Wrist and Shoulder Strength
The wrist and shoulders are common places for over-use injuries, especially in the sport of gymnastics. It's important to strengthen these areas before injuries occur to help stay ahead of the game.
Stomach Strength
Below are some great exercises to increase your stomach strength (and get those 6-pack abs!). The pictures will show us using equipment in the gym, but you can just as easily substitute things around the house (beds, couches, tables, etc) to help you perform a lot of these exercises - be creative! You'll also notice that some of the terminology we use are just slang terms that have evolved over time while doing these in the gym...you may have different names for some of these exercises.
Developing a Rock-Solid Handstand
The handstand is the most fundamental and crucial element in all of gymnastics. It's body position can be seen in elements done on every single apparatus in the sport. The development of a gymnast's handstand is generally started at the very earliest stages of recreational levels, but gymnasts should continually train and refine their position throughout their entire career.
Handling Wrist Tendonitis
Helpful information regarding wrist tendonitis, how to identify it, and how to treat it.
Straight-Body Position Development
Basic Technique regarding the development of a tight straight body position by Vitaly Marinitch
Stretching
Complements of Don Rackey, USA Mens Gymnastics traveling athletic trainer. Flexibility should not be overlooked because increased flexibility can decrease the risk of injury and enhance your athletic performance. Although [...]
Performing without Fear of Failure
Many athletes that come to work with me hold back their physical ability because of the fear of failure. Fear of failure can motivate athletes to work hard and improve, but it also can become debilitating when the competition starts and it is time to perform your best when it counts. Typically, highly perfectionistic athletes have this syndrome.
The Handstand
Basic Technique regarding the Handstand Position provided by Vitaly Marinitc
Self-Esteem in Gymnastics
Many athletes and performers I work with often wrongly determine their self-worth by how successful they feel about their career. When an athlete performs well or feels successful, he or she can feel good about him or herself. But the opposite is also true: despair and low self-esteem results when this person does not perform well or view him or herself as a failure.
Focusing on the Right Thing at the Right Time
Concentrate! Keep your head in the game! Stay focused. You’ve probably heard your coach, teammates and even yourself repeat these and similar phrases over and over again. The ability to maintain concentration while immersed in the pressure of competition is critical to optimum performance.
Uchimura vs. Hambuchen vs. Horton…who is the real front runner for gold?
So how much do Hambuchen’s weaknesses hurt him? And does Horton really have what it takes to challenge for the world all-around title? Well I did some research to show you the answers to these questions!