Acro, Gymnastics and Handstand Training

Time we had a catch-up on our favourite sport. We open with a great balance position from a 'men's pair' from the USA...

...and here's how they got into it, involving a lift, a partial somersault, a cannonball, and then a full turn very similar to a Diamidov on the parallel bars...

...balance (once he's up there, the base is mainly responsible for balance), strength, agility and endurance. Well done, boys. Here's another way into it from 'stand on shoulders' (not yet polished!) but which clearly shows the balance work the base is doing (and why the top needs to stay tight and still!):

Good try, anyhow!

Next how gymnasts train core strength with the aid of a weight plate and a trusty partner:

Mikael is very good at one-arm 'transitions':

He does sometimes use both arms, but look at the control here:

...and he loves doing jumps...

Pavel S is also professional:

 

General handstand strength here from Bjarnsson:

Cristiano R is a much younger professional, here also in training gym:

More from him later, performing in a street show. More from the younger generation of elite gymnasts, training at home. Riley S in UK and then Alexander Z in the disputed territory of Donbas:

The great outdoors:

A few more handstands, starting with Samuele G from Italy...

Not all handstands are in great shape and steady, but we commend anyone who has a go...

Maks, from Russia, hope for great things in the future once he gets tighter and straighter:

 

Ilya is another circus boy, here in costume so we can't really see his body at work in detail...

...and then , as promised, Cristiano in the street show older brother Sam provides the support:

Some handstand training is definitely fun:

 

Let's move on to parallel bars, and an unusual view of a very polished performance:

Strength moves on the rings:

 

Specific strength training for core using the high bar:

Two 'fun' vids before we go back to still images: both involve tricks in the gym which do impart some improvement in skills - somersaults first:

...and then, with a partner - well, see for yourselves!

Gymnast pictures to complete this post: 9 young lads first of all, getting ready for their favourite routines...

 

...plus Samuele, who we met already:

Under the rings, with Tim D:

Gymnast buddies:

Nile Wilson (UK) retired a while back - this is an old photo:

At which point, I think that we'll retire too, for today. Hope you enjoyed these glimpses of our favourite sport. There have been many gymnastics and acrobatics posts, and here's a RANDOM ONE from the archives to take a look at next.