Gymnastics for a Novice

I have always said that I am not a tumbler. Recently I realised that this is the wrong attitude to have. I will be a tumbler!

As you may have read in ‘Cheerleading is for Oldies’ I refer to a friend, Julie*, who learnt to tumble in her twenties. She inspires me. Julie is fearless; she throws herself at everything and is a fantastic athlete. This year it is time for me to improve my tumbling skills, I want to improve and contribute to my team's tumbling score. My goal is to have a both walkovers and front handspring by the end of the year.

 At the beginning of January, I started going to a Beginners’ gymnastics class. The first session was terrifying and exhausting (I was still in post-Christmas mode!) It began with a 40 minute warm up/conditioning/stretching session. Followed by demonstrating basic tumbling skills. I really need to work on my upper body strength as I struggled to bunny hop into a handstand (I can only go from standing when I swing my leg up). After this we picked a coach to work with on certain skills. I went to the tumbling coach who was working with a group on front somersaults and back handsprings. I feel a long way from either skill, but you have got to start somewhere….. Right?

The next day I could not walk.

Session two…. I was feeling really tired that day and although I brought my gymnastics kit all the way to work, I was strongly considering not going. I do not know why, I just did not feel like it. But this was only week number two, if I didn’t go then would I go again? Somehow I found some energy. I am glad I went. I was pleased to see that the Coaches remembered me, and were happy to see me return. This week I was feeling braver and asked the coaches for help. I also spent the second half of the session focusing on my handstands (this is where everything starts, right?). By the end of the session I felt like I had made small improvements.

I have now done four training sessions. In week four I started to see improvements. I have been working on back handsprings and have been getting better at throwing my body up and over the equipment. This is still the beginning of my tumble journey. Hopefully, one day I will be flinging myself across the mat like a pro. But everyone has to start somewhere. I have not told any of my team that I have been going to gymnastics.... I would love to surprise them one day with my improved skills as they all know I am not much of a tumbler.  

Thanks for reading.

X

 

*Not her real name.