coach sommer how do you train tumbling?

coach sommer i wanted your advice on how to train or practice tumbling skills do you have a general progressions that you use with most tumbling skills? like do it on double mini tramp or proper trampolines then the foam pit then a crash mat then floor or something like that?

and also do you have any tips for gettinga standing back salt?

and do you have any tips for the round off? and finally do you have tips for linking tumbling skills like round off handspring back salt?

Tumbling Progressions

Learning to tumble is fairly straight forward if you use the correct progressions coupled with the proper physical preparation.

I usually teach beginners various rolls and cartwheels first. Then we begin working on front tumbling beginning with front limbers (handstand lower to a bridge and stand up to the feet). Many coaches do not stress the front limbers (or it's variations) with their male athletes; however I feel that this is a grave error. In my opinion, front limber strength is essential to being able to control and manipulate the body during front tumbling. There are some quite advanced variations that my athletes perform that have been instrumental in helping to build their powerful tumbling. My two athletes that both perform tuck double front somersaults on the floor, also happen to be the two athletes who are also capable of performing the most advanced front limber variations. Don't worry, I cover the basics and progressions needed for this essential skill in one of the upcoming books; Liquid Steel™.

Once the front limber is adequate, the athlete then has the correct strength and flexibility to progress onward to headsprings (essentially a bent-arm handspring) and from handsprings to bounders (legs together front handspring) and finally to a front handsprings from a lunge. I prefer to initially focus on front tumbling as the risk of injury is quite low and it builds an athlete's confidence and coordination while simultaneously preparing the body physically for the more vigorous back tumbling work yet to come.

As you can see, developmental gymnastic progressions all proceed forward one step at a time, layer upon layer; from rolls to cartwheels to front handspring work to back handspring work to somersault work.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

coach i've read all i could find on bridging, falling to bridge but i was never able to get up from a bridge.

any progressions or tips for that?

here's some bridge stuff you could work with a wall

face away from the wall and bridge back reaching for the wall, walk it down with your hands "matrix style"

bridge with your feet by a wall and use it to walk up and kick over

start in a handstand on the wall stomach on it, peel your feet over in a bridge slowly, then use your hands to walk the bridge up

(...). Don't worry, I cover the basics and progressions needed for this essential skill in one of the upcoming books; Liquid Steel™.

Yes, thank you, that is what i have been hoping to hear. Some tumbling material in your books Coach. Looking forward to read about that.

Starting with front tumbling? Interesting....