January 13, 2011
Straps training is another great tool to introduce and refine many uneven and horizontal bar skills. Coaches must teach their gymnasts how to use the straps correctly and in a safe manner. These clips are examples of the proper straps and hands placement to train over grip skills. Notice how the hands after going through the strap loop grab the bar on the inside of the hanging straps. 2nd clip Look very caferul here at the right way to hang the straps over the bar before the hands go through. 3rd clip 4th clip Observe again the gymnast straps preparation and placement to train overgrip skills. It is extremely important that a gymnast never attempts to perform any skill with straps that are too loose and not holding his wrists firmly mainly because in such circumstances his hands can easily slip off the bar and out of the strap loops with potential for a serious rip off the bar accident. Until the gymnasts are very familiar with straps training and safety procedures coaches must carefully supervise the athletes making use of this excellent learning device.
January 13, 2011
The first dynamic step in straps training is learning how to progressively increase the basic swing amplitude. The hollow to tight arch motions to execute a tap while moving through the bottom are similar to the regular swings with straps but wearing the straps correctly the gymnasts can afford very big back and forth swings without any fear of ripping off the bar. One difference between regular swings and strap swings that the gymnast must be made aware of is that with the straps on there is no need to regrasp at the peak of each back swing because the straps prevent the hands from sliding out of a good grip while swinging back and forth. Once the gymnasts return to regular swings with straps they must regrip at the peak of each back swing or they can rip off the bar easily. Also during all strap training it is very important to keep the arms straight. since the gymnast can not jump off the bar to bail out of a problem keeping the arms straight and having a tight body makes the athlete swing in the opposite direction if a skill is not completed. if the arms bent close to a handstand or the body ges loose the gymnast may be unable to avoid collapsing down on the bar. 4th clip Take another look at the gymnasts hand at the peak of the back swing and notice how the athlete is not performing any kind of obvious regrasping to begin swinging down again. Training on the strapss allows the gymnasts to concentrate on good body positions technical motions and powerful taps without holding back on the swings amplitude.
January 13, 2011
Strap giants help gymnasts to understand the tap actions timing and improve their body positions during the skill. Before attempting strap back gaints the gymnasts need some experience with giants with spot and big swings with straps. Turning is not an option. Just swing down in the opposite direction. At the begining it is also wise for the coach to stand on a spotting surface with adequate height to assist the athlete in case they get loose and begin to collapse against the bar. Strap back gaints should start from building increasingly biger swings instead of from a cast. To finish a set the athletes must be instructed to stop tapping and keep the arms straight until the body does not make the giant over and swings back down with decreasing momentum.
January 13, 2011
Many horizontal or uneven bars basic skills show a cleaner body line when performed with a neutral head while some other skills are executed better when the gymnasts maintain visual contact with the bar as is the case with releases such as gingers and kollmans. Due to these two different execution demands it is smart for gymnasts to master back giants with both head positions head neutral or slightly out and be able to change from one to the other at will. Traing back giants with straps is a perfect ocassion to practice a series of back giants alternating head positions during a single set. One of the strap training advantages is that long series may be performed several times in a lesson to build routine endurance and to work technical details like the back giants head positions without burning the hands for regular bar training.
January 13, 2011
In this progressive step of the previous strap stalder drill the gymnasts continue increasing the amplitude of their body extension coming out of the pancake compression and also aim to direct that extension closer to the vertical line until eventually they reach a total handstand. In this variation the gymnast is mostly concerned with mastering the initial motion to bring in the straddle legs toward the deep pancake and each time he takes the legs out he just swings back to practice coming in from a position closer and closer to a complete handstand. Eventually he combines a high position to start the stalder with a powerful extension out of the pancake bottom toward a vertical handstand in fact performing the complete skill. Last clip Take a final look to this progressive drill and to the final result a straddle stalder.
January 13, 2011
In this progressive step of the previous stalder drill, the gymnast continue increasing the amplitude of their body extension coming out of the pancake compression and also aim to direct that extension closer to the vertical line until they eventually reach a total handstand. In this variation the gymnast is mostly concerned with mastering the initial motion to bring the straddled legs toward the deep pancake. Each time he takes the legs out, he just swings back to practice coming in from a position closer and closer to a complete handstand. Eventually he combines a high position to start the stalder with a powerful extension out of the pancake bottom toward a vertical handstand and back performing the complete skill. Take a final look at this progressive drill.
January 13, 2011
Although front giants may be trained using straps with an overgrip to practice certain skills such as inverted giants in eagle grip, the intitial grip required is an undergrip. Therefore it is important to know how to place the hands on the straps for safe undergrip swings. In this correct example notice the gymnast is bringing his hands through the strap loops from the front opposite to the way they come in for overgrip. Observe also that after goin through the loop the hands grab the bar outside the straps instead of in the inside as is the proper case during overgrip strap training.
January 13, 2011
During straps training sessions, front giants may be learned with an overgrip. Eventually it is wise to master front giants with an undergrip hand position. The athletes may build up their swings until they bring their bodies up to a handstand support. Observe how the hands are placed in the straps for undergrip swings and front giants. Gymnasts should concentrate on not piking the hips during the pull to the handstand. They should execute the pull changing from a straight or slightly arched body position to a hollow body with a round back.
January 13, 2011
Begining with an undergrip during the front part of the swing the gymnast brings the legs to a deep pancake in which the body passes through the bottom and is kept during the swing up while the athlete initiates a strong straight arms pull to support. The support ends with a wrist shift while the legs move out of the pancake compression. 2nd clip In this closer example check onc more how the deep pancake position is kept during the swing up while the athlete initiates a strong straight arms pull to support that ends with a wrist shift meantime the legs finally begin to move out of the pancake compression. Still 1 Pancake compression when hips close to horizontal. Still 2 Legs begin to come out after horizontal wrists are begining to shift. Still 3 Legs are clearing the bars wrist shift is moving to support. Still 4 Legs are clear the arms are closer to full support. Last clip Once the gymnasts understand the drill they may begin to train full endos coming out of front giants. For the whole skill the body should bail a little forward beyond the handstand to create some circular momentum for the endo and maintain a nicer flowing motion from skill to skill.
January 13, 2011
To swing in the straps with an eagle grip the hands are placed through the straps like for undergrip swings. The gymnast then makes a backwards roll to dislocate. The athlete must shift the wrists to maintain proper weight support at peak height or his body may collapse against the bar. Notice also the wrists shift on each inverted giants ascending phase to support. To come out of the straps once the athlete stops he uses the elevated spotting surface to initiate a forward roll coming in this way out of the eagle grip toward an undergrip. Clip #2 Check again in this closer view how the gymnast sets his hands on the straps for undergrip swings and by means of a backward roll with a dislocate he gets into the disired position to practice his eagle grip swings and inverted giants. Notcie also how in each inverted giant the body shortens with a pike to facilitate the return to support and then straightens up again for maximum presentation amplitude and to increase the swing down.
