tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Bekah’s Christmas poem:
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the gym,
All the gymnasts were gone even little Ashton Kim.
As I sat by the beam and composed a new post,
I heard a loud sound I thought must be a ghost. …
There’s a bit of a mystery to solve. A surprise ending.
… As the man walked away, I exclaimed “Holy Moly!
That man isn’t Santa, he’s …
Find out on Bekah’s “Get a Grip” Gymblog
I’m surprised how many coaches defended the current Code and FIG rules on Floor in the comments of this provocatively titled post – FIG ruined Men’s Floor.
I disagree.
In 2011 the FIG Floor Exercise rules are not working. (Report Card). Routines are rushed, ugly and repetitive.
… But there is one point on which we agree. Today there are too many combination passes, not enough BIG TRICKS.
Future rule changes should encourage at least one “BIG TRICK”. Winning routines should include a triple back, triple twisting double back or something equally uniquely impressive. The best BIG TRICK tumblers should win.
Which of these BIG tricks do you like best?
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
RedNasvw has more MAG Code edits like this on his Code of Points YouTube playlist.
related – MostepanovaFan has many WAG Code related videos.
If you don’t follow American professional football (I don’t) the hubbub over this story will seem surprising.
There’s a viral craze online making fun of a football player named Tim Tebow.
“Tebowing” is a neologism derived from Tebow’s propensity for kneeling and praying. …
… they mimic a pose by Tebow that was caught on camera following the Broncos’ improbable overtime victory over the Dolphins on October 23, 2011 …
Funny? Maybe.
But I don’t like seeing people — even millionaire celebrities — mocked for their religion.
Criticize him for being a bad football player, if you like. That’s OK with me. But religious intolerance is going too far.
I’m going to ignore tebowers from here on in. But if you want to know more, read the WSJ.
(via Gymnast Crossing)
Andy Thornton has a good one. He asks that you compare this routine at Worlds …
Click PLAY or watch Jessica Lopez on YouTube. (E score = 7.866)
… vs Aly Raisman.(E score = 8.2)
Watch Aly’s Bars on American Gymnast – And the award for the most outrageous judging moment of 2011 goes to…
Aly’s a great gymnast. But should not be competing Bars for team USA at Worlds.
Who was the Head Judge for Bars prelims, by the way?
We need to name names.
Home for Christmas, Vanessa Zamarippa leads warm-ups for the competitive team at her old club, Midwest Twisters Gymnastics in O’Fallon, Illinois.
Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.
http://www.gymnastike.org/embed/NDg0NTQ5MDg1?related=1
Watch more video of Vanessa Zamarripa on gymnastike.org
Vanessa’s comeback starts Jan. 8th, the UCLA vs Utah promo video just posted.
Coaches: I need to build a new set of wall bars (or stall bars, depending I guess on what region you’re in?). I want to know if anyone has ever seen a style of wall bar that they think is both effective AND visually appealing (and accessible to all heights/ages of kids)? In other words, what’s the best design you’ve ever seen?
Buy or build?
Frank Costanza:
“The tradition of Festivus begins with the Airing of Grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now, you’re gonna hear about it. …”
Flavius Koczi was named Romanian male gymnast of the year for 2011.
He’s Mr. Twister on Floor.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
D-score: 6.6
E-score: 8.900
15.500 1st – European Champion
Not bad. Certainly one of the best routines in the world today. But watch what Flavius showed at the Gala in Belgium, without the constraints of FIG judges and rules.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Better, I’d say. Note he removed both roll-outs.
Compare Flavius with one of the many young guns out of Japan, Kenzo Shirai.
Click PLAY or watch Kenzo on YouTube.
To me that’s no longer a “Floor Exercise”. Kenzo is doing as many twists as he can and as little else as possible. If that’s what FIG wants, why not simply use the Power Tumbling Rod Floor and name whomever does the most twists in 8 skills the winner?
UPDATE: Gerard in the comments has seen rules for young guys in Japan that ban on Floor:
• any front salto into a roll out (including arabian)
• double front (including arabian)
• double back with a twist
… That helps explain why Kenzo’s routine so overuses twisting for difficulty.
This is a Floor Exercise demonstrating a variety of qualities, not only twisting.
Click PLAY or watch the 1979 World Champion on YouTube.
A routine from over 30yrs ago on a rock hard Floor is ‘better’ than what we are seeing today. The FIG rules are not working, in my opinion.
Thomas was the first to popularize those roll-outs, by the way.
(via Full Twist)
_____ Check the comments. There are a surprising number who prefer modern Floor over the traditional “Floor Exercises” of the past.
… Gymnastike takes you inside their training session in Tokyo, just 24 hours before the 2011 World Championships Team Final.
Team standout, Lauren Mitchell, placed 8th in the All Around and 5th on Floor Exercise even though she had injured both ankles about two weeks before the competition. Lauren won the very first World gold medal for Australia in 2010 on the Floor Exercise. Emily Little also qualified for the All Around final.
The Australian Team includes: Ashleigh Brennan, Georgia Rose Brown, Emily Little, Larissa Miller, Lauren Mitchell, Mary Anne Monckton, and alternate Nikola Chung. Head Coach is Peggy Liddick. … Music by Avicii
Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike. (mostly Beam / Bars)
Mike (Canales) interviews Oscar Buitrago FIG Judge and chats candidly about cheating in judging, his 2004 Olympic suspension, and the perfect “10”.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I don’t know Oscar. But many of his fellow judges told me that he’s a stand up guy and a great judge. They were deeply disappointed to see him suspended.
Oscar takes personal responsibility for his “mistake”, but I feel the blame for the 2004 MAG Olympic judging disaster should be shared higher up.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 