Anna and Malaika on Top of the World

So today, Anna and Malaika did an hour shared private backhandspring workshop clinic.

Malaika's done backhandsprings a couple of times by herself with the soft sting mat draped over the pit, a couple of weeks ago. Anna's been close to me not spotting her...it has just been a matter of consistency that keeps my hand there.

They both ended up doing their backhandsprings on different surfaces, by themselves, today. Of course we'll go back to drilling and shaping, but for now, they had a blast being able to experience the thrill of doing a "big skill" by themselves. If I remember that far back, it's an exhilerating, liberating feeling.....the freedom of flight.



I was actually looking for the Shonen Knife cover of the song for this video, but settled on the accidental discovery of my copy of the Carpenters. I grew up loving Karen Carpenter's voice.

Our Gang- The Little Gym Rats II

Thursday Advanced Class: RO BHs

Naomi first started with us at SMGC summer camp and was pretty much a raw beginner. I'm glad we let her move up into the SMGC intermediate class (which is now called "advanced" at LASG), because she has been a reliable, quiet, diligent worker. She's a kid who pays attention, because she wants to be good. I can't recall a single time where I've ever had to discipline her on talking too much, being lazy, whiny, etc.

I thought I'd experiment and try a bit of instructional in this video, to see if it helps any of these girls. I think I can draw straighter lines and better curves on an Etch-a-Sketch, but my line drawings in the video will have to do, showing a more correct body position than the ones these kids have in their round-off backhandsprings.

STRETCH THOSE SHOULDERS JENNIFER!!! EVERY DAY!!!

Mulan coughs, then does a backwalkover

This last Thursday, the kid with the cough did the muwalkover for the first time:




This is for Robyn's family and friends...taken February 23rd, afterhours:

Experiencing the "big skills": Erin and Thea can do double backs....

....just not by themselves (Haha...April Fool's! Ok, ok...that was lame).

During Winter Break (December 27, 2007), I put Erin and Thea in the spotting belt to experience tumbling double backs. They actually did pretty well (they've done doubles in the belt on regular trampoline before).


Erin Gelfat:


Thea Obrist:



This is Thea January 4, 2008:



I like the way she lands off the mat and onto the floor, then immediately jumps onto the safety mat:

Thea asked to try some one more time, a couple of weeks before the gym closed down; but her tumbling is inconsistent and that day she was off (I even "dropped" her on her head on one of them- my fault...sorry Thee).