Region 1 Congress 2015, San Jose August 21-23

Justin Howell's lecture on Round-offs, last session on Saturday- filled up to standing room only capacity.

It's been quite a while since I've been to a Regional Congress. Long overdue for me. The last time might have been back in the SMGC days, when I was not interested in being a team coach. Speaking of which, I had lunch with a former co-worker; and also ran into these former SMGC students, now coaches:

 Rachel is now at the gym Lilly was at before she moved to Chicago.  Angie had a brief opportunity to work with Eddie Umphrey before Eddie gave up his head coach position to be with his fiancee at Airborne.

Speaking of Umphrey, I brought my cohorts over to Chainey's house for some dinner to meet the new addition.

 Prior to seeing them, I asked Chainey if he'd been working out.  He says he runs about "3 blocks" (direct quote) and does some push-ups.  That's about it.  So this is what he looks like as of yesterday:

 I used to get into arguments with people all the time back in college- people who were adamant in their belief that Chainey was taking steroids; or that he must lift weights.  Nope.  None of that.  The only weight he lifted was his own body.  Nor did he do a lot of extra strength training- mostly routines.   He's just a genetic freak of nature. 


I did a lot of videoing, in part to bring back and share with the staff back at home base.  Not sure how much I will share on YouTube and this blog.

My co-workers did not bring their video cameras; but I shared my digital camera (the Casio that can also film in slo-mo and back to normal speed all in one shot) and my iPhone 4 while I used my iPhone 5 (64 gb).  2 extra battery packs.  After each lecture, I'd have 45 minutes to dump the memory into my laptop and would recharge while filming the next lecture.

What kind of perplexes me is how many coaches- even if fairly new- seem unaware of so many drills and concepts that seem easily acquired through the internet.  I guess some coaches don't waste as much time as I do on YouTube; or run detective searches through blogs and social media for content.

I was disappointed that Neil Resnick was not present yesterday for his lectures. 

Everyone has something to offer, though; and I enjoy listening to anyone express their thoughts and views and share their ideas about anything related to gymnastics. 

Assisted Handstand and Portable Handstand Wall

I first saw the concept of this handstand assist drill from Al Luber at Santa Monica Gymnastics Center. Also good against low beams and against the edge of springboards (lower = more challenging).


I've posted this before, but here's another look at Al's portable handstand board:




These were filmed in December of 2007


Al was an engineer and came up with all sorts of devices and training ideas.

Here Comes the Sun Again

Summertime brings back nostalgic memories of SMGC:

The Gymnastics Minute Parody

A parody of a popular, weekly upload of gymnastics coaching/training tips on YouTube, produced by Gym Smarts.


Lauren's birthday is today, and for some reason, this video idea popped into my head. I'm sure others could do better, with scripted scenes and pseudo-training ideas/parodies.

Footage here is drawn from 2004 and 2005.

Happy birthday, Lauren! And remember Thea's advice in the video: Don't worry, "the pain will go away when it stops hurting."

Welcome Gymnastics Coaching.com readers!

Into Something Good

Something About Elana's RO BH Layout

Like other kids, she encountered a mental block on something she does easily...when she does it.

From 2007.

Happy Birthday, Elana!

Happy Birthday, Keli!

On January 21, 2008, Keli showed up to work out. She was the only one (it was MLK Day).

"Fall down 7 times, get back up 8."
-Japanese proverb

Happy Birthday, Keli! Here's to posterity and a memorable moment in your life.

It was so easy then...

SMGC summer camp 2006:

Linda and Carol working "9 to 5" at SMGC

One of those video projects in my mind that finally cleared the shelves:




I'm worried though, I may find even better footage to insert into the video at a later date. So hard to know what I have where, sitting around in the archives.

Pass It On

Hooked on Brooke

Back at SMGC, I was teaching this new girl, Alyssa, in beg/adv. Throughout the class, I'd hear from nearby across the gym at another station, "Pssst....Alyssa"....and this cute little rugrat would wave to her sister. She did that every week, getting Alyssa's attention while in the middle of her own class. One day, I decided to shout out "Hey Brooke" and wave to Alyssa's sister, like I knew her, while she was in the middle of her own class. Just to mimic and throw her off. I hadn't officially met the kid yet and she looked over with a slightly confused look on her face. The following week, I was in the splits, stretching with Alyssa's class. Brooke's class hadn't started yet, and she wanders over to the floor and, without a single word, wraps her arms around me with the warmest hug while I was sitting there in the splits. She's had my heart wrapped around her, ever since.

Brooke had a bit of a tough adjustment to make, going from rec class at SMGC/LASG to a team developmental program at BGS. She misses the pits and the play and the more relaxed atmosphere of recreational gymnastics (and her friend Lexi, who remains at LASG).

Selfishly, I'm glad she followed me (didn't encourage her to), although I'd be happy for her wherever she is happiest. As far as I can tell though, she's happiest around me; and her mom says it's why they ended up coming to Broadway Gym. (^_^)

She has the Strength of 12 Ordinary Mortal Men

Happy 12^th Birthday, Thea! A day late for you; a day early to say it to Robyn.

I didn't really have a video planned at all, but decided today, to scrap one together.

Thea's family made the decision for a change in gym environments, this summer. Overall, she's at peace with the difficult decision of leaving her coach(s) and teammates for the sake of her own growth, opening a new chapter in her gymnastics journey.



I decided to narrow the focus of this video on body-shaping for bars; and also the special role Al has played in training her.

He invested time in "further down the road" skills, planting seeds of L-grip giants, Germans, pirouettes, front giants, and stalders, among others. She's already done inverted giants in the strap bar as far back as 2 years ago, just from starting out with swings, back and forth.

Although I am no longer her coach, I've been sneaking in extra time with her, after practice, to maintain some of the drills she's been doing with Al, including lots of one-arm balances for bar pirouettes, including pirouettes and blind changes and different grip changes.

I'm also trying to help her maintain and improve her strength at doing presses- which seems on the decline (strength for handstand presses aren't stressed over at Broadway).

Knobby knees, bent arms, and posture continue to pose a challenge to her.

Right now, Thea is learning new things and is happy.

The Song of Erin

Well, this was kind of a spontaneous video....and abstract!



I wonder if Erin has any Irish blood in her?

Happy Birthday, Erin!

"The Song of Erin will rise in our hearts again"!

Three is a Magic Number

Haley finished off as an intermediate level gymnast before becoming a strictly once a week private student, joined by her sister Emily and friend, Erica; because 3 is a magic number....

SMGC- Where Everybody Knows Your Name

I took tons of what I consider great photos in the last couple of years of SMGC. I decided to go back to making a video using photos. Most are randomly and haphazardly picked out from my folders, as I don't quite have the patience to be more selective about it. The ending of the video is a bit uneven, too. I started out using PhotoStory 2, but the editing got weird when I ran the results through Windows Movie Maker. Not sure why.

Cheers!

Summer is Here!

Ever since the Toyota Prius "Harmony" commercial, I've been waiting for Petra Haden to release her cover version of the Bellamy Brothers song, "Let Your Love Flow." I decided to use the song for a nostalgia video of SMGC summer camp:





For a free download of the song, go here.

Just Malaika's Imagination

This video is from Malaika's birthday party last September 2nd. It was a lot of fun to work, given the number of kids I knew (former SMGC students) who attended but don't get to see anymore.

Lilly, I think, was shocked to see Teri and I, and disoriented by our presence at LASG (I can't remember, but she said some "funny" and "curious" things about the gym switch, and why we left). I seem to recall her expressing some irk and ire, as though holding me accountable to SMGC's closing.




When we were at SMGC, at the end of her class, Malaika used to always ask me to make her a paper airplane. It was kind of a ritual, like when I used to come in and share my breakfast with Anna.

Madison's comment about the haunted maze in the video's closing credits can be better referenced and contextualized by clicking here. I should revisit that updated video, and prefix it with this clip of Madison, talking about it.

It took me 8 months to get around to doing this video. It just kind of happened accidentally while sitting in front of my computer, Friday morning, perusing my music library files as well as going through video files, looking for pictures to send to those who appear in them. Less than 24 hours later and....whalah! Video made, wrapped, printed!

I miss these kids and am grateful for being able to preserve some of the memories!

Malaika's currently been fencing, and loving it!

Easter Prayers for Hector and His Family

Coach Hector used to help out with intermediates, around 2004-7. Originally from Colombia, I believe he moved out to Oklahoma by the end of February of '07. Recently, I found out that he suffered a work-related head injury back in June of 2008. He has total amnesia. If anyone has any pictures or videos, let me know. His wife, Maria, is trying to collect them up. I do have stuff to share with her, of course, being the hobbyist film-maker that I am.



I remember once, going to a Cuban restaurant with him after teaching, and it was the most in-depth conversation I had with him on technical aspects of gymnastics and teaching. Actually, the conversation was mostly one-way, as I didn't always understand his English, and just nodded along with what he was trying to communicate. He knew quite a bit, but the language-barrier made it difficult for him to transmit his knowledge base to the class.

Happy New Year!

Looking forward and looking back...


December 23rd was Robyn's last day with LASG. What can I say about her? Hopefully, 3 videos, plus one more in the works, says it all.

She's been my mainstay partner with the SMGC intermediates/LASG Advanced (Pre-team) level girls, for what feels like forever, but which amounts to probably a 2 year (however long ago she started at SMGC) work relationship.

Being without her while she was still here at LASG (for various reasons, such as enrollment level on Thursdays) prepared me a bit for being without her on a permanent basis. But it still leaves you with an emptiness inside; like someone walked away with the best corner of your heart. In the short span of a month, 2 coaches and one gymnast I care about have left the gym. Life is like that.

These 3 videos are bitter-sweet. Robyn's Christian, so somehow it seems almost fitting that my song choices come from a Christian rock band I only recently heard of.

The 4th video in the works is more fun, a little uplifting, showing off Robyn at her silly best. For now, you might want a tissue box handy....





I like the description one YouTube commenter left for the song in the above video: That if you have a positive attitude and outlook on life, it will spread; and if it keeps spreading, it might end up coming back around to you, when you are down. What goes around, comes around, round and round...



These videos are dedicated to Robyn, and the kids who love her, and whose lives she brought warmth to.

*UPDATE*
The fourth video is complete:



I think I put in about 10 hours worth of editing. The song choice is one that Robyn suggested I use for a video. So fitting that I should use it for her video.....which totally reeks......


....of awesomeness!

Nostalgia's never a bad thing...

...especially when it's so retro-SMGC like this:





Short and sweet.

Come on, get happy people!!!