Here we have included some examples of a 360 degree pirouette, followed by piking down and bringing the legs through to a V position. It is important to remember to minimize the number of hands steps needed to complete the full pirouette.
The full turns are performed on the beam following the same technical motions as the floor exercises. The turn is initiated moving the body in one single unit from the head and shoulders to the feet where the back foot not only pushes off the equipment to transfer the body support to the front foot, but also anchors the turning direction during the push off. The Stomach and buttocks are kept tucked in aiming to perform the turn with the body as straight as possible. Making a high front kick before the full turn initiation adds flair and maximizes the skill's set up. When the full turn is being set up, one arm usually stays in front of the body at chest height or slightly higher and the opposite arm stays on the side or a little further back. To start the skill the arm on the side should never make a jerky swing forward like it was the source creating the whole turn. It should instead flow smoothly toward its turning place often joining the other arm in front or with both arms moving up above the head.
This is a fair full turn in a passe position showing a good effort to show a controlled one foot balanced ending. Notice how the turn is created from two feet as the weight support is transferred forward to the turning foot.
The goal in this challenging variation is to perform the turn around with the leg held horizontal. To begin, turning the back leg does not kick straight forward, but starts with a side sweeping action to help create the turning momentum.
Some gymnasts and coaches prefer to begin the full turn from a lunge position, others from a regular step forward, and some like to start the full turn from a fourth position. Here are several passe full turns beginning in a fourth position.
All of the turning skills on beam are performed in a fairly tall releve like on the floor. A proper full and a half turn finishes with the free leg stepping forward at the skill conclusion. Stepping back like in this example is a sign of the body's center of mass not being correctly placed very close to an imaginary line. The line runs from the center of the head to the body support on top of the turning foot.
This is an example of a rarely seen passe full turn, where the skill is initiated moving the body support from a lunge or fourth position toward the back leg. Before the gymnast spends time working odd turn variations, they should master the regular couppe and passe full turns.
The gymnasts' goal while performing the full turn with the front leg in a stag position is to complete the skill with the leg still in a horizontal line. The gymnast should also bring it down with control instead of dropping the leg down too early during the turn. The stag leg must be turned out.
To perform the Kasamatsu Full, the gymnast should already know a Kasamatsu. The gymnast can practice different drills and train the skill to a loose foam pit until he is able to consistently complete a 360 degree twist. The gymnast can progressively add mats on the pit as he gets better. Just like in the regular Kasamatsu, the gymnast must create a powerful turnover from the board to the table to guarantee good rotation. In the Kasamatsu vault, the gymnast cartwheels sideways over the table with the Cruise action without ever facing the table square like in a regular round-off.
The foam pit is highly important with many vaulting skills. The purpose of a foam pit is to offer an opportunity to practice a difficult skill without having to worry about the landing.
