This is a video of a drill progression used to teach high level release skill like Kovacs, Kolmans and so use it for double layout flyaways. … The performer in the video is Alexei Bondarenko during a training in his club Dynamo Moscow. The body shape is not ideal and this is by no means a perfect example of how to perform the drill but it does illustrate the idea and it shows its application. Notice the safety mat that is slid on the bar after the release. Play safe. This video was used in the March 2008 Vol 2 Issue 1 of the TheGymPress.
Thanks Valentin for posting this.
I recall when we first saw it at Taiso Gymnastics in the early 1990s. And went straight to the gym to ask all the boys to try it.
They were a bit “freaked”. (I recall the first to do it successfully was Trent McClements.)
After that, all the boys did it easily. Found it FUN.
We did it first as a progression for Geinger.
Later I came to realize it was even more beneficial psychologically. Once the guys landed on the bar (with very little impact) the fear of hitting the bar was much reduced. At Taiso we always slid a mat for every release and dismount.
related post: video – gymnast learning Kovacs – horizontal bar
Gymnastics Coaching.com 