The End is the Journey and The Journey IS the End

Gymmmbopnastics

"I Will Not Be Broken"

I've been wanting to use this song in a video for a long while now...one of many. Also, the footage of Isabel at the beginning. The lighting really adds to the smoke-like effect of the chalk dust. I kept wringing my hands for months over what and when I could incorporate this footage into a video. Well, it makes its debut in this one. For extra measure, I got a little additional footage today in the gym, as Izzy showed up after only coming once or twice this session. Since I was now working on this music video, I tried to duplicate the same effect, but the lighting was wrong and we should have caked more chalk onto her leotard (the first time I ever snapped the chalk dust from her leotard it wasn't staged; she honestly had chalk all over her leotard from working bars).

I really look like I don't know how to spot in this video, and that's because of a lack of realistic context with the successes going on earlier that had me spot less to put the responsibility more upon the gymnast to do the backhandspring rather than me acting as a training wheel and crutch(you see! Videos don't always tell the whole truth!). There is the footage of Mackie's round-off backhandsprings showing her fumble twice. Well, this was around when her mom came to pick her up, I think. And before that, she was really flying to where I thought she might actually get it that day. But then it was like all her strength got sapped away.

Anyway, I like the way this one turned out. I really didn't know what kind of a theme I was going for, until I made it. Amidst all the footage of crashes and struggle (the best ones I never get on camera), I'm proud to have thrown in there a very good bar routine from Nikolina. It is in fact, 3 different routines blended (the reason being is that my camera only takes video clips at 10-20 seconds in length). You can tell one transition, with the third one only occuring after she lands the dismount. She was really smoking on the bars that day.

Lauren is no longer with us, and I hope she can forgive me for including such sad footage of her icing her knee and not looking at all pleased with me. I feel guilty for invading her moment of hurt, but hey! It makes for great drama in a film! *Hugs*, Lauren!

Gymhide

I believe this is composed of intro and kindergymnasts learning how to roll. It's all about rolling, folks. Rolling, rolling, rolling.....

"Full of Life"

This is more modern dance than it is gymnastics. David and Jane have been coming to Energy Unlimited for years and years; and in recent times, have been working with Jason, who has a background in dance. For the past year, at least, he has been choreographing them to do routines. I've seen at least a couple. I think the one in this video was the first time they did it, and spent at least 2 hours in the gym on it. The music in the video, by Aimee Mann, is the actual song that they used to perform to.

I find watching them amusing at times, and in a good, positive way. It's awesome that they are able to do their thing regardless of who is in the gym; and it is a beautiful thing that this married couple are able to find commonality and mutual enjoyment in this activity. Time spent together, basking in one another's glow, is time well-spent.

Mission: Unpossible

A monkey-crawl race across the beams...featuring members of the adult class.


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Thea

Thea's greatest strength is her strength. She just turned 8, late August, and I'm hoping she'll get a planche and a v-seat press to handstand within the next 6 months. Just this past Thursday, she did it on the push-up bars with some level of control, including lowering down back through to the v, and stooping through back up to the handstand again. She just needs more consistent control, better understanding of form and bodyshaping.

Sometimes, I don't even think she knows what she is capable of. I remember one day asking her to do an aerial, which she hadn't really done before. She landed it, and shrugged it off, like no big accomplishment. But typical of her, there are days when she can't pull it off; or can't do her kip. I think her physical talent is ahead of her mental capacity to understand what it is that's required of her to execute and perform.

She's started to do multiple handstand pirouettes in a row, including doing them out of straddle-up handstand forward rolls; but again, she has no real sense of body tightness and form. As strong as she is, she is weak in her core hollow-shaping.

I thought I'd chart her progress into a series of continuing movies...an epic story to the theme music from Conan...


"The Riddle of Strength":



"Thealogy":

"The Unknown Stunt Dan"

Coach Dan "The Man" McCann

Haley was Made for Me and Me

I've known Haley for several years now. She's been in intermediates for about a year, and I first taught her when she was in beginning/advanced. She's a master at giving you the, "I'm cute and adorable and you know it!" look.

"Right Now"

Erin's Theme (Level 6 beam routine)

Gymnastics Gold Diggers (A Summer Camp video)

I only had a 30 second clip of this song, so it's looped; probably, much to your annoyance. I made a game of getting the girls to keep their legs together by putting the dollar between their knees and their ankles.

Footless

Camille had requested another Footloose video...first with her and Amanda...then later with her new twin, Erica. There may one day, even be a third, as Thea's pigeon-toed sickled feet is the achilles heel of her gymnastics.

For now, what you are about to witness is deeply disturbing...just ask Sara:

We Miss Yuri!!!!!!!!

Yuri's last day working at the gym was June 18th. After a gazillion years being at SMGC, I still feel her presence as well as her absence. Over the years, I learned a lot from her, directly and indirectly. I've never met anyone who could conduct herself so responsibly and adult-like, and still play like a child at heart. I always trusted her judgment in safety when it came to the kids and what they could and should and couldn't and shouldn't be doing. Yuri has been invaluable to me in nurturing my own growth as an instructor and as a teacher (I do see a distinction between the two words).

As a gymnast, she is naturally gifted. I can barely get off the ground anymore on anything; and I'm pretty sure that as infrequently as I worked out gymnastics-wise over the last several years, she doesn't have to do a thing all year round, yet still be able to tumble a double back. This past year I watched her swing giants on the unevens without grips (I have footage to stick into a future video). To me, that's just crazy!




Couldn't fit it all in one; so here is a 2nd video: