Sunday Funnies

Sunday Funnies

Saturday Morning Cartoons

I'm sure I've posted this before:

The lampooning of backyard trampolines rings true, though.

Dave Ross on Different Coaching Philosophies

My teacher Mark Mikita used to tell us that he should be able to come to us and relearn the art through the filter of our own unique perspectives and colored with our own research and experiences. 

A good teacher is just a finger pointing to the moon...

Hat tip:  Rick McCharles

Sunday Funnies

Anatomical Positions & Terms

Adding a Little Twist

This drill from Rebecca Sykes interests me because the twisting method is one Wade introduced me to where you set and instead of pulling both arms down on the thighs (or rather, pull the hips up toward the hands), you pull both hands down over one thigh.


I think I might have mentioned the story before about how we had one level 5 gymnast bouncing layouts well enough on trampoline that Wade asked me to teach her the twisting method he described to make sure I understood it well enough to teach.  So I told the kid what to do.  We didn't tell her she would be twisting.  I just basically told her how I wanted her to pull her arms down, and to keep them there tightly.  The kid landed a full and then asked, "What did I just do?"

It's a great way to introduce twisting, in my opinion, because it's simple.  No complexity with one-arm dropping first, starting out wide set, or anything else (not to say I don't like other techniques and styles).  Just simplicity.

The hands go over one thigh, like you're sticking your gluing your hands to your pocket.  From there, you can also just flex the arms and bend at the elbows if you're ready for more.

Tony Retrosi also recently posted these series of trampoline drills:

Why the Codi?

Learning a codi is useful to gymnasts as a drill that will lead into multiple flipping orientation (especially useful for vault flipping).

Creating Rotation for Layouts

Gymnastike:

another great drill from 2008 Olympic Coach Marvin Sharp. Marvin explains a tramp drill that he says is his favorite drill in his gym. This tramp drill helps the gymnast to create rotation in a layout on floor or off the vault table. The drill helps to isolate the arms and head and makes the gymnast tuck their hips under to create the rotation.

Who needs an actual vault table?

I'll be impressed when I see an Amanar out of that....




Okay....now where's the human pommel horse?

The Hard Way To Success - Episode 3 - Fernando & Orlando Götschin

Layout and Twisting Drills

This is a bit long but worth a few minutes of viewing for the drill and one-arm drop to the side in an "L" for twisting:

Fun Training with Bungee Devices

 This doesn't get used very much; but Wade set it up a while ago:




 At SMGC, we used to have bungee cords that were attached to a zipline.

February 19, 2008

Bungee setup for trampoline:

Maintaining Body Tension

I like this drill for little ones, simply on the merits of testing whether or not they can maintain body tension:



Prior to something like this, I like to test them first with trust falls; then pick them up and toss them a bit, seeing who can stay tight and immovable like a statue.

Then exercises like tree-chopping from the vault table onto a resi, from their feet; and then from handstand positions.

Trampoline Take-Off Hip Lift Set Drill

Here's Reanna demonstrating the same drill:

Coach Christopher's Layout Soccer Kick Drill

This is a fairly common drill:



Mary Lee Tracy also explains the purpose of the drill.  Also an example here.

Coach Christopher's drill:



Fun drill idea.

Coach Wade showed me one when he first came to BGS that is similar in concept for front tumbling, insofar as utilizing a ball to get across a correct action of snapping the arms and chest from tight arch to hollow set. 

Saturday Morning Cartoon- Animals Jumping on Trampolines

Hat tip:  Gymnastics Coaching.com

Russian Olympic Gymnastic Team Visits Iowa - 1961

Nissen News:

Under the auspices of the USA-USSR cultural exchange agreement (also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961) the Russian Olympic gymnastic team accepted an invitation to visit the United States. Their stop in Iowa was a combined sponsorship by the Nissen Company, the American Athletic Union and the University of Iowa Phi Epsilon Kappa honor fraternity.

 

The Russian's arrival in Cedar Rapids on January 15, 1961 captured the entire city's attention. Following a red carpet welcome at the airport the team held a practice session in the new Nissen gymnasium and spent a few hours shopping in downtown Cedar Rapids.

 

The Nissen Company arranged for a short film to be made documenting the visit by the Russians

 which includes their practice session and the evening show!

LINK here to watch the 17-minute video.

If you have 17 minutes to spare, click on the link and witness a time capsule of history. 

Every competitive gymnast owes it to herself to know about those who came before and the history of the sport they profess to love.

Sunday Funnies

Wall Trampoline Acts

Remember how the likelihood of accidents happening increases when there is more than one person on the trampoline at one time?  Well, that's with kids, unsupervised, on backyard trampolines.

This is an entirely different beast, altogether:





Ok, is it my eyes, or in some of the outdoor footage, is there no safety mats on the side of the trampoline frame?