The Science of gymnastics, new book

"The Science of Gymnastics" provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the fundamental physiological, biomechanical and scientific principles underpinning this most demanding of sporting disciplines. Drawing on cutting edge scientific research, and with contributions from leading international sport scientists, the book represents an important link between theory and performance. With case studies, data and useful review questions included in every chapter, the book examines every key aspect of gymnastic training and performance, including: physiological assessment; diet and nutrition; energetics; strength and conditioning; growth and development; anthropometric and biomechanical models; kinetics and kinematics; stress, anxiety and coping; motivation and goal setting; and, the psychology of learning and performance. There is a concluding section that breaks down a series of core gymnastic techniques and movements into their fundamental scientific components, helping the student to better understand how sport science relates to sporting performance. "The Science of Gymnastics" is essential reading for all students, researchers and coaches with an interest in gymnastics or applied sport science.

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/monem+jemni/the+science+of+gymnastics/7380791/

I'm definately going to buy this when it releases. One thing that does not make sense to me though, is the 100CND$/70€ difference between hard cover and paperback.. :roll:

about the author:

http://www.gre.ac.uk/schools/science/staff/jemni

Could be good. I'll wait for your review before I buy.

It bothers me it releases in september, so long time to wait I want it now

Looks promising... but I'm not sure how much this is going to be different than anything else already out there. I guess it depends on the detail that they go into.

What other books like this are out already?

Razz said:

What other books like this are out already?

Like I said depends on the detail.

There's quite a few books (on amazon) that talk about gymnastics techniques and strength.

If you've read any type of programming or S&C books it's easy to apply that material to gymnastics as well.

I don't know... there's not really a lot that is new... then again maybe it's just that I have a wider knowledge base than you guys. :\

Hmm, cool. Maybe if I start saving now. There are a lot of books out there but most seem to go into the biomechanics of movements. It's fun to get way technical but the practical carry-over isn't there as much.

Braindx you definately have more knowledge than me, but I do think it looks like this book is going into more detail than other books. I'm going to buy it when it releases and I'll let you guys know.

braindx said:

Razz said:

What other books like this are out already?

Like I said depends on the detail.

There's quite a few books (on amazon) that talk about gymnastics techniques and strength.

If you've read any type of programming or S&C books it's easy to apply that material to gymnastics as well.

I don't know... there's not really a lot that is new... then again maybe it's just that I have a wider knowledge base than you guys. :\

I think you're right, it's rare to see much new knowledge. Books are almost always rehashes of existing ideas, sometimes very good ones and sometimes not.

This book seems like it could be really cool since there appear to be some new and recent studies done alongside it that are not published in other books!

We'll see...

It is true there hasn't been as much analysis into a lot of things gymnastics just because it's not a sport that brings in the money like football or basketball... but a lot of stuff does still translate over.

I'd be more interested in programming S&C for gymnastics... and there's pretty much nothing on that right now which is why I'm trying to write more up on that topic.

Steven said:

I'd be more interested in programming S&C for gymnastics... and there's pretty much nothing on that right now which is why I'm trying to write more up on that topic.

Really?

I thought that was what my materials and this website were doing here. Of course as a mere long time National Team Coach and trainer of National Champions perhaps my knowledge base and practical experience are not wide enough. :roll:

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

Coach Sommer said:

Steven said:

I'd be more interested in programming S&C for gymnastics... and there's pretty much nothing on that right now which is why I'm trying to write more up on that topic.

Really?

I thought that was what my materials and this website were doing here. Of course as a mere long time National Team Coach and trainer of National Champions perhaps my knowledge base and practical experience are not wide enough. :roll:

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

I know that was meant to be a dig but shrug.

Well, here's my perspective:

I didn't think the (IIRC) ~11 pages of programming from BtGB was as well managed as it could be. When I read the material a lot of the information left even me a bit wondering how it things should be put together (and even then I'd had some idea of how to put things together). From what I've heard of at least the other people I've talked to they have felt the same way.

Of course, you do a great job in providing WODs which is great, but it doesn't do the same thing in teaching the fundamentals behind programming.

If you have elaborated extensively on the subject of programming and "how to", and I have missed it then my apologies. I've tried to keep up with every sticky and other posts that you've posted. I do not know if you are going to do that in the forthcoming books or not so I cannot state anything conclusively on that front.

My impression is that most of the purchasable material you are providing is intended to elucidate much of the progressions that your gymnasts use for S&C, prehab/rehab, and generalized training. I have not seen you say that you are putting together anything extensively on programming... and when I say programming I mean specific guidelines on how to construct workout routines for beginner and intermediates -- aka tying all of the progressions, prehab/rehab, skill work, etc. into a comprehensive workout plan to be utilized in well thought out micro/meso/macrocycles.

Same with Ido -- he's done a great job in throwing out different methodologies to use, but little in the nature of tying everything together for a "how to" for a beginner or intermediate athlete to construct a routine.

It's not about the knowledge base or practical experience as clearly you have much more thanI have; by all means if you're going to produce much on such a topic then I would gladly defer to your experience. But from what I have seen this is not the case unless you have failed to mention that you are going to produce another book on the topic (or talk about it extensively in the other books coming out).

I'm afraid I kind of have to agree.

The programming section has some great information but there is a lot of material in the book and I was left feeling a little confused at how it should all be put together.

The GB WODs and this forum are designed specifically to be the programming support for the book. I have become aware that people would appreciate more direct programming being available in the book. This is being addressed in the upcoming second edition.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

I too was confused at first, and while I'm fairly sure I have things figured out pretty decently at this point, a lot of that came through experience and not the programming section. There is a great explanation for what a steady state cycle is and how to set one up, and there's a great explanation for what an integrated cycle looks like and some possible manipulations, but the larger picture is missing. What would really be great is if there was a 6-12 month period mapped out complete with pre-hab, statics, dynamic(actual movement, both FBE and others), and stretching. Something to really show us how the gymnasts program, and then some ideas or even another map for how someone with home equipment might do the best they could to duplicate it.

Coach, I see your point in regard to programming which many of us are not advanced enough to benefit from, but for many it helps to be able to see the big picture and the long road ahead, so that we have a better idea of what we are striving for and can decide if we even have time or motivation to pursue higher levels of gymnastics. If we didn't, we could easily say well, I'm going to go to around this point, and then maintain and have fun. Maybe at some point I'll want to move on, but now I can see how far I want to take my body. You'd be surprised how many people might like that.

With all that said, I think that if everyone read a few good books on strength and conditioning programming then there wouldn't be nearly as many questions. This website is obviously(I hope) an excellent support mechanism, and I think that many of us, myself included, would have been lost without it.

I did fine with what was in the book, setting up a SS cycle was very straight forward. That’s all I required at the very beginning, now I do it more like the WOD, mixed with how Ido put together his Floreio workouts. No, it wasn’t laid out like a typical program where it tells you EXACTLY what to do and when but the information was there, you just had to read and interpret.

Coach, I see your point in regard to programming which many of us are not advanced enough to benefit from, but for many it helps to be able to see the big picture and the long road ahead.

I understand your point, but I disagree.

To go into details about future programming before the relevant support volumes are available would require endless explanations through email and the forum about the details entailed with implementation and performance questions about this element and that element.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

I agree with both Coach and Nifty on these last two points.

Personally, if the last book came with what I mentioned before, that'd be perfect. There's certainly not much point in talking about these things before we have the reference materials because as you say, it would certainly be a full time job to explain everything and the books would never see the light of day. I don't mean to suggest that you should just stop and put the programming together now, but it would really be awesome if we got complete programming in the last book.

slizzardman said:

This website is obviously(I hope) an excellent support mechanism, and I think that many of us, myself included, would have been lost without it.

I agree 110%. I feel the book, this website, Ido's site/youtube as well as eatmoveimprove have given me all the information I could need to set up my own programming short of an actual book on programming. I'm sure some of the books I've read(practical programming, starting strength) as well as information about programming for powerlifting(which I was previously training for) have helped but pretty much everything is there.

Of course I would love to see a volume on programming because I think I would feel less compulsion to change things. I'm sure many people get the same thoughts going through their heads as I do: "Is what I'm doing optimal, should I change my routine... I just read this article about incorporating X so maybe I need to drop Y and Z to up the volume on X" Thoughts like that.

I've been at the bodyweight training for a fairly short amount of time but have experienced some pretty remarkable results by my standards by just trying to stick to a plan based on the best information I have. I change things more frequently than I know I probably should but the framework almost always stays the same. At least I've learned to stop stressing about it so much. Bottom line is consistency + intensity and most of the Average Joe trainees like myself will probably be able to achieve some pretty amazing results after a couple years of work.

Kind of a ramble I know, sorry...

Coach Sommer said:

Steven said:

I'd be more interested in programming S&C for gymnastics... and there's pretty much nothing on that right now which is why I'm trying to write more up on that topic.

Really?

I thought that was what my materials and this website were doing here. Of course as a mere long time National Team Coach and trainer of National Champions perhaps my knowledge base and practical experience are not wide enough. :roll:

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

We love ya coach. Its like a dream for us (atleast for me) to be able to communicate with you (someone at your experience level) and get your thoughts on questions (a lot of times basic & repetitive).

niftyvt said:

I did fine with what was in the book, setting up a SS cycle was very straight forward. That’s all I required at the very beginning, now I do it more like the WOD, mixed with how Ido put together his Floreio workouts. No, it wasn’t laid out like a typical program where it tells you EXACTLY what to do and when but the information was there, you just had to read and interpret.

I agree. Even though, I have myself gone through some pains in deciphering and starting off on the BtGB stuff and I'd have enjoyed more clear sample / beginner stuff on programming... I am not holding my breath... cause I know that this is the first time WE get to learn this from you.. and I'd take some 'initial learning curve' on BtGB with you, than trade it for another program out there.

Thanks a lot coach. I have read a lot here and I will see if I can contribute back with my understands of stuff, sample workouts etc.