Some criticized USAG for not jumping on the bandwagon in supporting threatened Cal Berkeley Gymnastics.
They now have … guardedly.
USA Gymnastics statement regarding University of California, Berkeley gymnastics
07/01/2010
USA Gymnastics is aware of the challenges intercollegiate athletics in general, and gymnastics specifically, may face at the University of California, Berkeley, as well as some of the initial efforts of support for the gymnastics programs. We are speaking with the athletic director to understand the circumstances and the most effective way to address them. Once we have a better understanding of the matter, we will work with the appropriate entities to develop a full-fledged and targeted effort.
Gymnastics Examiner has a great write up on the results from prelims at the Japan Cup:
The Japanese men and the Russian women led the way on the first day of competition at the Japan Cup, being held this weekend in Tokyo.
The host men posted top team scores on five of six events to defeat second-place Germany by nearly 10 points (276.1-266.9). The U.S., propelled by the second highest team scores on rings and parallel bars, finished only seventh on vault and ended third (265.4), a point and a half behind the Germans.
The competition used the three-up, three-count formula also used at the World Championships and Olympic Games. …
Fabian Hambüchen was pretty psyched that his team, Germany, finished ahead of the USA.
… The U.S.’s Alex Naddour, a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma, posted the highest score on pommel horse (14.75). …
… the day belonged to Afanasyeva, 19, who was left off the A-team European Championships squad earlier this spring and sent as the veteran of the team to the Pacific Rim Championships in Australia. Afanasayeva posted the highest score on floor exercise (14.7) and was second on vault (14.75) and beam (14.55) in this Russian intrasquad …
OKYO (AP) — World champion Kohei Uchimura has led Japan to the title in the men’s team event at the Japan Cup gymnastics competition.
Uchimura, the individual all-around world champion, scored more than 16 points in the vault and high bar disciplines Saturday and had 15.650 points in the floor exercise for defending champion Japan, which won with 276.100 points. Germany was second with 266.900 points. …
The most valuable to me is at 28 seconds: double full twist to kick open to full twist in the opposite direction.
We’ve known this was possible biomechanically, but that’s the best video evidence I’ve seen on Earth that you can untilt one way, and retilt the other, mid-air.
Astronauts have done it perfectlly in weightless conditions.
Steve Elliot, for fun, could show half-in, half-out four different ways. R,R – R,L – L,L – L,R.
The mini-tramp progressions on the video linked above are good. But I like the more systematic approach presented by JAO even better.
… a few drills to use when teaching a jump to the high bar, specifically for girls who are very young and might otherwise find jumping to the high bar scary. The goal of these drills is to help build confidence in the gymnast and teach her that she can jump to the high bar in a good shape, and that she doesn’t have to do a flying-squirrel leap just to survive.
The first section deals with the shape and strength, generally.
The timing section is intended to help the girl get into a rhythm where she tucks, stands, and jumps. This is done by putting her through an action that simulates that rhythm, but in a fear-free drill. The goal is to get her in the habit of standing up and going, rather than standing up, thinking too hard about it, and then deciding to get back down.
The last section deals with breaking the jump into familiar pieces to help take some of the scariness out of getting to the high bar.
And yes, I still feel that most girls gyms have more injuries on that skill than any other. I’ve heard of some who have 1 broken arm/wrist each year. Almost all avoidable.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 