"I love gymnastics because I can do things that ordinary boys can't!" Recently, a lad who had just mastered swing to handstand on the parallel bars said that to me. I think that sums up gymnastics: build not only self confidence and pride, but muscle, strength, flexibility and endurance more successfully than in most other sports - training the body with a  purpose .  So, another salute to the 'men's artistic' branch of gymnastics today, with both performance and training on show. And the younger they start, the better!  

Maybe a slightly misleading title here - perhaps you are thinking how to time-manage your workouts with your ordinary life obligations. But that's for another time. We're talking BALANCE as in handstands, head balancing and so forth - the acrobatic art which requires not only a good sense of balance (inner ears working overtime) but strength in the shoulders, upper body and core. Enjoy the examples and maybe give the 'art' a try. You'll enjoy it - we certainly do!  We begin in Tanzania. An acrobatic gymnast 'top' in the making, there. Wait for it...   One for the current heatwave weather...   Finally, we can't resist this little kid in handstand advertising his gym - one in California which has recently produced world-champion acrobatic gymnasts...      

We featured backs earlier today in the PREVIOUS POST - don't miss that one! Now a bonus post, with some more gymnasts in training and performance - the sport which above all others results in impressive physical development.    Yes, getting it right: start them young!