inflatable Yurchenko hand mat

What do you think?

Would you use a “Sweet Spot” as a hand mat for Vault?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The first shown is the Jr. Sweet Spot. The second, the larger and thicker Sweet Spot.

I’d like to give it a try, inflating the mat tight.

Ryohei Kato – 3 1/2 twist PUNCH

Impressive twister.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (14.750)

Ryohei Kato won the Japanese Jr International Floor final with that routine.

trampoline ‘spring’ boards for Vault

I’ve never been much of a fan of trampoline takeoffs for Vault — they encourage too high preflight — but the older boys at Black Hills Gymnastics told me they LOVE their variation.

As Vaulting more and more approaches double-mini, the more we need landing mats like double-mini.

Bar – underswing dismount

JAO has the best video tutorials on the internet, in my opinion. All free.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Double back hip circle. And one and a half back hip circle are the critical drills.

more like this on the JAOVideos YouTube channel

Japanese Men’s Rhythmic Gymnastics

Disappointed that none of the Japanese teams performed at Gymnaestrada 2011, I was extremely happy to see this performance before the awards of the Junior Japan International, September 24th in Yokohama

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Incredible talent, synchronicity and showmanship.

That was the highlight of the day’s competition for me.

Doug Davis – Tumbl Trak

Doug Davis is founder and inspirational leader of Tumbl Trak.

He hosted me for 3 days recently. Thanks.

I tried to keep up with Doug while visiting 5 different gym clubs. That helped my stats. (I try to get to 40-50 clubs / year myself. Learning something at each.)

Tumbl Trak is now advertising on this site, so I should be even more complimentary about the company than I have in the past — which is very complimentary.

I love the fact that their goal is to make gymnastics and acrobatic training more fun. And safer. Always innovating.

Here’s Doug climbing on one of his bikes for his daily training. He’s a pretty serious athlete himself, by the way.