I still recall the day in the 1990s when my boss Keith Russell insisted we recycle the horizontal bar at University of Saskatchewan. Pay for a new one.
He felt they had to be replaced every 10 years in a Gym with many adult male gymnasts.
Category: bars
advanced Gymnastics skills in training
training Layout Jaeger 1/1 twist
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introducing Planche
ESSENTIAL for MAG.
And important for WAG – Cast Handstand.
Introduce it in conditioning from a young age.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. This is coach Alex McInnis who trained at Island Gymnastics Academy in PEI.
Jason Mortimer catches gymnast on Tap Swing
Yep. Coach was ready. You never know.
Tap swings (and backward uprise) are surprisingly dangerous, especially for kids who are really trying to get as high as they can.
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introducing backward hip circle
Training back hip circles with an emphasis on getting into the tap swing in the level 5 routine.
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In addition to the cast to ‘hollow’ position, I like to have beginners do some from cast to ‘archy’ position. (The timing of the late drop is easier.)
Simultaneous with these drills, it would be ideal that the gymnast is learning backward uprise to backward hip circle on straps bar.
If you’re not confident to spot the ‘airplane propeller’, the alternative is to do backward hip circle series without spot until the gymnast can do 2 or 3 in series with speed and tight body. That will take longer, however.
making a Floor Bar
condition on Bars with Brittany Rogers
hollow cast handstand?
Most would consider cast handstand in a hollow / stretched position throughout as ideal. Coach Nick Blanton referenced this illustration from Championship Gymnastics.
It’s possible to do that technique. (In fact it’s fairly easy on Parallel Bars as a swing handstand.)
But rare on WAG Bars.
I’m personally a very happy coach if the gymnast can lead with the heels (arch) to horizontal, then change the body position to hollow / stretched.
Nadia 50 years later
As a young coach, I almost jumped in a vehicle and drove 3 days to Montreal to watch Nadia win the 1976 Olympics.
It seemed to far. Too expensive. I didn’t go.
My mistake.
Her performance in Montreal was one of the great stories of our sport.
Nadia had a lot of difficulty. But — Nellie Kim had more. Nadia was more impressive to me for her astonishing execution.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 