Gymnastic Classes

However, before launching into the practice of take offs, it is vital that the landing technique is worked upon. So many gymnasts land heavily and so risk damage their knees, feet and even their spine that the coach must ensure before all else that the gymnast can land safely and well without jarring either legs or back. The landing should be very resilient, toes touching the floor first, and then the rest of the foot, the ankle, knee and hip giving into the floor to cushion the landing. The following are some exercises for practicing landing: 1. Perform small jumps on the spot, feet together, stretching the feet and pointing the toes in the air, and bending the knees on landing. These small jumps when performed with the feet turned out slightly are called saut s. 2. Jump from both feet from a low height, bench or box top, to land on the floor, feet together, landing with control and resilience. 3. Run and spring from one foot, landing on two feet with resilience. 4. Run and leap, tak …

Of great importance is the actual footwork itself, which must be clean and precise, the steps being very definite in direction and quality. The ankles and feet should be very resilient, much of the work being performed on the toes, particularly the light and springy types of step. Other steps which are perhaps in the Russian or Spanish style are characteristically required to be performed on the flat foot, but must still show the necessary strength and precision. The importance of ballet training becomes apparent not only for the promotion of leg strength, elegance, and upper body work, but particularly for the improvement of foot work. Toes should be pointed, the feet and ankles stretched for the majority of the time, but equally there must be some give in the foot and ankle to provide resilience and bounce. Many of the steps used are in fact derived from ballet and so the terminology used is the same, i.e. all the names are in French. The following are a few examples of the most com …