tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
On Chalk Bucket coaches are discussing, as they love to do, Reverse Hecht.
There are many, many different ways to do that technically easy, psychologically difficult, trick. Best advice is to look at the ultimate performances to date. Cade Raggio, for example.
Click PLAY or watch him on YouTube.
Click through to see the discussion – Chalk Bucket – Tkatchev: Men’s vs. Women’s technique
Valentin Uzunov and others have already weighed in.
related posts tagged Tkatchev
Sara Eckert and Mike Jojola at McArthur Burney Falls State Park in northern CA.
by site editor Rick McCharles
Coach Jim Holt (Seattle) sent me a review copy. Jim’s been a friend for decades. I knew I’d enjoy his gymnastics autobiography.
A book of Jim Holt’s memoirs about his two decades striving for the international development of gymnastics. It is an extraordinary saga of inspiring and (often) hilarious efforts to change the world through sport. …
Anyone who knows Jim Holt knows that he does not do what he does for money. He’s in it for love of the sport. Jim’s got the #1 “talent” required of a gymnastics coach: irrational dedication.
I was immediately charmed by the many typos and the conversational tone of the book. Jim Holt is talking to me personally.
He’s a terrific raconteur. Intelligent. Witty. Eloquent. Engaging.
(His many references to literature and classic movies may turn off some younger readers, though.)
Jim’s led Olympic Solidarity coaching courses in 9 nations. I’ve so far led 2 courses and am booked for Saudi Arabia this Fall. His anecdotes and misadventures in Bolivia, Chile, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Yemen and Egypt (amongst others) were the highlights of the book for me.
Read an excerpt – Fun in Bolivia
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any gymnastics buff, especially older coaches who’ve lived through similar personal gymnastics disasters.
Jim’s subtitle is “An Odyssey in International Sport“. Indeed, he’s a hero to me. His accomplishments as a coach are extraordinary considering the obstacles overcome.
The only sour notes are in Chapter 14. Jim’s failed (so far) attempt to be awarded an “FIG Diploma”. … And his too harsh critique of the F.I.G. Academy Program, currently run by the best man at his wedding, Hardy Fink.
Sour grapes?
If you are looking for an exposé of international gymnastics you’ll be disappointed. There are plenty of examples of corruption, petty greed, cronyism, miscommunication and epic inefficiency … but also much love.
Jim Holt even has some good words for Grandi. How about that?
What is Jim doing today?
Chasing impossible dreams, of course. Last time I saw him was at the Canadian National Championships. He’s coaching 2008 Olympian Nashwan al-Harazi from Yemen.
Jim’s bags are packed. If you need an experienced coach, contact him via the official website:
ChasingImpossibleDreams.com ($22.45 USD)
Keep speaking truth to power, Jim!
related post → profile – Jim and Hannah Holt
Here’s that video showing Olympic Training Centre athletes putting together routines for VISA Championships.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I saw this terrific montage linked from Gymnastics – No Ceiling:
… one of my favorite channels on youtube is pikedjaeger. Lauren’s montages are great because they always remind me why I love gymnastics despite the controversies. This is Fresh Feeling:
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
“Coaching for Coaches”
2010 Gymnastics Ontario Coaching Development Weekend (Oct. 1-2, 2010)
Futures Gymnastics Center, Mississauga
details (PDF)
G.S. George is author of Championship Gymnastics. Greg Marsden is the legendary women’s coach at Utah, oft credited as the most important builder of the successful NCAA Women’s Collegiate program.
Sadly, my entry on behalf of Cam and Scott – Worst Gymnastics SPOT Ever !!!! – did not win.
Click PLAY or watch the 2 winning videos on Gymnastike.
http://c1403192.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/player.swf
… It basically shows WOGAs current Jr Int Elite gymnasts (Grace McLaughlin, Lizzy Leduc, Madison Kocian) following in the footsteps of WOGAs past champions (Hollie Vise, Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin). Rebecca Bross acts as the in-between because she’s still following Hollie, Carly and Nastia but she is also setting an example for the juniors. …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
(via IG forum … jordan1919 edited this video)
Andrew Thornton feels there are only 2 athletes certain to qualify to World’s in October who are a “lock” for the A-team: Paul Hamm and Jon Horton.
What will Paul Hamm bring to the USA Men’s team?
Most of all, he’ll eliminate the need to use up an entire spot on a pommel horse specialist. Prior to Paul’s announcement, it was looking like the USA men’s team would need at least one pommel horse specialist, as most of our top all-around gymnasts are quite weak on this event. …
Ideally, we need a couple of guys who could potentially do rings AND pommel horse. They’re few and far between, but here are four I can think of (besides Paul Hamm):
Chris Cameron
Tim McNeill
Wes Haagensen
Kevin Tanread more – American Gymnast – Andy’s Angle – What will Paul Hamm bring?
Nice article on IG:
With the U.S. national championships starting Aug. 11, the gymnasts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center are in their final stage of preparation for the event in Hartford, Conn. …
Four gymnasts training at the USOTC in Colorado Springs are preparing for the upcoming Visa (U.S.) Championships: 2008 Olympic team bronze medalist Joseph Hagerty, Bilozertchev, Andrew Elkind and 2009 world team member Wesley Haagensen. (USOTC gymnast Tim McNeill, seventh all-around at the 2009 Worlds, will miss the competition after the recent death of his father). …
Haagensen said he hopes to nail all 12 routines in Hartford.
“I don’t mean just make all of my routines though, I mean slam every set I do to the absolute best of my capabilities,” he said. “Basically hit my routines like an animal. I have really been training hard every day, every turn, for this competition. I put in hours of mental and physical work, and I feel this is a goal that I can reach.” …
Leave a comment if you know where to find the “montage” they posted.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 