Gymnastics Coaching.com

CoachL pointed me to something new. TumblTrak sells an innovative product I have not yet tried:

ULTIMATE STRAPS

The Ultimate Straps securely attach a gymnast to a strap bar, without the need for several different sizes of straps. Includes two PVC tubes.

Ultimate Straps are fully adjustable for all sizes and the double buckles with the velcro system are very secure.

TumblTrak – Gymnastics Equipment Bars Ultimate Straps

I cannot coach without safety straps. The biggest headache with using them, however, is getting a good fit on different gymnasts.

This would solve my last problem.

More information on training with strap bars.

It’s been years since I last saw this set-up.

But this really should be standard equipment for recreational bars in gyms with a low ceiling. The chains are a danger. (Especially for me. I trip backwards over them all the time.)

The roof was reinforced at the base of the bar support.

Funtastics Gymnastics, Couer D’Alene, Idaho

My opinion is that female elite gymnasts eat a far more healthy diet than the rest of the population.

They are motivated.

Moreover, they suffer from far fewer eating disorders than their non-gymnast peers.

But it does happen.

For example, to Josie Hancock of the Arizona State Sun Devils.

If you are interested in this topic, read the full article:

The memories are still too fresh. But the 21-year-old is still enrolled at Arizona State. Feeling she’s conquered her disorders, Josie wants to work in nutrition to help women avoid similar experiences.

Journal Gazette | 06/24/2007 | Eating disorders help end career of gymnast at 21

bio – Josie Hancock

(via Gym Chat)

UPDATE. Seems the Journal Gazette reporter has overstated Josie’s health problems. From a comment on this post:

“Poorly written article about me… very disappointed.

This article was poorly written and largely inaccurate. Although I did have some trials, and do intend to reach out to other girls, the information was misrepresented and I am not happy with the reporter. Please contact me directly for any clarification. Thank you.

-Josie”

Coach Dave Adlard showed us highlights of an amazing fitness reality TV show out of Japan called Ninja Warrior.

Only two have ever completed the Men’s course. Those who have tried and failed include Paul Hamm and several other Olympians.

Makoto Nagano, a 34yr-old fisherman is one of the two finishers out of the first 500 contestants.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Funtastics High Performance Training Camp)

Many are following the recovery of Chinese gymnast Wang Yan.

She is making some encouraging progress.

Wang Yan raises her right arm in greeting on Wednesday at the Shanghai No. 6 People’s Hospital. The gymnast, who broke her neck and became paralyzed during the national titles in the city last month, has been moved out of intensive care into an ordinary ward but faces a long recovery. [Shanghai Daily]

Paralyzed teen gymnast off danger list

In a newspaper interview with Peng Peng Lee, up-and-coming Canadian gymnastics star, one thing caught my eye:

“We start practising at 7 a.m., and work out until 10:30,” said Peng Peng. “Then, from 10:30 to 4 p.m., we focus on studies. Following that, it’s back to the gym from 4 to 6 p.m.

“But we don’t train on weekends. That’s when I take golf and tennis lessons. Also, on Fridays, I take singing lessons.”

TorontoSun.com – Other Sports – Peng Peng

Peng Peng works out at Seneca, one of the most successful gyms in the world. They have spent a lot of time experimenting with the ideal training schedule for elite gymnasts.

In 2004 I coached a 5-day elite training week too. And liked it. Two days off in series provides much different recovery for both athlete and coach than 2-rest-days split over the week.

Peng Peng Lee bio – Gymnastics Canada

(via Gym Chat)

Leave a comment if you know of other FIG gymnasts who take 2-days-off in series during a normal training week.

This comic bit from TV proves Bart Conner does not take himself too seriously.

His skill — sometimes called the Conner Spin — has been the source of much derision over the years. (It’s too easy to be named after any one athlete.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The thickness of these bar pads was MUCH appreciated by gymnasts using them while learning Tkachev and Hindorf.

(via Funtastics High Performance Training Camp)

The great thing about the internet is that YOU can quickly and easily publish anything you want. And the entire world has access.

(Finding YOU on the world wide web — that’s the difficult part.)

Heather McCanna, a gymnast from Texas, posted quite a good series of instructional videos on how to “stretch like a gymnast” — at home. Ideal for acrobats who don’t have access to a facility. And for the general public.

Series: Gymnastics Warmups Instruction: Free Online Video Lessons

Click PLAY to see a sample or <a href="watch it on Expert Village “>

Click here for more on “Gymnastics Warmups Instruction: Free Online Video Lessons”http://www.expertvillage.com/player.swf?flv=gymnastics-warmups-left-right-splits

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This is the set-up I like best. Both a “tube” (for beginners) and “socks” (advanced) taped to the bar to better simulate the rail. (That’s what I think they have here.)

Dahlonega Gymnastics on Flickr – Photo Sharing!

I like the gymnasts to get off the tube as quickly as possible. They need to learn how to “flip” the wrists using the socks set-up as demonstated by the gymnast here. (Or is she using short pieces of tube?)

UPDATE: CoachL answered my question. This girl is actually using Ultimate Straps sold by TumblTrak.

Check an earlier post to see the socks taped to the bar.

Watanabe video – Working the Strap Bar