So in your back handspring, the squat is really important. If you feel like you're undercutting it or piking down, it might have something to do with the take-off. When you're going into your squat, make sure that your knees are in line with your feet (not in front of them). The backwards motion starts at the very beginning, so you should feel like you're sitting back in a chair. That way, when you push off with your feet you'll get a nice backwards motion and a good arch position over the top.
In any flip skills (tuck, pike, layout) the take-off is also VERY important. The main thing is that you need to get a good set before you tuck (or pike, or flip in general lol). You can practice getting a big set out of your roundoff back handspring, as long as you have a coach there to support your back. If you're tucking immediately out of the rebound or throwing your head back, your form will be sloppy and incorrect. Same applies to twisting moves; you still need to set before you flip and before you twist. Twisting right away is a mistake.
Other than that, obviously make sure you're getting a good sprint and a powerful hurdle into the roundoff before any tumbling pass. Keep your body tight and you should be good to go!
thanks!!! I have the take off good for my bhs but my coach says my hands go out to the side and my head goes first!!! :O hahh! can you also give tips for back walkovers on beam please? thanks again! and help with fears of beam! thanks!
ReplyDeleteI cant figure out how to place my hands on my back walkover on beam!
ReplyDeletethis was helpful, cuz im starting to work tucks&layouts. thanks so much!
ReplyDelete*Sigh* I could have used this a week ago, lol. I sprained my wrist, and I think it was from undercutting during BHS. I felt like I wasn't doing it right, wel, I knew I wasn't, but my spot just kept trying to get me to strech it out. I just couldn't get it. Now I have this annoying wrist brace and I'm out of gymnastics for a bit but great post. When I face my nemesis the BSH maybe this will help :D
ReplyDelete@gymnasticsluver - the hand placement for back walkovers is gonna be the same as your hand placement for forward handstands, with your wrists together and your fingers pointing outwards. That placement won't change probably until you start working back handsprings, where you might want to do the "interlocking" hand position. :)
ReplyDelete@Painteddreams - ahhh sorry I'm too late! I hope your wrist feels better! And I also hope that back handsprings won't be your nemesis for much longer :P
can you post like advice for bar skills? and beam skills please? that would be so much help!!! Oh and do you think itd be safe to do tricks on the beach that I KNOW how to do? thanks so much!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, i have a few questions for you, if thats alright?
ReplyDeletei want to be in the olympics, i'm 13 and will be 14 in November. i started gymnastics in november, and then was forced to wait to move up to level four because the season just started, and the teacher had alot of level fours already
i was just recently promoted to level four, and there is some discussion of moving up to level five in a few months ( three-four)
i practice hard, and have good body awareness.
i pick up things easy, ( i'll be honest, some skills take me a few days to fix.) and i'm very determined. Some days are good, others aren't. i want to go elite in a few years ( lets say, two.) do you think, if i train hard at home ( ie. flexibility and strength everday) and at the gym, i could do five by january, skip level six, go to level seven by springish level 8 by fall level 9 by december level ten by fall, test elite and go the olympics? i honestly dont have any friends, so its not like i'll be missing out on anything.. ;* i really want this. do you think its possible? have any other gymnasts started at an older age and got to the olympics by 16 years old?
hi!:)!_)!:!_:!)_! wht do i do 2 get my kip? lyk what conditioning should i be doin/? ty!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous - It sounds like you're working at a very quick pace, which is great! I want to be honest and let you know that most of the girls who are Olympians by the time they're 16 have been training since they could walk. I'm gonna give you a VERY rough estimate and say the average time gymnasts take to go elite is somewhere between 6 and 9 years. Don't commit yourself to such a tough schedule. If your goal is to go elite and you happen to do so a little later than you have planned, that's okay! You can still be a powerhouse at 18, 19, 20, 21 (think Chellsie Memmel, Alicia Sacramone). The thing is, even if you're athletically inclined and a quick learner, you still need to go through the progression of skills and levels, and that takes time. I have no doubt that you can be a great gymnast if you really want to, just make sure your goals are realistic. :) Keep working hard! For now, focus on your love for the sport, and think about the Olympics later.
ReplyDelete@AllieKat! - Hi :) Kips take a lot of upper body strength, so abs and arms exercises are what you'll need. Handstands, sit ups, push ups, pull ups, V ups, plank holds, hollow holds, all the basics. Good luck!
http://www.gymnweb.com/krista/biography.html
ReplyDeletetwo years, elite. its possible.
Aw, I remember Krista Jasper! So talented :) From the time she started gymnastics, though, the biography says that it took four years for her to qualify as an elite (which is SO fast as it is). Yes, it may be possible to do it in two years, but it is highly unlikely. I never said it was impossible, only that most gymnasts don't work at that pace.
ReplyDelete