Harschit Damodharan from India took Gold on Jr. Vault at Asian Games.
His teammate, Akshat Bajaj, was Silver.
Harschit Damodharan – Asian Games Vault Gold
introducing Handspring Vault
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Most likely quite similar to what you do. The one unusual bit is teaching the preflight to straight handstand with head “buried”. Most coaches use a slight arch with the head up, and don’t go as high as handstand.
In recent years I’ve been eliminating the arm circle altogether. And finding — that way — that kids end up with a smaller arm circle in the end.
HOW do we make Gymnastics SAFER?
Keith Russell:
Educate, Educate, Educate, Legislate
At the Worlds 2017 Symposium in Montreal, Keith did two sessions on this topic. He’s the former head of the FIG Scientific Commission (recently merged with the FIG Sports Medicine Commission).
Keith noted that gymnasts were once considered the epitome of health and fitness. But that in recent years Artistic Gymnastic coaches are identified by the medical community as pariahs. Too extreme.
Why are gymnasts so young?
Why do they train so many hours?
Why are they so short? (When FIG age went up, height stayed the same.)
More positive coaching, as well.
Asian Championships RESULTS
Katelyn Ohashi comeback
Biggest surprise of 2026, so far.
Bars – Kip conditioning
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
safe landings
One of the best things we do at Gymnastics class is teaching how to land and fall safely.
NOT like this.
via RecGymnastics.com
Uchimura 2014 Floor
introducing straddle press handstand
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Compare with GymTactics Straddle Press Handstand.
via Gymnastics Coaches Skills & Drills on Facebook (private group)
STICK like Uchimura
Dvora Meyers put together a deep dive into the history of competition Gymnastics landings. She digs into the evolution of landing mats, as well.
The most dangerous part of most routines.
If gymnasts are allowed a controlled lunge on Floor, use that technique. It’s much safer — absorbing force over more time and distance.
Personally, my strategy as a coach is to train competition landings with the goal of a 0.1 deduction small hop. If the gymnasts happens to STICK for no deduction once-in-a-while, I consider it a 0.1 bonus over the plan.
Read the article on Defector:
The Case Against Sticking The Landing
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 