Gymnastic moves

[mike]

Hey all,

I haven't been quite as active as i used to be because I've been on a bit of a weightlifting kick since school is back in session. It occured to me the other day that my muscular endurance and over all conditioning have gone down the drain in my quest to finally make it to 150lbs. Anyway I've recently renewed my interest in handbalancing and gymnastic moves and will be focusing on 2 short term goals and 2 long term goals. I want to increase all of my pushup and pullup numbers past old maxes (over 20 handstand pushups and over 5 full range handstand pushups and over 20 pullups) as well as learn a solid handstand in the short term. For the long term I'm going to try and master the planche pushup and front lever pullup.

There is a barebones sort of tutorial Here (http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode3/229/) and one on beastskills.com that have given me a few questions.

1 Mr. Peterson and others - do you think adding additional volume to a routine (as linked above) based around isometric holds would hasten my progress? and if so would increasing the amount of isometrics be best or would adding power cals be in my best interest?

2. Does anyone here have some gymnastic experience that they would like to offer as pointers?

and lastly - does anyone have tips for increasing my flexibility at the hips (the 'straddle' variations seem like they will be a rough progression given my currently low level of flexibility)

[tom]

I dunno, but I'm trying to do gymnastic stunts, too. I'm long and tall and don't know how far I'll get, but it's fun.

Tom

[Germanowl]

I can´t answer your questions, but you can´t go far wrong on the beast skills site.
Good luck and most of all have fun!!

[bennyb]

Beastskills is a great handbalancing site. another site I highly recommend is from my bud Logan at www.lostartofhandbalancing.com where you will find great stuff on hand balancing and gymnastic type stunts. I'm learning Bridging Gymnastics where you fall into a bridge and use various moves while in the bridge whether it be hands alone, head alone, head and hands ect. I've been practicing basic stuff like falling back and doing certain holds.

[mike]

I ordered Logan's book 'The art and science of Hand balancing' at his black friday sale but I'm not sure how long until it arrives. I agree that he has a really nice site.

[mike]

John,

I recall a story of yours about tearing calluses on a gymnastic high bar, Do you have have any other experience with acrobatic type training?

[gruntbrain]

Make your own gymnastic rings & experiment CAREFULLY with some gymnastic skills

[tom]

Full-time gymnasts use those grip protection thingies to keep their skin from ripping off. It is not the callous that they are worried about (they have tough hands and callouses), but using the momentum of full body weight will rip the skin below the callous. I remember that from my half semester of gymnastics class in college. No matter how tough the skin, if you try a full swing on the high bar, you will lose skin. It would be like motorcycling without eye protection - nobody would.

Tom