DrillsAndSkills.com

Kipper89 · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 81

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMasVRj4KI

Above is a video of a guy who can really breakdance but what got my attention was the plank push-ups at the end. Skip to 1:40 if you don't want to see the whole thing. I noticed he's up on his thumbs. Does that make them any easier? Maybe just gives you a little more clearance. ??

Either way it impressed me!

Coach Blair · Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1492 Location: Bay area/Sacto

Junior has mad skills.

Hard to say whether he does it to be higher off the floor or for style. I'm pretty sure he can do planche pushups regular.

By the way, it's a planche, not a plank. I know plank as a prone position resting on the forearms.

http://www.drillsandskills.com/images/display?path=planch.jpg

Easier, I doubt it. Doing pushups on the fingertips requires quite a bit of practice, even when using all 5.

Kipper89 · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 81

Oh right, planch. Embarassed

I thought it didn't look right. kee hee!

That thumbs thing is so wierd! My brother isn't a gymnast but does a lot of exercise and sometimes I catch him on his thumbs doing stuff. I also know someone who can't do an L sits unless she's up on her thumbs. Frankly it hurts when I try it.

Coach Blair · Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1492 Location: Bay area/Sacto

Some gymnasts will press off their thumb and the base of their fingers to get a little more clearance. This doesn't really take any extra finger/thumb development. I suppose some but a neglible amount compared to what Junior is doing. Junior is clearly on the fingertips when doing these in the video.

I frequently catch kids trying to do their straddle L or L using the palm base and thumb or when doing hip flexor lifts.

jacquie · Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 53

I have heard coaches telling/scaring gymnasts that if they do their lever like that they could break their thumbs - an element of truth? or just a scare tactic to get them to do it with a flat hand? I assumed it was true - as I didnt know better - now I wonder?

TipGuy · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:

I competed a V-press to handstand on floor on fingertips for several years. No problems. It took a while to develop the finger strength to the point where it was comfortable, and there are a lot of elite's that do fingertip stuff. The thumb breaking thing applies more to dynamic elements than strength stuff.
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Coach Blair · Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 1492 Location: Bay area/Sacto

Jacquie, I will have to admit to telling gymnasts not to go up on their thumbs and the base of their fingers. Usually this is when we are do simple hip flexor holds and lifts, as they tend to lean back and not push their palms into the floor.

Often, my " excuse/reasoning " to them that unless they can do pushups or a handstand in that position, why are they doing it?

On the other hand, if I see a gymnast doing a straddle L or L hold this way, I think...hmm, with a little work, they can do it on their palms.

While they have said they have seen elite gymnasts do it this way, my retort tends to be they are not elites yet and that elites often use techniques that are not considered efficient. Frequently, you can see all sorts of techniques in their tumbling that I consider inefficient in form; but their power to technique ratio is so high, it doesn't matter as much.

I sometimes see this when people are learning to kick into handstands or during cartwheels or roundoffs. Then it needs to be curbed. Basic first, advanced later.