Front Aerial And General Front Tumbling

rHOigjgwfds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHOigjgwfds

I've been struggling with front aerial for a long time. I'm getting closer, but wondering what's limiting me. I know gymnasts drop their chests for front aerial, but I've spent so long learning it the martial arts way, don't know if I want to mess with the chest. Anything besides the chest to focus on?

Also, a coach told me recently that all front tumbling should involve driving the heels back and chasing your chest to your knees. I thought only front layouts are done with that approach? It feels so awkward to me doing front tucks like that. He also said to throw with straight arms, whereas I've always felt inclined to throw fronts with bent arms (feels more powerful to me). What threw me off the most though, was his advice that you should look to the sky (where your arms would be) when punching. It feels counter-intuitive to me. Aren't most technical skills partially visual, and if you plan on landing on the floor, wouldn't spotting the floor be easiest?!?

Well, you can't really spot the floor during front tumbling. That's why double fronts on vault are generally done with a 1/2 out. You get no added skill value for the 1/2 but it allows you to spot the landing.

Initiating your front salto thinking about heels (regardless if you are using only a tuck or pike) is sort of similar to a front layout. My friend used to tell me the same thing. I never really got the concept for myself but I've had some success teaching it to kids that way. Having your heels lead will cause your chest to do what it needs to do.

The principle is similar when gymnasts are taught to lever into their cartwheels or handstands. It's not that their chest drops, but by lifting their heels, it causes their chest to drop and rotate around.

Well I use a bent arm circle for fronts but in a front layout I would bent arm circle to setting with straight arms and then turn them out. It's not as complicated as it sounds.

For your front aerial, get your chest to your knee similar to aerial cartwheel. This should cause more turnover. Notice, how much distance your front aerial covers.