Meet Brianna, who is a fabulous gymnast, an inspired coach, a gym ‘mom’ and profoundly deaf. In her short life she has been all of these things and much more. …
Couch Gymnast Brigid McCarthy interview:
… I can always remember loving gymnastics. As a kid I loved flipping in the air and the feeling when I learned a new drill. I also loved the sparkly leos and having my mom do my hair for meets. Of course getting ribbons and seeing my friends every day at practice was fun too! …
I competed level 10 all through middle school. I qualified to Nationals twice and some of the coaches in my area wanted me to train elite. …
One of the hardest things is that using ASL (American Sign Language), … (no) words for gymnastics terms. … (skills) are finger spelled (Like “Geinger”). So we invented some of our own signs for things we used in gymnastics all the time. On the other hand, sign is great for showing how a drill needs done since it’s so visual. …
… I was able to succeed, not as that Deaf girl who is good at gymnastics, but just that girl who is good at gymnastics. I earned it all on my own and I love that. …
When Brianna started Rec, her Mom had her pretend not to be deaf. To be treated just like every other girl.
… At thirteen I was furious with my mom for not letting me move in with another family to board or better yet, switching jobs so our family could move. Now I understand why she did what she did. We lost my dad as a victim of a drunk driving accident when me and my sister were little. My mom didn’t want to send me away and split up our family. …
I spent last week with the Tumbl Trak video team, visiting Washington State gyms, brainstorming best use of their products with different kinds of user groups. In different kinds of facilities.
Here we are at rural Brinnon Elementary.
Instruction was provided by Carrie Lennox of Jefferson County Parks & Rec who was there 4 days. Fun and fitness in a safe but challenging environment. A mobile program.
We dropped in (and trained) at the Twisters Adult class in Port Renfrew.
Here’s Carrie’s regular “Kid Fit” Parks & Rec class in Port Townsend, a set-up, take-down facility. She’s worked closely with Tumbl Trak for years.
First day in the program for this lad:
Again, the goal is high activity in a fun, safe environment. Rather than put little kids up high on a rope, why not have them sliding on the floor? Fun … and much safer.
I’ll post details on each of those programs on Rec Gymnastics over the coming week.
John Smith at NASA Gymnastics is genius at coming up with drills for Team. We got plenty of video.
The biggest news at Tumbl Trak is that they have a viral video — nearly 600,000 views. You can’t buy that kind of publicity.
Check the Tumbl TrakFebruary 2012 newsletter. Subscribe FREE by emailing newsletter {a} tumbltrak.com.
Tumbl Trak is a valued sponsor of this site. Their corporate mission is exactly in line with my own coaching philosophy.
“I am completely confident with my ability to catch the line if I were to fall.
Highlining at Cathedral Peak, Yosemite, California
Photograph by Mikey Schaefer
This shot is just one spectacular scene from “The Man Who Can Fly,” an episode of Explorer airing Sunday, February 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel. The show captures Potter’s quest for true human flight, with first feats in free soloing and wing suit flying in Yosemite, California, and British Columbia, Canada. …
… compilation of mainly 2011 Japan World Championships …
I find the voice over preachy — but the montage is well worth watching. Some of the best men in the world doing some of the hardest stuff in the world.
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
It’s only one festival every 4yrs. But the Olympic reach is far, far greater.
‘Sport at Heart‘ — the award-winning film featuring David Beckham, Amir Khan, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Roger Moore; set London on the road to success. …
Written specifically for parents from grade school to college Dr. Malcolm Conway tears away the myths and falsehoods surrounding sports training, college recruiting, injury prevention and recovery, sports nutrition, coaching, and even “over-parenting.” Dr. Conway has interviewed 12 top world class athletes from various professional sports to ask them how they prepared as a young athlete. …
… I can always remember loving gymnastics. As a kid I loved flipping in the air and the feeling when I learned a new drill. I also loved the sparkly leos and having my mom do my hair for meets. Of course getting ribbons and seeing my friends every day at practice was fun too! …
Ivan Cuk
Written specifically for parents from grade school to college Dr. Malcolm Conway tears away the myths and falsehoods surrounding sports training, college recruiting, injury prevention and recovery, sports nutrition, coaching, and even “over-parenting.” Dr. Conway has interviewed 12 top world class athletes from various professional sports to ask them how they prepared as a young athlete. … 
