The front walkover into the Round Off transition is one I favor quite heavily because it not only looks aesthetically pleasing when done properly, but it has a “spill over” effect on more advanced connections.
I’ll talk more about that in a moment. For now, take a look at the set up I use when I’m introducing this connection for the very 1st time…
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Please keep in mind to watch the drill animations for their theory and mechanics, not execution. Most of my videos are captured during an athlete’s learning phase. Also, please do not perform any drills, prerequisites or progressions unless you’re in the company of a certified coach and have their permission to do so. The information on this website is presented purely for entertainment purposes only. You are solely liable for any injuries that may occur.
Basically, don't be foolish and use common sense.
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Another common issue is one you can actually see in the animation above. Can you spot it? Go ahead, take a second look.
Hint: if you’ve read my article on the 3 Golden Rules Of Tumbling then it should stick out like a sore thumb.
Can’t see what I’m talking about? Pay attention to her arms. Specifically, her right arm.
See the drop? Yeah that’s something that needs to be fixed. An arm drop will either cost them power or time (because they’ll have to raise up again to do the RO).
Another obvious tip is to make sure the RO does something — in my case, I like doing the rebound. I see too many coaches teaching this transition into a Round Off that leads to absolutely nowhere.
Few Reasons Why The FWO Approach Is Awesome
- It’s safe. The FWO is a low impact skill, which means they can do lots of reps without causing excessive trauma to the joints
- It helps train the Front Tuck step out transition later on
- It looks really pretty (when done right)
- It’s fun!
- It scores well. One of the easiest ways to make a RO BHS or RO BHS BT score higher is throw a FWO in the beginning.
- Low barrier to entry – because the FWO is a flexibility dependent skill, it should be easier to pick up for most athletes (Note: if an athlete is stiff as a board — like myself — then this might actually be a “con” instead of a “pro”)
See? Plenty of reasons to love the FWO entry.
Advanced Progression: Once your athlete has got this drill nailed down, you can add a more advanced FWO transition drill into the mix. Click Here to check it out.
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For over 15 years, Coach Sahil has been on a mission to help athletes master their tumbling and acrobatic skills in the shortest amount of time possible without sacrificing safety or the quality of their technique. As a former Power Tumbler and Power Lifter himself, he fully understands the inner struggles of an athlete and how to help them get to the next level. To date, he has worked with thousands of athletes around the World and provided training to hundreds of coaches in almost every country you can imagine. He is also a Certified Gymnastics Coach, founder of Addicted To Tumbling, and former co-owner of a gym. He is also the author of the best-selling book The Cheer Diet.
