twist both ways – single flip

Last week I posted a number of examples of acrobats twisting both directions on multiple somersaults.

This is much tougher – watch James Lichtenstein twist LEFT, untilt, then twist RIGHT on on a single somersault.

Click PLAY or watch that crazy twisting skill at 1min 43sec on YouTube.

James is a Sr Trampolinist from 5 Star Tumbling and Trampoline in Buffalo Grove, IL.

Alex Marks – 3 ½ twist

Triple Twist posted a profile on Alex Marks, gymnast at Bart Conner Gymnastics in Norman, Oklahoma.

Click through to see her clean and pretty gymnastics.

Click PLAY or watch a sample on YouTube.

Class of 2016, Alex is destined for Oklahoma. 🙂 The NCAA Team, that is.

POV Bars double double

2013 J.O. National All Around and Uneven Bars Champion Nicole Lehrman of Capital straps on the GoPro camera …

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/Nzc1NzE3MTQ1?related=1&autoplay=false

Watch more video of Gymnast View on gymnastike.org

Note that Nicole’s camera “sees” neither the rail nor her toes.

Workout Wednesday: SCEGA

This week’s Workout Wednesday takes us to SCEGA in Temecula, CA. Coach and choreographer Meredith Paulicivic gives us a rundown of a training day at her gym in preparation for the 2013 California Classic. SCEGA has been producing top gymnasts for decades.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/MzU0NzE3MTQ0?related=1&autoplay=false

Watch more video of Workout Wednesday, Season 5 on gymnastike.org

1-arm handstand tutorials

A new one recently posted by By Chris Salvato – Deconstructing the One Arm Handstand.

OAHS-Technique1

And an older one on Beast Skills – One Arm Handstand Lessons From a Chinese Acrobat.

WesleyOneArmCloseUpHand2

If you want to train that skill, get help from a circus or Acrobatic Gymnastics expert. They’re better at 1-arm handstands than we are at 2-arm. 🙂

Leave a comment if you have other good resources for 1-arm hand.

new book – Dutch Gymnastics abuse

Former Dutch gymnasts Stasja Köhler and Simone Heitinga, now in their 30s, wrote a book called de onvrije oefening detailing the abusive training methods they endured as elite gymnasts.

The coaches accused are Gerrit Beltman and Frank Louter.

Review:

“Heitinga and Köhler relive their negative experience and harsh training conditions, set by their coach Gerrit Beltman …

… involves the whole set of experiences in their journey to become a top gymnast. A mixture of anxiety and loneliness …

… Utilizing their anxieties, ambition and loyalties, he completely shields the two young girls systematically in a psychological trap they cannot escape, nor let anyone help them. …

At the end of the book, a number of statements from ex-top gymnasts (such as Suzanne Harmes, Renske Endel and Danila Koster) and parents also share their experiences.

… In an official statement in the TV-show “Brandpunt”, Beltman apologized for his behavior and his training methods in his early years as a young trainer.

read more on GymPOWER

authors

Several editors and followers of GymPOWER read the book and drew the same conclusion: this book has to be read by the entire, global, gymnastics community. … It is an absolute eye-opener and it makes you aware on how you should be on your guard, whether you are a coach, parent, manager, supervisor, paramedic, judge, gymnast or athlete.

I am hopeful of seeing translation into other languages.

The Royal Dutch Gymnastics Federation have reportedly made steps to ensure a better and safe training environment for child athletes.