introducing backward hip circle

Training back hip circles with an emphasis on getting into the tap swing in the level 5 routine.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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.

Kaede Maeda – 15.633 H Bar !

Pegan piked (Maras). Cassina to Kolman.

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.

Varna World Cup – Highlights

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Varna World Cup ’26 RESULTS

Vault

🥇 Mara Slippens, Netherlands, 13.233
🥈 Julia Weissenhofer, Liechtenstein, 13.116
🥉 Tijana Korent, Croatia, 13.100

Bars

🥇 Roni Shamay, Israel, 13.200
🥈 Shantae-Eve Amankwaah, Great Britain, 13.133
🥉 Coralie Demers, Canada, 12.800

Beam

🥇 Maria Drobniak, Poland, 12.866
🥈 Nikolett Szilagyi, Hungary, 12.700
🥉 Amy Jorgensen, Canada, 12.600

Floor

🥇 Shantae-Eve Amankwaah, Great Britain, 13.233
🥈 Grace Davies, Great Britain, 12.966
🥉 Floor Slooff, Netherlands, 12.800

Full WAG results.

Floor

🥇 Victor Tournicourt, Belgium, 13.466
🥈 Martin Miggitsch, Austria, 13.300
🥉 Ravshan Kamiljanov, Uzbekistan, 13.166

Pommel

🥇 David Ivanov, Bulgaria, 14.633
🥈 Ravshan Kamiljanov, Uzbekistan, 14.166
🥉 Ihor Dyshuk, Ukraine, 13.900

One of the BIG stories of the meet was the return of Max Whitlock, the greatest British gymnast of all time. With nothing more to prove, now age-33, Max qualified for both the Pommel and P Bar Finals, but didn’t medal. This time.

Rings

🥇 Artur Avetisyan, Armenia, 14.233
🥈 Artur Sahakyan, Germany, 13.566
🥉 Akhrorkhon Temirkhonov, Uzbekistan, 13.466

Vault

🥇 Ng Chun Chen, Malaysia, 14.183
🥈 Daniel Trifonov, Bulgaria, 14.083
🥉 Botond Molnar, Hungary, 14.050

P Bars

🥇 Altan Dogan, Türkiye, 14.166
🥈 Yoan Ivanov, Bulgaria, 13.866
🥉 Ron Pyatov, Israel, 13.866

H Bar

🥇 Timo Eder, Germany, 13.666
🥈 Daniel Trifonov, Bulgaria, 13.566
🥉 Ron Ortal, Israel, 13.566

Full MAG results.

introducing Bars Tap Swings

Two of my favourite FREE YouTube channels for beginner WAG are:

Subscribe to both.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Fusuke Maeda is CRAZY

Connecting …

Miyachi (I)
Kolman (E)
Cassina (G)

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Kovacs + extra salto.

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Trent Milligan – Gymnastics Spiderman

Trent Milligan is an elite Canadian gymnast — and Spiderman.

You can hire Spiderman for your child’s birthday — or Bachelorette party. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.