Author: Rick Mc

Sad news.

I had been forewarned by coach Michael, The Wordsmith from Nantucket, that his club in California might be closing. Now this is it. End of an era.

From Carol Luber, daughter of founders Al and Linda:

After 35 years of dedication to the sport of gymnastics, Santa Monica Gymnastics Center will be closing it’s doors. The culmination of years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears is not strong enough to take on the new breed of gymnastics schools that are opening everywhere. Mega-schools that run as many diverse programs as YMCA’s are popping up everywhere. My family did not want to change with the times. Al Luber wanted to coach gymnastics. …

We are having a Reunion and Celebration Party on Saturday, February 23 from 3-8 PM. We invite all friends and family of SMGC to reminisce and celebrate the long life we had bringing gymnastics to so many lives.

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And what’s happening with the Wordsmith? The man who’s done such a wonderful job documenting life at a regular gymnastics gym on his Gymnastics Crossing blog?

Hear what he has to say: Santa Monica Gymnastics Center Comes to an End

Do you have a question you’ve always wanted to ask Shayla Worley?

Now’s your chance. She’s fielding questions submitted to Inside Gymnastics magazine.

The March/April issue will feature an in-depth profile of the 2007 World championship gold medal team.

Originally uploaded by Gerry Visco.

Arm balancing at the Iyengar Institute in NYC

A superb, heartwarming video is making the rounds by email:

One of the most inspirational stories I’ve ever seen. This is why I coach…to make an impact on young lives!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Kathy Caine Grigor.

Not surprisingly, their main business is selling weight vests. Sport scientist Jeni McNeal keeps hers in the car, using it to increase body weight resistance during all sorts of exercises, especially hiking. But coaches certainly use them in the gym for advanced athletes.

WeightVest.com

How often do you see a TV ad featuring Rhythmic gymnastics?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks George.

I juggled my schedule in order to watch a big NCAA dual meet in Phoenix:

No. 3 Utah (2-0) makes its first road trip of the season – competing against No. 20 Arizona State (1-3) in Tempe, Ariz., on Friday, Jan. 25. The meet will be held in the Wells Fargo Arena starting at 7:30 p.m. MT.

Utah Utes

Leave a comment on this post if you will be there and want to meet up after the competition to chat.

Former Chinese National Champion, Feng Yu, and U.S. Olympic and National coach, Don Peters have organized an exciting and affordable 12 night tour for the Beijing Olympic Games that is designed expressly for the gymnastics fan (however, fans of other sports can also be accommodated) …

Beijing with Don

OK, this Olympic prediction is a no brainer.

I can’t see Japan. Or Korea. Or anyone else beating China at home. Their start values are simply too high to overcome.

It’s going to look something like this:

Chinese gymnastics team celebrates on the podium after winning men’s team final at the 39th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, Oct. 17, 2006.

People’s Daily Online

Gym Chat has a discussion threat on the “best way to get better splits/flexibility”.

It includes a link to research by Bill Sands, Jeni McNeal and others:

CONCLUSION: This study showed that vibration can be a promising means of increasing range of motion beyond that obtained with static stretching in highly trained male gymnasts.

Flexibility enhancement with vibration: Acute and …[Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006] – PubMed Result

Jeni brings her vibration machine (video) everywhere. She’s very positive on this training method.

But where can you buy a machine?

John Wingfield from Indianapolis sells them for $1800.00 plus shipping. That includes research study resultts, the suggested protocol for use, and a 1 year parts and labor warranty.

Email for details Usddirtc {at} @aol.com

Disclaimers: I spoke with a gymnastics coach who worked with former World Champion sprinter Donovan Bailey’s Athletics group. They tried vibration for a number of different purposes, ultimately concluding that it was not beneficial enough to use.

We made our own machine in the 1990s at Taiso Gymnastics based on the model brought to Canada by Edouard Iarov. We had mixed results, to be honest.

Though the research looks positive, you need try it with your own athletes before being convinced vibration works to improve flexibility.

Leave a comment if you have experience — positive or negative — on these devices.