gymnastics form foam

Coach Mihai was smiling when I dropped off a pile of sponges at the gym. ($1 for 8 sponges at the dollar store.)

form-foam.jpg
larger version

I’m oft to say, “The sponge is the best coach.”

sponge.jpg
Christchurch School of Gymnastics

advanced wall bar leg lift

<img align="right" border="0" hspace="10" vspace="5" blockquote id="image7217" src="https://gymnasticscoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Coach-Sommer.jpg&quot; alt="Coach-Sommer.jpg" / Coach Sommer of GymnasticBodies shares an advanced version of the classic leg lift.

Russian Leg Lifts are an advanced hanging leg lift variation. They are an extremely challenging exercise and quite effective at increasing core strength.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

more conditioning videos from Coach Sommer on YouTube

Utah Gymnastics ROCKS

Congratulations to Utah Head Coach Greg Marsden and the incredible gymnastics machine he has built there.

The Utah Utes are #1 this week, the first time since Mar. 28, 2005.

This is the pre-meet highlight video shown at the Utah Gymnastics meet on 2.6.09. The highlights are from the meet on 1.23.09.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Shannon Miller – 1992 Olympics Beam

We learned today that Shannon Miller will be a celebrity Olympian at one of our upcoming meets, the Great West Gym Fest in Idaho.

Of course many of our gymnasts have never even heard of Shannon Miller. (They are so young!)

One of our coaches fired up YouTube to find some examples of her amazing gymnastics to show the kids.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

Alicia Sacramone in Monty Python

The Olympic gymnast confronts a fire breathing poodle in a long internet TV commercial so weird, it’s watchable.

Alica-quest-for-G.jpg

It’s called The Quest for G, a Gatorade spoof on the old Monty Python comedy troupe.

Watch it on MissionG.com.

The recession does not seem to be slowing down Gatorade (PepsiCo). They must be paying a fortune on this campaign tied to the Superbowl. They hired director Spike Lee for the commercials. And signed a pile of famous athletes, including Nadia and Alica.

Tkachev layout half – Mario Moznik

The Croatian gymnast swings out smoothly in this training footage.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

Trivia – This old gym in Zagreb was used in the film Nadia, shot in 1984.

Produnova – Hernando’s Hideaway

Yelena Produnova was one of the most unique and impressive gymnasts of all time.

Respect.

Click PLAY or watch her 2000 American Cup Floor Exercise routine on YouTube.

Recognize the music?

Hernando’s Hideaway

There’s an interesting thread on the IG forum called Hernando’s Hideaway Showdown.

Commenters are comparing these gymnasts using the same music: Tasha Schwikert, Oana Petrovschi, Katarina Frketic, Sonia Lawrence, Nicoleta Onel, Natalia Yurchenko, Betty Okino.

I wonder what’s the most popular Floor music of all time?

Gymnastics February calendar

The latest calendar from Rik Feeney.

february_2009.jpg

Download the high resolution version — and see other products — from the Gymnastics Training Tips Calendar page.

NCAA Gymnastics – Utah #1

Scores are tight. But, by consistency, Utah is atop the rankings.

top-12-NCAA.jpg
Troester – GymInfo rankings

Florida has now dropped to #8.

Congratulations to Arkansas and Auburn. An impressive start to the season.

Gymblog has some commentary on the weekend.

Magee.jpg
Casey Jo Magee wins her fifth all-around title

Arkansas Razorbacks Gymnastics

Oklahoma – Chris Brooks – 16.45 Vault

Pretty good vault. Handspring double front.

Amazing landing.

See the vault and an interview with Chris on Gymnastike.