See what you think.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I prefer not to “catch” if not necessary, so would only use some of these for FUN or as a DEMO.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

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Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Watch more video of Technique Tuesday, Season 2 on gymnastike.org

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Again, I saw only the girls today. (Guys begin tomorrow.)

Best link is again Examiner – Quick hits: Podium training, day two

Anne Phillips already has over 160 videos posted on Gymnastike.

I feel Twitter is an idiotic service … except during LIVE events. It’s by far the best way to follow what’s going on DURING THE ACTION.

It became obvious to everyone in the audience that USA and CHN will be the top 2 teams. I’m always surprised when the Chinese girls hit full routines — and I was surprised today. They looked great, overall.

Still, in prelims USA will finish far ahead on Vault. And likely ahead on Floor. I don’t think China can make up that difference on Beam and Bars. (Even though Anna Li was designated “alternate” today, due to minor abdominal injury.)

Details on Anna’s blog.

The USA has more depth than any other team. And has been the most consistent team, so far.

The U.S. model doesn’t deliver ideal body types. (Check the Kazakhstani clones for that.) They don’t have the best technique. Yet the American “system” built the team to beat here in Tokyo. All involved in that program should be proud.

_____

In the Team Final (3 up – 3 count) anything can happen, of course.

If you’ve been following the Russian reports online over recent months you won’t be overly surprised to hear they have been very inconsistent in training. They’re just not ready for this meet though could easily be in contention for the team Gold in London.

Komova is wonderful. But she may not even make the Bar Final with this routine.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Watch more video of World Gymnastics Championships Tokyo 2011 on gymnastike.org

Russian Beam on podium was a complete disaster. I called it zero hit routines for 6 gymnasts. (Right after Rodionenko chatted up the judges.)

Likely Romania will finish 3rd in both prelims and Team final despite their weak Bars.

… So, the real drama at the World Championships will be for the team that finishes 9th in prelims.

Teams 9-16 must go to London in January for a second “Olympic Trials”. Of those eight – four will advance full teams.

How much money and preparation time will it cost that those nations?

As a fan I like this new selection process. But I’m surprised the member nations of FIG put up with it. How can you budget not knowing whether you must do two Olympic selection meets in 4 months?

South Korea looks very good. I’m liking Japan with a home court advantage. But to finish top 8 in team you need consistency on the day and some depth on all 4 apparatus. It’s going to be a battle.

Australia has looked excellent. Well coached, as usual. But they compete in the 3rd of 10 subdivisions. Will scores escalate? (… perhaps not since the E judges give everyone the same score, regardless.)

Great Britain should finish top 8. I’m not as convinced for Germany.

My guess is that only about half of the girls at this competition will hit 4 for 4 getting the D score they want. FIG rules are too difficult for these athletes. Either the athletes must improve, or the rules should be made easier. … I hope I’m wrong. But be ready for a splatfest.

When girls are still getting spotted for Vault on podium — even one Chinese girl — you know they’re not confident. Marta doesn’t allow that.

Watch the Korean male coach standing in on Beam dismounts though. Smart. He doesn’t touch the gymnasts.

On the other hand, there have been fewer injuries than in Rotterdam, I guesstimate. And fewer athletes are taped and braced than I would have expected. Perhaps the female gymnasts are adapting (slowly) to the demands of the Code.

Best links for today:

• VIDEOS on Gymnastike
• LIVE blog – Examiner
• Photos on Couch Gymnast and on Brigid’s Facebook
- Romanian photos
- Mexico update and photos

• FIG photos on Facebook

Once again, thank-you Japan for hosting this event.

Inside Gymnastics arrived today. Follow on Facebook.

Update commentary from Aunt Joyce:

… In a Pre-Olympic year, the same storyline exists among elite gymnastics that existed back in 1991: the Americans have powerful girls with a weakness on bars, the Romanians are conditioned within inches of their lives and look solid despite a weakness on bars, the Chinese girls have wonderful flexibility and finesse and are hoping to get through the power events, while the Russians pull off tumbling that their girls don’t look capable of merely looking at their bodies. …

Swinging in the States

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But she’s not sure if they need a “standard” spotting belt, or something special.

Should they have a twist belt? … Or are standard padded belts good enough?

Leave a comment if you have advice.

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Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Coaches tried different stances, different hand positions. The gymnast was asked simply to ‘keep tight’.

The 3/4 flyaway is to encourage beginners to “float” the dismount. AND to prevent kids from getting their toes close to the bar.

That’s Okanagan Gymnastics Centre in BC.

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Dave from Sky High in The Colony, TX is just putting on a ‘belt’ so he can lean out over the pit. (From that small spotting deck.)

(via Erin Costa on Flickr)

Of course there are many variable. Coaches size and strength. Athlete’s size and the skill they are doing. Etc.

For dismounts I stand on the dismount side of the Bar.

If you’ve an opinion, leave a comment. I don’t see many other coaches straddling the rail.

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Click PLAY or watch Rollin’ Justin on YouTube.

Jeremy linked to a related post – 6 Shocking Ways Robots Are Already Becoming Human

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Many gymnasts (especially boys) flip their first ones off a cheese mat into a pit. That’s OK … but if they do too many, most will develop some bad habits.

I put together a quicky tutorial on a better way kids could do their first flips.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Delay the first ‘FLIP’ day until kids are confident and consistent with the Round-off. And then let them only do up to 3 flips in any one work-out, once-in-a-while. It should be a reward for hard work on sprint, hurdle, pre-flight and conditioning.

Ideally, beginners would flip no more than once a week. The other days are dedicated to preparation.

Several of the kids in this video were flipping for the first time. The youngest is age-9. She now has years to stabilize the skill (and work on LANDING) before needing to compete it.

Prerequisites to the first day flipping Tsuk:

• 10 backward saltos in series on tramp
• ‘gainer’ back salto on tramp
• ‘pullover’ on tramp
• double back saltos somewhere safe (ideally tramp with belt or bungie belt)

That’s a short video. Leave a comment if you’ve a favourite drill to add.

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They use spotting belts at the circus space in London in some interesting ways.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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