Category: falling & landing

warm-up Vault landing with FLYSPRING

To safely warm-up before doing the VERY dangerous landing in competition, many male gymnasts use a flyspring.

Great idea. I’ve seen some women do the same warming-up Kasamatsu vaults, including Ellie Black.

Click PLAY or watch a sample on Twitter.

inspirational gymnast Ronny Ziesmer

The 2003 German AA national champion Ronny Ziesmer was paralyzed training Tsuk double back preparing for the Athens Olympics.

I was reminded of Ronny’s story watching the far-too-dangerous Vault landings at Worlds in Stuttgart. Obviously the rules should be changed so there is less incentive in chucking BIG difficulty vaults.

Is Ronny coming to Worlds?

* Ronny Ziesmer founded the “Alliance of Hope Foundation” which supports the worldwide research in the field of regeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord. Patron of the Foundation, the German Federal Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel.

* Ronny Ziesmer started three times at the Berlin Marathon (2009, 2010, 2011) in the handbike. His goal is to attend the 2016 Paralympics.

* Just now in October 2011 Ronny Ziesmer has just completed a very successful study of biotechnology at the German “University Lausitz” in Senftenberg (near his hometown Cottbus) as a “Bachelor of Science”.

* Ronny Ziesmer is also working for the biggest European and German TV station “ZDF” as a co-commentator for the artistic gymnastic events like worlds, Europeans or Olympic Games.

The Agency, European Gymnastics Service “GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL” supports and cared for these exceptional athletes in all its responsibilities.

(C) GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL

Click PLAY or watch a short documentary on YouTube.

That’s on the gymmedia2010 YouTube channel.

related – Stanford gymnast Adriana Duffy, competing for Puerto Rico, was paralyzed competing Handspring Front vault at Stuttgart Worlds 1989.

(via Vídeos de gimnasia)

Simone & MyKayla – Amanar

We really need computer video analysis for judges on Vault. Height of centre of mass relative to height of the gymnast.

Heart this. Simone is HIGH.

Recall the Maroney & Uchimura comparison?

McKayla might be even higher than Simone.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Reality check – Kohei has said that his goal is sticking the landing. For tumbling and vault he does not try for his maximum height. Instead, he wants optimum height.

DVD – IMPACT – teaching safe landings

Gymnastics coaches are not the world experts in safe landings (martial arts coaches are better) but our gyms are the best equipped and most easily accessible venues for teaching all athletes how “not to hurt themselves” when falling.

In Gymnastics I’d name Keith Russell (Canada) as principle evangelist teaching safe landings.

But the best landings video comes from the late, great expert videographer coach Charles Minster from Tasmania.

It’s called IMPACT – Safe landings — but sadly seems to be no longer available.

Click PLAY or watch a short sample of the DVD on YouTube.

The DVD teaches landing SKILLS. Then progresses to games and activities appropriate for all athletes.

There are testimonials from Aussie Rules football coaches, for example. (It reminds me of when the famed Crusaders professional rugby team trained safety rolls at Christchurch School of Gymnastics in New Zealand.)

 

train landings train landings train landings

___ repost from 2015

Landings are incredibly important in NCAA competition. Yet College girls are not very good at them. 😕

Almost any male gymnast is more skilled at bringing impact forces to zero than almost any female gymnast. Male gymnasts work seriously on landings.

Click PLAY or watch Scott Morgan on instagram.

Click PLAY or watch U.S. guys working landings on instagram.

Yes. Part of the problem in WAG is judging expectations. We need to educate judges to the biomechanically, physiologically BEST and SAFEST techniques of landing.

reducing ACL injuries

Dave Tilley interviews one of his medical colleagues on the topic.

Lenny Macrina on reducing ACL injuries. Lenny is a Physical Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, and a highly acclaimed researcher.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (1hr)

Some highlights posted on the Masters of Sport Facebook group:

  • The weak point in the chain is the growth plate.
  • We must do better time management with how many hours we are asking adolescent athletes to train.
  • We need periodization more than ever! Athletes need the time to rest, athletes need the time to recover.
  • How much is too much?
  • Base line data helps reduce the risk of injury
  • Teaching proper jump and landing techniques can reduce the rate of injury …
  • … safe landing asks for the feet to be should width apart
  • Use all muscle groups to help land
  • The Code of Points is aesthetically based, not medically based.