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Gymnastics/Questions Answered by Expert Robert Davis

Subject	Date Asked
Training	2/5/2012
Q: I'm waiting for my parents to decide if I can transfer to a real gym or not, but currently I go to ... A: Personally I do most of my training at home because it is inconvenient to go to the gym more than ...
Front giants on bars	2/3/2012
Q: I really need some advice on how to get into a front giant on bars. I can do a front giant on ... A: There are lots of great drills and advice for uneven bars at ...
mental block on beam	1/11/2012
Q: My daughter is having a mental block on her back walkover on beam. She gets it and loses it. ... A: A mental block can be very discouraging, and forcing the issue only makes matters worse. In this ...
11 Yr old returning to gymnastics after 9months out	1/5/2012
Q: My daughter will be 11 in a few weeks and, until last Spring, had been involved in recreational ... A: There are many conditioning exercises that your daughter can do at home to help her prepare for her ...
boys limbering skills	12/12/2011
Q: I recently heard that boys ages 5 and up really should not be doing limbering skills because its ... A: What do you mean by "limbering skills"? Boys 5 and up includes almost the whole male population. ...
Vault	12/6/2011
Q: My daughter is almost 12 years old and just moved up to Level 5, which means she now is vaulting ... A: I see that this is a question filled with emotion so I will try to share with you a few thoughts ...
Twisting Form	12/2/2011
Q: I am having trouble keeping my feet side by side in my twisting. I am a very strong tumbler (floor ... A: The more turns you do the faster they need to be so your body may be unconsciously trying to help ...
back and shoulder flexibilty	11/20/2011
Q: I need help getting bridge and backbend to be flexible and when i go to a bridge or a backbend i ... A: Flexibility takes some time to see improvement. I would suggest reading a book or watching tv while ...
Gymnast Sleep	11/7/2011
Q: I was wondering how much sleep a gymnast should get. Thanks. A: In my opinion sleep is important for everyone, not just athletes. But it is important to be ...
2 year old	10/26/2011
Q: is 2 years old to early to start with a rather wild lil girl...or should i wait til shes older and ... A: Haha yes I can imagine a 2 year old getting wound up at the opportunity to do gymnastics. :) If ...
Multiple Press Handstands	9/30/2011
Q: I have a 6 year old daughter who is struggling to complete 2 press handstands in a row. She can do 1 ... A: It sounds like your daughter is doing very well. Is she trying to do 2 press handstands from a ...
Injury + Mental Block	9/21/2011
Q: A couple of years ago I injured my wrist in a competition (TeamGym in the UK), when I went to ... A: I've had wrist issues and found that taking a break from tumbling and focusing on stretching my ...
flexibility	9/20/2011
Q: My daughter is 5 and strong and excellent muscle tone with short legs long torso training 7 hours a ... A: I think gymnastics is worth pursuing for anyone at any age. 5 years old is very young, I didn't ...
mushroom	9/15/2011
Q: My 6 year-old is learning the mushroom. (We also have an eight year-old son in Lv 6). What factors ... A: If he does both ways about the same then I would suggest that he keeps trying both ways, at least ...
mushroom	9/15/2011
Q: My 6 year-old is learning the mushroom. (We also have an eight year-old son in Lv 6). What factors ... A: In my opinion it is beneficial to be able to go both ways, though most people (myself included) ...
Backward tumbling power	9/11/2011
Q: Hey, I can't seem to get enough power from my backhandspring to my back tuck. I can do a roundoff ... A: What you can do is work on starting from a stand or handstand, do 3-4 back handsprings and try to ...
fear on beam	8/18/2011
Q: My daughter last December fell on beam and broke her arm. She is healed and repeating level 5. She's ... A: Yes after an injury it is common to develop a fear of doing the skill which was being performed when ...
wrist injury	8/1/2011
Q: about 9 months ago i injured my wrist after doing various bhs's in one day. Im 15, and i got it ... A: In my opinion people have the capacity to heal from any illness or injury 100%. In my experience ...
Gymnastics beginner	7/20/2011
Q: As a 16 year old guy who lately has become interested in gymnastics and signed up for class, I would ... A: It's always good to hear about people showing interest in and trying out gymnastics for the first ...
Conditional and Strength Training	7/9/2011
Q: Davis. I have a 10 year old gymnast who is training for Level 8. She has been doing gymnastics ... A: It's great to hear that your daughter is doing well in a sport that she enjoys doing. If she wants ...
kip cast handstand	6/28/2011
Q: I'm about to be a second year level 8 gymnast and cannot do a kip cast handstand. last summer, i got ... A: It sounds like you are feeling frustrated with a skill you feel is easy but something inside you is ...
leg lift help	6/14/2011
Q: My coach has us do leg lifts on the bars as part of our conditioning, but I can't bring my legs all ... A: There are many exercises you can do to strengthen your abs in that way. You can lay on your back ...
arms for bars	6/14/2011
Q: I've never been good at bars because I have trouble holding my own weight that long. SO, I was ... A: I think dips would be the most appropriate exercise to strengthen the muscles needed for bars. You ...
Level 5 pull ups.	6/3/2011
Q: I don't understand how I am a level 5 and I still can't do a pull up without fidgeting. I don't ... A: The trick about body weight exercises like pull ups is that as you grow it gets harder because you ...
Press handstands	6/3/2011
Q: I'm trying to learn a press handstand. I can hold myself in a straddle, but not for very long before ... A: I think straddle leg lifts can help you a great deal because it is a similar movement. For presses ...
Ab workout	5/27/2011
Q: What is the best ab workout to strengthen all over? A: There are many different stomach exercises you can do which will target different areas of your abs. ...
Quad strength	5/22/2011
Q: I was wondering,what are some exercises that will build up the muscle in my quad- specifically, the ... A: that helps me understand what you mean. I think frog jumps or bunny hops (whatever you've heard ...
Strength	5/20/2011
Q: I'm starting tumbling soon, and am fairly unsure of what strength I need. I have never done a sport ... A: Yes drillsandskills.com has many different conditioning exercises listed by skill and body part. If ...
Endo sole circle	5/18/2011
Q: Davis, My daughter struggles with endo straddle sole circle on the strap bar. She needs to start ... A: In this case it sounds like your daughter is losing momentum before getting over the bar. It's like ...
Weak arms:(	5/9/2011
Q: My arms are not strong at all. I've been doing push-ups, but someone told me that they really help ... A: Yes there are many ways to strengthen your arms and shoulders - handstand pushups really help your ...
fractured growth plate	3/18/2011
Q: my 14 yr old daughter has been tumbling for 3 yrs in cheerleading, she can do awesome tucks, lay ... A: You might want to do some research on your own about that (google it), because I don't have ...
splits	3/2/2011
Q: how can i beable to do the box splits becouse i cant get right down can u give me pointers on what i ... A: Flexibility is a matter of consistency in your stretching, rather than a special technique. Please ...
Training the body	2/21/2011
Q: Greetings! My name is Cuong nguyen and I'm 18 who just joined a small gymnastics gym for about 3-4 ... A: What I try to focus on when I train is to imitate the movement I want to be strong in. What that ...
Flexibility	2/11/2011
Q: My questions are: How can I get full side splits and front splits faster? How can I do a back ... A: For flexibility help I've written an article about the subject which should help you. You will find ...
floor endurance	2/9/2011
Q: Do you know what the best way on how to improve your endurance so you don't find yourself being ... A: The endurance required to run long distance is different than the endurance required to do a ...
motivation again	2/5/2011
Q: Davis, My question is this, My daughter is 8 turning 9 and has been doing gymnastics since May ... A: I understand the frustration felt when you (as a parent or coach) are trying to teach something and ...
Young Competetive Gymnast	2/3/2011
Q: My 6 year old son is in the competitive stream of his gymnastics club. He's been doing it for a ... A: If I were you, I would try to figure out a way for him to be able to workout without competing yet. ...
Training and conditioning	1/26/2011
Q: What kind of training and conditioning schedule do most college gymnasts adhere to? A: From my experience, during the school year we had practice 5-6 days a week, 3-4 hours a day. During ...
Ready for Pre-team?	1/17/2011
Q: My daughter is 6 yrs old and has been in recreational gymnastics classes for 1 year. She absolutely ... A: I can tell you are eager to see your child challenged at the gym and not "left behind". If I were ...
Really want to learn gymnastics!	1/17/2011
Q: I'm 17 years old, and I really want to start learning gymnastics. can I ? It might be too late but I ... A: Yes I think you can learn gymnastics anywhere at any age - see my new blog at ...
Arm Strength	1/15/2011
Q: I recently got into gymnastics, and am doing pretty well. My legs are strong from dance, and I'm ... A: Yes there are many exercises you can do at home to increase your arm strength, I suggest you review ...
Strength for straddle presses	1/7/2011
Q: I am working on a straddle press, but my feet kept hitting the floor because my legs weren't high ... A: Yes you can sit in a straddle and do leg lifts while still sitting on the floor with your hands ...
Cartwheel on beam	1/6/2011
Q: My daughter is 7 years old and a level three gymnast. She can do perfect one or two handed ... A: It sounds to me like there is a fear/mental block involved, but it is more unconscious, and it's a ...
Fear of Falling	1/1/2011
Q: I'm 12, and only a level 3 gymnast, because I only started a few months ago. My split/tuck jumps on ... A: Dealing with fear of certain tricks and movements in gymnastics is a skill which is very valuable to ...
Quads/hamstrings	12/31/2010
Q: I need to strengthen my quads and my hamstrings (the muscles in the front and back of the thigh). I ... A: It is important to vary the exercises you do to keep yourself interested and have fun. Another ...
Level 7/8 - Quitting	12/30/2010
Q: Our daughter competes 7/8 (once piourette on bars is consistent and she throws her giant in ... A: I can see how the comments by the coaches and negative attitude of your daughter would be ...
Mental Blocks	12/29/2010
Q: my name is Catie. I am 15 years old & I have an extreme mental block to go backwards. I had a few ... A: When you have scary experiences in your memory it can be difficult to see past them, but I've found ...
Uneven strength	12/17/2010
Q: For some reason, both my right leg and arm are stronger than my left leg/arm. I doubt anyone notices ... A: I had a similar issue (though probably more severe) after sustaining a head injury during a car ...
back walkover on beam left or right	12/17/2010
Q: my question is my daughter learned to do her back walkover on beam with her right leg as lead leg. ... A: Being right or left handed is not necessarily a black and white issue. Many people do some things ...
Handstand presses	12/14/2010
Q: I am working on handstand presses. I can do a headstand press (straddle), but can not do a handstand ... A: I think the last drill listed at http://www.drillsandskills.com/skills/Floor/A/bfa008 might be ...
young girls' gymnastics	12/13/2010
Q: My question is concerning "burn out" or coaching methods for young gymnasts. My daughter is 6 years ... A: There are several issues you've raised which are emotionally charged so I will try to share with you ...
Handstand pushups	12/13/2010
Q: I'm a dancer who wants to learn some basic tumbling, and I am trying to build up arm strength- I ... A: There are several ways to create progressions in your conditioning. For handstand pushups, you can ...
Strength woes	12/10/2010
Q: I'm a dancer who would like to learn some basic tumbling skills (For example, I can do a cartwheel ... A: Yes there are many exercises you can do at home to strengthen any part of your body. For tumbling ...
What is too much for a 4 yr old?	12/4/2010
Q: My daughter is 4 yrs old and has been in gymnastics since she was 1bout 15 months old (mom and tot ... A: It sounds like your daughter is enjoying herself and would be happy going to gymnastics twice a ...
wrist support	11/17/2010
Q: my sons wrists hurt a lot on a pommel horse-can you recommend wrist support for that? Also he has ... A: My wrists used to hurt a lot on pommel horse until I spent a few months recovering from an injury ...
too sensitive	11/16/2010
Q: How can I learn not to bo so senstive when my coaches critize me? Im 11 years old and sometimes they ... A: I can understand that you might feel discouraged when your coaches point out areas of improvement ...
Tumbling HELP!!	11/15/2010
Q: Okay, I finally mastered by back handspring, but I jump vertically instead of backwards. This causes ... A: The direction you jump is determined mostly by the angle of your feet to the ground. If you try to ...
am i too old to learn	11/14/2010
Q: I am 15 years old and have NEVER been in gymnastics before. I really want to and my mom is thinking ... A: Yes I'm sure you can learn a back flip and much more, whether you start at age 5, 15, or even 105. ...
Giants	11/13/2010
Q: I have giants by myself, but they are really slow. I do giant giant flyaway but my giants seem to ... A: The trick to increasing speed of giant swings is to think of it like increasing speed when swinging ...
Strength and Conditioning	10/31/2010
Q: My name is Elias Flores. I am a 16yr old level 10 male gymnast. I have been in the sport 9yrs. I ... A: I'm happy to see you pursuing something you are very passionate about. :) Here are some ideas I can ...
6 yr old son on level 4 team	10/27/2010
Q: My son has been enrolled in gymnastics since he was 3. A couple months ago he was moved to the ... A: I've been asked this type of question often by parents and my answer is that it depends on the ...
eating	10/21/2010
Q: my name is monica marcello. i am a competitive gymnast recovering from injury and i am 5.5 ft tall, ... A: Changing your weight is a very simple yet complex issue involving many areas of your life besides ...
Workout	10/20/2010
Q: I have a question regarding about workout. Although I do not do gymnastics, I do bboying which is ... A: Yes weight training is used in conjunction with gymnastics training often, especially for boys ...
lump on wrist	10/19/2010
Q: My 9 year old daughter is a level 4 gymnast. She has started training level 5 skills and trains ... A: I've not heard of gymnasts having cysts on their wrists before, but my wife (who has not done ...
neck/shoulder pain/tightness	10/18/2010
Q: Robert, My daughter is 9 years old and on her level 5 team. She just increased from 11 hours of ... A: From my experiences as a gymnast and the questions people have been asking me here I believe ...
Gymnastics skills progression	10/17/2010
Q: I went for my second gymnastics lesson today. In the first lesson, I did handstand, forward and ... A: I expect the first few lessons will be about finding out what you can and can't do already. ...
Confidence issues	10/14/2010
Q: Not sure if you're the right person to ask, but I have tried everything to solve this problem and ... A: Based on experiences with my 8 yr old son (and his younger siblings) I recommend that you don't ...
Wrist Pain	10/12/2010
Q: I am a coach of a gymnastics team in Missouri. We have about 30 girls, with approximately 20 of ... A: Let me share with you what helped me since I used wrist supports on floor and pommel horse and had ...
Back handspring	10/11/2010
Q: only a half years experience in gymnastic not due to skill due to heart. I was doing a back tuck ... A: When recovering from injury it's important to listen to your body and be aware of your own limits. ...
gymnastics	10/7/2010
Q: My son is 9 years old and is very good at gymnastics. He is also in his school Team & is interested ... A: Gymnastics does not hinder the height gain in children, that is a myth. Just like playing ...
Back and joint pain	10/6/2010
Q: My son is nearly 8 and trains 12 hours a week. He has started complaining of back- ache and saying ... A: It is normal for people who exercise frequently to require more stretching to stay limber. Part of ...
Hours of Gymnastics	9/29/2010
Q: He already does 6 hours a week which is broken down into 2 lots of 3hrs. We are being asked to have ... A: I understand your concern, I have 7 and 8 year old boys myself. For my family the logistics would ...
Straddle Press handstands	9/26/2010
Q: Question- Hi Robert, I am working on a straddle press handstand, but I just can't get it! I can do ... A: Without seeing you do your press it's hard to provide constructive feedback, but there are several ...
Gaining Strength With Gymnastics	9/22/2010
Q: Hey my name is steven Right now im 16, 5'8 144lbs and im a basketball player. Right now im on the ... A: I appreciate your respect for the strength of gymnasts. I suggest you take a look at the ...
Back walkovers and front walkovers	9/11/2010
Q: I am in level 9 rec , my teacher is not really teaching me anything , but I am willing to do ... A: I understand what you mean about being in a class where you've outgrown the teachings. But with ...
protection	9/9/2010
Q: I was thinking of enrolling my little son in gymnastics. I was talking to one girl who currently ... A: Wow, I've never heard of such a requirement for boys doing gymnastics. :) I would suggest you ask ...
Straddle Press Handstands	9/8/2010
Q: I am having lots of difficulty with this skill. I am P3 artistic gymnast in Canada (about equal to ... A: If your middle splits are not very wide it will be more difficult to roll your hips on the way up. ...
Straddle Press Handstands	9/6/2010
Q: I am having lots of difficulty with this skill. I am P3 artistic gymnast in Canada (about equal to ... A: Based on what you are describing, it sounds like you could use some more flexibility. Can you do a ...
caluses	9/5/2010
Q: my daughter is 6 an competes in level 5 gymnastics her gym dose not use grips for her level she has ... A: In my opinion calluses are good for gymnasts because they protect the skin. If they get so big that ...
Backhandspring on the beam	8/29/2010
Q: I am working on my backhandspring on the beam and i am having trouble getting my hands to land on ... A: I wrote an article on flexibility which might help you at ...
conditioning	8/28/2010
Q: when i do leg lifts it starts to hurt on my theighs. i was wondering why that would hurt because you ... A: Leg lifts use muscles in your abs as well as your legs, which is why you might feel it in both ...
getting back into gymnastics?	8/28/2010
Q: Last year I had a knee injury. I shredded my ACL and tore my Meniscus. I just recently moved to ... A: Personally I think it is possible for anyone to get back into gymnastics after any injury. In your ...
Backhandspring technique	8/25/2010
Q: I just have a quick question, I am working on my standing backhandspring and was wondering if you ... A: Using the tumble track is a good way to help you get the feel for back handsprings with a little ...
Backhandspring technique	8/24/2010
Q: I just have a quick question, I am working on my standing backhandspring and was wondering if you ... A: Doing a back handspring from a standing position is the hardest way to do it. It takes a lot of leg ...
Wrist Splints?	8/24/2010
Q: I'm about to start as a college freshman tomorrow and I plan on trying out for my school's ... A: I don't know if you're familiar with shin splints (which are a common issue for runners) but wrist ...
Wrist Splints?	8/23/2010
Q: I'm about to start as a college freshman tomorrow and I plan on trying out for my school's ... A: Yes it makes perfect sense to me what the coach told you, and yes changing the way you do back ...
i really want to be great!	8/23/2010
Q: my daughter is 5'5 and 137 pounds. she injured her back a year ago and eventually got the "okay" to ... A: I think becoming an elite gymnast is definitely possible in your daughter's situation. It really ...
Question	8/22/2010
Q: My name is Larcelia Gena Moreland.No This is not a parent,I am fourteen years old.I am now in th ... A: I'm glad that you enjoy the sport of gymnastics, it sounds like you are a very active person so it ...
8 year old-Too old?	8/19/2010
Q: I have an 8 1/2 year old who has been taking rec gymnastics classes since she was 4. DH did not ... A: I was 8 when I started gymnastics and I'm not done yet. :) Personally I'm not familiar with what ...
Gymnastics apparell/ Unrealistic coach?	7/14/2010
Q: I chose you to ask this question to you because stated that parent questions were welcome, so here I ... A: Wow, that sounds pretty extreme to me. If I were in that situation I would "opt out" of the ...
gymnastics age	7/7/2010
Q: My daughter has always loved gymnastics and would like to start training for it. She knows how hard ... A: Please understand that there are no age limitations for doing gymnastics. If your daughter wants to ...
handsprings	7/3/2010
Q: i am having some trouble with my front handsprings at gymnastics. whenever i do a handspring or ... A: It sounds like an under rotation issue to me. You might spend some time doing hop-handstands (kick ...
gymnastics	7/2/2010
Q: hi my name is Jasmine i am 12 years old i always watch gymnastics and always hope to do it how can a ... A: There are many things you can do at home to gain strength, flexibility, and balance (the main ...
strength and flexibility	6/29/2010
Q: 6 chin ups and 4 pull ups. I am having trouble with my glide kip and front hip. do i need more ... A: For glide kips I wrote an article which might help you, at ...
holding back	6/28/2010
Q: My daughter is trying to be a level 7 this year. We just moved to a new gym and there is another ... A: Yes that is a mouth full and a lot of complicated emotions to sort out for both you and your ...
hip flexor strength	6/28/2010
Q: because I'm training press handstands and my coach says i need to strengthen my hip flexors please ... A: You might want to check out the specific exercises at drillsandskills.com for press handstands. In ...
How do I help my child deal with the loss of gymnastics	6/26/2010
Q: .. thanks in advance for any advise you can give... I don't know how to help my daughter at this ... A: I can imagine it must be difficult to see your daughter experiencing such strong emotions about not ...
Shoot through on bars level4	6/22/2010
Q: My daughter is 7 years old a beginner level 4. She has trouble with the shoot through on the bar ... A: It sounds like (if I understand correctly what's happening) your daughter could use some more ...
broken radius and ulna	6/12/2010
Q: My 7 year old son broke his left radius and ulna falling off the rings while doing a level 5 move. ... A: Although I don't have experience with that specific injury, I had a couple others which caused ...
Level 2/3 ?	6/8/2010
Q: Here is the history: 11yr old daughter was at one time Level 3 competitive for her state. We moved ... A: :) I can understand that might be disappointing for your child to be placed into somewhat of a lower ...
kip cast handstand, roundoff backtucks	6/4/2010
Q: okay i have a few questions. first, i'm training to be a level 8 gymnast next year. I'm terrified ... A: It sounds like you are focusing too much attention to the mistakes you've made. There are many ways ...
Round off Fulls	5/28/2010
Q: I can get all the way around flipping wise, but not twisting wise. I get about 270 degrees twisting ... A: Yes it is easier to twist in a layout than in a tuck, you can watch ice skaters to see how that ...
How early to commit to gymnastics	5/21/2010
Q: I am in a quandary. My daughter just turned 7, and is in a level 3 program. She is in gymnastics ... A: I can see how that would be a difficult decision to make. It is possible that you could find ...
Higher in Flips?	5/20/2010
Q: I want to get higher in my standing flips. What can I do? Any exercises or something? A: One exercise that comes to mind is frog jumps (or as some people call them, bunny hops). This is ...
back tuck	5/18/2010
Q: My daughter is 7 years old and has been in gymnastics seriously for about 2 years she started off in ... A: I'm glad to hear that your daughter is enjoying herself with gymnastics. :) In my opinion there are ...
rings is my worst event	4/11/2010
Q: I am a 15 y/o lvl 10 gymnast, and I have a very weak rings routine. I am pretty much strong ... A: The good news is that as you get older building strength will get easier for you. That doesn't mean ...
gymnasts twisted ankle	4/6/2010
Q: My daughter is 7 years old. She's doing gymnastics and competitive cheer. Her skills include ... A: With an ankle strain or sprain there can be lingering pain for some time, however I've learned a ...
Pullovers	4/2/2010
Q: I'm sixty five years old. I can do five or six consecutive pullovers. Does this mean I'm in good ... A: I think it's great that you can do 5-6 consecutive pullovers. "Good shape" is a very subjective ...
Back walk overs on beam	3/30/2010
Q: I have been working on my back walk over on beam for a while now, but lately I have been having ... A: I applaud you for your courage, even if it's a bit scary. It sounds like you are doing really well ...
mental blocks!	3/17/2010
Q: I love gymnastics! It is one of my main priorities. But when it comes to trying new skills I hate ... A: I am glad that you are pursuing something you love to do. Concerning mental blocks, I wrote an ...
forearm splints	3/9/2010
Q: I have been having pain in my arms, which my coach says are forearm splints, for about 2 weeks now. ... A: Yes I've used wrist supports before and they can help ease the pressure while practicing, and ...
Coming back after stress fractures	3/8/2010
Q: I've recently come back to gymnastics after sustaining stress fractures in both forearms (radius ... A: I haven't experienced that specific issue before myself, but I would suggest being attentive to your ...
gymnastics safety	3/2/2010
Q: I have a very overweight 3rd grade student, I am a PE teacher conducting a gymnastics unit. I have ... A: I think the best way to gauge what to allow this child to do is to go based on his comfort level and ...
Should I let my four year old join developmental team?	3/1/2010
Q: my daughter started gymnastics in a mommy and me class when she was 18 months old. She is now four ... A: These are tough emotional issues we all deal with at times when raising children. I don't believe ...
moving gyms/levels	2/25/2010
Q: I am 13 years old and currently in a gym that only allows 8 year olds or under to compete level 4. ... A: I'm glad you enjoy doing gymnastics, and I would recommend making choices that will help you to ...
Getting to the Olympics	2/21/2010
Q: I'm 14, and L5. I've only competed for 2 years, and i want to go to the Olympics. I feel though as ... A: Congratulations on your progress so far! There is no age limit in the Olympics - I want to get ...
Gymnastics / Nutrition	2/16/2010
Q: My child is 8 years old and competes at "Level 6" in competitions around the state and country. The ... A: When I competed I would keep a power bar and a diluted gatorade (50% water) drink in my gym bag to ...
Training on a cruise ship	2/8/2010
Q: I have a level 5, eight year old. She has been doing quite well this year. She finished 3rd AA on ... A: I think there are many ways to stay in shape while traveling. There are likely fun activities she ...
Strugling gymnast	2/3/2010
Q: I have potential in gymnastic was state champ last year in my age group in NOV but I continue to ... A: Many people develop mental blocks which hinder their training during gymnastics, it is a common ...
hernia/diet	1/29/2010
Q: i havent been able to train for a quite some time now and im just wondering if you can tell me what ... A: I'm glad to see your eagerness to get back in the gym. To put it simply, the way to get back to ...
14 year old wants to do gymnastics	1/24/2010
Q: Im 14 years old and I really want to do gymnastics. I did gymnastics in 2nd grade for a little ... A: I don't think anyone is too old for gymnastics, I'm glad you enjoy it. :) Yes I do think you have a ...
bars/rings to help my rock climbing?	1/1/2010
Q: i think its fantastic that you give advise to people for free! so im a rock climber,(been doing it ... A: I enjoy sharing my experiences with people all over the world. :) I'm not familiar with the term "1 ...
Easing back into gymnastics	12/31/2009
Q: Robert, Recently I've had a stress fracture in each of my forearms and after keeping one in a splint ... A: I think the best gauge for how fast to get back into any activity is how you feel while doing it. I ...
5 1/2 y/o team vs preteam	12/13/2009
Q: My daughter just currently made the level 2 'team' at her gym. It's a very competitive program, ... A: I would not send any of my children to an environment like the first gym you mentioned, especially ...
gymast wrist	12/13/2009
Q: My daughter is in competitive cheerleading. Only level 3, mainly standing backhandsprings and two ... A: Though I'm not familiar with the term "gymnast wrist", I do believe Cheerleading is actually harsher ...
Pain in my forearms when I tumble.	12/12/2009
Q: Robert, I'm a cheerleader who is currently on two teams, my school's varsity team, and an all-star ... A: One exercise that really works well for forearms and wrists is using a 6"-1ft long dowel with a rope ...
Pain in my forearms when I tumble.	12/12/2009
Q: Robert, I'm a cheerleader who is currently on two teams, my school's varsity team, and an all-star ... A: To me it sounds like something similar to shin splints, which occur over time and if ignored can ...
Hi	12/7/2009
Q: okay I'm 16 and I wana start gymnastics again I did it since I was 6 then stopped when I was 10. Im ... A: Good for you! I firmly believe that everyone should do what they enjoy doing, and if that involves ...
I have no clue as to what I am doing!!	12/3/2009
Q: Ok here is my question. I have a 7 year old daughter that enjoys (obsessed) with gymnastics. ... A: To be honest this is the first time I've heard of AAU gymnastics, but I found a previous question by ...
gymnastics	11/29/2009
Q: What can I do to show my parents I'm ready to train 7-8 hrs a week? i do it around the house 24/7! ... A: I can see that you are very determined to get what you want, and I commend you for your persistence. ...
gymnastics	11/29/2009
Q: I am 13 and i've been doin gymnastics for 1 yr now. I have all level 4 skills except a ... A: I like to hear from people like you who are pursuing something they love to do. Personally I think ...
rope climb	11/19/2009
Q: I was reading a question about a young girl who was pushed too hard and the rsponse on this website ... A: I'm not familiar with the question and response you are referring to, but I also have a 4 year old ...
college gymnastics	11/5/2009
Q: My name is Heather and I'm a level eight gymnast from Ontario Canada. I have been considering doing ... A: The education requirements for any college you are interested would be on their website, you can ...
Balance Beam Cartwheel	10/25/2009
Q: My daughter is a level 5 gymnast. She competed at level 5 last year, too, but she really struggled. ... A: It is good to hear that your daughter is showing a lot of improvement this year. For the balance ...
how much should our coach know	10/25/2009
Q: Is it reasonable to expect my daughter's coaches to go over her routines with her after meets and ... A: Yes that would be great (having the coach explain to the parents what the deductions are), though it ...
Horrible Wrist flexiblity	10/25/2009
Q: I hope you can help. This isn't much about gymmnastics but, I find it painful and difficult to ... A: It looks like your wrists are about as flexible as mine. :) I've found that the more I workout, ...
weight	10/4/2009
Q: Is there a specific weight one needs to be to become a gymnast? A: There is no weight requirement for doing gymnastics, just like there are no specific weights ...
Kips and other Tips.	9/28/2009
Q: I am 16 years old, and I started gymnastics late last October. I know I'm old and started way late ... A: There were a couple people on the team when I went to college that just started in high school - I ...
Gymnast with Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis	9/24/2009
Q: My daughter is 12 years old and a competes as a level 7 gymnast. She was complaining of back pain ... A: I just did a little search about those Mary Poppins type S words and found this: ...
Tiger Paws and other braces	9/23/2009
Q: I am a level 5 gymnast. After tumbling, bars, and sometimes just simple handstands, my wrists hurt a ... A: These types of joint pains are commonly caused by insufficient fat storage in the body to provide ...
Girls gymnastics conditioning after an injury	9/22/2009
Q: I am trying to keep this as brief as possible. My daughter is 16 yr.old Level 8 gymnast supposed to ... A: The doctors are really getting creative with the names they use to classify injuries! I assume a ...
Trouble at competitions	9/22/2009
Q: I just can't win anything at competitions. I just can't place in anything at competitions. I had a ... A: There are many ways to look at the same situation. You are telling me you can't win and it's not ...
Vertical handstand on beam	9/16/2009
Q: I am a level 4 gymnast from Australia and I have handstand in my beam routine. I can do the ... A: It sounds like you could use some practice holding a handstand on the beam (with a spot if needed) ...
Kip, cast, jump to the highbar, and swings	9/16/2009
Q: Okay yes there are a few things I need to ask about. The first is kip. I am doing a lot of strength ... A: I can tell you are very eager to make progress in your gymnastics, which is great. It sounds like ...
mats size and thickness	9/10/2009
Q: my 12 year old daughter is learning how to to back hand springs and wants a home gymnastic mat to ... A: For doing back handsprings you'll probably want a mat about twice the height of the person doing ...
am i too old?	9/8/2009
Q: hi thanks for taking my question i am fifteen years old and am going to turn sixteen in march i am ... A: I don't think anybody is too old for gymnastics. I still hope to compete again myself - see ...
gymnastic	9/7/2009
Q: umm am fourteen years old and i always want it to do gymnastic ever seen i was ten but i didnt get a ... A: It's good to hear about more people interested in doing gymnastics, I think it could be fun for ...
gymnastics	8/29/2009
Q: hey. this may be a lot of questions, and i apoligize ahead of time. but, i am 13 yrs old and have ... A: As I have told many others, I believe age is not a limitation for doing gymnastics. It sounds like ...
Ripped Hands	8/24/2009
Q: Recently when training on bars my hands have began to rip very quickly, allowing me to practice only ... A: I'm not familiar with 'surgical spirit', but I do know that when you practice frequently the best ...
Vault	8/22/2009
Q: My daughter is having trouble on her vault. She is competeing a front handspring vault. And when she ... A: One thing that could help her get the feeling of the correct movement is to use a minitramp place ...
Recreational gymnastics	8/21/2009
Q: I am enrolling my 5 year old daughter in gymnastics at a very well regarded studio that offers both ... A: Yes 5 years is plenty of time to learn a back handspring - as she gets older and stronger it will ...
rips	8/14/2009
Q: i am a level 5 gymnast going into level 6 and i keep getting rips on my hands. one of my coaches had ... A: I'm not familiar with neuro balm or the type of cream you are referring to. I think the best way to ...
nutrition	8/4/2009
Q: could you suggest some ideal snacks for my daughter during training, as well as afterwards? She ... A: Actually carbs are very useful during training, that's why powerbars and gatorade are full of them. ...
long term health and happiness	8/1/2009
Q: My daughter is now 8 and has been doing gymnastics for 2 years. The gym where she goes has now ... A: I can understand your concerns about such a commitment at 8 years old. If I were you I would ...
Prep-op to usag level	7/29/2009
Q: My daughter is 11 year old. She was in AAu4 . The group is constantly scores bad at meets for ... A: In my opinion, open communication is very important for any relationship to remain positive. You ...
About Strength and Endurance Training	7/12/2009
Q: I would like to know your opinion,which way of general bodyweight strength/endurance training (such ... A: I think there are many other variables involved, but here is my opinion: A 20-30 minute circuit ...
gymnastics	7/2/2009
Q: I just had a quick question about getting back into gymnastic. I stopped gymnastics when i was 11 ... A: That's great to hear about you getting back into something you enjoy doing. One thing I learned ...
Flexibility	6/30/2009
Q: My 8 yr old daughter made the level 4 team at the beginning of June. She practices 4 days a week, ... A: Yes when you gain muscle sometimes flexibility suffers a bit, but stretching in a more relaxed ...
fear of back handspring	6/26/2009
Q: My daughter is in level 5 and I have seen her do 5 back handsprings in a row. All of a sudden she ... A: I can understand how that might be frustrating for you. Irrational fear like that is not usually ...
Gymnastics-Front Handspring on Vault	6/26/2009
Q: My daughter is training level 5. She has achieved almost all her necessary skills to become a level ... A: There are as many different styles of coaching as there are coaches. But the most effective coaches ...
Squatting front tucks	6/25/2009
Q: I just recently started gymnastics about 2 months ago so my strength isn't all there yet obviously. ... A: Doing front tucks after 2 months is great! I think any type of exercise you enjoy will benefit your ...
sore knees	6/21/2009
Q: Five or six hours after a competition my knees were sore and I don't know any stretches to fix it. I ... A: You may have slightly over extended your knees at some point during the competition but didn't ...
Child strengthening	6/7/2009
Q: my daughter who is almost 8 only started doing acrobatic gymnastics 5 weeks ago, she had already ... A: I'm sure the coaches at her gym will be having her do strength training, but just as she has done ...
Gymnastics- Wrists, Skills, and Strength	6/6/2009
Q: I have already asked a question to another expert but I have much more for you. First is that I need ... A: What I have found most effective for stretching is to do it while doing something else - watching ...
Supplemental conditioning	5/28/2009
Q: Robert, I've been conditioning for gymnastics for about four months now, doing pure strength ... A: Swimming and running can be great supplemental exercises to your conditioning. If you are doing it ...
Wrist, Shoulder & Ankle strength & flex	5/23/2009
Q: Hey Robert, I have a few problems. The first problem is concerning my wrist strength & flexibility. ... A: Based on the pictures you shared I think my wrists are about as flexible as yours, or maybe less. ...
Gymnastics-Ankle Problems	5/21/2009
Q: I am a teenage gymnast and recently I've had trouble with my left ankle. It all started when I was ... A: I had similar issues with my wrist for many years until I broke my leg and spent several months ...
Level 4 gymnastics	5/4/2009
Q: My daughter is almost 9 and is about to join a level 4 team. We have to gyms to choose from. One ... A: In my opinion, the amount of time in the gym does not determine the competitive ability of the ...
Level 4 gymnastics	5/4/2009
Q: My daughter is almost 9 and is about to join a level 4 team. We have to gyms to choose from. One ... A: If it's all the same to you, I would suggest that you let your daughter decide. She may have more ...
Time Required	4/30/2009
Q: How many hours per week is a reasonable amount of time for a 10 year old level 6 gymnast to ... A: I think this is a question that only you and your daughter can answer, based on your situation. If ...
Few More Conditioning Questions	4/24/2009
Q: Robert, for your prompt and helpful response last time. To remind, I just started conditioning, ... A: One thing I learned from my experience doing the "body for life" workout (you can read my story ...
scoliosis while doing gymnastics	4/22/2009
Q: I'm 20yrs old and I'm diagnosed with an S shaped scoliosis.its not very serious (not strong degrees) ... A: When I was around 10 I remember a doctor saying I had a mild form of that as well. I don't have any ...
Kip And Rip	4/21/2009
Q: 1. I am learning my kip and I am not getting the hang of it. Do you have any tips on how to do it? ... A: The kip can be tricky to learn, but the key is to use your body to your advantage. Here are the 3 ...
Mental blocks!	4/16/2009
Q: My daughter is 8 years old and does competitive cheerleading. She has had a mental block on her ... A: I can imagine you must feel frustrated seeing your daughter having this type of trouble. For mental ...
cheer to gymnastics	4/9/2009
Q: Your Question was: My daughter has taken cheer and tumbling for almost 2 years. She is 6 years old. ... A: I'm sure your daughter will do very well in gymnastics, and any discrepancies in specific events ...
Conditioning Problems?	4/3/2009
Q: I apologize beforehand if this question has already been addressed. I am a 24-year old male, and ... A: I can see that you're very determined, and I applaud your efforts. One thing I've learned is that ...
Endurance	4/1/2009
Q: My daughter just turned 11 and has been competing as a level 7 all year. She has all of her ... A: Yes distance running can help with overall endurance, I'm sure that will help your daughter. For ...
My tumbling,,,tucks and so on!	3/28/2009
Q: I have been tumbling for 4 years now! I have a standing back handspring and a standing tuck. I am ... A: It sounds like you are having fun, which to me is the most important thing. I see you are concerned ...
wound from grips	3/27/2009
Q: My daughter has an open wound on the right side of her hand, near the wrist, from her grips. She ... A: When I was competing I didn't do anything for "rips" as we called them except neosporin and wrapping ...
Grips	3/24/2009
Q: I just moved up to level 6, and as a requirement, I had to start using dowel grips. I find them very ... A: Personally I never did uneven bars, but on high bar I always put my thumbs around the bar. I would ...
The elusive perfect roundoff	3/21/2009
Q: I have some problems with my roundoff that I need to get fixed - before i do any damage to myself! ... A: It is difficult to provide specific suggestions without seeing your roundoff, but I can think of two ...
Regression of skills	3/20/2009
Q: My 9 year old daughter has tumbled for 2 years now. She previously could perform round off, ... A: Regression can happen for many reasons in many areas of our lives. For example, our oldest son was ...
Workout/Training clothes	3/18/2009
Q: I have entered gymnastics at the age of 23 years old and have a couple of questions for you. ... A: I'm glad you are having fun, that's what continues to draw me to the sport. Before college I would ...
shoulder flexibility	3/17/2009
Q: My 7 year old takes a rec class twice a week and does great on vault, bars and beam but she ... A: The best way I know of to increase flexibility is to hold a position while relaxing and doing ...
Level 6	3/14/2009
Q: My 10 year old daughter (Bridget)is a level 6 gymnast. We were wondering if you know of any ... A: The key to flexibility is relaxing and holding a stretch for a long time. The specific exercises ...
mental block	3/11/2009
Q: ok, so i've been doing cheer for about 4 years and last year i just got my round-off back ... A: The best way I have found to deal with mental blocks is to focus your attention on something else ...
Older gymnast conditioning	3/5/2009
Q: I'm a 29 year old woman who is training tumbling for cheerleading. Obviously I also work full time ... A: I completely understand your lack of dozens of hours for training. :) For handsprings and ...
Too old?	3/4/2009
Q: I asked "Karen" a question and quite frankly, I feel that I did not receive a clear answer. Can you ... A: I can see that you have many different thoughts about your child's future as a gymnast. I believe ...
Competing	3/4/2009
Q: I am 11 years old and really want to compete. I have level 6 vault and beam skills, level 5 floor ... A: Honestly I am not that familiar with the specifics of the current levels in gymnastics (they've ...
Endurance Question	3/1/2009
Q: I am 54 years old and just wanted to ask a question I have always been curious about. Back in high ... A: There are lots of different muscles in your legs, so yes it is possible for some of them to be ...
Hollow rocks and back tuck	2/26/2009
Q: I don't think I'm doing hollow rocks correctly. I just can't seem to hollow out- some part of my ... A: I'm not sure if anybody really gets their back all the way hollowed out, I usually end up rocking ...
Injury - Retirement	2/25/2009
Q: My 15 year old daughter is a level 5 gymnast. She has many of the level 6 skills but is reluctant ... A: I can imagine your concern for your daughter, seeing her dealing with intense training and recurring ...
Gymnastics Potential	2/24/2009
Q: I wanted to start out by saying, I'm in 10th grader, I've been doing gym since 8th grade. I'm a ... A: A military press is like a handstand pushup, but you sit down while doing it. You can use free ...
Gymnastics Potential	2/22/2009
Q: I wanted to start out by saying, I'm in 10th grader, I've been doing gym since 8th grade. I'm a ... A: I watched your video and I'm impressed at your progress in only 2 years of gymnastics, I think ...
Back flexibility	2/21/2009
Q: I was wondering when doing a back walkover, how do you make use of all the upper back flexibility? ... A: If you've ever played with a slinky and watched it go down stairs, you may have noticed that when ...
How much should son train?	2/12/2009
Q: My 8 year old son has been competing since Dec. 2008. He wishes to do whatever it takes to compete ... A: That's exciting to hear about your son's goals. There is no "one-size-fits-all" formula for being ...
giants	2/10/2009
Q: My daughter has trouble keeping her legs together on her giants. It seems to be getting worse ... A: If I remember correctly, when girls do giants they need to pike or straddle (or both) to avoid ...
Fixing bad habits	2/8/2009
Q: My daughter is a lvl 6 gymnast. Her weakness is vault. she vaults with her arms away from her ... A: Yes it can be frustrating to see your child being corrected without being helped to change. ...
gymnastic singlets and leotard	1/25/2009
Q: Rob, I am currently researching gymnastics suits for a project for nike in regards to ... A: I remember the guys wearing just shorts, but I guess girls workout in leotards. Yes I remember ...
gymnastic singlets and leotard	1/24/2009
Q: Rob, I am currently researching gymnastics suits for a project for nike in regards to ... A: That's an interesting question. Can you explain how a singlet or leotard could be engineered to ...
Back pain	1/20/2009
Q: im a level 3 competitive gymnast and i recently i have had lower back pain. I am currently working ... A: Back pain can come from various sources, but if you're feeling the pain while performing a back ...
Strength and flexibility	1/20/2009
Q: I noticed that I've probably been unable to get a few skills mainly because of strength, so I've ... A: Different skills require different sets of muscles to do them, so depending on the types of skills ...
gymnastics injury causing me problems	1/17/2009
Q: I am level 5, and I am excelling on all my events but floor. I absolutely can't get my round off ... A: I've had several issues with my wrists over the years, and I've come up with a few strategies (as ...
Is it too late?	1/16/2009
Q: My 17 year old son expressed an interest in gymnastics last year but the local gym only offered ... A: It is never too late to do something that you want to do. I'm not exactly sure what your concern is ...
Team	1/15/2009
Q: I've wanted to be on a gymnastics team since I started, but my gym doesn't usually invite girls ... A: I can imagine you must feel a bit frustrated when people don't take you seriously. But you really ...
Spotting Techniques	1/12/2009
Q: I am a new gymnastics coach and am looking to find resources (books, videos, etc) that can help me ... A: There are many ways to improve spotting techniques, and here are a few I can suggest: * For ...
help!!!	1/11/2009
Q: i just learned how to do a cartwheel yesterday..... well i did a couple of them and after a while my ... A: I have a lot of experience with wrist issues. Recently, I learned that I need to make sure I am ...
bending arms in backhandsprings	1/10/2009
Q: A: It is a common difficulty to have, bending your arms too much during back handsprings. If you want ...
To old for competitive gymnastics?	1/7/2009
Q: Hey, I really love gymnastics, but I'm 15 yrs old. I want to join a club gymnastics and train. I ... A: You can really do anything you want to do, at any age, as long as you believe you can do it. I'm 32 ...
Tumbling	12/21/2008
Q: How do I make my running tumbling more powerful? I've been told that I tumble flat footed,so will ... A: Using primarily the balls of your feet (not exactly your toes, but close) when you tumble could ...
fractured knee	12/13/2008
Q: I was doing bars when i fell off and fractured knee. My doctor said that it would take 6 weeks in a ... A: I would suggest picking one and going with it. A doctor will be more inclined to help you if they ...
6 year old trouble with kick over	12/12/2008
Q: I have a 6 year old daughter that started gymnastics in October. She is doing ok but needs a lot of ... A: Gymnastics is a great activity to get involved in for overall fitness. For pushups, I would suggest ...
flexibility in 4 year olds	12/11/2008
Q: Davis, My daughter is 4 years old. She has been taking gym classes for a month. They are doing a ... A: I do remember some kids being much more flexible than others (I was not one of them), but ...
fractured knee	12/6/2008
Q: I was doing bars when i fell off and fractured knee. My doctor said that it would take 6 weeks in a ... A: If you'd like to get another opinion you can always look for a different doctor to go to. Maybe you ...
Gymnastic and Height	12/5/2008
Q: My daughter is 10 and 1/2 yrs. Her height is 54.She is doing Gymnastics from last 2 years once in a ... A: Do you mean to say that your daughter is 54 inches tall? Four and a half feet seems like it's ...
i have!	11/23/2008
Q: i need help!! i am 12 years old and i have been in gymnastics for 8 years.. i have seen lots of ... A: Sometimes people call that a "six pack", and you can feel proud of it, it's ok:) Your stomach ...

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Robert Davis

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Expertise

I can answer questions about technique, strength and endurance training, healing from injuries, and competitions. I can also answer questions from parents of gymnasts, as I have five children of my own now.

Experience

I competed in gymnastics for 16 years, from age 8 to 24, the last six of those years on the Arizona State Men's Gymnastics Team (www.sundevilgymnastics.com). I'm still doing it - www.lifetimegymnast.com.

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http://www.lifetimegymnast.com
http://www.goodfeelingplace.com
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I have a BSE and MS in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University.

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