Entries from November 2011 ↓

Jerry Wright again posted a detail preview of the Men’s NCAA Gymnastics season.

He mentions the Pre-season Coaches Poll:

1. Oklahoma
2. Illinois
3. Michigan
4. Stanford
5. California
6. Penn St.
7. Ohio State
8. Minnesota

But expands on that with his own predictions:

I see any one of five teams capable of winning the 2012 NCAA Team Title. Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford and Penn State; should make this a most interesting season …

But names Illinois as best of the best:

Illinois will have the return of Paul Ruggeri from serious injury and if he is at full strength the Illini will be very strong. Paul is capable of contending for first place honors in FX, V, PB and HB and is a Nissen-Emery favorite. Along with Tyler Mizoguchi they field two outstanding talents.

From last year’s 3rd place team the Illini return virtually everyone, making them very strong candidates to win the Big Ten and Nationals. …

College Gymnastics – COLLEGE GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION – N C A A M E N’ S G Y M N A S T I C S – PREVIEW 2012 (PDF)

Another helmet cam video posted by Auburn’s Jeff Grabba.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

See more of these videos.

I like this edit for it’s blend of College level skills and (essential) conditioning.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Nebraska has two new assistant coaches this year: Heather Brink and Dan Miller.

Crazy Tony Retrosi took his TumblTrak Air Pit rafting.

click for larger version

That’s from Tony’s new site – PRODUCT REVIEW, TumblTrak’s AIR PIT

We used it for vault
We used it out on the floor for double back and full in back out timers.
We used it over at bars behind the low bar for Over shoots and we stood it up on end to use it to help with clear hips.
I even threw it over the trampoline and used it for some vault drills.
The last thing I did was flip it upside down and we took it white water rafting. WARNING- DO NOT DO THIS. WE ARE STUPID.

It’s American Thanksgiving. I’m thankful that a great company like TumblTrak advertises on this site. And I’m thankful to be having Thanksgiving dinner today with founder Doug Davis.

I’m in the States for American Thanksgiving, the Harvest Festival crammed far too near Christmas on the calendar.

But every day we wake up — and the world’s still spinning — is a good day to count blessings.

Blythe Lawrence – Ten things gymnastics fans should be thankful for

Brigid McCarthy – Gratitude is Good

via Paleo Snacks on Facebook.

Good luck to everyone competing in Birmingham. Here are a couple of the delegations.

U.S.A. on Thanksgiving

Oh Canada.

All-around champion Viktoria Komova added a second gold medal to her collection as Elite Massilia ended Sunday in Marseille.

Komova, who posted the highest score of the meet (15.7 on bars) during the all-around final, earned gold on her best event, and added a silver on floor exercise.

Canadian junior champion Victoria Moors, competing as a senior for the first time, bested Komova for the floor title.

Russia’s Tatiana Nabieva won vault with a double twisting Yurchenko and Podkopayeva, defending her title from 2010, while France’s Marine Brevet took the beam title before a home audience. …

Examiner – Four gymnasts win individual titles as Elite Massilia ends

Some Results are finally posted. It’s been a frustrating competition to track.

Marine Brevet

related – Marine Brevet wins senior title at WOGA Classic (2011)

China, Canada (photos) and Russia were the top nations. Congratulations.

Canada won both Double Mini (DMT) Team competitions under the new 3-up, 3-count format.

FIG website

FIG videos

Half the Olympic Trampoline spots have been decided. The other half will qualify at the Second Olympic Qualification – Test Event, 10 – 18 January 2012 in London. Tickets.

silver medal Tramp - Rosie MacLennan (CAN)

HE Wenna (China) won Women’s Trampoline. LI Dan (China) took the Bronze.

World Age Group Championships continue in Birmingham starting Nov. 24th. (schedule)

OK, enough is enough Mother Russia.

How many times do we have to hear how Viktoria Komova was robbed at Worlds?

She’s a wonder talent, perhaps the favourite to win Olympics 2012.

But I’m seriously questioning her psychology. She’s not shown the mental toughness of a Bross, Wieber or Mustafina.

Blythe Lawrence is becoming a doubter too – Viktoria Komova: shaky but still stirring

… When things go well for Komova, they go very well. But when she’s just a little bit off, as she was on her first element on beam at Massilia, she gives up quickly …

Click PLAY or watch her Beam on YouTube.

Gymnasts must be consistent, as well as brilliant.

Power Stretching and Easy Exercises by Shiro Tanaka

In his late 50s, one of my first gymnastics mentors published his personal training program. He demonstrates all exercises himself in the home or office, using no special equipment.

I asked Shiro he’d ever done Yoga. “Never.”, he replied.

Like most of the old school gymnastics folks, he considers Yoga inferior to traditional gymnastics stretching. Shiro grew up with Tsukahara, one year younger.

Shiro’s book is not available for sale anywhere, unfortunately. It was published by his University for internal use.

But I’m inspired … just as Shiro inspired me as a gymnast and young coach. (In the late 1960s, he insisted we stretch every morning in the shower, to save time.)

my photos of Shiro

The 2003 German AA national champion Ronny Ziesmer was paralyzed training Tsuk double back preparing for the Athens Olympics.

… Ronny is a big fighter and on his way back into a normal life the tetraplegic sportsman is working and living on the principle: Only an active life is a fulfilled life!

* Ronny Ziesmer founded the “Alliance of Hope Foundation” which supports the worldwide research in the field of regeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord. Patron of the Foundation, the German Federal Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel.

* Ronny Ziesmer started three times at the Berlin Marathon (2009, 2010, 2011) in the handbike. His goal is to attend the 2016 Paralympics.

* Just now in October 2011 Ronny Ziesmer has just completed a very successful study of biotechnology at the German “University Lausitz” in Senftenberg (near his hometown Cottbus) as a “Bachelor of Science”.

* Ronny Ziesmer is also working for the biggest European and German TV station “ZDF” as a co-commentator for the artistic gymnastic events like worlds, Europeans or Olympic Games.

The Agency, European Gymnastics Service “GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL” supports and cared for these exceptional athletes in all its responsibilities.

(C) GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL

Click PLAY or watch a short documentary on YouTube.

That’s on the gymmedia2010 YouTube channel.

(via Vídeos de gimnasia)

According to this research paper by Gareth Irwin, Michelle Manning and David G. Kerwin in Wales:

Biomechanics in Sport – KINEMATICS AND ANGULAR MOMENTUM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TOE-ON TKACHEV ON UNEVEN BARS IN FEMALE GYMNASTICS

CONCLUSION: The Toe-on Tkachev on Uneven bars … enables gymnasts to increase key release variables, particularly vertical velocity, (and hence flight time) and angular momentum. …

read the full article (slow loading)

It appears that even skills like layout Tkachev might even be easier from sole circle than from giant.