Well, the solution might have everything to do with your AOI (angle of impact). In other words, the angle your feet hit the floor in relation to your center line. And today, I have a drill that will help train your body to hit the optimum AOI in order to have all the height you could need for not only fulls, but doubles as well.
It’s called the front support block and twist. Take a look below…
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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.
Understanding AOI
When doing a backwards tumbling pass, you need to make sure that your feet end up behind your hips if you are to go up into your skill.
I generally like to call this a negative angle. Alternatively, any limbs that end up in front of your center line are known to be at a positive angle. Take a look at the diagram below to see what I mean (it was created for front tucks, but the principle is the same)
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This concept is also known as “blocking”. The problem with that term by itself is that it’s rather vague. I hear many coaches and athletes say: “you need need to block more!”
But what does that really mean? And how exactly do you want the athlete to block?
The reality is that blocking angles change depending on what skill you’re doing, and the direction you’re going.
This is why I’ve adopted the positive/neutral/negative terminology. And once you get a feel for what it’s like to have your feet hit at a negative angle for your backwards tumbling passes, you will definitely notice a huge increase in height.
Level Up Your Knowledge…
If you’d like a deeper understanding of the physics behind how tumbling works, and why certain angles produce the results they do, I highly recommend reading my article called The 3 Laws Of Tumbling. It’s something every athlete and coach needs to know if they want to become the best.
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About Coach Sahil
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.
