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Inside Endo to Mix Grip Full Pirouette

In general, one of the most common learning mistakes of either straddle or inside endo to full pirouette is to swing down crooked after the pirouette. The reason for this mistake is an excess of support transfer to the post arm. The gymnasts shift their weight like they were going to perform the regular front pirouette that they have learned before, and that really requires a support transfer beyond the vertical of the post arm to finish square in a different bar position.

By |2011-01-27T23:55:57-05:00January 27th, 2011|Categories: Close to the Bar Skills, In-Bar Skills|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Inside Endo to Full Pirouette to Eagle Grip

As mentioned before for the endo to mixed grip full pirouette combination, some of the gymnasts' main goals are to clear the rail, to flow from the endo to the pirouette without a large pause, and to swing down square. Notice how the gymnast keeps his eyes on the bar during the full pirouette.

By |2011-01-27T23:55:56-05:00January 27th, 2011|Categories: Close to the Bar Skills, In-Bar Skills|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Back Hip Circle Spot

Gymnasts begin learning back hip circles from a small cast. Right when their bodies start coming back down to the support, the coach standing on the opposite side of the bar, reaches with his arms under the rail and places one hand on the lower back and the other on the hamstring area. The hand that was on the lower back then reaches under the bar to stop the gymnast from "over rotating" the skill.

By |2011-01-25T23:13:58-05:00January 25th, 2011|Categories: Close to the Bar Skills|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Front Hip Circle Down Spot

It is wise to spot a novice gymnast attempting front hip circles down until she can demonstrate control to lower down at a safe speed. At the beginning, the coach holds the nearest forearm to assure that he will have a firm grip on the gymnast encase she lets go or rips off the bar. He places the other hand on the back of her legs to help the athlete slow down the skill.

By |2011-01-24T17:11:59-05:00January 24th, 2011|Categories: Basics|Tags: , , , , , |6 Comments

Front Hip Circle Down

Before attempting fast front hip circles down in preparation for the whole front hip circle back to support, the gymnast must master a slow front hip circle down. Shrugging the shoulders down a little brings the hips and center of mass lower so the skill can be performed without the body falling down as fast as when the hips and center of mass are higher up. A good goal for gymnasts is to try to lower down to hanging "L" position before bringing the feet down to the floor.

By |2011-01-24T17:11:58-05:00January 24th, 2011|Categories: Basics|Tags: , , , , |99 Comments

Front Hip Circle Spot Front View

One of the main differences between spotting a front hip circle down and a whole front hip circle to support is that for the complete skill the spotter places himself on the same side of the bar that the gymnast starts the skill. Notice how after the back pull over the coach switched sides to spot the front hip circle to support when the gymnast begins to speed around. The coach standing on the left side spots the hamstring area with his left hand and his right hand spots the gymnast's back. If he is just spotting a front hip down he switches to the other bar side again.

By |2011-01-24T17:11:57-05:00January 24th, 2011|Categories: Basics|Tags: , , , , , |3 Comments

Front Hip Circle Spot

In order to spot a front hip circle, the coach stands on the same side of the rail as the gymnast does when in front support. As the athlete falls forward, the coach moves his arms under the bar. He places one hand behind the knees or lower hamstring and the other on the middle of the back. The spotter keeps his hands behind the knees to keep the gymnast from moving away from the bar during the circle and uses the other hand to help the gymnast come back to a front support when she is finished.

By |2011-01-24T17:11:56-05:00January 24th, 2011|Categories: Basics|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Front Hip Circle Alone Arm and Leg Actions Close Up

Though this is not a perfect front hip circle example, notice how the gymnast raises her center of mass forward to begin falling down without changing her body position. Then, when gravity starts to accelerate her fall, she pikes slightly to add some extra circular momentum while keeping pressure on the legs to allow them from moving away from the bar even at the moment that she briefly lets go of the bar to shift her grip around to prepare the hands arrival to a full support.

By |2011-01-24T17:11:55-05:00January 24th, 2011|Categories: Basics|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |20 Comments

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