I think this could hold true for quite a number of skills. It’s not so much that their maturation level of understanding is developed yet, so much as it is introducing them to certain movements at an early age; especially when they are small and you are able to manipulate and shape them into the right positions. Much harder when they are older, and bigger.

Case in point would be teaching a flyaway without the aid of spotting belts and pits. If girls are only first introduced to it when they are “big”, I don’t have the luxury of teaching them quite the same way as I can to girls I can suspend in the air, when they are small. I can confidently have them work on releasing in a candlestick shape and not worry about “flipping it”. Little ones who trust you are oblivious to any danger factor, and can throw caution to the wind, because no matter what they do, you can hang onto them 100%. Some young kids have really good, natural swings; so why not keep ‘em challenged and have fun with “big skills”? Doesn’t mean you ignore basics and normal progressions.

Hope this didn’t go off-topic.

The Porta Table looks seems like a great training aid. I hope they go back on the market someday again.

I like to start Yurchenko as soon as the kids are doing a reasonably good backward handspring series. Level 5 or Level 6, at latest.

Yurchenko timer is easier to do correctly than is Handspring.

Yurchenko easier than Tsuk.

The only disadvantage of Yurchenko is the psychology of vaulting backwards. The younger it is introduced, the better.

Start at Level 5. Then compete it with somersault 3yrs later at L8.

Valentin Uzunov
TheGymPress
http://www.thegympress.net