tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
I’m keen to post unusual training set-ups on this blog. Here’s a kip drill I’ve never seen before:
… Will give this a try, Juston. (I’m using a mini-tramp below a low bar every workout anyway. )
And one of the strangest tramp drills I’ve ever seen: Kaboom to spotted backward layout:
He is posting more training video clips on the North Dakota USA Gymnastics website.
CoachKat08 from Alberta created a YouTube channel and is posting some training video of her girls.
Click PLAY or watch a sample post — tumbling backward layout 5/2 twist — on YouTube.
If can be fun for the kids to see themselves on YouTube. Parental permission is advised, of course.
YouTube is the best service for video, I think, as the clips stream even with a weak internet connection. And it’s easy to link to those video edits.
The Olympics have inspired children around the world to sign up for gymnastics.
In the States, Bela Karolyi is 2008 chairman of National Gymnastics Day on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008.
Gymnastics clubs hold open houses, exhibitions at local malls and parks, doing the Tyson Fitness Challenge and raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network and much more.
To find a club in the States call 1-800-345-4719 or visit www2.usa-gymnastics.org/search
National Gymnastics Day – USAG
by site editor Rick McCharles
Since I’m a Canadian, every once in a while I get criticism that the blog is pro-Canada, anti-USA.
Every once in a while I get criticism that this blog is pro-USA, anti-Canada.
For example, this point that I have emphasized many times …
… Let’s not gloss over the fact that the coach education non-system in the States is far inferior to any other developed gymnastics nation. The mandatory safety certification for professional members is not nearly enough.
In sadly Socialist Canada, for example, we have mandatory coach training called the National Coaching Certification Program. It’s not great. But our NCCP is far better than the hodge podge of coach education schemes in America.
original post – USAG rebuts recent gymnastics injury study
… drew this reaction from one commenter on that post:
… If the US is so bad when it comes to gymnastics and safety, why do so many foreign coaches come here to coach? I have seen your comments in the past about how bad our system is but, for God’s sake, enough is enough. You seem so high and mighty on your soapbox. Just give it a rest. No one’s system is perfect (as your site showed us earlier this week about the Canadian athlete that was paralyzed and the Canadian gymnastics federation just acts like she was never a part of their program.) I assume that at least some of the competitions you attend in the US are sanctioned by USAG? If they are as bad as you like to make them out to be, why do you come? I mean, I am sure they don’t mind, but why be so critical of an organization then turn right around and support them? I don’t know what the term is in Canada, but in these parts we call that hypocritical. ….
For the record, I feel that the gymnastics system in the USA overall is far better than the system in Canada. The glaring problem in Canada is the Women’s Artistic competitive structure. It’s not uniform across the country. The rules are overly complex and frequently changed. More coaches, judges and athletes end up frustrated.
The J.O. (Junior Olympic) girls program is excellent. They’ve kept the “perfect 10”. The American competitions are faster, more fun and more consistently judged. And I love the fact that Level 10 J.O. leads directly into NCAA.
The Canadian Trampoline and Tumbling program is better in Canada. Our Men’s Artistic program perhaps equal to the USA.
Last season I attended about 12 American competitions, only 1 in Canada.
I visited about 50 gyms in both countries in 2007. There’s not the slightest doubt that the “average” coach in Canada is more knowledgable and better trained than the “average” coach in the USA.
That’s mainly due to the mandatory Coach Education system in Canada. And the wildly varying modes of coach education in the USA.
In the long run the USA will be far more successful than Canada due to club structure. Almost all gyms in the States are “owned”. Almost all gyms in Canada are run by volunteer parent Boards of Directors, a big competitive disadvantage in my opinion.
Leave a comment below if you have an opinion. Or something to add.
A coach and three Russian acrobatic gymnasts perished in a fire that ravaged their hotel the night of Saturday, August 30-31, 2008: Gymnasts Anastasia Golovitnina, Anna Maryina and Olga Gofman and their coach Svetlana Kushu – the foursome was training in Gelendjik (RUS), a coastal town on the Black Sea not far from Socchi and Krasnodar.
Lightning hit the building causing an immediate blaze.
Swiftly moving flames and a caving roof left the victims with no chance of escape…
The gymnasts were training in preparation for the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships set for Glasgow (GBR), October 10 – 12
In a state of shock and grief, FIG President Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) expressed his distress and consternation on behalf of the international gymnastics community, addressing his condolences to the bereaved, and to gymnasts of the Russian Federation (FSAR) and Acrobatic throughout the world.
GymMedia.com
This is tragic.
I attended the USA Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships the past 3 years. It’s my favourite of the gymnastics sports.
There are so few Acrobatic gymnasts the world over that this is a big blow to the sport.
related: USA Gymnastics names 2008-09 national team for acrobatic gymnastics
It’s not the first retirement.
But I fear Beijing was the last time we have seen one of the world’s greatest gymnasts compete.
Four-time world champion gymnast Marian Dragulescu says he is retiring for health reasons and will become a trainer.
Dragulescu, 28, one of the world’s top vaulters, said Thursday he would retire after medical tests revealed he had chronic back problems. He said that he would likely train young gymnasts for the Dinamo Bucharest club.
Dragulescu was bitterly upset when he failed to clinch a medal at the Beijing Olympics saying “my soul broke” after he fell on the landing of his second vault attempt. …
Dragulescu was also bitterly upset at failing to get a medal in Beijing and receive the bonus promised by Romanian authorities, which he planned to spend on treatment for his three-year-old daughter, who is unable to hear or speak.
Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu has offered to contribute to the costs of the child’s operation in Austria.
Although he competed in various events, Dragulescu was best known for the vault and even had one exercise_ a handspring double front with half turn_ named after him.
Some feedback from this photo:
Reiko Beach of GymSmarts likes these bar pads from Carolina Gym Supply. Excellent products. Great prices.
Carolina 9″ Vinyl Covered Bar Pad: This is it — the perfect bar pad for clear hip circle training. Ingenious and simple, keeps the athlete’s hips clear of the bar without a spot. Covered with rugged red vinyl, hook & loop fastener closure and premium foam it the perfect combination of size, style and function. … $40 each
Even better, for advanced gymnasts are these:
Deluxe Denim Bar Pad: 30″ long x 7.5″ diameter, covered with durable but soft denim, use this pad for training release moves on high bar, uneven bars and parallel bars. One is great, but a pair will be more than twice as useful. $50 each
Ask for a catalogue by emailing info AT carolinagym.com or calling 1-877-GYM-STUF (1-877-496-7883).
You can slide in a single longer pad for dismounts. (The kids will feel more confident in “setting” if they know the bar is padded.
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, will be held in Beijing, China from September 6–17, 2008. Mainland China is expected to field the most athletes. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao.
On June 26, 2005, The Beijing Olympic Committee announced that the slogan for the 2008 Olympics will be “One World, One Dream” (simplified Chinese: åŒä¸€ä¸ªä¸–ç•Œ åŒä¸€ä¸ªæ¢¦æƒ³; traditional Chinese: åŒä¸€å€‹ä¸–ç•Œ åŒä¸€å€‹å¤¢æƒ³). This will be the same slogan for the two events.
About 4,000 athletes from 145 countries are expected to take part. …
Gymnastics Coaching.com 