Author: Rick Mc

John Deary and former Olympic coach Peter Kormann for DGS are developing a kip and hip circle trainer that makes both the athlete and the coaches life a whole lot easier.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Looks interesting. Might be good for the very early introduction of the skill.

Next I would take boys and girls to parallel bars … and spot it from a long hang swing on the end.

New Product for learning kips, free hips and front hip circles. This product allows the beginner athlete to perform all of these stunts and more without the aid of a coach. Comes complete with Kip Wheel Pad & Body Shaper.

DGS

Posted a few on our club website flickr account.

more pics – flickr

As usual, the competition is excellent.

It’s tricky for Canadian gymnasts to compete in the USA, however. We made a few changes to our Canadian routines to better “fit” the USAG rules … but this is difficult.

Every Canadian coach I spoke with here agreed that Canada should simply adopt the USA Jr. Olympics rules. Canadian gymnastics would quickly improve. Going it alone, using a much more confusing scheme, is not working for Canada.

GreatWestGymFest.com

PERMANENT /PART TIME

Southside Gymnastic Club is currently looking for a vibrant and energetic person to join our team. Southside Gymnastics is located Cairns, in the glorious Tropical Far North Queensland. Our club currently offers Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline Sports and a fantastic Recreation Program. We have produced State and National Champions in all disciplines and have created for ourselves a rather strong reputation for quality gymnastics.

The successful applicant will have the following qualifications. They must be highly motivated and have exceptional skills when dealing with children. A Level 1 accreditation and a current Suitability Card and First Aid Certificate, and own transport are essential for this role. Knowledge in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics is also essential and knowledge in the Trampoline Sport would be an advantage. But mostly we are looking for that someone special who has the drive and the dedication to assist with making it possible for these children to reach their full potential.

The club is willing to provide Immigration sponsorship for applicants with 2 year visa’s.

So if you are looking not only for a change of job but a complete change of lifestyle and have decided that you want to live in one of the most spectacular parts of the world then email your resume complete with (4) professional references to our email ssgc@bigpond.com

Southside Gymnastics Club Inc.

Address: 93-99 Robert Rd.
Bentley Park, 4869
Cairns, Australia

Phone: (07) 40 452 947

Fax: (07)40 452 947

Website: http://www.ssgc.com.au

Email: ssgc@bigpond.com

I like the editing. Plenty of pommel horse.

http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/yt-FCDfRDRt6t0/gymnastic_best_of_best.swf
Gymnastic Best of Best

Tags: gymnastic flares floor exercise gold flips contortionist handbalancing cardinely tricking extrem amazing best great dope insane marius urzica alexei nemov jordan jovtchev zalievsky novikov equilibrist acrobacias saltos backflip double pommel horse clean powermoves split flexibility flexible rhythmic team JO brazil planche push up

Picture Perfect Gymnastics by Hopes and Dreams

2009 University of Minnesota Women’s Gymnastics hosts Best of Minnesota – February 14, 2009

see the entire Valentine’s Day theme gallery

You’ve heard this story before.

Ex-gymnast dies of Anorexia Nervosa.

An article on Office.com uses a supposedly hypothetical ex-gymnast named Allison to illustate the disease. First disordered eating, age-13, as a gymnast. Dies age-19 of a heart attack.

Prevention

… An adolescent female is 10-20 times more likely to have an eating disorder if a family member also has/had one.

Parents who overvalue physical appearance can unwittingly contribute to an eating disorder.

Model self acceptance of your own weight and body appearance and watch what you say. Making statements like “I can’t eat that; it will go straight to my hips,” or asking, “Does this dress make me look fat?” can send the message that thinness is the ultimate goal in life.

Odd feeding schedules in infancy can lead to an eating disorder.

Using food for rewards, punishment, comfort or other non-nutritive purposes can also lead to an eating disorder.

Nagging about junk food and limiting a child’s access to treats will actually increase his/her desire to eat too many of these foods; even if they are not hungry. This can also lead to an eating disorder.

If your child exhibits anorectic behavior feed him/her. Supervise their eating behavior, jack up the calories (up to 4,000 calories a day to replace lost weight) and limit exercise. Therapy won’t be of much help to a person who has no glucose in his/her brain.

Discuss the media’s effect on pushing unhealthy dieting and life-threatening thinness with your child. It is estimated that the average American child will watch approximately 21 hours of television each week, and see more than 30,000 commercials a year. Actors and actresses who are the most successful and happy are invariably young, attractive and super thin. According to Health Magazine 1/3rd of female television network characters are underweight; however only 5% of population is underweight. Whereas, only 3% of female television network characters are obese, compared 25% of females with obesity in the real world. The message is loud and clear; try this diet or this product and look acceptable (maybe even as good as the 6 foot, 100 pound, “size zero” model who is smiling at you).

Dying To Be Thin
Anorexia Nervosa: Deadliest Psychiatric Illness

read the article

One time street performer, now billionaire Guy Laliberte, is planning modest celebrations this year for his insanely successful company Cirque du Soleil.

source

“It has been 25 years of dreams,” he told a news conference at Cirque’s headquarters in Montreal on Wednesday. “And the dreams will continue.” …

Festivities will include: the launching of two new circuses (one in Montreal, the other in Las Vegas); a new book on Cirque costumes; a compilation CD of the best of Cirque music; and a special, 45-minute fireworks tribute to the Cirque at the closing ceremony of this year’s international fireworks festival (L’International des Feux Loto-Quebec) at Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park.

Laliberte insisted the Cirque is “very healthy, financially,” in spite of hard economic times.

“We have accomplished our financial goals of last year, and so far, the first month of the year is exactly on target. And we hope we will be strong enough to go through the crisis, but are we bulletproof to a great depression? Probably not.”

… the title of this year’s new touring circus – coincidentally, the 25th show the Cirque has produced – remains a mystery. It’s slated to open in Montreal in April. Laliberte did, however, reveal that the theme will be insects and their place in the ecosystem.

Daniel Lamarre, Cirque’s president and CEO, said the upcoming permanent Vegas show slated to open in December at the CityCenter’s Aria hotel is already generating a lot of interest in that city, as it’s dedicated to the life and music of Elvis Presley. “The King of CityCenter will be The King,” he said. …

Montreal Gazette

larger version – flickr – Zanastardust

I put up a Facebook event page for my favourite gym meet anywhere, the Great West Gym Fest.

We travel to Idaho today. Competition this weekend.

screenshot

Facebook – Great West Gym Fest page

Participants can share photos and videos there.

Stength coach Josh Hewett wrote an excellent article published on Straight to the Bar.

… The four basic principles of mental conditioning are as follows:

Set SMARTER Goals.

Create a strong, clear mental picture of these goals using Visualization and Imagery training.

Reinforce these ideas often using Affirmations.

Maintain a positive focus on your objectives and employ interventions such as negative thought-stopping techniques.

I’m always asking gymnasts to “train smarter”, not harder.

Setting SMARTER Goals

Studies have shown that appropriate goal setting leads to performance enhancement, with moderate to strong effects. To remember the key principles of effective goal setting, think SMARTER; your goals should be:

• Specific – indicate precisely what is to be done. Avoid vague alternatives

• Measurable – you should be able to quantify your goal
• Action-Oriented – develop concrete plan of actions required to move toward your goals
• Realistic – start with moderately difficult goals, rather than too easy or difficult to reach
• Time-Constrained – set specific time limits for both short term and long term goals
• Evaluated – record and monitor your progress regularly
• Reversible – in cases of injury, or failure to achieve a difficult goal, reset goals as needed

read the entire detailed article – Get Mental! The Psychology of Strength

Josh Hewett is a personal trainer, strength coach and competitive strength athlete. Find out more at Top Form Fitness, and the Stay Fit Minute.

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I paid $20 the other day to one of our young female gymnasts who did muscle-up on rings. She was VERY motivated to win my money.

Interesting pic on the Gymnast Crossing blog.

Another variation by the same photographer, the Wordsmith from Nantucket:

original – flickr

Two variations …

How to make Gymnastics/Fitness Rings from PVC Conduit

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How to make PVC gymnastic/ fitness rings

Unless you enjoy the challenge of making your own, I’d advise you simply buy Xtreme Rings.