Category: Uncategorized

Arm balancing at the Iyengar Institute in NYC

A superb, heartwarming video is making the rounds by email:

One of the most inspirational stories I’ve ever seen. This is why I coach…to make an impact on young lives!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Kathy Caine Grigor.

Not surprisingly, their main business is selling weight vests. Sport scientist Jeni McNeal keeps hers in the car, using it to increase body weight resistance during all sorts of exercises, especially hiking. But coaches certainly use them in the gym for advanced athletes.

WeightVest.com

How often do you see a TV ad featuring Rhythmic gymnastics?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks George.

I juggled my schedule in order to watch a big NCAA dual meet in Phoenix:

No. 3 Utah (2-0) makes its first road trip of the season – competing against No. 20 Arizona State (1-3) in Tempe, Ariz., on Friday, Jan. 25. The meet will be held in the Wells Fargo Arena starting at 7:30 p.m. MT.

Utah Utes

Leave a comment on this post if you will be there and want to meet up after the competition to chat.

Former Chinese National Champion, Feng Yu, and U.S. Olympic and National coach, Don Peters have organized an exciting and affordable 12 night tour for the Beijing Olympic Games that is designed expressly for the gymnastics fan (however, fans of other sports can also be accommodated) …

Beijing with Don

OK, this Olympic prediction is a no brainer.

I can’t see Japan. Or Korea. Or anyone else beating China at home. Their start values are simply too high to overcome.

It’s going to look something like this:

Chinese gymnastics team celebrates on the podium after winning men’s team final at the 39th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, Oct. 17, 2006.

People’s Daily Online

Gym Chat has a discussion threat on the “best way to get better splits/flexibility”.

It includes a link to research by Bill Sands, Jeni McNeal and others:

CONCLUSION: This study showed that vibration can be a promising means of increasing range of motion beyond that obtained with static stretching in highly trained male gymnasts.

Flexibility enhancement with vibration: Acute and …[Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006] – PubMed Result

Jeni brings her vibration machine (video) everywhere. She’s very positive on this training method.

But where can you buy a machine?

John Wingfield from Indianapolis sells them for $1800.00 plus shipping. That includes research study resultts, the suggested protocol for use, and a 1 year parts and labor warranty.

Email for details Usddirtc {at} @aol.com

Disclaimers: I spoke with a gymnastics coach who worked with former World Champion sprinter Donovan Bailey’s Athletics group. They tried vibration for a number of different purposes, ultimately concluding that it was not beneficial enough to use.

We made our own machine in the 1990s at Taiso Gymnastics based on the model brought to Canada by Edouard Iarov. We had mixed results, to be honest.

Though the research looks positive, you need try it with your own athletes before being convinced vibration works to improve flexibility.

Leave a comment if you have experience — positive or negative — on these devices.

Posted by Neal McQuaid:

… the inaugural Slacklining Masters, which will be held in Fort William, Scotland, “will be kicking off at 12pm on Saturday 23rd February at the Lochaber Leisure Leisure Centre playing fields with the Grand Final at 4pm.” Dust off your slacklines, tie them off to some trees, and get practicing! …

“The cash prizes for the comp are now totaling a whopping two grand.

UK Champion = £500
UK 2nd place = £300
UK 3rd place = £200

International Champion = £500
International 2nd place = £300
International 3rd place = £200″

Team Geared Up

I like the graphics on a page from Tulsa World of Gymnastics. Here’s a sample:

Begin by lying on your back, your arms out to the side on the floor, and your legs elevated about 90 degrees from the ground. Using as few other muscles besides your lower abdominal muscles, lift your hips up off the floor only a few inches. Then roll your hips back on the floor and repeat.

This exercise can be done in both pike and straddle position. Place your hands on the floor next to your knees, and then scoot them forward three inches. Leaving your hands in this position, lift your legs off the ground about three inches. Drop your legs, but do not let them touch the ground, and repeat.

See the rest of the article – Strength and Conditioning: Abdominals

They provide plenty more articles like this in their Gymnastics Tips for Gymnasts and Coaches section.

(via About.com: Gymnastics)