JumpClub posted a tribute video to the mixed martial arts group Sideswipe featuring their successful run on the TV show America’s Got Talent.
Great publicity for street acrobatics.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Author: Rick Mc
Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
5 things we learned at gymnastics worlds
Good, if Amerocentric, article published by Sports Illustrated.
Here are the key takeaways from this week’s World Gymnastics championships in Stuttgart.
For example:
Nastia has surpassed her famous father in total number of World Championships medals.
Gymnasts behaving badly – Gymblog
When Kyle Shewfelt was bumped to 4th from the Bronze medal position in the Vault Finals at the 2004 Olympics, he handled the injustice with class and dignity. I wish everyone in our sport had Kyle’s cool under pressure.
The Gymblog put together a good post titled Gymnasts behaving badly, an overview of poor sportsmanship at Worlds.
Athletes named include:
Maxim Deyvatovsky – Russia
Yulia Lozhechko – Russia
Alicia Sacramone – USA
Li Shanshan – China
Even the public statements of Valeri Liukin and National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi are questioned.
A very interesting and important topic. Check it out:
Gymnasts behaving badly « Gymblog
We’ve added a permanent link to Gymblog under the BLOGS category in the right hand navigation.
Gymnastics judging could be going high tech
I’m not sure what to think of International Gymnastics Federation boss Bruno Grandi.
Is he a great visionary? Or a manipulative madman?
Now that the new code of points has not been the complete disaster many felt it would be — he’s looking at many more radical changes:
STUTTGART, Germany — Gymnastics judging could be going high-tech if the head of the international federation has his way.
Three years after overhauling the sport’s scoring system to provide more impartial judging, Bruno Grandi said he would like to streamline the process further by using computers, much like figure skating does. Instead of recording execution marks by hand, judges would input them into a computer during the routine.
“The computer must calculate the addition, not the judges,” Grandi, president of the International Gymnastics Federation, told The Associated Press during an interview at the world championships.
Grandi overhauled the scoring system after a series of judging errors at the Athens Olympics, most notably the debacle that followed Paul Hamm’s victory in the all-around. Hamm was forced to defend his gold medal all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the FIG announced an error had been made in the bronze medalist’s score.
Now, instead of a single mark based on the 10.0 system, gymnasts get two separate scores. One, the A score, represents the difficulty of the skills in the routine. The second, the B score, is for execution, how well the gymnast did the skills.
As execution judges watch routines, they note by hand the skills done and whether there were any flaws. When the routine is finished, each judge adds up his or her deductions and submits their final tally.
But Grandi said he is concerned that judges can alter their marks during the addition process to either bolster a gymnast in the standings or bump them down. But if judges would use a touch-screen computer as the routine is being done, that removes any possibility for impropriety, he said. …
Grandi conceded he has packed a lot of revolutionary changes into a short time. Fine-tuning needs to be done, and things like computerized judging wouldn’t take effect until after the Beijing Olympics. …
READ MORE – ESPN – Gymnastics judging could be going high tech – Gymnastics
A competent international judge would not be more or less biased with this kind of system, in my opinion. Grandi is wrong there.
But scores would come up faster — so I’m still for it.
Diving scores come up on the big screen before the athlete surfaces using this kind of system.
JPAD – Wireless Judges Scoring System (Judge or Score PAD). For use with Diving Meet Management and Recording Software
photos World Championships 2007 Stuttgart
The best photos from Worlds were posted by ESPN, I thought.
frizzy front flip on the Gym Chat forum agrees:
Some awesome ones:
Nice splits from Shawn Johnson! There has been a lot of talk about Shawn’s unflexibility and not getting the 180 on her split jumps – this is good though!
"U.S. Shawn Johnson competes on the floor on her way to win the gold medal during the women’s floor final of the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Daniel Maurer)"
High flying is always awesome!!
"German Fabian Hambuechen soars through the air winning the gold medal in the horizontal bar final at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)"
That is hard!
"Australia’s Lauren Mitchell is seen in action in the women’s balance beam final at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)"
Pretty in pink! What a comeback!
"Anastasia Liukin of the United States is seen in action to win the gold medal in the women’s balance beam final at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)"
gym consultant Frank Sahlein
I was lucky enough to sit in on a preliminary consultation with business guru Frank Sahlein from Idaho who was meeting with coaches looking to open a new club.
Frank is a “number cruncher” who gives advice on what kind of gymnastics business will succeed in any given city demographic.
Frank also buys and sells gymnastics clubs. Or can broker the deal.
In terms of the “business of gymnastics” the USA is far, far ahead of any other country in the world.
I’m looking forward to seeing Frank again soon at Region 2 Congress in Spokane, Washington where he will be speaking on how gymnastics club owners can actually make a good living at the sport we love.
Frank’s company: 3rdLevelConsulting.com
Region 2 Gymnastics Congress, Spokane
GymnasticsCoaching.com editor Rick McCharles will be again leading sessions at the Region 2 (Pacific Northwest) Congress, one of the best in the nation.
The 2007 Region 2
Coaches and Judges Congress
Spokane, Washington
“Region 2 Rising!â€
October 19—21, 2007
Just a few of the top shelf clinicians confirmed so far:
Steve Greeley—Imagymnation!
Jeff Metzger—Without question, the world leader in gymnastics business education!
Todd Gardiner—One of the USA’s top coaches, Todd is a national team coach and gym owner, and is one of the top bars and vault coaches in the country!
Frank Sahlein—An industry leader in business solutions for the gym owner!
Bill Sands—Head of USOC Sports Science Department
Linda Mulvihill—3 time Olympic gymnast and 4 time Olympic judge! USA’s highest rated judge.
David Holcomb—Owner of Buckeye Gymnastics. Member of the USAG board and 2007 USAG Businessman of the Year!
Linda Thorberg—Brevet Judge, master pre-school clinician and so much more! She will also be teaching a H.O.T. course, the follow-up to the KAT program!
Hideo Mizoguchi—Teacher extraordinaire! Long time director of the USAG Junior Men’s program, and one of the USA’s top coaches!
Connie Maloney—USAG Women’s Program Manager and Brevet judge
Jeff Lulla—The Fun & Fit guru!
For more Information, contact Dave Adlard funnflip @ msn.com
208-664-0135
www.funtastics.org
best gymnastics movie of all time
Chantal Chauzy [mailto:chantal @ strandreleasing.com] sent me the details on yesterday’s North American release of the DVD: WHITE PALMS – starring Olympic Champion Kyle Shewfelt and “Uldi” Zoltan Miklos Hajdu (Cirque du Soleil).
I coached with Uldi at Altadore Gymnastics, Kyle’s home club. The movie is very, very loosely based on a true story.
Without question this is the most critically acclaimed gymnastics movie of all time. (Recall Gymkata anyone?)
It may be a long while before another gymnastics film is nominated for an Academy Award.
WHITE PALMS a film by Szabolcs Hajdu
Having suffered as a boy under a brutal Communist-era coach, champion Hungarian gymnast Miklos moves to Canada years later in search of a new start – only to find himself unwittingly perpetuating the very same cycle of abuse among his own pupils.
Redemption appears in the unlikely form of Kyle, a troubled, young Canadian teen with the potential to become a world champion. The friendship and rivalry between teacher and student – each played by actual gymnasts … forms the basis of this gripping, resonant sports drama.
Beautifully shot and edited, effortlessly evoking its respective time-periods, and through them, the clash of different cultures and values, WHITE PALMS made its international premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes 2006 and was the official Hungarian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award®.
White Palms (DVD): $27.99 100 minutes … In English and Hungarian with English Subtitles
Also starring Orion Radies, Silas Radies, Gheorghe Dinica.
Directors’ Fortnight – CANNES International Film Festival
Official Selection – TORONTO International Film Festival
Special Mention- Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
The New York Times called the film “Beautiful†and The Village Voice “Riveting!â€
White Palms – Amazon.com
Men’s Vault at Worlds – extreme
As usual, Men’s Vault was the most extreme and exciting apparatus at Worlds. The level of difficulty is far beyond that of the Women.
– GOLD — BLANIK Leszek POL
1. Handspring, piked double salto fwd (“Blanik”) .. small hop (17.0) – 16.450
2. Tsukahara, piked double salto bwd. … rotation not quite completed. (17.0) – 16.575
– total = 16.512* SILVER — POPESCU Daniel ROU
1. Kasamatsu, 2/1- .. Landing (17.0) – 16.675 (looks like triple twist)
2. Handspring, stretched salto fwd. 2 1/2- … hop on landing .. (17.0) – 16.325
– total = 16.500* BRONZE — RI, Se Gwang PRK
1. Handspring, double salto fwd 1/2 turn (Dragulescu)..(17.0) – 16.500
2. Tsukahara, piked double salto bwd… (17.0) – 16.275
– total = 16.3874. RI, Jong Song PRK
1. Kasamatsu 2/1- … large step backwards.. (17.0) – 16.200
2. Handspring, stretched salto fwd 2 1/2- … out of plane, correction.. (17.0) – 16.525
– total = 16.3625. ISAYEV Andriy UKR
1. Dragulescu , rotation incomplete … (17.0) – 116.075;
2. Tsukahara, piked double salto bwd. – hop .. (17.0) – 16.425
– total = 16.2506. HAMBUECHEN Fabian GER
1. Yurchenko, 2 1/2- forward hop .. (16.6) – 16.100
2. Kasamatsu, 1/1- … good landing … (16.2) – 15.850
– total = 15.9757. KOCZI Flavius ROU –
1. Kasamatsu, 2/1- … 2 steps …(17.0) – 16.059
2. Handspring, stretched salto fwd, 2 1/2-.. lands on knees, fall (17.0) – 15.700;
– total = 15.8258. BOTELLA PEREZ Isaac ESP
1. Kasamatsu 1 1/2- … landing to sit…(16.6) – 14.875
2. Handspring, stretched salto fwd. 2/1- … correcting step.. (16.6) – 15.900
– total = 15,387Commentary:
… what a vault final!! 12 vault with starting values of 17.0 (!!) – 12 vaults with starting values of 16.0 !!– BLANIK – at last without fault and so this Polish vaulter extraordinary fianlly wins the title he has been dreaming of, the further significance being that as world champion he is qualified for the Olympic Games!
– POPESCU – there was little difference in quality between the two top athletes – what significance can a difference of 0.012 points have?
– RI, Se Gwang – another athlete with two 17 vaults, however the vaulting table of the new Code de Pointage seems to be pretty well exhausted, and small errors in executing these super vaults can cost medals, as the other North Korean named RI, who ended up in fourth place, had to learn at his expense…!
Dieter Hoffman – GymFamily.Com
FINAL: VAULT, Men
Click PLAY or watch Blanik do his two piked double somersault vaults at World Stars Moscow 2007 on YouTube.
poem for a departed gymnast – from a coach
An excellent poem on a most important subject. Every competitive gymnastics coach can relate.
For gymnasts everywhere who for various reasons have had to move on…Hold on to all the good things this sport has given to you….and you will be courageous, focused, strong, confident, dedicated…you have been amazing…you will always be special…and you are ready for life’s challenges and adventures.
E-mail me if you need to know why I asked if the squirrel was blind
Charlie Amerosa
Just Like You
When we first met you were so little, too scared to utter a single word
Not much muscle and no split to speak of, as helpless as a baby bird
But there was a flicker in your eyes, a determined look on your face
And as your light grew brighter, your home became this place
Seven years later you’re a special young lady, with a strong and confident glow
And you have etched moments in my mind, some of which I’ve wanted you to know
Almost Three thousand hours of training, medals, podiums and now Jr. high
It has been quite amazing and sometimes painful, to watch you learn to fly
I would talk and you would just stare, your eyes wet and glistening
Not knowing what you were thinking, or if you were even listening
Watching you from afar, still on the floor when everyone else was done
Trying again and again to kick over from a bridge, to you this was serious fun
There was the stunned look on your face, after you made your first kip
And then the panic in your eyes, because what followed….your first rip
Watching front handspring front tuck, you landing on your behind
Finally you stood one up, I asked you if the squirrel was blind
Your working back tuck on floor kept me awake for a few nights
But you figured out the timing and I watched as you reached new heights
You would wipe your hands on your legs, while standing frozen on beam
You flew up and stuck a back-handspring, and asked me “Is this a dream?â€
When you’re being coached hard and your eyes get wet, but you refuse to cry
When you’re excited about a new skill and you keep asking for one more try
When you’re not grouped with your friends but still determined to have a great night
When you won’t look at me as I’m coaching you and I know we’re in for a fight
When I hear the thump, you’re on the ground, but you say it wasn’t you who fell
When I see you drag a suitcase bigger than you are, into the lobby of the hotel
When you’re on the podium leaning forward for your medal, such a beautiful smile
When you truly expressed yourself in your floor routine, it made it all worthwhile
When you knew what mat I like to use, so you always made sure it was in place
When you greet a competitor you’ve known for years, with a warm little gym embrace
When your beam routine looked like an oil painting, you were seriously in the zone
When I see that frustrated look on your face, and I know it means to leave you alone
When I overheard two young gymnasts who were sitting quietly watching you
One whispered, “I want to be just like her†and her teammate replied “ Oh me tooâ€
Then they darted off to the side, trying to imitate the dance in your routine
And I thought to myself, that is the greatest compliment I have ever seen
There have been so many great moments, and heartbreaking ones too
Your Mom’s face at a meet in the city, she has always been so proud of you
Walking perfectly in line with your teammates, you’ve been with them for so long
And they love you and treat you like a sister, to them you can do no wrong
So maybe you’re not as naturally gifted as some other girls may be
You’ve had to work a lot harder, you’re skills never came for free
But the results are truly astounding, in both your body and your mind
You’re strong and fit and focused, your stars are all perfectly aligned
But lately…I could feel that something was just not right
You seemed a little unhappy during training each night
It was becoming clear, you didn’t want to be here
And every now and then, I thought I might have seen a tear
I knew your knee was giving you some pain
The doctor said maybe it was a ligament sprain
But you weren’t working too hard, even after a month of rest
And I wondered to myself why you seemed to be depressed
I asked you if maybe it was about having some fears
And as you answered me, you had to fight off some tears
“I’m not afraid of giants if that’s what you thinkâ€
“I will be ok†you assured me, and you gave me a wink
And now a few weeks later you say you think you’re done
That it’s not in your heart anymore, its no longer any fun
“I’m almost 13 now, there are other things in my lifeâ€
And hearing those words, cut through me like a knife
I know how important your friends are to you
How it feels good to chat and go out at night too
I know the gym can be hard, some nights don’t go so well
And you can’t remember the last time, you rang the new skill bell
How your body hurts at night and the next day at school
How some coaches can sometimes seem a little bit cruel
But it’s being a gymnast that has separated you from the rest
And for years, after so much hard work, you have passed every test
I know I can’t change your mind, so I’ll take your picture off my shelf
Because this isn’t the kind of sport you can do for anyone but yourself
So you’re free from the hard work and pressure, now go and have some fun
But remember it will be hard to compare, to what you already have done
Please for the rest of your life, be proud of what you have achieved
And I will always be proud of you, and grateful for the gifts I received
The pure gift of knowing you and coaching you, I learned so much as you grew
Under “This is how a gymnast behavesâ€, the textbook shows…a picture of you!
You’ve been gone for a few weeks now and the gyms not the same
Your teammates are a little quiet, they don’t mention your name
Not because they are angry or disappointed, its just part of healing
You were a joy and a role model to them, they have an empty feeling
I’m going to miss you amazing girl, especially your warm smile
I’m sure I’ll feel better about it, but it’s going to take a little while
A new season is approaching, and of course there’s a new baby bird
And last night, just like you, the little one…didn’t utter a single word
Charlie Amerosa
Flipr110@aol.com
Gymnastics Coaching.com 