Category: Gymnastics

Guest post by Yuka Sugiura.

The fact that we’re seeing more gymnasts make – and succeed – at multiple World
Championships and Olympics is remarkable proof that training and recovery
methods in and out of the gym have improved.

Yet gymnastics training is still missing a huge lever to elevate performance and
support longevity.

It’s the brain.

Not mental training, but activating the brain in very specific ways to boost speed, power, balance, flexibility, skill acquisition, and even reduce pain.

I’m Yuka Sugiura, a Gymnastics Neuro Performance Coach. I use neurophysiology
to stimulate the brain areas and systems that regulate every aspect of movement.

How does it work?

The brain is in charge of strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility – muscles don’t regulate themselves, it’s the brain sending the commands.

When you know which levers to pull, you can create measurable change – and do it fast.

It can be the difference between staying on or falling off.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

What’s missing?

For one: assessment and training of the visual and vestibular systems (the tiny
organs in the inner ear). Together, they regulate balance, air awareness, depth
judgment, stability, and even muscle tone – specifically through the posterior chain
which is often underactive in gymnasts.

When you include them:

A 20-second vision drill can be the difference between staying on the beam or
falling off. Or having a sore back during the meet or not. Or it can help a gymnast
generate more power on a tumbling pass… maybe even help him do two triple
backs in a floor routine.

A few of the benefits:

• Greater athletic capabilities – from flexibility to speed and power – without more effort
• Faster progress with fewer reps
• Simple and fast-acting drills that athletes can do daily and on their own to
• boost performance AND reduce pain
• Addressing hidden imbalances that may be limiting performance

Some more examples demonstrating how the brain regulates muscle tone, and how quickly change can happen:

Change following a 30-second visual drill: Improved hamstring and spinal mobility and less back pain

Change following a series of vision and vestibular drills: Improved ankle and hip mobility, ankles feel less ‘jammed’

Below are a few comments from gymnasts spanning Level 3 to Olympic tea members on the effects from a single drill or a short set of them:

• “I felt more power.”
• “I felt more control.”
• “My back pain is calming down post-practice.”
• “I can see the bar better.”
• “It’s eye-opening to realise how something so simple can be so effective.”

The one-off drills are great – they can give a quick edge during practice or before a routine, or settle an athlete’s body mid-meet. But the real transformation comes when athletes and coaches intentionally include the system that drives everything else.

That’s when gymnastics gets easier, performances get better, and careers last longer.

To learn more:

• What is Neuro Performance Training?
• Instagram

To get in touch: Message me on Instagram or at info@levelupneuro.io