I don’t think many athletes realize this, but having access to a gymnastics, cheer or power tumbling facility in North America (or Europe) is a privilege.

Even clubs that only have the bare essentials contain everything could ever need to become a high-level athlete.

You (and your coaches) just have to get creative.

I only realized this after I started doing clinics around the World and worked with gyms that had to accomplish a lot, with very little.

And by little, I sometimes mean just a few strips of mats rolled out on a concrete floor. Yes, really.

So first things first, I want you to take a second to be grateful. Because while it’s nice to have all the latest and greatest toys, it’s not necessary.

In fact, if I was running a gym on a limited budget, yet still wanted to produce high-level tumblers, I’d stick to just 4 essential pieces of equipment to get the job done. I carefully chose these four because they would give me the most bang for my buck.

And if you’re an athlete, you’re about to learn some very creative ways to use some of this equipment to upgrade your skills, and take your tumbling to the next level. What’s more, your current gym most likely already has this stuff.

To find out my top 4 picks and why I chose them, hit the play button below.

1st Pick: Tumbl Trak (Xtreme bedding)

2nd Pick: Panel Mat

3rd Pick: Foldable Wedge Mat

4th Pick: Octagon Barrel

Turns Out I’m Not The Only One Who Thinks This Way…

I knew that some of my friends (and fellow coaches) have also been in situations where they had to get creative. In fact, any experienced tumbling coach will tell you that when travelling for clinics, you could end up in a gym with very little where you’re still expected to produce big results.

So I called them up, and dropped the exact same question on their lap…

“If you could have only 4 pieces of equipment to produce high level tumblers, what would you pick and why?”

What I ended up with were some truly insightful conversations full of wisdom and knowledge. And guess what? I’ve recorded each one for your listening pleasure!

Here’s A List Of Coaches That I Chatted With

• Debbie Love (coach and advisor to USASF)
• Yuri Kostovetskiy & Michael Nasikan (PerfectAFlip)
• Lee Grobstein (Star Athletics)
• Elliot Helms (Coach & Powertumbler)
• Tom Balent (PerfectAFlip)

Continue >> 

Debbie Love’s 4 Essential Pieces Of Gym Equipment

Debbie has been involved in cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics for over 40 years. She currently serves on the National Advisory Board for the USASF and is also on the Strength and Conditioning Chair. She was also a level 10 coach and judge and was the USAG chief safety certifier for the state of Kentucky for gymnastics.

• Debbie’s Website: For The Love of Tumbling
• Debbie’s Twitter: @loveoftumbling

1st Pick: Rod Floor

2nd Pick: Portable Pit (Air pit)

3rd Pick: Foldable Cheese/Wedge Mat

4th Pick: 8′ Safety Landing Mat

So what did you think of Debbie’s 4 picks?

There’s a reason they call her the “Yoda” of tumbling — she’s always full of knowledge and insights. I learn something new every time I get a chance to talk with Debbie. Truly the mark of a great coach.

“You cannot build skills on deficient bodies” (Click To Tweet This)

Coming Up On The Next Interview…

You’ll learn why my friends Yuri & Mike from PerfectAFlip chose four very basic pieces of equipment. Being successful gym owners, I was fully expecting them to go “fancy”, but they had some solid reasoning as to why they always try and prioritize simplicity over complexity. You need to listen to this…

Continue >>

Yuri & Mike’s 4 Essential Pieces Of Gym Equipment

A Little About Yuri & Mike

Yuri Kostovetskiy and Mike Nasikan are brothers that began their powertumbling careers under their father’s instruction. They are both highly accomplished athletes — Yuri has won Gold, Mike has won National titles, and they’ve both been on the US National Team in the past. Now they’re taking everything they learned from their father and combining it with their own personal experience to produce a new generation of highly technical tumblers with great promise. These guys are also the founders of a company called PerfectAFlip, and creators of a device called the ChinBloc(tm).

• Website: Perfectaflip.com
• Twitter: @perfect_a_flip

1st Pick: Panel Mat

2nd Pick: Octagon Barrel

3rd Pick: Resi Pit Mat

4th Pick: Trampoline

So what did you think of Yuri & Mike’s 4 picks?

What I liked about these guys is how they are able to modify their 4 choices and create substitutions for the pieces of equipment that they (theoretically) wouldn’t have such as the cheese/wedge mat. I really was surprised they chose the trampoline over the TumblTrak, but once again, their reasoning isn’t incorrect.

Coming Up On The Next Interview…

I talk to Lee Grobstein who is the owner of Star Athletics — a successful and growing cheer club out on the East Coast. What’s more, he constantly produces quality tumblers so I knew he was doing something right. Head over to the next page to see what Lee considers the 4 most of the most essential pieces of equipment needed to produce high level tumblers…

Continue >>

Lee Grobstein’s 4 Essential Pieces Of Gym Equipment

A Little About Lee

Lee is a former high school, college and all-star cheerleader, having been involved in the cheerleading industry for more than 10 years. After earning his B.A. in History Education from N.C. State, Lee returned home to NJ and assumed leadership of Star Athletics in 2010. Lee’s all-star cheer experience runs the gamut, from athletic training and tumbling skills to stunting, innovation in choreography and music selection. Described by all as a “hands-on” owner, Lee spends many hours in the office each day and many hours in the gym each night. Lee coaches several teams each season and serves as the head tumbling instructor for the program. In April 2013, the United States All Star Federation (USASF) rewarded Lee’s involvement in the cheer industry and the excellence with which he runs the Star Athletics program with its “Gym Owner of the Year” award.

• Website: AllStarCheerNewJersey.com
• Twitter: @star_teamstar

1st Pick: Panel Mats

2nd Pick: Wall Bars

3rd Pick: 40ft Tumbl Trak (Xtreme bedding)

4th Pick: Handspring Trainer

So What Did You Think Of Lee’s Choices?

I have to say that the inclusion of the wall bars is a worthy choice. If you’re a coach that wants to help athletes perfect their body positions and shaping (especially for back tucks) while having a tool that helps them improve their conditioning, I’d definitely consider it.

Coming Up On The Next Interview…

I chat with my good buddy Elliot Helms who is not only an absolute beast of a tumbler, but has travelled the World training at some of the most high-tech tumbling facilities that I’ve ever seen. He has a vast amount of knowledge and is also a fantastic coach. One of the things he chose was a piece of equipment I had never even heard of before… but as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it!

Continue >>

Elliot Helms’ 4 Essential Pieces Of Gym Equipment

• Instagram: @notice_me_saitama_senseiii
• YouTube:Tumble Sensei

1st Pick: Resi Pit

2nd Pick: Tumbl Trak T-Trainer

3rd Pick: Foldable Cheese (Wedge) Mat

4th Pick: Tumbl Trak (Xtreme Bedding)

So What Did You Think Of Elliot’s Choices?

Speaking of learning something new, I wasn’t even aware of the existence of the T-Trainer, but as soon as I saw it, I knew why Elliot was singing its praises. I immediately came up with 10 different drills that it would be absolutely perfect for. As such, I’ll most likely try and convince my gym to get one 😀

Coming Up On The Next Interview…

In my final interview, I chat with Tom Balent who is also part of the PerfectAFlip crew, and happens to be one of the most down to Earth coaches I’ve ever met. What’s more, he made a really unique choice when it came to picking his “bonus” item. So if you already have access to all the equipment we’ve been talking about, I guarantee you’ll find something new to add to your growing gym…

Continue >>

Tom Balent’s 4 Essential Pieces Of Gym Equipment

A Little About Tom

Tom trained as a gymnast and cheerleader while growing up in Texas, where he also started his coaching career. He soon transitioned into cheer, becoming a solid coed partner stunter. Tom is a cross-trained instructor in cheerleading and gymnastics with over 20 years coaching experience. He was a member of the NCA Nationals winning Club Spirit Open team in 1999. Tom is a 3 year veteran member of the Baltimore Ravens Stunt Team and was part of the 2000-2001 Ravens NFL Super Bowl performance team. He is a former assistant cheer/tumble coach for the University of Maryland Cheerleading program and former Head Coach at Towson University and Johns Hopkins University cheerleading teams.

Website: PerfectAFlip.com

1st Pick: Tumbl Trak (or Rod Floor)

2nd Pick: Wall Bars

3rd Pick: Landing Pit (In or Above Ground)

4th Pick: Foldable Cheese (Wedge) Mat

Concluding Thoughts On Equipment

I hope you noticed a pattern emerge as you started listening to the interviews. When they say “great minds think alike,” they weren’t kidding!

None of these coaches knew what the other one had picked. Nor did they know what my personal picks were. The reason I did this was to remove any biases that could influence their decisions.

And yet, we all came to similar conclusions. That should tell you where you need to invest your money (or if you’re an athlete, what drills and mats you should be spending most of your time on).

Do You Run A Gym That Has Some Of This Equipment, But Aren’t Sure How To Use It Effectively?

Then you should definitely consider having me come down and run a full-day coach’s clinic at your facility. I’ll give you every technique, drill and progression under the sun in order to produce high level tumblers, and dominate your score sheets.

This will be like no other clinic you’ve ever held in the past — I truly take the philosophy of “teaching you how to fish” to heart. My job is to make myself obsolete.

If this interests you, click here to contact me, and let me know what you’re currently struggling with. I’d love to help.

Tom Balent’s 4 Essential Pieces Of Gym Equipment

A Little About Tom

Tom trained as a gymnast and cheerleader while growing up in Texas, where he also started his coaching career. He soon transitioned into cheer, becoming a solid coed partner stunter. Tom is a cross-trained instructor in cheerleading and gymnastics with over 20 years coaching experience. He was a member of the NCA Nationals winning Club Spirit Open team in 1999. Tom is a 3 year veteran member of the Baltimore Ravens Stunt Team and was part of the 2000-2001 Ravens NFL Super Bowl performance team. He is a former assistant cheer/tumble coach for the University of Maryland Cheerleading program and former Head Coach at Towson University and Johns Hopkins University cheerleading teams.

Website: PerfectAFlip.com

1st Pick: Tumbl Trak (or Rod Floor)

2nd Pick: Wall Bars

3rd Pick: Landing Pit (In or Above Ground)

4th Pick: Foldable Cheese (Wedge) Mat

Concluding Thoughts On Equipment

I hope you noticed a pattern emerge as you started listening to the interviews. When they say “great minds think alike,” they weren’t kidding!

None of these coaches knew what the other one had picked. Nor did they know what my personal picks were. The reason I did this was to remove any biases that could influence their decisions.

And yet, we all came to similar conclusions. That should tell you where you need to invest your money (or if you’re an athlete, what drills and mats you should be spending most of your time on).

Do You Run A Gym That Has Some Of This Equipment, But Aren’t Sure How To Use It Effectively?

Then you should definitely consider having me come down and run a full-day coach’s clinic at your facility. I’ll give you every technique, drill and progression under the sun in order to produce high level tumblers, and dominate your score sheets.

This will be like no other clinic you’ve ever held in the past — I truly take the philosophy of “teaching you how to fish” to heart. My job is to make myself obsolete.

If this interests you, click here to contact me, and let me know what you’re currently struggling with. I’d love to help.