I vividly recall the first time I saw “break dancers”. That was about 1977 in Santa Monica, California.
Street acrobatics? No rules? No judges? For fun, not ribbons?
… What a great idea.
Since then many different kinds of “street acrobatics” have flourished.
As YouTube grew, they expanded world wide.
For many years now the best break dancers and parkour athletes have been showing skills and sequences not possible for any Artistic or Trampoline gymnast. I recall when Capoeira athletes started training at our Adult Rec programs. Our gymnasts were astonished how tough and fit they were.
It’s been mostly a guy thing, though. Comparatively few females have achieved a high level in any kind in what I’m lumping together as “street acrobatics”.
Here’s one. 14yr-old Mackensi Emory , a “tricker“, from California? 4’11” Weight: 80 lbs. Extreme Sport Karate. 2nd Degree Black Belt.
Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.
Expert in Extreme Weapons and Creative Weapons, this is one little girl who could kick your butt. As a coach, I don’t like the skateboard baggy clothing, though. Acrobats should wear tight fitting gear when training. For safety.
flippinthescript wanted to clarify:
Tricking is an underground form of self expression originating from competitive martial arts, executed through a blend of aesthetic blends of kicks, twists, and flips. Trickers are constantly mislabeled …
Mackensi has competed some Artistic gymnastics up to Level 9, as well.
MackensiEmory.com
(via FlipCatch)
Gymnastics Coaching.com 