Gymnastics Coaching.com

The Danza de los Voladores de Papantla (Dance of Papantla’s flyers) is a ritualistic dance in Veracruz performed by the Totonac Indians.

Five men, each representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb atop a pole, one of them stays on the pole playing a flute and dancing while the remaining four descend the pole with a rope tied by one of their feet. The rope unwraps itself 13 times for each of the four flyers, symbolizing the 52 weeks of the year.

Danza de los Voladores de Papantla – Wikipedia

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’ve seen this impressive display a couple of times. It’s a tourist attraction these days in Mexico.

Coach Markos Baikas at Taiso in Saskatoon has an excellent group of young gymnasts coming up. Club founder Keith Russell calls them the best generation ever.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This is the first YouTube upload from my new camera:

The HDC-SD5 uses the AVCHD format to record full-HD video with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. …

The HDC-SD5, which records video onto SDHC/SD Memory Cards, debuts as the world’s smallest palm-style 3CCD full-HD camcorder. It is even smaller than its predecessor model, HDC-SD1, giving the SD5 superb portability. The SD5 also features a new USB Host function that significantly improves data storage and playback ease. With an optional newly released DVD burner (model VW-BN1), users can copy or play back video recordings in the original AVCHD format to deliver the ultimate high-definition viewing experience on a large-screen TV.

Amazon.com: Panasonic HDC-SD5 AVCHD 3CCD Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilization (includes Panasonic VW-BN1 DVD Burner): Camera & Photo

photo – Gizmodo

I’m using new software called iMovie 7.1 which comes free on new Macs.

This is the best video work flow I’ve ever had.

Apparatus rankings.

Alabama Gymnastics – Kassi Price – Bars – 1/12/07

Click PLAY or watch Kassi on YouTube.

Roll Tide.

Alabama official bio

bio – Got Chalk

Amy Van Deusen is the editor of the About.com gymnastics section. A gymnast for 15-years, she competed NCAA with William and Mary. You might know her name from articles in International Gymnast magazine.

Not only does About.com link to other reputable sites, Amy also adds her own original content. For example:

Who Will Make the 2008 US Women’s Olympic Team?

Can Paul Hamm Win Again at the Olympics?

Cool Trick: The Triple Back on Floor

There’s much, much more. I’ve added Amy’s site to the links under BLOG on the right hand navigation on every page. It’s likely to become one of my favourite sites.

Check out: About.com Gymnastics. (You can subscribe to the RSS feed on that page, too.)

Poet Theatricals is auditioning for their brand new show at Casino Estoril, Portugal. They are looking for fast track, trampoline, and Chinese poles acrobats. Rehearsals start in August 2008 and the show contract runs through March 2010. For more information contact cherrise (at) poetproductions.com

http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/456073/one_arm_pull_ups_multiple_repetitions_with_each_arm.swf
One Arm Pull Ups. Multiple Repetitions With Each Arm – Metacafe

This is, I think, the best I’ve ever seen.

UPDATE: Blair tells me that’s Cisco out of MEGA in Marin County, California.

Leave a comment if you know a video link to someone better.

I’m looking to escape the cold of Canada and flee to see Cirque du Soleil’s QUIDAM in sunny Monterrey, México. (Jan. 24 to Feb. 8, 2008)

There’s a great thread on the Cirque Tribune forum:

The Cirque Tribune :: View topic РQUIDAM in Monterrey, M̩xico

Quidam – official website

Just because we’ve always done it that way, doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly stupid.

Tradition – despair.com

Dave Adlard calls it “traditionitis”. Coaching inertia.

What about you? As a coach, are you willing to change? Try new drills? Use innovative equipment? Work smarter instead of harder?

Since you are reading this blog, I suspect you are.

One of my biggest complaints in 2008 is seeing coaches assign too much tumbling on hard surfaces. Repeating technical and form errors. And putting athletes at greater risk of overuse injury.

Too much “pounding” is just stupid.

I noted that Utah coach Greg Marsden, after too many injuries last season, had his team train “on soft surfaces” up until the first meet of the year with Georgia. Which Utah won.

At minimum, kids need to tumble on sting mats atop the hard Floor. Best case scenarios: trampoline devices from companies like TumblTrak. Or rod floors. Or even air floors.

Related: Chinese gymnastics coach likes the Tumbl Trak

I often assign “wheelies” or “roll-outs” to athletes in a general conditioning program. (Advanced only. These drills can be hard on the lower back.)

Ross Enamait explains in detail the making of his custom ab-wheels:

Why Bother?

Before constructing this tool, you are likely wondering why bother with such a project. Why not simply purchase a two handed, store bought model? I have my reasons…

In addition to its unilateral benefits, the single handed model allows for several additional movements (demonstrated within the video …). Many of these exercises would not be possible with a traditional wheel.

The single handed wheel also offers a smoother, more controlled roll when compared to many of the poorly constructed (plastic) models. The lawnmower tires that I use are also built to last …

Furthermore, traditional wheels have become slightly more difficult to locate in recent years. After the ab wheel craze that came several years ago, many of the wheel manufacturers have either gone belly up or simply abandoned the product. Five or six years ago, I can remember purchasing cheap wheels at Wal-mart for just a few dollars. Wal-mart no longer carries the wheels however. You’ll likely need to spend more money for a product that is still poorly constructed, sitting atop plastic wheels that lack stability. As you can see, the homemade wheels may not be such a crazy idea after all. …

RossTraining – Articles

Click PLAY or watch Ross demonstrate how to use them on YouTube.

(via Straight to the Bar)

I believe that IOC (International Olympic Committee) and FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) are quite undemocratic.

Worse, they are very unaccountable.

A group of coaches asked me recently how to send input to the Men’s Technical Committee of FIG.

From what I could find, there is no specific mechanism set out by FIG. You could try emailing the committee members. (If you can find those email addresses.)

Men’s Technical Committee President
Adrian Stoica (ROM)

Men’s Technical Committee
Istvan Karacsony (HUN), Julio Felipe Marcos (ESP), Huang Liping (CHN), Sawao Kato (JPN), Enrique Salanitro (ARG)

Women’s Technical Committee President
Nellie Kim (BLR)

Women’s Technical Committee
Yan Ninan (CHN), Lyubov Burda-Andrianova (RUS), Kim Dowdell (AUS), Donatella Sacchi (ITA), Anca Grigoras (ROM), Yashie Harinishi (JPN)

Perhaps contact Men’s chairman Adrian Stoica directly at his office at the Romanian Gymnastics Federation. (He’s President. Conflict of interest?) I’m sure Adrian will be happy to hear from you.

Or, you could try the general contact form on the FIG website. (Don’t hold your breath.)

Leave a comment below if you know of a better way to send FIG feedback on the regulations that affect the lives of athletes.

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Certainly FIG is not all bad. One bit of bright news to me was learning that many of the FIG documents are available as free downloads in PDF format.

The Men’s Code of Points, for example:

See what else is there: FIG – Downloads section – International Gymnastics Federation