Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.

Shiro Tanaka – stretching book

Power Stretching and Easy Exercises by Shiro Tanaka

In his late 50s, one of my first gymnastics mentors published his personal training program. He demonstrates all exercises himself in the home or office, using no special equipment.

I asked Shiro he’d ever done Yoga. “Never.”, he replied.

Like most of the old school gymnastics folks, he considers Yoga inferior to traditional gymnastics stretching. Shiro grew up with Tsukahara, one year younger.

Shiro’s book is not available for sale anywhere, unfortunately. It was published by his University for internal use.

But I’m inspired … just as Shiro inspired me as a gymnast and young coach. (In the late 1960s, he insisted we stretch every morning in the shower, to save time.)

my photos of Shiro

sole circle Tkachev easier

According to this research paper by Gareth Irwin, Michelle Manning and David G. Kerwin in Wales:

Biomechanics in Sport – KINEMATICS AND ANGULAR MOMENTUM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TOE-ON TKACHEV ON UNEVEN BARS IN FEMALE GYMNASTICS

CONCLUSION: The Toe-on Tkachev on Uneven bars … enables gymnasts to increase key release variables, particularly vertical velocity, (and hence flight time) and angular momentum. …

read the full article (slow loading)

It appears that even skills like layout Tkachev might even be easier from sole circle than from giant.

Grishina – Floor

Anastasia Grishina is feeling some love for her Floor in Massilia.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Nabieva (VIDEO) not so much.

Brigid: “… I haven’t seen someone less into their chorey for a while …”

There’s a great English language interview with Nabieva on her site. She really is growing up.

Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength

A new book by Steven Low (Author), Chris Salvato (Editor), KC Parsons (Editor), Valentin Uzunov (Illustrator)

At 542 pages you might want to gift a coach the Kindle edition. 🙂

details – Overcoming Gravity: A Systematic Approach to Gymnastics and Bodyweight Strength

tumble like Fangfang

From the women’s team final of the 2011 Trampolining and Tumbling World Championships in Birmingham

Click PLAY or watch her on YouTube.

Amazing how she can keep stretched on the full twisting double layout.

China is definitely the most dominant nation in Trampoline sports 2011.

And how about 35yr-old Marina Moskalenko of the U.S.A. competing Tumbling Worlds! (VIDEO)

Nastia at Karolyi camp

I’ve been dubious about our Olympic Champion’s comeback.

But she’s lined up in front of Marta with the rest of the Olympic hopefuls. And I’ve heard Nastia’s already looking quite good. Congratulations.

See a larger version of that photo from Polina Shchennikova’s facebook page on Gymnastike.

Here’s a list of camp attendees.

Romanian Gymnastics survey

Mihai (mikeyy) Parvulescu of fangymnastics is conducting an online survey about Romanian Artistic Gymnastics.

… The main objective of this survey is to determine the way Romanian gymnastics is perceived by its fans and supporters. We all know that the Romanian delegation returned home without any medal from this year’s Worlds. Through this survey we want to find out what are the problems of Romanian gymnastics and how can we try to solve them or to bring in some advice.

We would be very grateful if you were willing to fill in and to help us sharing it.

The survey can be found here.

Also, we have a Romanian version.

Gymnastics – month in video

Anastasia Jade launched a series of gymnastics month in review views. Subscribe to her  GymnasticsFan1144 YouTube channel.

Click PLAY or watch November 2011 on YouTube.

I saw that linked from the Chinese Gymnastics Blog.