Comments for The Stunt Gym!

Comment on Back Handspring Drills Part 2 by Alexander Douglas

Alexander Douglas — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:07:40 +0000

You are right. A bad coach will get good results with a great kid, but a great coach will get good results from a bad kid. There are many factors involved.

Comment on Back Handspring Drills Part 2 by Air Lar

Air Lar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:22:15 +0000

To cc: a good coach is only one component – I’ve been teaching these skills for over a decade. I’ve seen kids learn them in a matter of days, and I’ve seen kids who take years to learn them. Students who have a strong desire to learn the skill coupled with a good attention span and the ability to implement the corrections given will learn the skill much quicker than those who don’t. Congrats!

Comment on The Basic Balance Stunts by Alexander Douglas

Alexander Douglas — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:03:45 +0000

Kat,
I am delighted that you desire to learn acro. England is really strong in acro compared to the USA. BAGA, British Acrobatic Gymnastics Association, is who you need to contact. I want to share what I know on acro here in my site, but I have been consumed with the business side of building a business in a recessed economy. I will put more information up for you when I get the chance.

As for strength, confidence and trust you have a few approaches.

Strength. Artistic gymnastics training is excellent for strength, so you probably already have strength. What you need is an understanding of acrobatic technique. Lining up your bones is the most important technique of holding a balance, but to get someone over your head requires learning how to drop under your partner while she is low, then using your legs with your back straight is the basic technique for lifting someone over head.

Confidence is built by working low to the ground first just as you work on a floor beam then work your way up. Using props such as spot blocks to stand on will make lifting someone over head easier while learning your lifts. Having a spotter for saltos, or a spotter who knows how to use an overhead spotting rig will build confidence, too. If you have a pit for pitching your top into is another means of building confidence.

Trust is earned. Prove yourself trustworthy by doing everything you can to protect your partner. Trust is also built by attitudes. If your partner knows that you genuinely care for her, she will also trust you in the stunts.

Comment on The Basic Balance Stunts by kat

kat — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:56:47 +0000

Hi
I live in England and me and my partner are hoping to compete for our school at regionals. We both do artistic gymnastics but we have been wanting to move more towards acro. This website has been a great help on how to get started and I would appreciate it greatly, if you had anything else that could help us out, if you could share some of your tips. This website has been of great inspiration to me, and we have also been working with our school PE department to create an acro-gymnastics club for some of the younger pupils. Again, if you have any tips on how to build up their strength, confidence, and trust in their partners then these would be greatfully recieved. Thankyou!

Comment on Restoring Artistry in the Floor and Beam by Abdul Razak

Abdul Razak — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:50:02 +0000

Why do have gymnastics competition in a country ?

Comment on Restoring Artistry in the Floor and Beam by Abdul Razak ( sivado )

Abdul Razak ( sivado ) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:45:18 +0000

Thank you sir.

Comment on Restoring Artistry in the Floor and Beam by Alexander Douglas

Alexander Douglas — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:42:26 +0000

The USAG would probably have those books in archives. They would be print books, not electronic books. Or you may have to find an old time coach who may have copies at home. But the compulsories were not where the artistic routines were found. They were found in the optional gymnastics routines.

Comment on Restoring Artistry in the Floor and Beam by Abdul Razak

Abdul Razak — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:41:43 +0000

Where can I get Compulsory Routines of the 70′s

Comment on Restoring Artistry in the Floor and Beam by Alexander Douglas

Alexander Douglas — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:31:42 +0000

Abdul,
Coaches are usually not artists, and do not even know what art is. Art is the expression of the heart in a person. A routine can only be artistic when the performers have crafted a routine that tells their story. Even in such abstract mediums as the equipment, unique and beautiful expressions of the gymnast can be made.

The rules should be made to guide gymnasts into greater and greater artistic expression. Instead the influence of TV on “big tricks” has thwarted that purpose. See my post on “Difficulty and Strobe Lights” for further discussion of the topic.

Comment on Restoring Artistry in the Floor and Beam by Abdul Razak

Abdul Razak — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:24:10 +0000

I think gymnastics is losing its artistic value over difficulty. We dont see female gymnasts smile when doing the floor like Nadia,Olga, Nellie etc.