gymnastics for summer

[runnerforlife]

My teammate and I would like to start gymnastics to help us with vaulting, but we don't know where to start. Neither of us have done it before and we don't have any connections to any gymnasts. We have one gym in town, but I don't know what to ask from them. Would just starting classes with little kids be beneficial? Is there any thing we could do over the summer with out joining a class? Any ideas will be really helpful:)

[bvpv07]

hmm...perhaps look for a beginner's tumbling class...it will give you the body and air awareness that you need in vaulting

The way that most gyms are set up, it will be very hard for you to find a beginner's gymnastics class (as in vault, bars, beam, floor) because most start you from the time that you are 5 years old, up.

I think that tumbling plus going in with your teammate for an "open gym" time (check it out...they're usually on Saturday afternoons) to try drills out on bars or the rings would be the best way to go about it.

[runnerforlife]

awesome, thanks!

[bvpv07]

no problem

Just have fun with it and you'll get the most out of the things that you're going to be doing.

Also, search the boards and the websites given on the homepage for drills that you can do on highbars and rings.

[Biggie1110]

Just start swinging...get the feel of a tap swing and maybe try swinging in a take off posistion...do some swing to inverted hang on the rings if you got em'...also have a [b]trained gymnast[/b] try to teach you the basics of a giant swing while on a strap bar...rope climbs regular, without using feet, and inverted rope climbs are good too...Bubkas(or rockets to a gymnast) really help build gymnastic strength...also just regular pullovers on a high bar help build gymnastic strength

[science geek]

I would try and get a hold of the pole vault coach at Eisenhower. They have a huge gymnastic ring area there and they vault during the summer as well. It's only 15 minutes or so from Selah, so that shouldn't be a big deal.

[fchipr]

Thats short and sweet and on target, from Biggie.
Learn what a tap is!!!!, Bubkas and power rockbacks...high bars and rings . YOU CAN't go Wrong...maybe a crash or two (chuckle...not really)

Follow Biggies thoughts. He knows what he's talkimng about....Heck know doubt.... they have some HS flyers that can stick it in INDIANA!!Check out thier State meet.

Then again, 15-11 gets you only 4th place in california, 1-3rd you better go 16-05 + That is ok too.

[runnerforlife]

WOW. Thanks guys. things are really working well... we're gonna take a tumnling class- to get professional help before we kill our selves, and we'll be vaulting at IKE and have access to the equipment for whatever we can do with out assistance.. once we lean it.
We've done some ring work in practice before, though neither of us have been excellent at inverting. Is the swing part of that the same as a "tap swing"? and is a pull over the same as a pull up?
oo and the rope climbing is a great idea.. I never would have thought of that, and its something we can do that by our selves.
thanks for all the help guys, its really been perfect!!