I enjoyed the many festivals, including the Fringe, immensely … but did not find much acrobatics on display.
One capoeira group impressed.
Stick It – movie review
The Couch Gymnast posted a detailed second look at the most famous and popular gymnastics movie of all time.
… Stick it is a weird movie. I watched it again last night with some friends who know nothing about the sport of gymnastics. They loved Bring It On and wanted some more of that kind of funny, infectious teen-brand zing.
Seeing it through their eyes really adjusted my focus on the film. I realised, Stick It is confusing.
It is really funny in parts, and quite enjoyable but I think it has a huge plot problem, particularly for the layman viewer. …
read the review – A Tale of Two Movies
I saw it last with a bus load of gymnasts en route to a competition. They mostly enjoyed it.
Imperfect as it is, it´s a movie about them. That´s part of tha attraction of the Make it or Break It TV show too.
photos – Elena Lev 2009 – hoop
Fine Art and Freelance Photographer Debra Frieden flew to Nevada to photograph Elena Lev, a rhythmic gymnast and hula hoop artist in the Spring of 2009.
UPDATED: Ms. Lev performed in Alegria and Quidam for Cirque Du Soleil Productions. She has been a highlight performance artist of those shows.
Debra Frieden is a fine art photographer based out of Atlanta, Georgia USA. For more information about her work, please visit www.debrafrieden.com for print sales, exhibitions, representation or other inquiries. All photographs herein are registered and copyright protected.
Click PLAY or see these photos of Elena on YouTube.
gymnast Daria Bijak can JUMP
The College Season is revving up.
Who will the stars be this season?
Utah Coach Greg Marsden has high expectations for the German Olympian:
Bijak is ranked No. 3 in the nation on the bars and has scored 9.85 or higher in her last four floor routines. After being held out of the vault lineup early in the season to give her time to recover from the Olympics, Bijak is expected to go in the all-around the second half of the season as the Utes make their push toward the NCAA Championships.
“When she is at her best, she can be an Ashley [Postell] or Kristina [Baskett] kind of gymnast,” Marsden said. “She has a different look to her, in the way she does things and the amplitude she gets in her routines.” …
She’s well known in College gymnastics for her amazing Handspring front layout vault. And for her double front punch front on Floor.
Daria’s amplitude on leaps and jumps makes most elite gymnasts look “low”.
(Chris Detrick / Tribune file photo)Salt Lake City Tribune – Bijak aims for greatness
more commentary on Daria posted on the College Gymnastics Board
get to know Valeri Liukin
The Full in Full out blog plans to post a series of gymnastics coach profiles. The first features – who else – Valeri Liukin.
This story I had never heard …
… So when an opportunity came along to win $15,000 in a costumed gymnastics event, the resourceful Liukin went for it. Fifteen grand later, the Liukins and Marchenko were ready to get the gym off the ground. …
read the profile – Know a Coach – Valeri Liukin
Valeri and his coach Edouard Liukin, from Kazakhstan, were always outsiders. Never favourites of the National Coach.
It did not help that Edouard was not a vodka drinker. Not part of that grand Russian coaching tradition.
hand sanitation in the gym
From the Salta Gym Club blog:
… installing new hand sanitation stations. All people are required to sanitise their hands prior to entering the building (front door station) and athletes are required to use the stations when they enter and exit the gym.
I also encourage all athletes to wash their hands WITH soap before entering the gym, at break, and after gymnastics. After all, you just put your hands on a beam where EVERYONE has placed their feet….
details – Beat the Bugs
My gym added some last season. Could not hurt. And it just might make the kids more aware of hygiene.
Leave a comment if you have an opinion.
WOGA 2009 VISA – We Are Family
A cute edit …
Click PLAY or watch WOGA – 2009 VISA, Behind The Scenes: We Are Family on YouTube.
With the past 2 WAG Olympic Champions, and 3 booming gyms, the future looks bright for WOGA.
It’s the #1 privately owned gym in the world, for sure.
inspirational video
Inspirational video linked by Kyle Shewfelt.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I love the Michael Jordan story.
It reminds me of his fantastic Nike commercial called Failure.
Spiderman of India
This guy’s got skillz, as a rock climber or free runner.
Jumping from one rock to the other, scaling walls or any man-made height without any aid, Jyoti Raju truly lives up to his nick name ‘monkey king’. He entertains visitors at the Chitradurga Fort in southern India by his monkey-like acrobatics.
Click PLAY or watch him scramble on YouTube.
Search YouTube for “Koti Raj – Chitradurga” to see more.
Helicopter Parents: Overprotective Mommies and Daddies
The title of an article in the August 2007 issue of USA Gymnastics Technique magazine.
Some downsides familiar to all coaches:
Undermining children’s confidence Instilling fear of failure Stunting growth and development Raising anxiety levels
Strategies for coaches:
Encourage parents to take advantage of disappointment Promote open communication with the child Support a parent in letting go a little at a time Cheer on parents who stay strong Be patient and consistent.
I can recall many success stories of parents in the past who learned to let their kids grow up through gymnastics.
Certainly the terrible story of Jaycee Lee Dugard being abducted at age-11 will make some parents more protective.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 