Gymnasts need strength, flexibility and endurance - just for starters! Then endless practice of drills leading to those clever moves you see on the apparatus. A few 'fails'! All of this is here. Videos are in the centre section of this post.  

Another post all about hand/arm balancing, for which anything with 'feet off the ground' counts (e.g. 'planches'). The essential elements are balance (obviously), core and shoulder strength for maintaining a good and steady shape, and endurance for staying up... which seems to be a good place to start, since gymnast Seth has posted a three-minute video of his best handstand hold (he can do longer, but was not happy showing the less-good shape). OK, this is a bit like 'slow telly' where not much happens (reindeer wandering in the arctic comes to mind for one programme we watched!)... but Seth should be admired for his artistry as well as the hard work which goes into being able to make this happen, even if there is a slight bend in his shoulders: Actually his shape gets progressively bendier as time passes, but full marks for effort! 'Croc' (...odile) - a standard position in acrobati gymnastics That's the perfect shape for a twohanded balance. That&#

Gymnastics develops muscle and strength without the loss of flexibility - also good for cardio/endurance. What more could you ask for a perfect sport?  A mix of performance and training ttechniques today. Videos too, further down... As you will have seen in some of the videos, training does not always go exactly to plan, and it can be tough... but its worth it, or the kids wouldn't stay with it... as inthis elgrip shoulder flexibility training. They all want it, and they want to be as good as their friends.