Tweet There’s something I have noticed about myself since I’ve come through my teenage years and left my gymnast days behind. I am now nearing my mid-twenties and have begun to realise that a part of me is missing. It’s not that I feel less of a person but there is something I really miss about myself.

 
As a gymnast I was a hard worker, stubborn and fearless but now I am just a hard worker and stubborn. I no longer have the firey fearless persona that the other gymnasts admired …

Tweet Tonights training session will be the first for me in the 2009 – 2010 season. I hope that this year will be a very successful year for all gymnasts and that throughout this season that they find out more about themselves and continue to enjoy the sport.
Throughout the year, I hope to continue to write more blog posts about the adventures in the gym.  As I explained in my previous post, three of my best gymnasts have progressed to another group so it will take me some time to get used …

Tweet Thanks to Rick at GymnasticsCoaching.com for posting this youtube video of a fantastic little gymnast Catherine Lyons from the UK. Catherine was competing at Level 4 and shows some amazing strength, power and flexibility and only at aged eight! I’d imagine we’ll be seeing her in the Olympics in years to come. Well done to Catherine for doing so well!
 

Tweet Part 2
Flexibility
Flexibility works hand-in-hand with strength. A combination of the two in a gymnast is a step towards perfection, as long as they know how to control their body (i.e. using their strength to not allow themselves be too flexible eg. over-twisting in the splits). I often find it more impressive to watch a more flexible gymnast on the beam or floor, rather than a gymnast who is mainly powerful, as some of the moves such as a split leap can be so beautiful to watch as opposed to powerful …

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Part One
 
Part of being a gymnastics coach is that I must constantly be on the look-out for new talent.  Every September when the new term begins, streams of new kids come through the doors. Kids of all different standards, some who have done gymnastics before, some who have not, some kids who want to be there, others who have been forced by their parents. It’s a big mixed bunch to say the least!

On that first day, while the kids are settling in and being shown how to …

Tweet For sixteen years, I’ve taken part in the great sport of gymnastics. I trained as a gymnast for eleven years and I am now in my fifth year of coaching professionally.  Everyone has their reasons for feeling passionate about something in their lives. I’d like to introduce you to mine.

Personal Education
My coaches taught me about my body – what was the correct way to stand and why. Standing up tall with my “bum tucked and belly sucked in” somehow gave me an air of confidence.  I learnt that …