PoleVaultPower.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFGPlszF ... jOD_9SdkNI

At 1:12-1:13 in this video (a great video by the way), the gymnast does a move to get more energy in the system so that he can do the trick. (What is it called?)

What are the possible benefits of using this move (not the Yamawaki, just the inversion motion) as a drill for vaulting? How do you learn it?

At the start of the Yamawaki vid at 1:13, the athlete (whose name might be Yamawaki - the inventor of the Yamawaki trick) does a back uprise into a shoot-to-a-handstand. That's what it's called ... a "back uprise".

A back uprise is very similar to a kip, except that a kip ends with your hips near the bar, in a resting position (usually). In the back uprise ... as shown at 1:13 ... you don't finish it to a kip. This athlete only goes high enough to shoot to a handstand ... about high enough so that his arms are parallel to the ground, and his legs are also roughly parallel to the ground.

Don't be discouraged if you find this move difficult. Highbar specialists have a way of making the impossible seem easy! And keep in mind that these gymnasts have all had tricks named after them ... so they're the creme de la creme.

If you're trying to do a shoot-to-a-handstand, I recommend you start it from the end of the kip ... hips rested on the bar. Then cast away ... that's what it's called - a "cast away" ... to get your hips away from the bar, and begin your "shoot".

As you get more proficient, you can do a kip and move it immediately into a cast away and then a shoot.

And as you get EVEN MORE proficient, your kip will become just a back uprise ... and you'll be able to shoot from there.

PP, you go to the head of the class for spotting this! The shoot-to-a-handstand is one of the most important highbar drills that you can do. So important, I would say, that if you CAN'T do it on a highbar, then how do you ever expect to do an EXTENSION to a handstand on the pole?

Or to switch that around, anyone that DOES have good form on his/her extension will almost invariably be able to shoot to a handstand on a highbar ... even if they've never tried it before. But it's so-o-o-o-o much easier to learn this PV technique on the highbar than on the pole.

Kirk

If you'll remember KB I sent you a message months (or maybe even years?) ago about this same thing!

And yeah, it looks almost as easy as a pull-up.

Thats what they learn at my place.

Rick Baggett
WSTC

Do you have video of anyone learning or anything like that? That would be helpful.