How to Be the Best Gymnast in Your Level

Last Updated: October 8, 2021

Wondering how you can improve, and possibly become one of the best gymnasts in your level? Be sure to aim for the top, you can certainly get close with this guide. With all the tips and tricks you can become the best gymnast in your level.

Steps

1
Try throwing a few of your tricks at home depending on what level you are currently at. It's not as recommended to throw tricks like layouts and double pikes in your own home, for example anything more difficult than a back tuck shouldn't be performed outside of the gym for safety purposes.
2
Stretch, stretch and stretch some more! You want to perfect those splits, don't you? And once you're finally down, it's not over yet, you must perfect your splits kicks. Try going into over-splits by lifting one of your legs up and propping it on a high book or some piled books.

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3
Do a lot of strength conditioning. Muscle for tumbling and bars doesn't build itself. To get stronger you should do push-ups, gymnastics crunches, lift weights, hold certain positions for longer. Do what they teach you at your classes.
4
Learn more about gymnastics. Once you get to competition, what good is it if you don't know what your scores mean? You should really read up on it and get to know your sport, the basics, tips, even observe how top elite gymnasts work. You don't need to work for as long as them, but certainly do some of the conditioning things they do.
5
Determine what type of gymnast you are. Are you a short, powerful Shawn Johnson or a long-lined, beautiful Nastia Liukin? This could help in determining what you'll be good at in gymnastics.
6
Practice specific things for specific events. Try some simple balances for beam. Hold up some handstands and hold splits for floor. Practice swinging from something - or maybe even just holding yourself up on a bar - for bars. For vault, practice your powerful running! If you just stride quickly up to the vault you'll realize soon enough you can't throw a trick.
7
Adopt a healthy diet. Try to cut most fatty foods and fizzy drinks from your diet. Just eat healthily - you don't need to start worrying about specific dietary changes until you are level 8/9/10/Elite.
8
Be nice to your fellow gymnasts and coaches. It's important people value you as an honorary member of your team. But DO NOT suck up to them - both gymnasts and coaches will notice when this happens and they do not like it!
9
Don't overwork yourself, although you need to practice for at least 15 - 30 minutes a day. You don't need to wake up with aching muscles every single day, that makes it ten times harder to stretch!

Community Q&A

Question

What if people wind me up and say that I'm rubbish at gymnastics?

Community Answer

There will always be people who will try to bring you down. Just don't listen to them. If you think you are good, you will become good.
Question

How do I keep my legs together during a back handspring?

Community Answer

Put something such as a scrunchie between your legs. If it comes out, then you are bending your legs. Also, you can put the scrunchie around your legs so they won't come apart as easily.
Question

How can I do my bridge kickover? I have tried all sites to help me, but I just can't get it.

Community Answer

You need to push your shoulders forwards in your bridge daily for about 1 minute a day. Try to do a kickover off a 1-2 foot mat, then work your way down until you get a 3 inch obstacle. Then try it on the floor.

Warnings

Don't overwork yourself. You will only make it harder for yourself and tighten your muscles back up again.

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Do not do skills harder than a back tuck at home. You don't want to fall and injure yourself.

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Don't suck up to coaches or gymnasts. They will realize and will dislike you!

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To become a champion it is absolutely compulsory to have a coach and proper training. If you feel you aren't being trained properly have a talk with your parents and then the coach - but remember they may be strict and push you at times.

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