Teaching Blind Change and Giant 1/1 on the Bar is problematic.
Many things can go wrong. Worst is when the gymnast gets stuck on 1-arm … and falls on the Rail. 😦
Like most coaches I’ve tried hundreds of different drills.
Here is my favourite series of drills, starting on Floor Bar.
1. kick handstand
2. kick handstand to reverse pirouette, step down on the other side
3. kick handstand to reverse pirouette, forward pirouette same hand
4. IF the gymnast gets a good reverse pirouette, finish the Giant 1/1
… if not, forward pirouette on the same hand as in 3
Step 3 is the most important. This is where they learn to support with and torque on one hand. This is where things go wrong. This is where they learn what to do when things go wrong. 🙂
Challenge the gymnasts to make 20 Giant 1/1s in series without missing. They’ll learn to CHEAT. Doing the reverse pirouette on the way up, and quickly finishing the 1/1.
That’s great. But the cheater Giant 1/1 does not finish in handstand. It finishes short of handstand.
5. Work the Giant 1/1 and Giant 1 ½. From pike jump if the goal is toe hand into the 1/1.
My main coaching advice on the reverse pirouette is to always reach fast, and reach far. Beginners get in trouble when their hands are too close together. And might get stuck on 1-arm if they reach slowly or tentatively.
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