Check out these skill tutorials to help you progress through the sport. Remember: Don’t try anything without a qualified coach and the right equipment!
Split
© 2008 Paula Tribble
A split is one of those moves that is really easy for some people and much harder for others. Even if you’re as tight as can be, though, you’ll still be able to master it if you work hard at your stretching.
Center Split
© 2008 Paula Tribble
Learning a center split is just as essential as a front split to your gymnastics. You’ll use a center split in straddle jumps, side leaps, press to handstands, stalders, flairs on pommel horse, and scales.
Here’s how to get a great center split, with stretches for all the different muscles you’ll use.
Here’s how to get a great center split, with stretches for all the different muscles you’ll use.
Handstand
© 2007 iStockphoto.com / Galina Barskaya
Mastering a handstand is one of the most important steps to becoming a gymnast. Sooner or later, you'll be doing a handstand on just about every event, and learning a solid one will help you improve quickly in the gym.
Bridge
© 2009 Paula Tribble
How to do a bridge -- the cornerstone of front and back walkovers, and more. A good bridge will also help you improve your shoulder flexibility, a valuable asset for any gymnast.
Back Walkover
© 2009 Paula Tribble
Once you can do a bridge, it's time to start learning a back walkover. Here's your step-by-step guide to the drills and stretches.
Back Flip
© 2008 Paula Tribble
A back flip is considered a basic skill in gymnastics, but only because it is a building block to many other skills. It's not a simple move to learn, but once you do, you've achieved one of the biggest milestones of the sport.
