tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
With China’s massive population it is not surprising that there will be plenty of records broken when it comes to people and the Olympics. A record 560,000 people volunteered for the Beijing Olympics, including some young females to play the role as Olympic hostesses for the opening, closing and various other ceremonies that require a pretty face. …
the photos are great – Chinese Olympic hostesses in training » Beijing Olympic Games 2008
If you are a fan of free running video clips, you have to see this one. I’m certain it’s the oldest ever filmed.
Watch it on parkour-videos.com.
It comes from a weird and acclaimed documentary of newsreel footage from the 30s and 40s and 50s called Gizmo (1977). In fact, you can watch the entire 80min movie free on Google Video.
(via Straight to the Bar)
Personally I like wide “freeway” beams. They are excellent for beginner and even intermediate girls.
This home-made version is the widest I’ve ever seen.
freeway beam – flickr
Gymtastics Gymnastics, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
UPDATE: This content is originally from Stephen McCain of American Gymnast (AmGym.com). Steve also took the photos. It’s from one of their training articles. (Check that out right now if you have not seen them already.)
I love this site. Especially their fantastic Gymnastics on Demand video clips.
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Tip:
One of my favourite leg conditioning drills is drop down, stick landing. Not only is it very specific for training landings, but the eccentric contraction of the legs on a challenging landing is great for leg strength.
Most often we bounce off a trampoline, landing on a competition landing mat on the floor.
Only “stick” landings count.
From a high surface, such as the bar or a stack of mats, jump off to a stick position on the landing. Centre of gravity should be directly over the feet when landing, with arms stretched outright to assist in maintaining balance. Avoid bending your knees past 90 degrees during the landing.
From the GymSports New Zealand November 2007 newsletter (PDF) – Coaching | NZ Gymnastics
Congratulations!
Jennifer Wood, on the Canadian Olympic Team in 1992, is a great success story. She overcame many obstacles to emerge the first female gymnast from my region to get to the Olympics.
She then (1993-96), starting age-20, became one of the greatest LSU college gymnasts of all-time.
she finished her career as a nine-time All-American and four-time All-SEC selection … Scored a school record nine perfect 10.00s during her career, recording all of them on the vault …
Born Dec. 12th, Isabelle Victorine Aucoin, 7 lbs 6 oz.
(via Rick McCharles)
Jennifer Isbister posted a terrific interview with Jenn if you want to know more. It’s a great story.
One excerpt:
I really think the FIG needs to consider the spectators and fans of the sport more. If you get too far away from the 10.0 scores you will lose your audience. If you make the scoring system too hard for the fans you will lose your audience. They also have to do a better job of selling the sport to the lay person. If you make things to complicated you will lose your audience. There are days when I am watching competitions and I have trouble figuring out what is what and if I can’t figure it out I can’t imagine someone without any gymnastics experience doing it.
Jennifer Wood – interview on Gymn.ca
Tricia Jephcott from Yorkshire, England contacted us about a women’s artistic coaching position. The ideal candidate is a proven coach who is also keen to train other coaches. The winning candidate would work with 3 different clubs as a regional coordinator.
It’s a 3yr contract. Closing date Jan. 11th, Feb 22, 2008.
recruitment @ british-gymnastics.org
This is one of the competitors in the 10th All China Games that took place Aug. 2006.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
For a coaching clinic in Calgary Dec. 27-31st, kids from Altadore Gymnastics will be my demonstrators.
The Altadore girls demonstrated for a clinic earlier in the season. That was good training for them and a lot of fun. (It had better be fun if they are to come in extra over the school holidays.)
Altadore gymnasts on Flickr – Stephen Neal
We could use more demonstrators, actually. Coaches of kids who will be in Calgary should email me (Rick_McCharles@hotmail.com) if they have boys or girls who would like to demo at the Level 2 Technical camp.
Our current code of points for Artistic Gymnastics is really, really tough.
Especially for men. Fewer and fewer of the best gymnasts in the world want to do the all-around. It’s too hard on the body to train those demanding routines on 6 apparatus.
Great publicity for our sport in the USA.
In the upcoming 2008 season, fans of Ohio State gymnastics will have the chance to watch their Buckeyes in regular-season action across the country on national television for the first time in program history as both the men’s and women’s teams will have two meets aired on the Big Ten Network.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 