Region 1 Congress, San Jose August 21-23

Justin Howell's lecture on Round-offs, last session on Saturday- filled up to standing room only capacity.

It's been quite a while since I've been to a Regional Congress. Long overdue for me. The last time might have been back in the SMGC days, when I was not interested in being a team coach. Speaking of which, I had lunch with a former co-worker; and also ran into these former SMGC students, now coaches:

 Rachel is now at the gym Lilly was at before she moved to Chicago.  Angie had a brief opportunity to work with Eddie Umphrey before Eddie gave up his head coach position to be with his fiancee at Airborne.

Speaking of Umphrey, I brought my cohorts over to Chainey's house for some dinner to meet the new addition.

 Prior to seeing them, I asked Chainey if he'd been working out.  He says he runs about "3 blocks" (direct quote) and does some push-ups.  That's about it.  So this is what he looks like as of yesterday:

 I used to get into arguments with people all the time back in college- people who were adamant in their belief that Chainey was taking steroids; or that he must lift weights.  Nope.  None of that.  The only weight he lifted was his own body.  Nor did he do a lot of extra strength training- mostly routines.   He's just a genetic freak of nature. 


I did a lot of videoing, in part to bring back and share with the staff back at home base.  Not sure how much I will share on YouTube and this blog.

My co-workers did not bring their video cameras; but I shared my digital camera (the Casio that can also film in slo-mo and back to normal speed all in one shot) and my iPhone 4 while I used my iPhone 5 (64 gb).  2 extra battery packs.  After each lecture, I'd have 45 minutes to dump the memory into my laptop and would recharge while filming the next lecture.


What kind of perplexes me is how many coaches- even if fairly new- seem unaware of so many drills and concepts that seem easily acquired through the internet.  I guess some coaches don't waste as much time as I do on YouTube; or run detective searches through blogs and social media for content.

I was disappointed that Neil Resnick was not present yesterday for his lectures. 

Everyone has something to offer, though; and I enjoy listening to anyone express their thoughts and views and share their ideas about anything related to gymnastics. 

Circling & Kip Trainers/Spotters

Of course, hand-spotting for shape-corrections and manipulating positioning is often desirable.  But trainer/spotting devices also have their uses.


Primitive method of a front and back circle trainer:

Another variation by Peter Soul of Integrity Gymnastics in Ohio.

I filmed this one at Aerials Gymnastics during the Bar Boot Camp clinic.  This was welded together by Tom Forster:

The divider placement between the legs is a great idea.


Some clips of the last year taken at my current gym of various aids:

Now here's what I'm excited about that inspired me to piece together this blogpost:

Credit is given to Alison Fowler of Wildcard Gymnastics for the idea of replacing the old school rope method with the ever-versatile theraband.

A couple of things I am liking about this:

1)  The theraband is probably less abrasive on the skin than unpadded rope

2)  Being elastic, the beginning gymnast cannot totally slack off, but must still work her muscles to hold her body to the bar, or she will fall away from it.

3) Even if the beginning gymnast completely lacks in physical strength- or especially if she does- she must exercise her arm strength to get back into front support; those more advanced can work on shape and technique.  There's value in no-cast backhip circles- driving the shoulders back rather than the head.

I haven't tested it out yet, but I'll do so tomorrow:  Seeing whether or not having the level 3s cast into hollow shape with the theraband wrapped on helps to condition them  with proper resistance (the restriction the theraband places  on cast height isn't that critical since there isn't a cast height requirement at level 3- just shape).

I have one pre-team kid who is just so physically weak but who so wants to become a gymnast- I think the theraband circle trainer was a great aid to her.  She was kept on the bar for a longer spell than she's used to, got to experience some circling, and had a great upper-body workout just to stay on or get back on.  Meanwhile, my arms were not killing me.  For those like her, I'm not worried about bad shaping and muscle-memory habits by allowing them to play with this.  She needs the general fitness, first and foremost; and the sense of fun and accomplishment.


Some example of kip trainers on the market:
Hip Kip Trainer
The New Kip Trainer Video

New Hot Shot Idle Station

 Nothing unique or new about this; just introducing it as a side station to my little ones (and the older ones, also):



I actually got this from BGS many years ago when Waller and Kort brought their team girls over to have a place to train at (SMGC), right after the old BGS burned down.

Mischa, age 6

The only thing I'm not fond of is there's no freedom for her head position to be such that she can spot her hands; but this isn't an issue to lose sleep over.  The head position is fine, for what it is.

Tucked Handstands

May 1993 International Gymnast

It's a bit archaic and old school to have gymnasts kick up against the wall or coaches and teammates spot handstand push-ups like the above cartoon; also, some coaches end up doing much more of the workload than they need to or should be doing.  The burden and greater share should be placed upon the gymnast; and it probably shouldn't be done at the expense of shape and form.

I remember years ago, Al Luber at SMGC telling me about spotting handstand push-ups with the gymnast in a tucked handstand (something he picked up from Russian coaches) to alleviate the tendency for the gymnast to lower back arch and stick the chest out.  The tuck position encourages hips tucked under and a rounded back (although not impossible to still arch).  He also first introduced me to what many "smart" coaches are doing:  Having gymnasts do handstand push ups with feet up on a block at a 90 degree L (more advanced would be a single leg in the air and other foot on the block)- hips directly over the shoulder and hands.  Top of the head touches the floor (for added difficulty, stand on parallettes or push-up bars).  Push back up as if trying to touch nose to the block.  Gymnasts who are weak or fatiguing will tend to allow the hips to slide back behind the shoulders and hands and lose the upside down "L" shape.  Watch for the chest to also go out.

Level 3 side station for bars rotation

I've been having the level 3s down to hotshots hold handstands in a tuck.


Another variation is knees on top of the block, like the upside down piked "L":

 

Screen capture from Handstands...My Way

Another good handstand video (nothing new, but nice to see others who "get it"):

The Riddle of Wood

July 28, 2010

Jaime, former UCLA gymnast, takes up the challenge of making 3 customized floor bars for me- improvised from my description of Tom Forster's octagonal floor bar.

It was one of the great advantages of his brother-in-law's cabinet business being next door to BGS; the other advantage being my parking in their lot when I can't find street parking.

I knew Jaime in college; I think he was a freshman when I was a junior or senior (maybe same generation as Coach Amy).  His niece was a former level 6/7 team kid at SMGC.

August 26, 2010

In addition to these, Jaime made a floor bar for Thea (which I think was made too low to the floor- my fault).

I had other ideas which I had hoped I could get Jaime to manufacture.  Egbert was great (he made the two trampoline bar clamps for me), but doesn't have a gymnast's perspective.  And unfortunately, I just don't have my dad's carpentry skills- something I really wish I had acquired when I was growing up.





While in Colorado, I kept my dad busy with making floor bars and pushup bars for the gym. He made 3 sets of pushup bars and 3 floor bars which he donated to BGS. Said it gave him something different to do other than golf and enjoyed making them. I offered to help make them, but he seemed to think I was just "in the way", slowing him down.

September 2011

If you build it, they will climb

A number of the best coaches I've met have carpentry skills.  They usually know how to set up a ring tower, run maintenance on equipment, setup an overhead rigging system, ziplines, etc.

And because they often can't buy manufactured equipment specific to their gym and to their individual needs, coaches will often innovate and create their own equipment.  Sometimes you can visit a gym and come across something clever that you will find nowhere else.

Al Luber had a neat "portable wall" for handstands:






Tom Forster had one as well, but not as portable and versatile:

Portable handstand wall that Tom Forster built

SMGC Summer Slip N Slide

Coach Dan

Al Luber, the owner and head coach of SMGC, created an awesome slip-n-slide during summer camp, to beat the heat.  It ran through the gym:  Under the set of rings, strap bar, and a set of uneven bars, right out the garage.

It was a chore and a hassle- but Al went that extra mile to make kids happy:

Alejandra:  Now a level 7/8 at AOGC

Right Then

Nostalgia for me....



After SMGC, I gave up coaching team and adult.  After LASG, I gave up on adult and rec.

Now, after BGS.....?

They've Got a Friend in Each Other

Stacey and Jolene- friends to the end:





The title credits were quite a chore to do- and I felt quite clever for having worked it out through the low-tech production values of Windows Movie Maker. 

Nostalgic Fun Photos

Gymnastics Fiction

Stacey was someone who admired gymnastics and ached to be one (Stacey- you are one!).

She was so proud when she got a rip!



If you pay close attention, you'll catch a glimpse of a (then) future BGS team kid:

Sheryl North Flying Free

Since posting today's Sunday Funnies comic, I figured I'd carry on the rest of the day with the theme of adult gymnastics.

Around 2004, I began using a digital camera and also discovered Windows Movie Maker.  So I had a new outlet for some creative energy and I went through a 5-year long phase of making music videos for the fun of it.

Here's another client, Sheryl:



She is also an accomplished aikidoka (aikido practitioner); maybe at the black belt rank, now.

Forever Young

Sarah Black: You're the Best Around

When I first began teaching at Santa Monica Gymnastics Center around the late 90s, it was to work for an adult fitness business, Energy Unlimited.  Aside from in-home fitness training, the owner used to have a small gymnastics equipment studio on Motor Avenue.  When that closed, she took her business and rented out space at SMGC.  UCLA alumni David St. Pierre once worked for her (currently teaches adults at AOGC), as did UCLA assistant men's coach, Yefim Furman (currently at LASG).

Here is one of my adult clients, who I dearly miss: