Everything you need to know about women's artistic gymnastics.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
September Questions and Comments: Please Post Here :)
Any questions, comments, updates, personal gym news, etc. for the month should be posted here and I will respond to them, either in a comment or a separate blog post, as soon as I can! Thanks. :)
Hey so I have a question! What is one thing I should be excited for? Nervous for? Scared for? at my first competition? And this blog rocks!! I love the tips for gymnasts!!! And for the updates I improved my back handspring on tramp! And I almost have my run out kip, and my tucked flyaway! (I'm not a 6 imma 4 i just almost have that) And Ive improved my front handspring and punch front, I have all 3 splits and left over splits if my foots on a 12 inch surface(: and for personal gym news, my friend who goes to my actual school too, is believed by me and my friendds to be anorexic..shes 84 pounds 5'1" and shes in 7th grade with me...and she hardly eats lunch, she skips breakfast, and my coach told her to eat more, and then she was defensive about that, and shes always looking tired, and you can see her collarbone and spine....anyway also do you have any advice for kips and better backhandspring...? and for fears of beam? THANKS!!
i feel very unsatified whenever i come home from practice. even when its considerably a good practice. :/ the other daayy we started working on robhs, andd my coach said i almost had it but i left practice feeling well, like i didn't do good enough.. :/ and it makes me in a REALLY bad mood when i get home.. idk what to do.
Congratulations on all your improvements! I'm so excited for you! I love how determined you are and how passionate you are about gymnastics :) That's so awesome to see.
Sorry to hear about your teammate. I'm glad your coach is aware of the potential issue so that he/she can let your friend's parents know if it seems like your friend is getting into unhealthy eating habits. I'm sure your coach understands how serious eating disorders are and will be able to take the necessary steps to help her out.
*One thing you should be excited for: The thrill of competing! Meets are fun. It's great to be able to show the judges everything you've worked for. I guess it's just nice to be able to show off a little :P I don't think you should be nervous or scared at all - nerves will naturally arise before and during the meet, but right now you have nothing to worry about. It's a learning experience the first couple of times, and you'll figure things out really quickly. Even if you don't perform your best every single time, there's something you can learn from every meet.
If you want to compete half a level 5 season and half a level 6 season or something like that, here are some of the big skills that you'll need... RO BHS tuck Punch front Flyaway Baby giant Free hip BWO (beam)
I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged right now :/ That's no fun. I guess the only thing I can say is that I remember going through the exact same thing, and I think almost every gymnast I know has gone through it at some point or another, too. So you're not alone. I'm getting the vibe that you, like me, are a little bit of a perfectionist and have high standards for yourself. Is that correct? Sometimes that makes it really difficult to come home from a practice without perfecting a brand new skill every time. In gymnastics, progress is usually gradual, and that's hard. I eventually learned to accept the fact that I wasn't going to get every skill right away; sometimes it would take a while and I would have to be patient with and forgiving of myself. Just because you can't get every skill right away doesn't mean you're "not good enough" or that you failed. The fact that you keep trying makes you SUCH a strong gymnast, and you should be so proud of that. I mean it. That sounded lame but it's true.
If you feel like it would help, set up a meeting to talk to your coaches and just let them know how you're feeling so you can all be on the same page. They might have some advice for your particular situation.
Do what works for you. If you need a break, take a beak. If you need MORE time in the gym, take more time. If you need to talk to your teammates or parents and vent a little bit, do that. These rough patches can be really emotionally draining, but I have absolute faith that you'll get through it. :)
And im only a level 4!! and i have my front handspring punch front combo on floor, my front layout on floor and front tuck dismount of beam!!!! do u think i have a chance?
hey(: so can you post a post..(haha makes no sense) that like has healthy foods for gymnasts to eat and stuff like that? and also is it ok for us to maybe have a glass of soda every now and then? and maybe like a piece ok cake or something? thanks!
Honestly I have no clue what the ideal diet should be for a gymnast. I just know that protein is important, so I used to eat a lot of chicken, fish, eggs, soy product, peanut butter, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. etc. And fruits and vegetables :) My mom has always been a health nut so I grew up on wheat bread and wheat pastas (also millet, kamut, and other weird organic stuff), no white flour. Wheat gives you energy. Actually, popcorn gives you energy, too, so that's a good healthy snack :D The most important thing, as far as I know (keep in mind I'm no nutritionist or doctor) is that your meals are always balanced with a variety of foods.
Here's an interesting article I found. I feel like it's worth passing on, if you want to check it out... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5317810/
I have a question. Do I sound like a healthy weight? Or am I over or underweight? I'm 5'3" 110-113 and I'm almost 13, I have a lot of leg muscle and some arm muscle. But I always feel fat compared to my friends, although they arent gymnasts. Am I just all muscle? Is that why some of my friends are lighter then me? Since they're not a gymnast? THANKS!!(:
Hi!(: ok, so i recently starts classes (two weeks ago) at a new gym, that i used to go to when I was little. I was put in the very beginner class, which I didn't think I needed, but there are some simple things I can't do. Such as a pullover. I can do a front hip circle, but it seems a pullover is harder. Do you have any tips on getting that simple move? And also, a cartwheel. I used to have this effortlessly, but now whenever I go to stand up and am taking my hands off the ground, I almost kinda fall forward onto my knees, then stand up. I don't quite make it to my knees, but I do lean forward. Also, I really don't feel like the class is helping me. When I went somewhere different this summer, I would be sore aferwards from working on my muscles and everything, and here I'm not sore at all. What should I do? Work hard at home? Thanks so much!(: -gymnastics4ever
For the pull over, a lot of that might just have to do with core strength. It takes more stomach muscle to do a pullover than it does a front hip circle. Make sure you're pulling your chin to the bar, watching your knees as you use your stomach muscles to drive your heels up, and then getting up tall in your front support position. Sit-ups never hurt :)
For the cartwheel, I'm not really sure what the issue could be. I wish I could see you do it in person :/ I'm going to guess that this might also have something to do with core strength. Keep doing your conditioning! Get a good split in your cartwheel and lift your chest as you stand up.
If you don't feel like the class is helping you at all after you've stuck it out for a little while, you might just consider either talking with the coach to let him/her know your concerns or switching back to the gym you went to over the summer, if that is an option.
hi girll :) some girl was talking about doing this as her dismount? she goes into it by doing a backhip circle, and just before you pull up she lets goes and goes forward and lands on her feet? its a B skill. would you know what it is?
Hmmm. I guess I'm a little confused. I understand the hip circle part, but after that you lost me. She goes forward again and lands on her feet on the ground..? Because that would count as a fall. Unfortunately I'm not very familiar with the skill level classifications for mounts since they vary so much. Does she have any videos up on youtube or anything like that? It sounds like an interesting mount, if only I understood the whole thing :P
its not a mount ahhaha! :) its could be done on high bar or low barr. but its a dismount. she goes into a back hip circle and instead of finishing the back hip circle, she lets go and goes ( forward or backward? i didn't catch which one.) and lands on her feet. sorry.. i'm a little confused myself? i think she said hex? lol
Wow, I REALLY read that wrong. Lol. Sorry about that. If it's a B skill then there must be more to it than it seems, because it sounds very easy. Maybe she means one of these... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v98gDvI9i8 One of the first few? Possibly? Lol, I apologize that I'm not a little more help with this!
And gymnasticsluver - The skills vary so much in the Olympics that it's honestly hard to say. Things I see often would be like a BH-BL-BL (step out or to two feet) series on beam, of course different yurchenko variations on vault (ex: Nastia's 1 1/2), etc. :)
OMG!! My front handspring is a million times better now!!! I'm PUMPEDDDD!! EEEPPP!!! now i need my back handsping haha! whenever i do it on tramp, i do the whole swing sit right put when i jump my arms go out to the side and i dont know how to fix it!!!! :/
Wooo!! Congratulations on your front handspring! :D That's awesome. With the back handspring, pretend like your arms are glued to your ears. You can keep them there physically, you just really have to focus on it since you're thinking about so many things at once.
ok!! thanks!! i think theyre getting better its just a matter of repitition i think!!! and i have a couple level 6 skills!!(: lets just hope after the season i qualify for level 6(:
Hey so I have a question! What is one thing I should be excited for? Nervous for? Scared for? at my first competition? And this blog rocks!! I love the tips for gymnasts!!! And for the updates I improved my back handspring on tramp! And I almost have my run out kip, and my tucked flyaway! (I'm not a 6 imma 4 i just almost have that) And Ive improved my front handspring and punch front, I have all 3 splits and left over splits if my foots on a 12 inch surface(: and for personal gym news, my friend who goes to my actual school too, is believed by me and my friendds to be anorexic..shes 84 pounds 5'1" and shes in 7th grade with me...and she hardly eats lunch, she skips breakfast, and my coach told her to eat more, and then she was defensive about that, and shes always looking tired, and you can see her collarbone and spine....anyway also do you have any advice for kips and better backhandspring...? and for fears of beam? THANKS!!
ReplyDeletehey(: so can u post like what skills you need if u think you can skip level 5 and go to 6 and like stuff like that? thanks!!!
ReplyDeletei feel very unsatified whenever i come home from practice. even when its considerably a good practice. :/ the other daayy we started working on robhs, andd my coach said i almost had it but i left practice feeling well, like i didn't do good enough.. :/ and it makes me in a REALLY bad mood when i get home.. idk what to do.
ReplyDelete@Gymnasticsluver -
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all your improvements! I'm so excited for you! I love how determined you are and how passionate you are about gymnastics :) That's so awesome to see.
Sorry to hear about your teammate. I'm glad your coach is aware of the potential issue so that he/she can let your friend's parents know if it seems like your friend is getting into unhealthy eating habits. I'm sure your coach understands how serious eating disorders are and will be able to take the necessary steps to help her out.
*One thing you should be excited for: The thrill of competing! Meets are fun. It's great to be able to show the judges everything you've worked for. I guess it's just nice to be able to show off a little :P I don't think you should be nervous or scared at all - nerves will naturally arise before and during the meet, but right now you have nothing to worry about. It's a learning experience the first couple of times, and you'll figure things out really quickly. Even if you don't perform your best every single time, there's something you can learn from every meet.
If you want to compete half a level 5 season and half a level 6 season or something like that, here are some of the big skills that you'll need...
RO BHS tuck
Punch front
Flyaway
Baby giant
Free hip
BWO (beam)
thanks so muchh!!! Im determined to do good!! And to go to level 6 NEXT competition season!!!(: thanks!! your a big help!!!
ReplyDelete@Callie -
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're feeling discouraged right now :/ That's no fun. I guess the only thing I can say is that I remember going through the exact same thing, and I think almost every gymnast I know has gone through it at some point or another, too. So you're not alone. I'm getting the vibe that you, like me, are a little bit of a perfectionist and have high standards for yourself. Is that correct? Sometimes that makes it really difficult to come home from a practice without perfecting a brand new skill every time. In gymnastics, progress is usually gradual, and that's hard. I eventually learned to accept the fact that I wasn't going to get every skill right away; sometimes it would take a while and I would have to be patient with and forgiving of myself. Just because you can't get every skill right away doesn't mean you're "not good enough" or that you failed. The fact that you keep trying makes you SUCH a strong gymnast, and you should be so proud of that. I mean it. That sounded lame but it's true.
If you feel like it would help, set up a meeting to talk to your coaches and just let them know how you're feeling so you can all be on the same page. They might have some advice for your particular situation.
Do what works for you. If you need a break, take a beak. If you need MORE time in the gym, take more time. If you need to talk to your teammates or parents and vent a little bit, do that. These rough patches can be really emotionally draining, but I have absolute faith that you'll get through it. :)
I have my punch front flyaway and bwo on floor beam, and close to my baby giant and front hip! hahha!! Anyway ur a big help thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd im only a level 4!! and i have my front handspring punch front combo on floor, my front layout on floor and front tuck dismount of beam!!!! do u think i have a chance?
ReplyDeletehey(: so can you post a post..(haha makes no sense) that like has healthy foods for gymnasts to eat and stuff like that? and also is it ok for us to maybe have a glass of soda every now and then? and maybe like a piece ok cake or something? thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey gymnasticsluver :)
ReplyDeleteHonestly I have no clue what the ideal diet should be for a gymnast. I just know that protein is important, so I used to eat a lot of chicken, fish, eggs, soy product, peanut butter, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. etc. And fruits and vegetables :) My mom has always been a health nut so I grew up on wheat bread and wheat pastas (also millet, kamut, and other weird organic stuff), no white flour. Wheat gives you energy. Actually, popcorn gives you energy, too, so that's a good healthy snack :D The most important thing, as far as I know (keep in mind I'm no nutritionist or doctor) is that your meals are always balanced with a variety of foods.
Here's an interesting article I found. I feel like it's worth passing on, if you want to check it out...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5317810/
I have a question. Do I sound like a healthy weight? Or am I over or underweight? I'm 5'3" 110-113 and I'm almost 13, I have a lot of leg muscle and some arm muscle. But I always feel fat compared to my friends, although they arent gymnasts. Am I just all muscle? Is that why some of my friends are lighter then me? Since they're not a gymnast? THANKS!!(:
ReplyDeleteHi!(: ok, so i recently starts classes (two weeks ago) at a new gym, that i used to go to when I was little. I was put in the very beginner class, which I didn't think I needed, but there are some simple things I can't do. Such as a pullover. I can do a front hip circle, but it seems a pullover is harder. Do you have any tips on getting that simple move?
ReplyDeleteAnd also, a cartwheel. I used to have this effortlessly, but now whenever I go to stand up and am taking my hands off the ground, I almost kinda fall forward onto my knees, then stand up. I don't quite make it to my knees, but I do lean forward.
Also, I really don't feel like the class is helping me. When I went somewhere different this summer, I would be sore aferwards from working on my muscles and everything, and here I'm not sore at all. What should I do? Work hard at home?
Thanks so much!(:
-gymnastics4ever
Hey gymnastics4ever :)
ReplyDeleteFor the pull over, a lot of that might just have to do with core strength. It takes more stomach muscle to do a pullover than it does a front hip circle. Make sure you're pulling your chin to the bar, watching your knees as you use your stomach muscles to drive your heels up, and then getting up tall in your front support position. Sit-ups never hurt :)
For the cartwheel, I'm not really sure what the issue could be. I wish I could see you do it in person :/ I'm going to guess that this might also have something to do with core strength. Keep doing your conditioning! Get a good split in your cartwheel and lift your chest as you stand up.
If you don't feel like the class is helping you at all after you've stuck it out for a little while, you might just consider either talking with the coach to let him/her know your concerns or switching back to the gym you went to over the summer, if that is an option.
ok, thanks!(:
ReplyDelete-gymnastics4ever
Could you do a post with like some of the most common skills to do in the olympics? like for all 4? please and thank you(:
ReplyDeletehi girll :) some girl was talking about doing this as her dismount? she goes into it by doing a backhip circle, and just before you pull up she lets goes and goes forward and lands on her feet? its a B skill. would you know what it is?
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I guess I'm a little confused. I understand the hip circle part, but after that you lost me. She goes forward again and lands on her feet on the ground..? Because that would count as a fall. Unfortunately I'm not very familiar with the skill level classifications for mounts since they vary so much. Does she have any videos up on youtube or anything like that? It sounds like an interesting mount, if only I understood the whole thing :P
ReplyDeleteits not a mount ahhaha! :) its could be done on high bar or low barr. but its a dismount. she goes into a back hip circle and instead of finishing the back hip circle, she lets go and goes ( forward or backward? i didn't catch which one.) and lands on her feet. sorry.. i'm a little confused myself? i think she said hex? lol
ReplyDeletehey what are some of the most common olympic skills on each event? I was just wondering(: thankss!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I REALLY read that wrong. Lol. Sorry about that. If it's a B skill then there must be more to it than it seems, because it sounds very easy. Maybe she means one of these...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v98gDvI9i8
One of the first few? Possibly? Lol, I apologize that I'm not a little more help with this!
And gymnasticsluver -
The skills vary so much in the Olympics that it's honestly hard to say. Things I see often would be like a BH-BL-BL (step out or to two feet) series on beam, of course different yurchenko variations on vault (ex: Nastia's 1 1/2), etc. :)
OMG!! My front handspring is a million times better now!!! I'm PUMPEDDDD!! EEEPPP!!! now i need my back handsping haha! whenever i do it on tramp, i do the whole swing sit right put when i jump my arms go out to the side and i dont know how to fix it!!!! :/
ReplyDeleteWooo!! Congratulations on your front handspring! :D That's awesome. With the back handspring, pretend like your arms are glued to your ears. You can keep them there physically, you just really have to focus on it since you're thinking about so many things at once.
ReplyDeleteok!! thanks!! i think theyre getting better its just a matter of repitition i think!!! and i have a couple level 6 skills!!(: lets just hope after the season i qualify for level 6(:
ReplyDelete