Gymnastics Coaching.com

I finally got to the most famous gymnastics camp in the USA. I loved the great weather & the fantastic facility.

To see all annotated photos, jump to the permanent webpage in Rick’s photo archive.

RING STRENGTH featuring Jordan Jovtchev is the best video of its type.

Jovtchev was twice world champion. Of course he is super strong.

But I was impressed with the easy progressions included useful for all competitive gymnasts. Production values are good.

You can buy it through the RingTraining.com website.

The WordSmith from Nantucket, a coach from California, former UCLA gymnast, alerted us to some historic video clips posted on the Santa Monica Gymnastics Center website.

Dennis Sherman quad flyaway from swinging rings on to sand

Mark Davis triple back flyawar from highbar on to sand

Double back tumbling on sand

And more beach craziness including big dismounts from swings.

Watch those historic feats on santamonicagymnasticscenter.com

For years Technique Magazine has been the first place I look for new gymnastics articles.

The USA Gymnastics members-only hard copy is best — but even the free on-line version is useful. It holds an archive of selected articles back through 1995!

There is no search utility so you need to simply browse the titles of interest.

Read anything published by Bill Sands or Jenni McNeal.

CrossFit coach Tyler Hass reports on his talk with World Rings champion Jordan Jovtchev.

Bottom line — to get super-strong, you need to be training for routines.

Coach Hass sets out guidelines for designing your personal strength sequences.

Designing a Ring Strength Routine — PowerAthleteMag.com

I was surprised how much I liked Bring it On.

I recommend it. (The sequel pales in comparison though it is still watchable.)

Click the video below to watch the comic opening cheer:

The same folks went on to produce Stick It – official website

Brad Johnson starts at the beginning and works his way up to one of the most challenging strength positions on rings.

I recall how many of the best gymnasts in the world had trouble holding a front lever when it was included in the (now defunct) Olympic compulsory routines.

Good article. The only addition I have is use a particularly demanding spotter. A spotter who reduces the resistance just enough to keep you in the correct position.

The Front Lever: A Hard Core Exercise — PowerAthleteMag.com

The fantastic HPTC organized by David Adlard, hosted by Funtastics Coeur d’Alene. This was my 2nd year as a guest coach.

To see annotated photos jump to the permanent webpage in Rick’s photo archive.

Coaching folklore condemning weight training for gymnasts is probably misguided. Weight-training workouts that develop strength with minimal muscle hypertrophy are likely to enhance the performance of female gymnasts.

As a coach who has long advised girls and women to supplement with specific weight training, I welcomed this article by Bill Sands, Jenni McNeal & others:

Should Female Gymnasts Lift Weights?

How is it that some young athletes learn to be good performers?

I got these tips from an excellent article:

Creating a Healthy & Effective Motivational Climate.

Encourage the athlete to practice short periods of deep breathing to calm himself, to get centered and to relax.

Suggest the gymnast take a “time out” to think about the task at hand and to remove unrelated thoughts.

Make positive imagery a common component of practice. Visualize performing the skill and “feeling” it successfully performed in the mind. Example: Get a good mental picture of a stuck dismount.

Encourage the gymnast to engage in positive self talk to develop an internal mechanism that will guide her through a difficult combination or competitive situation. Example: “Square my hips over the beam.”

Create a mantra that breaks the pattern of self defeating thoughts. Example: “Think strong,” “Focus.”

Teach the athlete to be aware of his thought process during a successful performance. Implement what works.

Practice blocking out internal and external distractions. Example: create as near to a real competition experience as possible and create typical distractions while the athlete is performing her routine.

Develop a pre-competition routine that provides stability and familiarity even in the midst of the most stressful and / or unfamiliar environment. Example: Perform the same warm-up routine, eat the same pre-competition meal, listen to the same motivational tape.

Teach, practice and exude optimism. Coaches who model optimism create a positive atmosphere that breeds perseverance and success.