Year: 2010

On his GymSmarts blog, coaching legend Mas Watanabe discusses a frustrating skill.

How to get a consistent front somersault at the end of a back tumbling sequence.

… One of the errors is too much whipping action on the back 1 and 1/2 twisting somersault. When they have too much whip on the somersault, the last half of the flip develops too much rotation. That will cause the landing and take off angle for the forward somersault to be very inconsistent. …

That’s not the only typical error he flags. Read the article for yourself: Rebound Tumbling Pass

Click PLAY or watch 1 1/2 twist backwards on YouTube.

Consistency on the punch front is a very individual thing. I’ve known kids who never miss in a meet, but aren’t consistent in practice. And … visa-versa.

Punch front layout (or layout step out) is much more consistent than “tucked”. That’s the long term goal. Train layout as early as possible on TumblTrak.

In my mind the least interesting and entertaining acrobatic “sport” is skateboard.

But if anyone can make it interesting and entertaining, it’s William Spencer.

Click PLAY or watch a highlight reel on YouTube. (half million views)

More gnarly shredding on thedenvershop YouTube channel.

(via FlipCatch)

related post – new Olympic sports – BMX 2008, skateboarding in 2012

As reported by Inside Gymnastics, an interview with coach Chris Waller:

“It’s our best team we’ve had since the last time we won,” Waller told Inside of the 2010 squad. “And I don’t just mean talent-wise. The team works together as a team. It’s not perfect, but it’s really darn close. I’m just amazed at how the team has gelled together and taken ownership of the direction they want to go in.”

And does Waller expect his squad to claim their sixth national crown?

“You never know,” he answered, “but if they do their jobs I don’t see how we can’t be in the top three, at least. It’s interesting because winning and losing is oftentimes more similar than different. When you’re trying to win, sometimes that results in a fall, [but] if you play it safe you usually you don’t win.” …

read more – WALLER EXPECTS GREATNESS

And here’s a great article about why Brittani McCullough chose to major in Nursing, despite the problems it created for her training:

… Several of her science courses conflicted with practice, so she began seeing her teammates less and less. This quarter she can practice with them only once a week because of 12-hour clinics she is required to attend twice a week at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

Usually she trains only with her coaches, so she sometimes leaves behind motivational notes for her teammates. “She makes sure the team knows she’s still there with us,” Li says.

McCullough’s schedule leaves little time for a social life, and she squeezes in 10-minute naps between classes. …

UCLA gymnast Brittani McCullough chooses tough career course

Rest In Peace George Nissen.

American gymnastics legend George Nissen passed away on April 7 in San Diego of complications from pneumonia.

I.G. – Dwight Normile – Trampoline Inventor George Nissen Passes Away

How did he get the idea?

… The Ringling Bros. circus would come to Cedar Rapids every year in the summer, and my brother and I would go. We actually did carry water for the elephants to get admission. When we watched the circus, we really enjoyed the flying trapeze performers, especially their dismounts. If they missed, they would fall to the net. But they would also dismount to the net and then they would rebound with another trick. I said, “Jeez, if you wanted to, you could keep rebounding into other tricks …

interview on Acrobatic Sports

The inventor of the trampoline was also the inventor of crazy trampoline stunts, like the time he double bounced with a kangaroo.

There’s a great historical documentary called Up in the Air on YouTube.

The internet is full of tributes to the great man. Every acrobatic coach owes him a debt of gratitude.

Thank-you George Nissen.

Merde!

Blythe Lawrence is live blogging the French International in Paris, the most interesting international meet of the season, so far. Her first post is podium training.

He Kexin and Wu Liufang look superb on Bars.

… And oh, here’s Beth Tweddle! Full routine on bars right out of the box. She did a Church, Hindorff, Tkatchev half to mixed grip to Barani and a whole bunch of other amazing things I didn’t have time to write down. The British are in black leos and black shorts and absolutely look like they mean business. …

World Champion Kohei Uchimura from Japan is there, and looking good. Jon Horton will be chasing him.

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js

Gym Nova is the equipment supplier. The French company was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games, too.

read more – Live blog: Podium training at the French International Over 5000 people watched the podium day!

And be sure to follow Gymnastics Examiner all weekend.

Brittany Rogers tweeted she’s really enjoying the event.

It remains to be seen what the French audience thinks of Coach Yin Alvarez, the cheerleader. …

A classic textbook of acrobatics was first published in 1931 by Professor Paulinetti.

Robert L. Jones made additions in a 1945 edition.

It might have been lost to us except that Logan Christopher edited a new edition in 2007.

Not inexpensive at $49 plus shipping and handling, I must admit, this is one of the very best of the old manuals from the 1930s.

Logan will be pleased, but not surprised, that I give this text a very strong endorsement. It’s both entertaining and educational. I’ve emailed a recommendation for it to Keith Russell and Hardy Fink of the F.I.G.

Professor Paulinetti’s story is fascinating. He toured as an acrobat from 1892 until 1923. Paulinetti did this headstand atop one of the prominent buildings in Calcutta in 1920.

Paulinetti’s student, Robert Jones, went on to perform feats of strength and balance beyond his mentor, including (reportedly) handstand supported only on two thumbs.

In later years photographs of feats of hand balancing began to be collected. The photos are, perhaps, the highlight of the book.

You mght recall that I once quibbled with the name of one of Christopher’s sites: The Lost Art of Handbalancing.

Fact is there are more great hand balancers today than ever before in history. The Cirque performer, coached by Andre Simard, who showed 1-arm handstand on a swinging trapeze, for one example.

That Lost Art site is for the general public. Acrobatic coaches would be more interested in one of Logan’s other projects, his Legendary Strength blog.

Bottom line, … I beg Logan to next research the history of hand balancing in the Chinese and Russian circus schools. What hand balancing was done by clowns in ancient Egypt?

We need that sequel.

Click through for book details: The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing

(Warning: this page is filled with more hyperbole and salesmanship than any other I’ve seen for years.)

My former gym of 10yrs, an awesome club. You’d be working with Head Coach, Markos Baikos.

The Taiso Gymnastics Club in Saskatoon Saskatchewan is looking for a full time Gymnastics Coach.

We are a non-profit organization that operates both co ed recreational and competitive men’s gymnastics programs and has been designated as a Mens Artistic Gymnastics National Training Center Location.

Taiso is home to several National Athletes, two National Team members, the Junior Mens National Team Coach and three past Olympians.

Coaching certification would be an asset, but not essential. The club would be willing to provide training for the right applicant for this position. The successful applicant would have the opportunity to mentor under Taiso’s Head Coach who is also the National Junior Mens Artistic Gymnastics Coach.

Salary – dependant on qualifications and experience. Feel free to visit our website: www.taiso.ca

Mail resumes and copies of certification in confidence to:

Taiso Gymnastics Club
610 47th Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7K 5X3Sask.
S6V 5G3

Or E-mail in confidence to: office AT taiso.ca

Anyone granted an interview must be willing to submit to an R.C.M.P. security clearance. Should the applicant be from outside of Canada, they must comply and meet the requirements set forth by Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s application process.

I’m driving down to Regional Championships at Pauley Pavilion. (The last meet I saw there was the pre-Olympics, 1983!)

Friday, Apr. 9:
2 pm – Practice Session I: Iowa State, Arizona State, UCLA
4 pm – Practice Session II: Arizona, BYU, Arkansas
(individual all-arounders and event specialists practice the same time as the teams with which they are rotating)

Saturday, Apr. 10:
6 pm – Regional Championships

UCLA Gymnasts Host NCAA Regionals Saturday With NCAA Berths At Stake

There’s some buzz about Anna Li and/or Vanessa Zamarripa contemplating competing Elite. No doubt the coaches are trying to stifle this distraction until after Championships.

With weak Bars on the U.S. National Team right now, it’s possible for a College specialist to get a shot. But think back on how many girls ever actually accomplished this goal in the past.

Very, very few.

And it’s more difficult now than ever before as the gap between F.I.G. rules and NCAA rules widens.

You should be able to watch live streaming of the competition.

Missouri, Utah and West Virginia will have simultaneous streaming, as well.

From MunchTheSilivasFan:

As requested by Mostepanovafan, some awesomness on the unevens. In doing this montage I learnt that I really love Jaegers

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Slave to Love – Bryan Ferry

This includes many of the most interesting and unique Bar skills and combinations ever competed. Thanks!