Skill How-Tos

  A back extension roll is not only a must-learn skill because it's in the Level 4 compulsory routine, but because it is an important skill progression. You will use a similar motion of lifting your body with your shoulders extended when you learn a back giant on bars. So do you want to learn how to do a back… Read More →

A front tuck is (probably) the first front salto you learn as a gymnast. Aside from that, a front tuck is in the level 5 routine. So, it's an important gymnastics skill to learn and master. As you advance in gymnastics, you will probably want to do tumbling passes that start with a front tuck… Read More →

A switch leap is an advanced leap that can help you earn difficulty in your gymnastics routines. Before learning a switch leap you should have mastered a split leap, and be able to do it with a 180° split with squeezed legs and pointed feet. To do a good switch leap you will need flexibility… Read More →

Learning how to do a front handspring is important, since you can do one on vault, floor and even on beam. However, a front handspring has many different variations which makes it a tricky skill to master. The mechanics of a front handspring will change slightly if you are doing a front handspring step-out, a… Read More →

In gymnastics, a turn is one of the main components of both beam and floor routines.  You may think that as a gymnast you don't really need to worry about dance moves. But, that is definitely not true! Starting as a level 2 gymnast (90° heel snap turn on floor) all the way to a… Read More →

A roundoff is one of the most important gymnastics skills a gymnast will learn. A roundoff gives power to floor tumbling passes, the most basic of those being a roundoff back handspring. It also gives power to Yurchenko vaults. You will never learn how to do very high level tumbling skills, like a double back… Read More →

A back walkover is a skill that usually a gymnast learns twice, once on floor and once on beam. On both floor and beam it can be a scary skill, because it's usually the first time a gymnast is doing a skill backwards. Already know how to do a back walkover and want a Back… Read More →

A front handspring on vault is an incredibly important gymnastics skill because some gymansts perform it from level 4 all the way through level 8. While the deductions get stricter as a gymnast progresses through the levels, the skill remains the same. It's also the basis of some more advanced vaults.  So it's in your… Read More →

A split leap is an important skill in gymnastics, and one that you should master. A split leap is usually part of  the dance in both your floor and beam routines. I'm going to tell you some drills and exercises you can do to help you learn a beautiful, perfect split leap. As a beginner… Read More →