tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
They have a lot of depth, but I’m surprised …
I certainly respect the FIG president for making the extra journey on behalf of the worldwide Gymnastics community.
Mary Lee Tracy posted an interesting series of drills. They obviously work — though I’d certainly not introduce twisting this way to beginners.
Training Layout Saltos with arms up is typically used to prepare for adding another salto.
For example, moving from Backward Layout to Double Back tucked.
In this video, MLT uses it to make it more difficult for the gymnasts to tilt twist. Interesting.
I like the challenge for advanced kids who are already doing Double Twist and more. I think it could help them twist more efficiently.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.
Level 10 gymnast Cody Bennett was injured when he landed on the edge of the foam pit training H Bar at Evolution Gymnastics Academy during an open gym, according to a $350M lawsuit.
Attorneys for the family of the Chesapeake teen are alleging a “loose foam pit” caused the boy to sustain a major spinal cord injury in 2024, resulting in his quadriplegia.
The lawsuit alleges that the gymnastics foam pit was too shallow and did not have enough foam cubes, which resulted in Cody Bennett, then 16 years old, sustaining a spinal cord injury.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Gymnastics is very, very dangerous.
Naufal Takdir Al Bari from Indonesia was in Russia training for Artistic World Championships 2025 in Jakarta, 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, and was hoping to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
He, along with 4 other male national gymnasts and 2 coaches, were training at The Palace of Sport Training Center in Penza, Russia.
He was injured training H Bar. An awkward landing in a foam pit that resulted in a severe neck injury, according to a post from the Russian federation.
After 12 days in hospital, he died September 25th.
I’m sure his memory will be celebrated at Worlds.
You’ve seen Elite gymnasts hit difficult routines — only to fall on a Cast Handstand.
That’s a tragedy.
Gymnasts should specifically condition to SAVE HANDSTANDS when they happen to go over.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
That video is from an excellent, comprehensive post on Straddle Cast Handstand:
Coaching guru Leonard Isaacs challenges gymnasts to work from Planche to Reverse Planche, saving Handstands in both directions.
Into the pit
Gymnastics Coaching.com 