Modern Gymnast - October 1968 by USA Gymnastics

THE MODERN GYMNAST MAGAZINE

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THE MOD ERN GYMNA ST MAGAZIN E

G notes FROM THE editor: VISITORS FROM JAPAN: The Japanese Olympic Gymnastic team had a four day stop over in California on their way to Mexico City_ From the welcome at L.A. International airport to a planned reception at Culver City Center (their sister-city hosts) on through their workouts at UCLA (men) and Santa Monica City College (women) they had a very busy schedule up until the time their charter flight left on Saturday afternoon. For the students and gymnasts at UCLA and SMCC who were able to sit in on the respective team workouts it was a thrilling experience. The diligent schedule of the four hour practice program, the respect for the coaches and the full use of every minute and attention to the minute details was indeed impressive In spite of their heavy training schedule they did have time to accept a few extra ciricular invitations, (arranged by their host guide, past USA Olympian, Ron Barak). One to the 1969 Ice Follies at the New Forum (which they enjoyed immensely), also The Busch Gardens and a visit to Santa Monica Beach playground (where Steve Lerner and Dennis Sherman put on a dazzling display of doubles, triples and twisting fly-a-ways from the rings and Rusty Rock performed a routine of Stalders, fly-a-way catches and travels on the quad bars) which kept Japanese cameras clicking, and their voices oohing and ahhing and their hands applauding. They also found time to drop into the MG offices for an all too breif look around at our facilities and display of Gymnastic photos, paintings, pins and posters. (and to pick up a few back MG's and Mlle. G's as souveniors). It was an all too brief visit in Southern California by this fine Olympic team from Japan. We hope they will return again soon and next time put on an exhibition so we can turn out by the thousands to see them in action. Japanese Oly mpi c Team V isits Sa nta M on ica Beach

Official Publication of the United States Gymnastic Federation

CONTENTS Volume X

October, 1968

Number 10

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR ................................ Glenn Sundby GUEST COLUMNIST ............................................... ,Jim Murray VIEWPOINTS ............................................................ Dick Criley CANADIAN REPORT ............................................. ,John Nooney 1968 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM .......................................... CENTERSPREAD: FRED ROETHLISBERGER .............................. MG INTERVIEW ................................ Dick Criley & Steve Hug FASHION .................................................................................... MG PHOTO ART CONTEST ...................................................... A SECOND LOOK AT SWING ............................Gerald George VAULTING FOR BEGINNERS .................................... Don Tonry GYMWHEEL GYMNASTS ....................................... Norbert Dill WHAT'S THE SCORE ...........................................,Jerry Wright "Y" NEWS ....................................................Robert Hanscom CONDITIONING FOR COMPETITION ...................... Dick Wolfe LEITERS ....................................................................................

4 5 6 7 8 16 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 27 27 28

Cover: Steve Co hen t op ran k ed US Oly mp ia n, t w ice past N. C.A.A. A IIAround champ ion, now a pre-med student at Un iversity o f Pennsy lv ania Medical School.

PUBLISHER - EDITOR GLENN SUNDB Y

ASSOCIATE EDITORS -Technical DICK CRILE Y , Production KEN SA KODA, Design THE MODERN GYMNAST: Statement of Ownership. Management and Circulation as required by the U.S. Post Office Department for second class mailing priviledge. Owners·Glenn and Barbara Sundby (DBA Sundby Publications, 410 Broadway, Santa Monica, Calif. 90401.) Management· Glenn Sundby, Editor· Puiblisher. Circulation·Subscription 6,671. Paid Cir· culation 6,671. Promotional and complimentary cop· ies distributed , 500. Total mailing 7,171.

THE MODERN GYM NAST is published by Sundby Publicatio ns, 410 Broadwa y, Santa M o n ica , Cal if orn ia 90401 . Second Class ·pos ta ge paid at Santa Monica , Calif . Pub lished monthly exc ept bi-monthl y June Jul y, A ugust , and September . Pri ce $5.00 per year , SOc si ngle copy; Subsc r ipt io n co rr espondence , THE M ODERN GY MNAST , P.O. Box 6 11 San ta M o n ica , Califo rn ia 90 406 . Copyr ight 1968 © all rights reser ved bv SUNDB Y PUBLICATI ONS , 4 10 Broa dwa v. Santa Monica . Calif . All pictures a nd manusc r ipts sub m itted become the property of THE MODER N GYM N A ST unl ess a return request a nd su f n cle nt posl a ge are included .

Gymnasts: Greek Gods Flying About on Rings By lim Murray, Los Angeles Times Sports Columnist

The sporting crowd I run around with frowns on any game you can't play smoking a cigar. It should have minimal exercise ranging from a simple mandibular motion like " I'll play these" to a maximum of climbing the escalator to the $5 window. Golf makes it only because you can ride and bet, but pool is preferable because there you can close the windows. The closest they get to a football is with 8-power binoculars. The only thing they really know about the game is the point spread. To this bunch, a "parallel bar" would be the saloon across the street from the ballpark. A "long horse" is anything over 50-I, and a "sidehorse" is a last-minute bet you make on an overlay after you have already chunked it in on the horse you handicapped the night before. "Flying rings" would probably be something done with a mop and a pail. The phrases refer to what is probably the purest form of athletics in the whole round. Lumped under the generic term "gymnastics," it is a demonstration of skill and technique in which you don't need a stick, a ball, a net, a table, a body of water, deck of cards, or saddle. All you need is a couple of padded equine-shaped mounts, a couple of joined pipes (although a tree limb will do) -and the physique of a Greek god. There is no body of athletes as exquisitely formed as the gymnast. Football, of late, has concentrated on near-obesity, golf, on total obesity. Good baseball players have been built along the lines of medicine balls and flagpoles. Swimmers may approach the longhorse set, but first you got to get all that chlorine out of their hair. Gymnasts are the kind of creatures the Greeks imagined were running around on Mt. Olympus. Girl gymnasts must be the most gorgeous chorus of glowing young bodies on earth today. They could make any Hollywood sound stage look like a dowager's rejuvenation

spa, and make the Radio City chorus line look downright logey . . There isn't a man in my generation or age bracket who doesn't feel a twinge of sincere regret for every chocolate elair, every can of beer, every platter of lasagne he ever threw down when he ses these young men spring through the air on a set of bars, a pommel, or flexed out in cruciiixion position on a pair of rings. NO PROFESSIONALS To gymnasts, the body is their temple. There's no economic payoff to a youth spent flinging yourself through the air in long hours of hard work unless you might get a job falling off horses for TV westerns, or doubling for Tarzan in the long shots which call for him to travel 1,000 miles on vines. The only real payoff, you sleep soundly at night, you don't have gas on the stomach (you barely have the stomach), and clothes fit you the way they do in the ads and, if you're a gymnast with a blonde ponytail, you have the satisfaction that even movie queens hate you on sight. As a spectator event it combines the best elements of a field sport with "Swan Lake." The compulsory exercises combine with the free choice of the contestant to compromise a nice balance between speed and strength to which are added imagination and daring. They are holding the final men's Olympic tryouts at Pauley Pavilion tonight and Friday and, while coach Jack Beckner and his star bartender and horseman, Dave Thor, have no illusions about overcoming the long leads of the Russians and Japanese in these events, they at least hope to encourage American young men to a different kind of bar-hopping and horseplaying. Don't bring your cigar, skip dessert that night, wear your tighest belt. And, if you're the kind that wheezes going upstairs, it's going to make you burst out crying when you see these kids doing things that would make a wombat turn blue in the face.

Reprinted with Permission, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Copyright, 1968, The Los Angeles Times

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VIEWpoints By Dick Criley

Once again the U.S.O.c. experimented in choosing the men's Olympic gymnastic team. By and large, their efforts were more ef· fective than previously. In 1964 the pre· liminary scores. were added to the final trials scores to select the team while this year two preliminaries were used to select the top dozen gymnasts whose scores at the final trials were the ones to count. In the current trials, adding the previous best .score and the final would have altered the Imeup slightly. That is, Emery would have made the final squad and either Hug or Culhane might have been eliminated. Loyd and Allen would have moved to fourth and fifth r es· pectively. There's no crying over spilt milk, but one can do wonders with a little arithmetic.

Speaking of numbers, interested readers might like to review the Olympic statistics of the 1965 MG volume 7, numbers 1, 3, 5 and 6. The men had it easy, however, in com· parison with the women who had to go through both a preliminary and final com· petition with both scores to count and do it in the same week. (The audience got to sit through four evenings of trials with nearly 30 girls entered.) The set·up was not billed as an elimination trial so that only those who were unfortunate enough to be· come injured were eliminated. We might note that the judges for the women's trials took an inordinate amount of time to arrive at a score for the women during their preliminary trials. The first compulsories ended after midnight. This was largely due to many judges' conferences. Methinks the women doth talk too much. In great contrast with the '64 trials, the men's judges were far more exacting. In the final trials four years ago, a 108.50 was the low score while the score of the seventh qualifier was 110.50 (and he was injured!). Certainly we are fielding as deep and as strong a team as ever in the past, but the challenge of international competition will be even more rugged. Perhaps the increased emphasis on the comp ulsories and fine details will be of benefit to our U.S.A. team.

As a transplanted Easterner, I had to listen as Southern Californians claimed all but one of the 1964 Olympic team as their own. Greg Weiss, a Penn Stater, was that single exception. Now, four years later, it was gratifying to note seven Easterners in the final trials (Cohen, Penn. State; Emery, Penn State; Swetman, an Illinoisian now Record crowd turnout f or Men's Olympic Trial at UCLA

at Penn State; Culhane, P enn State and Southern Connecticut; Cohn, Temple; DiF urio, (Temple) while Loyd (NWLa) uniquely represented the South, Roethlis· berger (Wisconsin) and Thor (a So. Calif. boy gone East to Michigan State) the Mid· East, and Hug, Allen (UCLA) and Freudenstein (Cal - Berkeley) the Southern California contingent. Of the final eight selected, however, the California group represented half with two from the East and one each from the Mid-East and South. (Thor still thinks he's a Southern Californian.) A final note about UCLA which hosted the final trials: Attendance over the 2-day period totalled around 8600, a fi gure which marks them as a prime host for future gymnastic features and a potential rival to Penn State in terms of support of our National efforts.

As a brief personal note: I have enjoyed assisting Editor Glenn Sundby on the staff of The Modem Gymnast for four years. I am now acceptin g a teaching position at the Uni versity of Hawaii and must resign my assorted duties with the MG. I'd like to thank Glenn and Ken Sakoda for their support; Gene Wettstone at P enn State, who first got me started in gymnastics; and all my friends in gymnastics across the co untry for their comments and interest. I will continue to contribute from time to tim e and would like to remind all our r eaders that putting out the MG is a lot of work. It can only continue to grow and be· come bigger and better if each and every gymnast, coach, and enthusiast subscribes, writes letters, and indicates his interest in promoting the sport through the MG. Aloha - Dick Criley

CANADIAN

REPORT by John Nooney 18 Lavington Dr . Weston, Ontario

NATIONAL TRAINING CAMPS National Men's Senior Team Thanks to the University of Ottawa all our naitonal teams were able to train together for two weeks at the Summer Camp at White Fish Lake, 70 miles from Ottawa. Eight of our senior gymnasts were selected at th e national championships at Quebec, Yvon Boisclair, Montreal; Gil Larose, 1'l'Iontreal ; Syd Jensen, Montreal; Barry Brooker, Toronto; Roger Dion, Quebec City ; Fred Rodney, Montreal; Cpl. Rick Kinsman , Camp Borden and Steve Mitruk, Hamilton. The team spirit was excellent, training started at 8 :30 a.m. and fini shed at 7 :30 p.m. All worked on their compulsories but great emphasis was put on endurance training also time was spent on new moves and the new F.I.G. rules which will be used in Mexico for the first time. To quote Willie Weiler our National coach, "John, this was the first time ever in Canada we had an opportunity to work together as a team and at the end of the two weeks the boys really looked like a national team." Five of the eight will be selected at the final Olympic Trials at the C.N.E., all having qualified in two previous trials. National Women's Senior Team Attending the camp were Marie St. John, Montreal; Susan Cloutier , Montreal, Micheline Turcotte, Montreal; Sandy Hartley, Vancouver; J ennefir Diachen, Toronto; Barb Thompson, Toronto, Marilyn Minaker, Toronto ;Theresa McDonnell, Toronto. Our girls were under Mrs. Savage. Again compulsories and endurance training was emphasized. Fortunately the International F.I.G. course for women was on at the same time at the Camp so Mme. Villancher, France, Mme. Nagy of Hun gary and Mme. Gotta of Italy visited and gave an excellent judging clinic. This was one of the high路 lights of the camp and was of great assistance to our girls to have such expert opinions and explanation of the rules that will be used in Mexico. Five of our girls will be selected at the Final Olympic Trials at the C.N.E. to represent Canada in Mexico. National Men's Junior Team For the first time ever a junior men's team was put together und er Jim Hoyle, N.S. Ten or twelve boys were selected at the national championships and were flown on to the camp. There they worked out under Jim and had a similar training camp as our seniors. At the end of the camp the

Senior Men at Training Camp: L. to R. Yvon Boisclair, Gil Larose, Syd Jense n, Barry Brooker , Roger Di a n, Fred Rodney, Cpl . Rick Kinsman and Steve Mitruk.

following boys were selected to complete again st Cuba: J. Thibodeau (Montreal ), D. Howe, R. Johnson, L. Mitchell (Victoria, B.C.) , and T. Sedgewick (S askatoon). Forming this team has now set a precedent, so let us arrange many more International Junior Meets for our National Junior Men's Team. National Women's Junior Team Again our top ten juniors were selected at the national championships. Mrs. Gladys Hartley, Vancouver was appointed as national coach. All atten ded camp and from this group the following were s~le c t ed to compete in Cuba : Janet Terry, Vancouver; Nancy McDonnell, Toronto; Susan Buchanan , Ottawa ; Tami Martin, Vancouver; Lise Arsenault, Montreal; and Marie Love, Toronto. I know our girls will do well and what is mo st important we now have a progression step to our Olympic teams. Now our girls have a definit e goal to work for. I would be remiss in my duties if I did not thank the University of Ottawa Phy. Ed. staff and the Board of Governors for the use of their excellent faciliti es.

FINAL OLYMPIC TRIALS at the C.N.E. Toronto Before one of the largest crowds ever the final trials began. The Ottawa trials and Quebec eliminated the number of gymnasts to eight men and nine women. Saturday night the compulsories wer e held. It was very obvious the effect the camp had on everyone's compulsories. Larose and J ensen looked real good and Sandy Hartley and J ennefir Diachen lo oked excellent. Sunday afternoon the optionals exercises and here is wher e the trouble began. Fall offs were num erous. It would be unfair to

single out certain gymnasts - all I can say is a great deal of work must be done by our coaches before now and October. One point errors will kill the team in Mexico and floor area foot faults are inexcusable for national team members. Here wa s the final selection by the committee: Women's Team, Coach Mrs. Savage: Sandy Hartley, Vancouver; J ennefir Diachen, Toronto; Susan Cloutier, Montre al; Marilyn Minaker, Toronto; Theresa McDonnell, Toronto. Women Judges: Faye Weiler and Marie Medveczky. Men's Team, Coach Willie Weiler: Gil Larose, Montreal ; Roger Dion, Quebec City ; Syd Jensen, Montreal ; Barry Brooker, Toronto; Steve Mitruk, Hamilton. Men's Judge s: J. Chouinard and A. Dippong. We have two of last year's juniors on the women's team which is the youngest team we have ever sent to an International competition. A great deal depends on J ennefir Diachen and Theresa McDonnell. Personally I am for sendin g the young gymnasts. Steve Mitruk of Hamilton is the only n ew member of the men's team. This will be Steve's first International competition. The team is under a real handicap havin g only five members. When is the Canadian Gymnastic Assoc. going to grow up and support our Association to send a full team of six members? It will hurt our team's standin g having only five gymnasts. Other smaller countries can send full teams, WHY NOT CANADA???? May I take this opportunity to wish our delega tion success both on and off the gym floor. To be selected to represent your country is a great responsibility and honor. Please remember this when you're in Mexico. Good Luck. 7

1968 USA MEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM: Left to Right: Steve Hug, Sid Freudenstein, Richard Loyd, Konati Allen, Dave Thor, Fred Roethlisberger, Steve Cohen, James Culhane. Kneeling: Manager Bill Meade and Coach Jack Beckner. (MexIco plaque held by the gymnasts was deSigned and created by artist Gerald Bartosch.)

BOUND

MEXICO

JACK BECKNER - Coach Age 38 Height 6' Weight 180 Born in Los Angeles, Calif. Started in Gymnastics 1946 at Franklin H.S. Los An geles. Member of the USA Ol ympic team in 1952, '56 & ' 60. A member of the USA Pan-Am Team in 1955 & ' 59. Coached USC to NCAA National Championships 1962. BILL MEADE - Manager Age 43 Height 5'6" Weight 195 Born in Detroit, Mich. Started Gymnastics in 1938 at Beatty Jr. H.S. in Warren Penna . Went to Penn . State Univ. Coached Univ. of North Carolina and So. Illinois Univ. His teams have won 3 NCAA National Team Championships .

DAVE THOR Age 21 Height 6' Weight 160 Born in Von Nuys, Calif. Started gymnastics at Reseda H .S., Calif. in 1961. Attended Michigan State Univ. (George Szypula, coach). Member of USA Universiade and Pan-Am Teams, Midwest AA champ and 3 Big 10 AA championships.

STEVE HUG Age 16 Height 5'4" Weight 126 SID FREUDENSTEIN Age 23 Height 5'6 112" Weight 148 Born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Started Gymnastics in 1960 at Anaheim H.S., Calif. Attended Univ . of Calif . at Berkeley (Hal Frey, coach). Member of 1967 USA Universiade Team, North American Team and California All-Stars vs. Scandinavian All-Stars.

JAMES CALHANE Age 26 Height 5'6" Weight 140 Barn in Rochester, New York. Started gymnastics in H.S. in 1957. Attended Penn State Univ. (Gene Wettstone, coach). Member of USA 1965 Gymnaestrada and the North American Team.

Barn in Highland, Illinois. Started Gy mnastics (age 11) in Elementary School in Northridge, Calif . in 1963, went to Nobel Jr. High and now attends Chatsworth High School. Member of USA Pre-Ol y mpic Team, North American Team, Calif. All-Stars vs. Scandinavian Pre Olympic trials AA Champ and 1968 Los Angeles City championships high point winner.

KANATI ALLEN Age 21 Height 5'8" Weight 140 RICHARD LOYD Age 23 Height 5'6" Weight 138

Born in Los Angeles, Cal if. Started Gymnastics at Mount Vernon Jr. H.S. 1961, attended UCLA (Art Shurlock, coach) . Member of the USA World Games Team in 1966 and the Universiade Team 1967.

Born in Monroe, Louisiana. Started Gymnastics in 1961 at Bolton H.S. at Alexander, La. Attended Northwestern Louisiana State College (Fred Martinez & Armando Vega, coaches). Member of USA Pan Am, Pre Olympic & North American Teams, NAIA All-Around Champ .

FRED ROETHLISBERGER Age. 25 Height 5'9" Weight 160 Born in Milwaukee, Wisc. Started Gymnastics in 1947 at the Milwaukee Turners (coached by Jim Farkas). went to the Univ. of Wisconsin (George Baver, coach). was a Member of the USA World Games Team 1966, an All-Around Gold Medal winner at the 1967 Pan-American Games and a Member of the North American Team .

STEVE COHEN Age. 22 Height 5'7" Weight 154 Born in Philadelphia, Po . Started Gymnastics a Philadelphia H .S. in 1958 . Went to Po. State (Gene Wettstone, coach) and Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical School. Member of the USA World Games Team 1966 and the Macabee Games. Won 3 EIGL AIIAround Championships and 2 NCAA AIIAround National Championships .

Kanal; Allen

Richard Loyd

Dav e Thor

Sid Freudenstein

Fred Roethl isberger

( ~~ ~~IT~OOW~~I : Fred Roethlisberger) BY STEVE H UG A N D DICK CRILEY

Name: Fred Roethlisberger Age: 25 Ht. 5'7" Wt. 165 lb. Gymnastic Participation: Milwaukee Turn· ers (Coach-Jim Farkas), University of Wisconsin (Coach-George Bauer). College: University of Wisconsin. Cur· rently a graduate student in physical education. Honors: Member of 1966 U.S.A. World Games team, member of 1967 U.S.A. Pan American Games team, member of U.S. team at 1967 Pre·Olympic Games in Mexico City, member of U.S. team at 1968 North American Championships in Vancouver, B.C.

What influenced you to start gymnastics? I started gymnastics in the Turners in Mil· waukee. Gymnastics has been a part. of my family history. My mother and father both participated in the Turners and they put me in the Turners at the youngest possible age which was 5 years at that time. At that age it was tumbling, climbing and vaulting activities that we did mainly. That grade school age participation in gymnastics really developed my tumbling and vaulting abilities . If you were to start over, where would you begin in developing your gymnastics? I think I'd like to start over in the same way, in an organization like the Turners, at a young age . .. possibly with a little dance or ballet training. I didn't really mature as a gymnast until the last three years since I've

been out of college. I don't really know what that is due to, although I didn't really work out extremely hard in high school, just two or three times a week at the most at the Milwaukee Turners. I feel very lucky as I am still healthy. I see some kids who have been pushed at an early age who have had troubles because of it, I think. What do you think is about right age to start? Is Steve (Hug) too young? It depends on their maturity. It depends very much on the individual. You have to be careful when you start too young. You can't start too young in gymnastics with tumbling and free exercise and vaulting aspects of it, but I think you can start too early and start pushing too hard on some of the apparatus events, such as rings and parallel bars especially. It depends largely on the individual - if he's psychologically and mentally ready. Do you work on your routines all year long? No, I don't usually work routines until about 2 months before the biggest meet of the year and for smaller meets, I usually work out on routines for about a month preceding. But, on free exercise, I like to push myself to do routines all year 'round because I feel that this builds up the endurance that is needed in gymnastics. Do you feel that a specialist has a role in gymnastics? I feel that not everyone should be forced into doing the all-around, but I do feel that everyone should be forced into working a combination of at least two or three activities where all parts and functions of his body are developed. For example, working side horse and a hanging event such as ri ngs OF horizontal bar. I feel that floor exercise is the only event that can stand on its own. How do you feel about gymnastics as a team sport? I never used to think of it as a team sport which I was in college or before that. Quite often I was competing alone or unattached. Even competing ih college there wasn't too much as far as a team at the University of Wisconsin. But now, I think that it is a team sport and should be a team sport. I think I've come to that conclusion since our competition in Dortmund, Germany, where we were in such close competition with the Czechs and the Polish team for fourth place. On the side horse, the last event of the meet for us with

the meet being as close as it was, I really felt the team spirit and realized how wonderful it really was. I think this is a good thing to try to develop. Do you feel our (U.S') team has a chance of placing higher in the coming Olympics or other international competitions than we have done in the past? I think it'll be tough for us and we'll have to do a good job just to get fourth place. I don't see us going above fourth place in the near future. What role does gymnastics play in your life? The best way I can explain that is to say that it has become a way of life for me, a habit actually. Like taking a shower or brushing my teeth in the morning, I just have to do it every day. You're one of the "older" gymnasts in competition; does this give you any advantage ' or disadvantage? I hate to think of myself as one of the "older" gymnasts because I've really just made the grade the last three years. So I like to think of myself as one of the younger gymnasts. I'm still very healthy; I don't have any physical problems, and I hope to be at it for a few more years yet. I don't feel I've had much more experience than a lot of the gymnasts who are in it now. What do you intend to do after college? I'm working on my Master's degree at the present time. I'll be finishing that up this summer' and next year I'll be teaching physical education at Whitewater State College in Wisconsin. I want to get some experience teaching and possibly go back for a PhD in the future. Are you going to try to coach a gym team also? I may be doing some coaching, but mainly I'll be teaching physical education . That's where my interest is - more in the physical education than in the coaching. How much longer do you plan to stay in gymnastics? There are a lot of factors influencing that. Personally, if I have my way, I wouldn·t quit gymnastics until I stopped improving. I've been improving each year over the past years. I'd like to keep going until I stopped improving. I thing that whatever activity one chooses to work at, it is always a shame not to really try to develop your maximum potential, to know what your maximum potential could be. I'd like to find out what my maxmum potential could be in gymnastics.

Fashion

B.C. - the cestus, a leather thong bound around the fists and forearms and used as gloves in boxing matches. Seven-hundt:ed years later, in the Roman version of boxirtg, metal stud s were added to the cestus." Times have changed ! After nearly 2,000 years of absence, the Olympics were revived in 1896 and held that year, fittingly enough, in Athens. The modem games last two weeks, including preliminaries and semifinals! Besides the addition of new contests the games were updated by the inclusion of women in the Paris contes~ of 1900. And just as the laural wreath was no longer suitable as a prize for winners, so the uniforms had to undergo transforation .from the Spartan-ness of the Greek designs! Competitors today march before the whole world in a solemn ceremony marking the start of the Olympics. Special outfits ha~e to be designed for each contingent that reflect the pride and respect of a nation. In the original games, the nakedness of the contestants was decreed by official religious and philosophical beliefs. As tastes have changed, so have methods of choosing the designs to be worn. Some countries subsidize the whole operation, using government designers and factories. In America, free enterprise' enlists the ideas of our young talent to cover the competitors. According to researchers, services and goods valued at more than half a million dollars are contributed by private industries towards outfitting our team!

When the U.S. Olympic Team parades in 1968, it will be wearing fashions chosen from designs submitted by young men and women across the country who took part in a special contest sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Apparel Committee. lohn B. Russell, Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Apparel Committee, says that judgment was based upon fashion creativity and on how well the design meets the challenge of creating an adaptable, attractive uniform style capable of fitting a wide ' variety of sizes and shapes. While we have no accurate record of the performance of ancient Greek athletes, we do know that since the revival of the路 games at the beginning of the century, times in races and distances in field events have improved considerably. Methods of training are constan tly being improved, giving us better and better performing athletes. New outfits are designed in keeping with the Olympic ideal of freedom of movement, while changing with the fashion tastes of the times. The modern Olympics generate as much excitement today as they did thousands of years ago. If anything, increased leisure gives us even greated t1pportunity to take pleasure in the feats of our athletes. When you tune in the games this October, stop a minute to think of. the progress from pagan temples to the prolonged contests of endurance enjoyed today by millions of men and women alike!

When the tradilion of the Olymp Ics began nearly 30 centuries ago, naked contestants took part In religiOUS rites as well as athletic contests. Modern games differ In many ways; for one, the contestants are clothed!

THE OLYMPICSTHEN AND NOW When you tune in the Olympic Games this fall, you will be taking part in a tradition that began nearly 30 centuries ago! There are important differences between the modern and ancient games - today women participate and the contestants are clothed! - but the ancient ideal of doing the best for the joy of achieving remains the same. I~ 776 B.c., the first Greek Olympian festival took place. Originally the games were closely connected with reliaious rites and included music and poetry ~long with athletic competition. The first Olympic stadium was build with an adjoining temple, and it became the symbol of the Greek ideal~ of physical beauty and the training of nund and body. Women were forbidden to watch or participate in the games. Athletes participated nude, as maximum freedom of movement and display of the human body were considered essential to good performance. Later, a "girdle" made an occasional appearance. The Olympic Games were so important to the Greeks that a "sacred truce" was en路 acted dt.tr!ng their performance, protecting all participants, even if they came from enemy "city-states." The games constituted the one international bond throu ah all politicill conflicts. (How unlike toda~!) The Olympic Games endured until 394 A.D., after which time several similar fe stivals occurred under different, conquering cultures. The games evolved from one-day meets to fi ve-day "sweat-ins," but the style of dress (or non-dress!) remained the sam e. One article of clothing was added in 688 19

PHOTO路ART I CONTEST FIRST: At left, Michael J. Rogers of Milton, Massachusetts with this multicolored print of ring action (sorry we could not print it in it's original colors) which we have produced as a negative print. SECOND: At right, Chris Castner of Los Angeles, Calif. with a Yoshika 44 Tri-X 127 at 500 caught this interesting shot of Steve Lerner dismounting from the swinging rings at Santa Monica beach. THIRD: Below, broad line high contrast drawing by Louis West now with the US Armed Services stationed in Hawaii.

, l r r

I }

A SECOND LOOK AT SWING © By Gerald S. George Gymnastic Coach Louisiana State University

In the past· two issues of MG, we have concerned ourselves with the basic overgrip and undergrip giant swings. Presently we shall consider their often used, yet seemingly unimportant transition, the Forward Pirouette. Seldom does one witness this skill correctly executed. The three most obvious errors dealing with this transition skill, in order of frequency, are: 1. turning "too late"; 2. turning with an arched body line; 3. failing to "square off" the body line relative to the har upon completion of the turn. Interesting to con· sider is the fact that all three errors stem from the same identical source . . . i.e. improper upward circular swing. Let us then consider "proper" upward circular swing relative to the One·Half Turn (Pirouette) Forward. First off, the swing must be quite powerful and the weight of the body must be directed slightly to the side of the attached hand. Secondly, the attached hand must exert a vigorous forward·upward push against the bar throughout the entire turn. And finally, the turn itself must be fully completed slightly before the total body line transcends the upper vertical line. In view of this final point, the forward turn will feel similar to a backward turn in that its initiation occurs on the upward .aspect of the swing rather than on top of the bar. Not only is an early pirouette mechani· cally more sound and aesthetically more shocking, but it also lends itself to a far greater variety of sequentially related skills . .. i.e. immediate free hip circle sequences, immediate stoop·in sequences, etc. A Forward Pirouette on the Horizontal Bar is just an "A" move . . . baahhh! Per· formed as it should be performed, it'll hold its own against any and all moves of suo perior difficulty. How often have we heard the adage, it's not what is done, it's how it's done. The Japanese and the Europeans slap our face with this fact in every international competition. I invite you to take a "Second Look". Write to MG for those skills you want to have analyzed.

Illustrations A - B - C are omitted in or· der that a more vivid presentation of the One-Half Turn (Pirouette) Forward can be realized. The omitted illustrations, in addition to Illustrations D - E - F, are identical to the respective illustrations depicted in the Basic Undergrip Giant S,ving (previous is· sue of MG). Hence, the mechanics and techniques relative to each skill are thus far one and the same. The potential force of the arched body position apparent in Illustration F is released in order to facilitate the upward circular swing. The gymnast must immediately follow up this action first by decreasing the shoulder angle slightly and then by decreasing the hip angle in direct proportion to the upward circular swing. Illustrations G· H - I progress into this " Hip Lead" position. As the body approaches the apex of the upward circular swing, the aforementioned decreased shoulder and hip angles begin to increase simultaneously and proportionately with each other. Of prime importance is the fact that the longtitudinal weight of the body is directed slightly to the side of the anticipated % turn thereby facilitating proper body alignment upon completion of the forward pirouette. Upon reaching Illustration J, the body will sense a feeling a weightlessness, almost as if one were being pulled above the bar.

It is during this feeling of weightlessness that the slip-grip action of the hands is realized. The wrists are arched onto the t(lP of the' bar to provide support for the oncoming body weight. Illustrations K - L depict the % Turn (Pirouette) Forward in action. The actual % Turn is initiated slightly before the aforementioned increasing shoulder and hip angles prescribe a direct straight-line relationship with each other. Such action is often referred to as " cork screw" twisting. . . . i.e. extending from a very slight piked position into the twist. Throughout the entire % turn, a vigorous for-upward push against the bar with the attached arm will help to avoid the tendency of turning too late. In order to remain congruent with my concept of "Full Anatomical Range", the pirouette must be initiated, executed, and completed slightly before the total body unit transcends the upper vertical line. A final point is that the % turn must be executed as a single action. The entire motion must be instantaneous and coordinated with respect to the total body unit. Hence the pirouette is completed, as depicted in Illustration M, before the body transcends the upper vertical. Such a consideration will help to insure greater continuity relative to the sequentially related skills.

Gymnastic Classics @ Vo lume I - Horizontal Bar Section "B" - Changes In Direction Above The Bar Number J - From an Undergrip Giant Swing - ON E HALF TURN (PIROUETTE) FORWARD - to an Overgrip Handstand Position.

@ Copyright

fer to the area of the horse that he wishes to contact with his hands. The eyes should remain focused on this point until the hands establish contact with the horse. HURDLE - The hurdle should be short and low in order to maintain maximum speed and control. It must be used only as a means of taking-off with the feet together as an extension of the run. The arms are forced upward and forward in coordination wi th the take-off_ The above mentioned points are common to all vaults. It is difficult to discuss any further vaulting procedures that do not apply to a specific vault. STOOP FROM THE NECK The performer should leave the board with a vigorous uj>'Outward arm lift. His body should be leaning slightly forward and his eyes focused on the neck of the horse. At the moment of contact his body should be fully extended at a 30掳 angle above the horse and the arms stretched forward almost in line with the upper body. AFTER-FLIGHT - A vigorous pushdown combined with a snap-down of the legs will result in added height if the head is not lifted immediately. Once the performer has completed the push, the head and arms must be raised as the hips straighten. The straight body position sho uld be a stretch rather than an arch. As the performer descends, his eyes should be focused on the landing area. Upon landing, the arms will naturally fall slightly to the sides of the body. This motion of the arms should be circular in action so that they can be recovered in an extended forward-sideward position as soon as possible. HECHT FROM THE NECK PRE-FLIGHT-A fast run with a strong forward lean is required. EYES -T he eyes should be focused on the neck when the performer is certain of his hitting the board correctly. This should occur about fifteen feet in front of the board. HEAD - The head should be held down between the extended arms just high enough for the eyes to see the neck of the horse. ARMS - The arms must lead the body during flight. Upon contact with the horse, the arms should be almost in line with the upper body. BODY POSITION - The body should be slightly above horizontal and almost straight from hands to toes as the hands contact the neck of the horse. This position varies slightly witb each individual.

PRE-FLIGHT -

VAULTING FOR BEGINNERS By Don Tonry Many instructors have a great deal of trouble teaching young people to vault with good technique because of the heighth of the horse and the youngster's fears of being supported on a small area by the hands only. There are several methods that can be employed as a means of overcoming these fears and developing good vaulting tech路 nique. The FIRST PHASE of vaulting to be considered when teaching a beginner to vault is the RUN and HURDLE. The beginner should be taught to take a short, low hurdle to the take-off board from an abbreviated run before attempting to perform any type of vault. He should be taught that the hurdle is only a means of taking-off with two feet at the same time as an extension of the run. The hurdle should not be used as a means of attaining height as in diving. (The diver has limited space, his board is extremely low and his objective is always to go almost straight up). Once the vaulter has mastered the run and hurdle he should be given a broad surface to land on. A pile of mats, a table or trampoline with pads covering the surface will provide a safe landing area at first. This type of a set-up is most adequate for handstand position types of vaults. At this point an attempt should be made to teach the performer the technique to snap down from a handstand position; therefore, a three-quarter handstand will do. This procedure will teach him to push away with his hands and shoulders as he snaps his legs between his hands and lands on his feet. With conscientious practice, the performer should be able to employ the "snapdown" techn ique on the SQUAT, STRADDLE, and STOOP vaults which require that type of action. The pre-flight position of handspring and cartwheel also can be mastered by using the broad surface method. The SECOND PHASE of vaulting to be considered is the LANDING. This can be practiced by jumping from the horse to the mat and later by pushing off the horse from a handstand and passing through the required vaulting position. Of course, this landing procedure applies only to the above mentioned type of vault. Upon landing, a semi-sq uat position should be used with the arms ex tended horizontally to the sides of the body. The upper portion of the body should lean only slightly forward of the vertical position.

The tran sItIOn from vaulting on a broad surface to that of a long-horse should not be too difficult if the performer has mastered his basic skills. The transition can also be lessened by putting the horse down to a level that is lower than regulation_ It is extremely important at this point or the beginner to find a spot to run from that will enable him to take-off on the same foot upon hurdling so that he can hit the board at the same approximate area with each vault. As the performer becomes accustomed to the horse it should be raised to the required heighth. There are many ways that an instructor may help a gymnast to overcome fear and improve his vaulting technique. Employing a bit of imagination and patience along with technical understanding should overcome most problems. LONG HORSE VAULTING PACES - The number of paces each vaulter uses varies with the individual. However, most vaulters use the same number of paces for all of their vaults. This distance should be measured very carefully by the performer in order to insure a reasonable amount of consistency upon approaching the board. The distance used enable the vaulter to reach his desired take-off speed about fifteen feet before he reaches the board. The 1960 American Olympic team used distances ranging from fifty-two feet (nineteen paces) to seventyfive feet (twenty-five paces) _ The 1961 Japanese Touring Gym Team tended to vault from the latter distance. The Russian gymnasts also fall into this pattern of distances. It should be noted also that this distance varies slightly in accordance with the distance of the board from the horse. The number of paces used should be measured from a specific point on the board to a specific spot on the floor. SPEED - The speed of the run should be determined by the vault used and the ability of the performer. Most good vaulters tend to start their run with a slight lean forward, a deliberate arm swing and a series of relatively long slow strides. The speed of the run should increase rapidly but smoothly after the first few initial steps have been taken. The maximum speed employed for any particular vault should be acquired about twenty feet before reaching the board. EYES - The eyes should be focu sed on the board as the performer starts his run. As he approaches the board (about fifteen feet away) his visual subject should trans-

AFTER-FLIGHT PUSH-OFF - As the push-off is executed, the head and shoulders should follow through with downward thrust. This action will tend to raise. the hips which will result in elevation of the entire body. STRETCH - The stretch occurs after the body has completed the follow-through from the push路off. The arms are usually held in a horizontal position, the back slightly arched, the eyes focused on the landing area. LANDING - The hips are flexed as much as is needed in preparation for the landing. The knees should not bend until actual contact is made with the mats. The landing position should be a semi-squat with the arms extended horizontally to the side. The ability of the performer to land without losing his balance depends upon an early orientation while in after-flight, the height of the body during pre-flight in relation to the power of the push off and the amount of specialized concentration devoted to this phase of vaulting.

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GYMWHEEL -

GYMNASTICS

By Norbert Difl

Gymwheel Gymnastics is one of the finest activities for developing coordination and it is a very pleasurable exercise. It is enjoyed by both men and women of all ages. Gymwheel Gymnastics fits well into the physical education programs of elementary, junior high, high schools and colleges. The Gymwheel instructor does not need to be very proficient on the gymwheel to teach very adequately. A well managed gymwheel class moves along smoothly and rapidly if a few simple rules of instruction are followed. These rules are: I. Class Interest; allow each student about 8 to 10 wheel rotations, thereby more students have an opportunity to work during the class period. Students watching one indivdiual for a long time adds very little stimulus to the group. Keeping the class enrollment small allows more time per student. However, if the enrollment is large, the class may be divided into several squads, and while one squad is using the gymwheel,

the other squads are free for other gym activities. Rotating the squads through the various activities holds the students attention. II. Clothing; a T-shirt or a long sleeved sweat shirt. Gymnastic trunks or gym sweat pants (girls may wear capris if they desire.) and relatively flexible tennis shoes. III. Safety; students awaiting their turns to use the gym wheel should be alert and in a position to offer assistance, if needed. Only one person at a time should be allowed to use the gymwheel. Learn to perform the basic skills well before going on to more difficult tricks. Lesson 4 The student should begin lesson No. 4 by reviewing everything learned up to this point, after which he is ready to learn the Topsupport and the Backbends. Topsupport must be learned from the front posltIOn (front is the direction the wheel is going to roll) in much the same manner as the frontsupport was learned. The student should start the wheel by slightly bending his body to the back and immediately shifting his weight to the front and by raising his arms up to the hoophandles. See picture # 16. Through the entire wheelrotation the body should stay in this position. Head should not drop .between arms. See pictures # 17 & 18. Spotting for this trick if neces-

sary is done by holding the front foot in the binding to prevent from slipping out. Always have student pointing toes against the board. Topsupport backwards is done in the same manner. Big Backbend is learned exactly like the Topsupport with hands on the hoophandles but instead of having the body straight the student has to bend knee in the front and arch as much as possible. See picture #19. Just before student is upside down both arms must be bent to shift body weight toward the front. See picture # 20. Immediately after reaching the upside down position arms must be in arching position again. See picture #2l. Big Backbend backwards is started like Topsupport, but instead of sagging, the body should arch with the front knee bent. Through entire wheel rotation the body stays in this position. Small Backbend The small backbend is executed in front position, body arched to reach the handle on the gripbraces in the back. See picture #22. Both legs straight without bends through entire wheel rotation. See pictures #23 & 24. Head must be between the arms all the time and arms have to be straight with no bends to execute the small backbend backward is done by exactly the same manner as the small backbend forward. 21

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Now your team can practice with complete confidence that no matter how they land they'll be caught in the soft, soft cradling depths of a SOFLAN GYM CUSHION. Anyone, yes anyone, can make a mistake-and when it happens, there's nothing like a SOFLAN cushion to make them forget it. Protective SOFLAN practice cushions are 5 feet by 10 feet, with 8 thick inches of soft foam rubber filler, covered by a nylon breather fabric that lets the performer sink right in for a weightiess stop. ANNOUNCING! THE NEW SOFLAN-3 MEET MAT Recently used in Olympic trials at UCLA - now being put into production for competition use.

• Recommended for all around gym use. • Vinyl nylon breather-fabric cover - reinforced electronically welded-seams inverted, with sealed edges. • Perfect non-slip landing surface - high tensile strength - maximum flexibility. • Cover is f lame resistant, acid and mildew resistant - washable with damp cloth. • Colors: Gray, Green, Blue, Red - all same price. Gray supplied unless otherwise specified.

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Jerry

Fontana Ames, Iowa, and had been presented with a variety of gifts and momentos of their v isit to Iowa State. This experience for the Iowa State team proved that it is possible for the U.s.A: to win in international competition. Final team results:' Iowa State Cyclone Club 158 .95, West Germany 154.70 (top 3 scores in each event).

g.' '-'

--\. .-

I International Match

I I I~et's

Teach Routines" . by Dr. William Vincent San Fernando Valley S.c.

$1.00 I nstructional Aids Box 777 Santa Monica, Calif.

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WEST GERMANY vs. IOWA STATE AMES, IOWA July 20, 1968 In this first internat iona l gymnastics competition between West Germany and the Iowa State Un iversity Cyclone Club, t he many fans throughout the state of Iowa were presented a unique and exciting level of competitive gymnastics. The ground rules were that each team would be limited to a total of six competitors and that the top three scores in each event would be totaled to determine the team champion. The first event was captured by Iowa State's Mike Jacki who managed to edge out the West German student champion, Ulrich Adler, by a mere .05 of a point. Adler, a tall and handsome six-foot competitor returned to win the side horse event in championship fashion . The ring event was next, and thi s is where the Cyclones introduced a specialist by the name of Ward

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Meythaler who stunned all spectators and compet itors alike with a fantastic routine which included no less than seven IIC" moves, So fine was his performance that it prompted the West German coach, Josef Knoch, to r ise from his chair and wa lk over to congratulate Meythaler on his outstanding perform-

ance.

The long horse was a close event for both teams. It was in this event that the Germans captured their second first place by a vau lt turned in by Ulrich Ott.

Josef Knoch The all-around at this point wos

proving to be a close match betwen Adler of West Germany and Jerry Fontana and Brent Simmons of Iowa State. Going into the parallel bars event with a sl ight team lead of a little over two points, Brent Simmons led the Cyclones to an even greater lead and his first indiv idual victory in internationa l competition . The h ig h bar event again proved

SEATTLE 212.90LEVERKUSEN, W. GERMANY 211.75 On July 29, 1968 a crowd of 2,500 watched a fine competition between a team from the WestGerma n city of Leverkusen and ' a Seattle All-star team at the Seattle Arena. Seattle's team beat Leverku se n by a score of 212.90 to 211.75 winning four out of six events. Five men competed on each team with four co unting t owa rd the team

score. Shoich i Fukushima (Seattle) and Ulrich Adler, one of Germany's best collegiate gymnast tied for AII-

to be a dramatic climax to an exciting evening of competition. With momentum, ro lling towards their first interna tional team championship, the Cy cl ones put on a last charge of fanta stic team strength to ma ke a clean sweep of the top three positions. Simmons, Winning his second event of the evening, tied former All-American Jerry Fon tana for first place o n h or izonta l bar. To round off the clean sweep was freshmen Cyclone, Dave Butzman, who won the third place position. The all-around, with no less than nine men in con tent ion was a close battle right down to the last event in wh ich Jerry Fontana managed to edge out the strong Ulrich Adler by only .05 of a point. In Coach Gagnier's opi n ion, this international event was a real stepping stone for all gymnasts involved. The Germans had been treated royally by the citizens af around h onors. Ulrich Ott (Leverkusen) was third, Bob Hall (Seattle) fourth, and Gunter Bohrmann (Seattle) fifth. Individual events were won by Shoichi Fukushima (S) Harizontal bar 9.25; and Rings 9 .10 (tie)路 Ulrich Adler (L) Rings 9.10 (tie); Ulrich Ott (L). Floor exercise 9. 15; Bob Hall (5) Side horse 9.40; Charlie Peters (S) Parallel bars 9.30; and Gunter Bohrmann (S) v aulting 9.45. The met was cosponsored by King TV in Seattle and the Seatt le Gymnastics . Club . Gunter Bohrmann, gymnastics coach at Kent-Meridian High School in Kent, Washington arranged and coordinated the prep-

aration necessary for such a meet.

"Y -NEWS" Robert Hanscom - Director 0/ Phys. Ed. Marblehead, Massachusetts YMCA Wayn e Chandler, representing the Marble· head , Massachusetts YMCA, is the 1968 National AAU Junior Olympic AIl·around Champion. Wayne qualified for the Nationals by fir st winning the New England YMCA all·around title for the second straight year ( he won all six events) , and then defeated a very fin e gymnast from New Jersey, 14 year old Blane N asveschuck at the regional level. Ouly the fir st place winner at the regionals was eligible to go to the Nationals. The National Junior Olympic Champion· ships had introduced gymnastics for the first time this year along with swimming and diving and track and field. Th e championships were held on the 6th, 7th and 8th of August at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The meet was run very smoothly for both boys and girl s in two age groups, 14 and und e and 15 through 17. Competition was conducted Olympic style with squads of gymnasts rotating from event to event. Much credit must go to Mr. Thomas Maloney who at the very last min· ute was asked to be the meet director. Judging for both the male and female competition appeared to be better than aver· age, with Superior Judges like Mr. Maloney, Jack Beckner and Fred Martinez doing an excellent job. Needless to say, as has been in many cases of clinics, camps, meets and exhibi· tions, without the generous help and co· operation from Nissen Corp. the meet would not have been the success that it was. Wayn e, although only 12 years old at th e time of the meet, and competing in the 14 and under age group, won five events and placed second in vaulting. It was the feeling of Wayne and my self that the competition was better in the Wayne Chandler

Eastern regional competition than at the Nationals. Along with Wayne and Blane Nasves· chuck, there are a couple of other very fine gymnasts in the area, one is Pierce Wagner from New Jersey and Royden (Tony) Hall from Rhode Island. All of these boys, in my opinion are po· tentially first rate National or possibly In· ternational gymnasts. We wonder how many other boys in this age group 02 to 14, all·around only), have the potential and desire that will someday put them in conterrtion for a berth on the 1972 or 1976 Olympic team. I know that we would like to hear of these boys, including where and how often they work out and possibly their all· around routines. In menrioning routines, I thought that Wayn e's winning routines deserved mention, so here they are: FLOOR EXERCISE - From stand in cor· ner, raise on toes, arms overhead, run to roundoff, flip· flop, back sommie, back roll handstand, step out, Swedish fall, swing around to split, hold. Swing leg back to front support, raise arm, tuck under to kip % turn, leg circles to straight leg up. RIHl to front hand s~rin g, front sommie, dive roll, head spring, double leg fall to straddle stand. Press handstand, hold, turn to forward roll, front handspring walkout to swinging pirou· ette. Roundoff, flip· flop, back. SIDE HORSE - On right side, left hand on right pommeIl, jump in, one double, Moore, travel reverse scissors in, two dou· bles, direct tromlet, break into front scissors both ways, two doubles, break to simple Khere out, double on end and loop % off. HORIZONTAL BAR - Reverse grip kip, two front giants, reach under full turn, back rise, back circle, kip straddle over bar circle, % turn, kip, two back giants, cross over pirouette, two front giants, high piked front sommie over the bar dismount, (Yamashita) . LONG HORSE VAULTING-Giant Cart· wheel. PARALLEL BARS - Glide kip, fonvard roll , back rise cut catch, layaway, layout back roll to hands, drop back to German kip (cast), back rise to "L" hold. Press handstand, hold. Stutz, layaway, back rise, swing to hand stand, swing to piked front sommie off. RINGS - Straight body pull through to back lever, hold, disengage to dislocate, Japanese dislocate (strai ght body straight arms), shoot to shoulder stand, hold, cast forward to inlocate, back rise to "L" hold , press to handstand , hold, drop backward to cast, inlocate, back rise, immediate back straddle off, 0%6 World Game compulsory dismount) .

Conditioning For Competition

1968 NATIONAL AAU JUNIOR OLYMPICS

Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.

August 7 All Around-Intermediate (13-14) Girls : I . Diane Grayson, Orchard Lk., Mich, 2 . Joan Moore, Ocean City, N.J., 3. Claudia Fizzell, Rivera Bch., Fla. All Around-Intermediate (13-14) Boys: 1. Wayne Chandler, Marblehead, Mass, 2. John O'Connell, Detroit, Mich., 3 . Burr Bachler, Rosville. Ga . All Around-Senior (15-17 Girls: 1. Pat McCary, Ocean City, N.J., 2 . Cindy Hall, Flint, Mich., 3. Ruthann Eckert, Miami , Fla. All Around-Senior (15-17) Boys: 1. Rand y Martin, Sherman Oaks, Cal., 2 . Roger Holdman, Salt Lake C., Utah, 3. Bill Hudg ins, Ft. Worth Texas. Trampoline-Senior (15-17) Girls : 1. Mary McDonald , Des Moines, Iowa, 2 . Susan Hill, Grand Prairie, Texas, 3 . Rebecca Thompson, Tallahassee, Fla. Trampoline-Senior (15-17) Boys: 1. Bobby Moss, Memphis, Tenn., 2 . John Cosgrove, Van Nuys, Calif., 3 . Hugh Curfman, Lafayette, La.

by Dick W ol/e

An Effective Half-way Method The stiff·stiff press to handstand is a move that is performed by many, clone well by few. The most common error in exe· cutin g this movement occurs when the gymnast raises his heels too early thus causing the hips to drop and forcing an ugly position with the shoulders far in fr ont of the hands. This error can be easily corrected by practicing the movement only to the half· way position. Only after a balance in this half·way position can be held for five sec· onds should the gymnast attempt the move· ment to an extended handstand position. To initiate this press, straddle the le gs with the hands about shoulder width apart and as close to the feet as fl exibility will r ermit. With the head tucked between the s.houlder s, stretch as high as possible b e· fore attemptin g to actually begin the press. A spotter, by grasping at the thighs and pulling forward , can then manually for ce the proper position with the hips over the hand s (figure 2) . By pressing the perform· er 's shoulder s with his knees, the spotter can also prevent too mu ch lean of the shoulders durin g the press. (Fig. 1 and 2) . Th e spotter can provide more or less pressure according to the fl exibility and strength of th e performer. Once the press to th e half·way pos ition has been master e d, ra isin g the heels to the handstand position will require little effort; and missing a hand stand will be rare. 27

"ACROBATICS" Specialized Training

LETTERS

in FLOOR EXERCISE only

JOE PRICE co 1697 Broadway

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1968 NATIONAL AAU GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Super 8 film - in color Complete winning routines plus the ."runner-ups ,

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fps). of the finest gymnasts in the country. N.o rentals. Men's - 200 . ft ....................... $18.00 Ppd . Women's - 200 ft .......... ....... $18.0Q Ppd . FRANK ENDO 12200 So. Berendo Ave. Los Angeles, Calif. 90044

CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS? MAIL ADQRESS CHANGE TO: THE MODERN GYMNAST, BOX 611 SANTA MONICA, CALIF. 90406 Be sure to include your ZIP code.

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BOYS OPTIONAL AGE GROUP OPEN, Nov. 17, 1968, Reading YMCA, Reading, Po . GIRLS NEW NOVICE COMPULSORY MEET, Nov. 23, 1968, Forwood Jr. H.S., 2000 Westminister Dr., Holiday Hills, Wilmington, Delaware. Write Ron Gilbert, 115 State Line Rd ., Wilmington, Del. 19803, for information. NEW ENGLAND GYMNASTIC CLINIC, Nov. 2930, 1968, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut. Write Jeff Cardinali, Gymnastics Coach, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn.

(~_M_G_C_LA_S_SI_F_IE_D_S_EC_T_IO_N_~) URGENTLY WANTED-Any of the following: Horizontal Bar-Takemoto (two copies) . . . Turnmethodik-Bantz and Dichut . . . Portfolio of Gym nastics-1964 .Tokya Olympics . . . Olympic Series-Horizontal Bar-FIRST EDITION -Kunzle . . . Gymnastic Pamphlets by Takemoto (4) . . . Any MGs listed as "unavailable". Will accept in Any Condition at a Good Price. Mike Maliszewski, Bates College, P.O. Box 406, Lewiston, Main 04240. .

NEW TEACHING UNIT FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS A new fresh approach to teaching gymnastic skills at the junior and senior high school levels . is being introduced by Physical Educat ion Aids, Son Mateo, Calif. Written and illustrated by Rich Harris, notionally-known physical educator, GYMNASTICS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION provides the teacher with on 8 x 10, hardbound textbook covering closs organization, effective use of student leaders, doil y lesson plans, specific teaching techniques, testing, grading, safety procedures, and other aspects of teaching spelled out in detail. Included with the unit" are twelve large wall charts which give direction to the students at each teaching station and provide step-by-step "demonstration" for 120 skills. Individual skills are accurately and colorfully presented so that students can progress WIth a minimum of direction from the teacher. 100 individual score cards provide a continuing high level of motivation and complete the unit. For more information write: Physical ~~~i~~~~i~ ~~~s6l 'O' Box 5117, San Mateo,

Dear Sirs; In answer to the letters in the Modern Gymnast May-68 in reference to the AllAround and Compulsories. Mr. Gates' letter 1. I feel Mr. Gates reasoning is wrong when he says "compulsorles would kill the interest". I have found that when compulsories are taught at proper skill levels most children are able to d o them and they have a feeling of accomplishment being able to complete what they start - therefore continued interest. I have found that most compulsories made in this country are too hard for the corresponding age groups and perhaps this is where Mr. Gates gets the Idea that "only a few limited, gifted could compete" . 2. In the letters in this issue there seems to be a n important f actor missing- that is gym n astics as we know it today was planned and not evolved. It was planned to have a piece of apparatus to develop each part of the body completely--especi ally for children. It is more important that we give our children an all -round development than a ll the medals we can win. The all-around oompetition at high levels is a continuation of this principle. In the cast of specialists in gymnastics we find their routines are not usually correct techn ically because of an overdevelopment of the part of the body which th eir apparatus develops. The youngsters lo.o k up to these specialists and try to copy their moveswhich are not always conforming to good body posture or F.I.G. standards. It would seem to me the problem with gymnastics In the U.S.A. is that the sport is controlled "financially"by the university. Their scholarship system demands they show results - winning individuals and teams - so they are not so interested In the 10 to 14 year old and how they develop. It is my opinion that if gymnastics in the U.S.A. was controlJed by State Associations which combined a ll school · levels clubs, YMCA etc. , and have competitions of state against state at all skill levels their overall program would improve immensely. ASU, NMSU Gym Teams letter; In reference to w h at all -around teams do for the individual. I think the problem is getting the individual to think of gymnastics as a team sport first a nd tlien for individual performance. Gymnastics is unique in sport s for this quality of being able to make both team and individual effort combined. It has been my experience with specialists that after they have competed as such they wish to be able to be more than "just my event". It is not very often a gymnast can change over successfully to an all-round performer a fter com peting as a specialist. In the Olympic program there is ample latitude for the individua l to show his or her own unique personality. Gymnastics is first and foremost for the d evelopment of children. This cannot be done pnoperly if a child is allowed to exercise only on that piece of apparatu s which is the easiest for them. Steve Lerners' letter 1. The suggestion that trampoline would be eliminated after the rest of the specialists h a d gone is not sensiblea. Specialists usually d,o not do their exercises correct through lack of certain muscle development which should be developed on o th er apparatus. b. Working o n one piece of apparatus can overdevelop a certain part of the body while trampoline doesn't. c. Trampoline origin in the U.S.A. would ins ure it a place in gym nastics. d . International acceptance of t h e trampoline as; e nterta ining , good for technical training on some exercises, and for competition. 2. "merely altering our rules of competition to conform to those of other coun tries" will definitely help the U.S.A. in team scores at the international level. 3. Great er popularity at grass root levels in J apan do not nearly rate as Football or Baseball do in the U.S.A. The Japanese have surprisingly little organization at lower levels over a ll J apan. 4. Tumbling is a basiC element not an event. When combined with the r egt of

the elements in Free-X it trains th e whole body - not ju:St the l egs. Perhaps the fact trampoline p erforma nces are as good as they are now comes from the apparatus not being as difficult to learn as the others. It was mentioned that what we don't h ave is coaches. I think it Is normal t o assume tha t most of our coaches will come from school teachers in the future. Have you ever tried to teach a class of 20 to 40 kids optional routines - all different - or if you leave them a lone how 80% of the rou tines are very poorly constructed? Without prev!,ous training it is . very difficult for even hi~h school kids to make up their own routmes. But - given 3 or 4 Yj'lars of compulsories from age 10 or 12 then they have a good number of exercises and examples to base their own routine 011. The teacher can show compulsories to 5 students and they can show 5 more and so on. Obviously this is the way t o build coaches and gymnasts . I hope in dealing with generalities a nd specifics a ll at once this letter has not become confusing. I'm sure one letter will not solve all the problems that both our c.ountries have but perhaps some of these id eas and observations from an inte rested onlooker will give more fruit for thought. In conclusion here are a list of r easons r think compulsory routines will help gymnastics in our countries; 1. To build the growing body evenly. 2. To train the person In the fundamentals before they can attain superior movements. 3. To give the youngsters a chance to compare and evalu ate themselves with others doing the same thing. 4. To have them realize that they can do some things well and oth ers not so good but to learn to persevere at their sh ort comings as well as their good points. 5. It helps them draw a comparison with life outside th e gymnasium I.e. th e things we like to do are n o t a lways the best things to do. So we must do the things which will give us the most points in life Or in gymnastics. 6. It trains gymnasts to do movements which are hard for them or do not come natural . This is usually caused from lack of . muscle development or flexibility in a certain part of the body or pure basi c training. 7. Aid to t r aining coaches a nd judges. 8. Aid to Physical Education teachers and Commun ity Center Instructors. Respectfully yours, Mr. Tutte Technical Chairman B.C.G.A. PEN PAL WANTED

Dear Sir, I am a keen, en thusiastic "Kiwi" gymnast, 22 years of age and a subscriber of the MG. I would like to correspond with an American Gymnast on a pen pal basis . . . I hope you will be able to do somethin g for me. I will be eagerly waiting word from you. Yours faithfully, W . J. Merry 89 Risglan Road , Calton Hill Dungdin, New Zealand

LOU WILLS 1880 - 1968 by Vic Josselyn Lou Wills, 88, of' "Wills and Hassan" 1900-1914, perhaps the greatest of the old time understaIiders for hand-to-hand. Weighing 150 lbs., he was thoroughly all-around, tumbled well, kicked risley, caught somersaults, stood on one hand and worked on all gym apparatus. He was best known for his pitch-up to one· to· one, caught straight-ami to straight-arm, done for ten years on stage with Hassai!. H e was unique in his ability to hold one· to-one handstands, his closest rivals readily admitting his super iority in this field. He taught in the old Roseland Bldg., on Broadway until h e was about 80 and turned out a truly impressive list of acro· batic dancers and introduced perhaps a dozen new twists to old tricks. His teaching ability was enormous much of it regrettably unlikely to· be taught again. Who else will teach such things as a one-arm full-twisting back· over?

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In commemoration of this event, we would like to offer our MG customers the following: 1 pr. #800L Slippers - "Swiss" with lining (1 to a customer) @ Ih retail price or $1.25 ... shipping included. Just say you read about the offer in the MG. Offer good until November 1, 1968. * * * * NABHOlZ Warm路up Suits from Switzerland are distributed in the USA exclusively by Ed Gombos. International Materials, Inc. has been given exclusive rights on all sales to schools in the USA. We'd like to make the general public aware of the Nabholz AIIPurpose Suits for jogging, lounging, after路ski wear, camping, boating, golfing, tennis, bowling, and general sports activity and we'd appreciate your assistance. The next time you're at a retail clothing or department store, ask to see their selection of Nabholz Suits. If they don't have them and are interested in obtaining selling rights, ask them to consult: Ed Gombos 527 Fullerton Addison, Illinois 60101 (312) 543-7631 In return, (SPECIAL OFFER) anyone being the first to send us the name and address of a retail store interested in selling Nabholz Multi-Purpose Suits may purchase 1 suit of their choice from those displayed on this page at one-half retail price (the # 456 Italia would cost $14.25) plus shipping. This offer will expire December 1, 1968 . . . Just show this ad when visiting a retail store near you ...

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