Category: Gymnastics

Zhang Boheng – P Bars

Zoltan Rezacs – Gienger + 2/1 twist (1988)

Decades ahead of his time.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. You could call it Def + 1/1 twist.

The 2nd ever caught — so far as I know — was Leo Lehtinen in 2024.

Leo competes for Finland.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

Pirouette drill – downhill

Brilliant.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

controversial Béla Károlyi

Getting over the shock of Béla’s death at only age-82, many are still wrestling with conflicting emotions about the legendary coach.

YES he inspired many around the world. YES he helped popularize the sport in the USA.

But many, many gymnasts were injured and psychologically damaged by the Károlyi system which I would call unscientific and unsafe.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Béla Károlyi was never convicted of any crime. You might argue that he escaped justice many times.

GymCastic has always done a good job covering the controversies. Listen to this PODCAST episode if you want to know more:

The Legacy of Bela Karolyi

training pirouettes to handstand

Two great ideas in this short video:

  • angles marked prominently on the wall
  • spotting with a soft mat so the gymnast knows where handstand is — but is not being manipulated into the position by a coach

Giant on low bar to Shaposhnikova

Shilese Jones training Tkachev

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

shoulder angle on Yurchenko

Excellent vaulters use a number of different techniques.

For beginners, I recommend keeping the hands facing slightly towards one another. Fingers inward, so the elbows CAN bend. For safety.

For beginners, I recommend keeping the shoulders as stretched as possible.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

https://twitter.com/thorpeheath/status/1774102521226653835