Comments on: TO BE HOLLOW OR NOT TO BE HOLLOW http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/ GymSmarts-Helping Educate the Gymnastics Community Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:34:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: danconnelly http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-13 danconnelly Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:01:47 +0000 http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-13 Steve, Thanks for your comments on "To Be Hollow or Not To Be". To expand on the way this concept relates to a Layout Back Somersault, let me say that I am aware of the school of thought relative to the arms only lifting just above the eyes or shoulders. And the only way that I differ with that is to say once the Layout is well accomplished and one is training to twist or double flip the full lift of the arms is probably not quite as important (not as important because the gymnast has become very proficient at the takeoff). However, I would clarify that by saying that no matter how high one reaches with the arms it is critical that the body initiates rotation from the takeoff. So once more, we snap the flip flop into a hollow, arriving on the ground hollow, reach up and back with the arms creating the beginnings of backward rotation and together with the opening of the hips and chest to a tight arch complete the takeoff. It must be noted that no matter what we do with the arms, the purpose of the arm swing is to make the shoulders move past vertical. Thus, we have initiated our backward rotation on take off. Lastly, it is very important that whatever we do with the arms we do not bring them down prematurely. If we are doing a tuck the knees must come to the hands and if it is a layout the toes need to kick while the arms are up. In the event that the arms reach down too early we create counter rotation which seems to be a common problem. I hope this information is helpful and once again I appreciate your comments. If you have any other comments or questions about this or any other skill that I might help with feel free to ask Steve,
Thanks for your comments on “To Be Hollow or Not To Be”.
To expand on the way this concept relates to a Layout Back Somersault, let me say that I am aware of the school of thought relative to the arms only lifting just above the eyes or shoulders. And the only way that I differ with that is to say once the Layout is well accomplished and one is training to twist or double flip the full lift of the arms is probably not quite as important (not as important because the gymnast has become very proficient at the takeoff). However, I would clarify that by saying that no matter how high one reaches with the arms it is critical that the body initiates rotation from the takeoff. So once more, we snap the flip flop into a hollow, arriving on the ground hollow, reach up and back with the arms creating the beginnings of backward rotation and together with the opening of the hips and chest to a tight arch complete the takeoff. It must be noted that no matter what we do with the arms, the purpose of the arm swing is to make the shoulders move past vertical. Thus, we have initiated our backward rotation on take off. Lastly, it is very important that whatever we do with the arms we do not bring them down prematurely. If we are doing a tuck the knees must come to the hands and if it is a layout the toes need to kick while the arms are up. In the event that the arms reach down too early we create counter rotation which seems to be a common problem.

I hope this information is helpful and once again I appreciate your comments. If you have any other comments or questions about this or any other skill that I might help with feel free to ask

]]> By: Steve http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-12 Steve Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:26:41 +0000 http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-12 I must admit to coaching the hollow body take off -though I don't really refer to it that way. Your perspective is a bit of an "ah-ha" moment for me. Its funny how I recognize the power developed in the movement from arch to hollow in many other skills, but have not considered it for the layout. Perhaps because I'm always working to correct a poor set position? An arch on take off is practically taboo! I currently have group of boys starting to learn layouts and indeed many of them end up piking. Would you mind expanding on how you teach the skill (the body positions you like to see, queuing used, any drills, common errors to avoid)? I am sure that more than once, I've learned from clinicians to take off with the arms only moving to cheek bones or eye level. I will have to go and rewatch the DVD, but I believe Mr. Wantanabe's tumbling instruction is the same. I'd really like to hear more of your thoughts as the idea really makes sense. P.S. I have only just learned of this fantastic website. Thanks to all of you fantastic coaches who blog and make yourselves available. Its an incredible resource. I must admit to coaching the hollow body take off -though I don’t really refer to it that way. Your perspective is a bit of an “ah-ha” moment for me. Its funny how I recognize the power developed in the movement from arch to hollow in many other skills, but have not considered it for the layout. Perhaps because I’m always working to correct a poor set position? An arch on take off is practically taboo!

I currently have group of boys starting to learn layouts and indeed many of them end up piking. Would you mind expanding on how you teach the skill (the body positions you like to see, queuing used, any drills, common errors to avoid)?

I am sure that more than once, I’ve learned from clinicians to take off with the arms only moving to cheek bones or eye level. I will have to go and rewatch the DVD, but I believe Mr. Wantanabe’s tumbling instruction is the same. I’d really like to hear more of your thoughts as the idea really makes sense.

P.S. I have only just learned of this fantastic website. Thanks to all of you fantastic coaches who blog and make yourselves available. Its an incredible resource.

]]> By: danconnelly http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-9 danconnelly Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:41:34 +0000 http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-9 Hey Chris, Thanks for your comments relative to the "To Be Hollow or not to be Hollow" blog. I think your comments from a biomechanical point of view are very accurate. The only point I would like to make is that the "Hollow" body position has been overemphasized. I specifically used the Layout Back Somersault on tumbling as one very common example. I welcome your comments and believe that we are always learning and what better way to learn than to share with each other. The most important point that I was trying to make is that the greatest amount of power is developed by combining the tight arch and the hollow body position. It is very clear to me in my observations that the hollow body position is being used from beginning to end in many skills. I do believe this to be a lack of understanding by some coaches and would love to help if there are specific skills that coaches would like help on. I am sure that Chris would like to help as well. Please feel free to submit any pertinent comments. Thanks. Hey Chris,
Thanks for your comments relative to the “To Be Hollow or not to be Hollow” blog. I think your comments from a biomechanical point of view are very accurate. The only point I would like to make is that the “Hollow” body position has been overemphasized. I specifically used the Layout Back Somersault on tumbling as one very common example. I welcome your comments and believe that we are always learning and what better way to learn than to share with each other.

The most important point that I was trying to make is that the greatest amount of power is developed by combining the tight arch and the hollow body position. It is very clear to me in my observations that the hollow body position is being used from beginning to end in many skills. I do believe this to be a lack of understanding by some coaches and would love to help if there are specific skills that coaches would like help on. I am sure that Chris would like to help as well. Please feel free to submit any pertinent comments. Thanks.

]]> By: Chris http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-8 Chris Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:02:34 +0000 http://gymsmartscommunity.com/danconnelly/2008/12/02/to-be-hollow-or-not-to-be-hollow/#comment-8 I really don't think that this is necessarily an error in coaching relative to understanding proper use of the hollow shape. Quite the contrary, actually. I don't think that a lot of coaches have enough of an understanding of biomechanics such that they know how a gymnast effectively creates rotation (torque) when leaving the ground. I still hear a lot of coaches telling kids to "pull your toes" on a back layout. Another factor that plays into this is really being able to contract the glutes through the back handspring, upon contact with the floor, and through take-off. The glutes are the primary hip extensors and if they are not activated, then the hips are going to be fully extended at take-off. Furthermore, if they are not activated through the BHS itself, then that causes a pike-down and further compounds the problem. I really don’t think that this is necessarily an error in coaching relative to understanding proper use of the hollow shape. Quite the contrary, actually. I don’t think that a lot of coaches have enough of an understanding of biomechanics such that they know how a gymnast effectively creates rotation (torque) when leaving the ground. I still hear a lot of coaches telling kids to “pull your toes” on a back layout.

Another factor that plays into this is really being able to contract the glutes through the back handspring, upon contact with the floor, and through take-off. The glutes are the primary hip extensors and if they are not activated, then the hips are going to be fully extended at take-off. Furthermore, if they are not activated through the BHS itself, then that causes a pike-down and further compounds the problem.

]]>