice training sessions are offered in-person and online. In-person lessons are held at Dover Ice Arena, The Rinks at Exeter, or Jimmy’s home dance studio. Online lessons are conducted via Zoom or FaceTime.

Certifications:

  • Certified USFS (U.S. Figure Skating) coach
  • World Figure Sport Educator
  • New Zealand schoolteacher certificate (2017)

Education:

  • BSc in Biomedical Science (University of Auckland)
  • MA in Ministry (Biblical Theological Seminary)
  • Master of Teaching (University of Auckland)

Expertise:

  • Compulsory and creative figures (clean tracings over the ice for development of inner peace and body-mind connection and alignment)
  • Moves in the field/skating skills (Effortless ice coverage with seamless transitions)
  • Multi-rotational jumps (soaring jumps that flow in and out with rotations completed well-before the landing)  
  • Spins (centered revolutions defying friction)
  • Choreography (creating meaningful and intentional movements that express the music)
  • Ballet (movements that breathe through the articulation of every muscle and joint, big and small)
  • Pilates (free expressive arms and legs supported by core stability and strength) 
  • Alexander Technique (cascading effects of the position of the skull over the spine) 
  • Music editing (creating a seamless piece of music for choreography)
  • Teaching/Education (utilizing various learning theories and modalities to foster a balanced, personalized learning environment) 

Accomplishments:

  • 2021 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships Men’s Bronze Medalist 
  • 2004 New Zealand National Figure Skating Primary Men’s Gold Medalist
  • Landed his first quadruple Salchow jump on 21 August 2004

Former coaches and teachers:

  • Gordon Rushton (a student of Olympic coach, Dr. Hellmut May)
  • Irina Voroninskaya (Ukrainian National Junior Ice Dancing Champion, a student of Olympic coach, Tatiana Tarasova)
  • Jack Zhang (Beijing Dance Academy graduate, soloist with New Zealand Royal Ballet) 

Teaching philosophy:

  • Teaching is a two-way street. Instructors teach in order to learn and learn in order to teach, and so a teacher never stops learning.  
  • Students are not empty vessels to be filled. They come ready with a wealth of relevant knowledge and experiences that teachers need to identify and utilize for teaching and learning. 
  • Celebrating small successes helps students build the confidence necessary for major breakthroughs   
  • Giving all students the same rigorous instruction that would be given to high-level competitive skaters.

Professional Development:

  • Jump and spin techniques of Gustave Lussi (coach of skating legends, such as Dick Button and Dorothy Hamill)
  • Ice dancing technique of Nathalia Dubova (renowned Olympic coach)  
  • Figures with Karen Courtland Kelly (Olympian and President of World Figure Society)
  • Ballet techniques of Finis Jhung (teacher and former ABT dancer)

Other professional experience:

  • Singer-songwriter
  • Children’s pastor 
  • Private tutor (piano, violin, singing, math, science) 
  • Teacher’s aide 
  • Volunteer with the elderly 

Languages:

  • English (fluent) 
  • Mandarin Chinese (fluent)
  • French (proficient)