GYM People you might know

Teeruch Popanich of Thailand was one of the most interesting Gymnast of Stuttgart. In Stuttgart he was brilliant in Optional Exercises with 55.20 out of 60.00 points. He was the first gymnast from Thailand to compete at the World Championships. He now lived in Hua Mark, Bangkok, Thailand near the Gymnasium.

Valentin Mogilny of the Soviet performed a long routine on the Pommel Horse in Stuttgart. How long was it ? In the event finals he made 74 hand support changes. The average gymnasts performed aroud 50.

Splendid Splits

Nothing is quiet spectacular as a gymnast with perfect splits. (eg. both sides and Japanese splits )

That straight line from toe to toe can make an ordinary front walkover look spectacular. As with all aspects of flexibility, not everyone is going to achieve a full 180 degrees, no matter how hard they try.

Following are some stretches to try before and after each workout. Hold all of the positions for 60 seconds and no bouncing. Be sure not to neglect your “second best side.”

1. Stretch over your straight front leg, trying to get your chest not your head to your thigh.
2. Deep lunge with hands on floor, front leg bent at 90 degrees with foot flat.
3. From position (2) balance on back knee and pull your foot to your tummy.(left hand pulling right foot)
4. Once down on your split, stretch. a) Directly over front leg. b) To the outside of front leg. c) To the inside (pancake ) Position d) can be combined with stretch pulling up your back foot as number 3.
5. Want a challenging stretch place your front foot on a mat or Floor Beam.

Just go slowly, be patience and good luck.

HOLLOW EXERCISES

I was once taken by Prof.Evgeni Rozin to the Olympisky Sports Complex in Moscow, where I met coaches Nokolai Epicin, Anatoly Zaburkin ( head coach ) and Nadia training the young boys.

Nikolai worked the group on some hollow exercises ( dish or banana ) forward, backward and sidewards. Looks like they were doing conditioning. But as the week unfolded, these hollow drills, with variations, kept popping up on every event for every skill. Our kids might not realize it the importance of hollow exercises Nikolai and Nadia were teaching then as an essential part of gymnastics; bodyline, and control of each position. Without it they would be lost.

Nikolai claimed that he reduced most gymnastics skills to these hollow drills and after a while it all make sense. Everything from pommel horse circles, to full twisting lay-outs involved one or several of these hollow positions ( forward, sideward or backward ). And if you mastered the drills, the skills would come naturally.

Do some log rolls then !

WHAT IS ARTISTRY in Gymnastics ?

Article 5.4 in the Code of Points for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

E- Score 10.00 points (Performance)
For perfection of execution, combination and artistry of presentation, the
gymnast may earn a score of 10.00 Points.

The E- Score includes deductions for faults in:
– Execution
– Artistry of presentation

Let me ask you, “ Just what is artistry ?” How do we Judge it ?
According to the dictionary Art is the ‘activity of creating beautiful things’. But art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Well, here are a few ideas to help the beholders !

The new Code of Points describe artistry of presentation as showing three qualities; projection of
personal style, focus, and expression ; femininity, beauty, and elegance; entertainment value.
I would like to use the following phrase to describe artistry; movements appear effortless; movements are expressive; head, arm, and hand gestures are completed at the end of movements; the gymnasts performs without seeming embarrassed by the movement; the performance is stylish; it’s slow and beautiful when it’s supposed to be slow; it’s light and airy when that is the mood being portrayed; it’s quick and cute when that is the image being projected.

One way to train your eye to recognize artistic movements is to observe art in action. Education/arts channels from public television in most locations broadcast professional dance and theatre productions. Notice the way these professional express themselves in movement, use gesture to accent a movement, complete every move, and extend their lines. Contrast what you see from professionals with what you see when you judge. While a few gymnasts achieve professional dance levels, comparisons with professional dancers will help to train your eye for artistic performance. I was surprised to watch a dance performance on television and saw a beam routine performed by a dancer! The movements were precise, appeared effortless, unquestionably recognizable, flowing, and elegant. Watchig this sequence performed so superbly helped me to see the art and the artistry.

Artistry deductions in gymnastics are helpful in distinguishing performances among athletes. As Judges, we need to train our eye to recognize and reward artistic performance. Take some time to watch dance performances on television, attend live professional dance performances, or sit in on dance and theatre rehearsals in your community and, most importantly, BEHOLD!

Heal the Past,
Live the Present
Dream the Future.