Valentin Uzunov posted an article on The Gym Press:
… a 12 week off-season sprint training program, for preadolescent gymnasts (7-12 years of age), who have not had formal sprint training. A detailed discussion is presented on the theoretical and practical application of the key concepts to effective sprinting for vault: optimized running mechanics, start of run-up and acceleration. The methodology behind this program is based on current track and field coaching methods, scientific literature on sprinting biomechanics and preadolescence speed and strength training principles. …
It’s available to download for a few dollars. (This is a great way to support Valentin’s work studying the art and science of gymnastics coaching.)
He’s posted a number of videos on TheGymPress channel supporting this article.
One sample is a drill that I use a lot – Partner hamstring curls. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnasts often have a muscular imbalance: their quads are too strong relative to the hamstrings. Partner hamstring curls are ideal for getting close to a maximum contraction safely.
I strongly agree with Kellie on the importance of hand placement on the round-off. If you neglect those drills, many young gymnasts will “overturn”, resulting in less consistency. And – perhaps – less power.
(Don’t be fooled by watching the best in the world overturn their round-offs. That’s a technique for the elite only. Most were taught to keep their hands in line with the direction of run when they started.)
The best wrap-up report I’ve seen as yet was posted by Anne on Gymnastike:
Dragalescu did not crash his second vault this competition. He cranked a half-on, Front Layout with 2 1/2 twist. He just might be the greatest vaulter of all time. Him… or Scherbo.
For his first vault, Marian launched his trademark vault, handspring double front with a half twist out, aka the Dragulescu. This vault was competed by nearly all of the vault finalists, but performed the best by Dragulescu who earned 9.550 exectution. His second vault had the highest start value of the competition at a 7.2. There was a lot of hype surrounding Ri Se Gwang of North Korea, but you just never know what he is going to do. Today he threw 2 scary vaults, the first was a piked Dragulescu which he landed on his head. ouch.
… Crowd favorite Beth Tweddle was the first competitor up, and hit her insanely difficult floor set. To the delight of the crowd, her score held throughout the competition. …
LONDON (Reuters) – Marian Dragulescu grabbed gold on the vault to claim his second title at the world gymnastics championships on Sunday. …
As soon as Dragulescu nailed his second vault — an ambitious Yurchenko half-on with 1-1/2 twist2 1/2 twist — he punched the air in delight and held up his index fingers to the crowd as if to say, “That’s why I’m number one.”
Victory increased the 28-year-old’s haul of world titles to eight.
Who would have predicted that just a few months ago?
Gym Nest has established a Worldwide reputation for providing the highest quality gymnastics in Huntington West Virginia.
Bozhidar Russev “Bozhi”, who is a former Bulgarian National Team Member with over 40 years of experience producing many world class athletes and several Olympians. …
From deep in West Virginia, Kayla Williams rose from a level 10 junior to an elite US National Champion on vault to a WORLD Champion on vault all within 5 months. Incredible. …
Many commented on Kayla’s excited and emotional reaction.
Kayla Williams of the US hugs her coach Bozhidar Russev after her gold medal winning routine on the vault at the World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.
Blythe on Gymnastics Examiner linked to the this video from U.S. VISA Championships.
… 13-year-old teammate McKayla Maroney became the third U.S. gymnast ever to land an Amanar vault (Yurchenko 2.5 twist), which she did on the second day of competition. Shawn Johnson, who performed the vault successfully in 2008, and Jordyn Wieber, who did it at the American Cup earlier this year, are the only other Americans who have ever even tried Amanars in competition. …
It’s a great read, especially to hear the philosophy of coaches Jian Hua (Jenny) Zhang and her husband Hao Quan (Howie) Liang.
Notes: Ross and Maroney aren’t the first Gym Max gymansts to make a splash on the national scene. Ivana Hong trained at Gym Max before moving to Iowa to work with husband and wife team Al and Armine Fong in 2004, and 2006 Pacific Alliance and Gymnix gold medalist Shantessa Pama trained at Gym Max as an elite.
==== Update:
MostepanovaFan just posted a video called The Amanar Club, inspired by Blythe’s post. It shows all the gymnasts who have competed the Yurchenko 2.5 twist in chronological order.
She put together an epic edit, almost 9min long. (When is the last time you saw a gymnastics montage of this length?) Plenty of slow motion and close-ups.
This is the first video in months that I’ve downloaded to my computer. It’s perfect for showing non-gymnastics types simply how amazing are gymnasts. By far the most impressive female athletes in the world.
You might assume the Chinese men will be “weak” at World Championships considering the retirements after the Beijing Olympics.
Andy Thornton has posted analysis on the American Gymnast blog.
… Who’s going to make it? Well, you’d have to think that Zou Kai is probably a lock, given he has established himself as China’s best on two out of the six events. I think they may end up ditching any medal opportunities on vault and focusing on the other five events, but we’ll have to see. The question may be whether they even put any all-arounders on the team or simply go for individual event medals. …
Here are a couple of no names that might not make the team.
Click PLAY or watch Huang Yuguo Vault 2009 Chinese National Games AA on YouTube.
Incredible.
What a fight it must be in China to be considered the “best” on one apparatus. (Aside from HBar. They don’t have anyone competitive with the best in the world on that apparatus.)
The best gymnast on Floor and Vault of the last decade is 28yr-old Marian Dragulescu from Romania.
… world titles on floor (2001, 2002, 2006) and vault (2001, 2005, 2006) …
Andy Thornton:
He’s still got it! Although we’ve seen him do a more difficult first pass (he used to do a punch front 1 ¼ out of that), he looks as controlled and powerful as ever. He made those passes look WAY too easy, and yet every single one of them is extremely difficult. How about that second pass of front full to front full 1 ¾? And he’s still doing a double-double as the SIXTH tumbling pass – unbelievable! He should definitely be in the gold medal mix on floor at worlds next month. …
I’m not convinced. Marian has never had good form tumbling. And he does not look close to peak form here.
Recall that he was badly injured on a roll out skill in the past. Yet he’s still relying on those dangerous tricks … as is everyone else in contention for medals.
I wish the Men would ban roll out skills as the Women did long ago.
Marian is the favourite on vault, as Andy explains his blog post.
