What gymnastics classes can take away from the 2012 Olympics

The 2012 Olympics were amazing, and offered a lot of great examples for students of gymnastics classes to learn from, beyond the fact that the “Fierce Five” dominated the competitions overall. The athletes who competed this year are excellent role models and a perfect example of what we want our children to garner from participating in gymnastic competitions.

In addition to the fact that every member of the US team proved they can successfully do the Amanar vault—something very few, if any others, can claim to do—our team as well as team members from other countries displayed leadership and sportsmanship at its best this year. In addition to helping its students develop power, strength and flexibility, a good gymnastics school strives to teach the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork and having respect for others.

For instance, Aliya Mustafina exemplified incredible sportsmanship at the Olympics this year, defying any stereotypes about Russian gymnasts that were constructed in previous years. Instead of crying when she lost the gold in the all around, she celebrated her bronze medal with vigor. She spoke highly in regards to her competitors, stating that the Americans deserved their win. Aliya acted with class and remained positive throughout the all of the gymnastic competitions, setting a stellar example for students of any gymnastics school in any part of the world.

Aly Raisman’s behavior and leadership was also exemplary at the 2012 Olympics. She came home with two gold medals and one bronze, but she deserves an award for remaining a positive leader through thick and thin. She was there for her teammates whenever they needed her, and showed a lot of class when she put her gold around her coach's neck. So sweet and thoughtful, and full of sportsmanship—Aly proved to be another great model for students in gymnastics classes across the world.

Image Credit: Julie Jacobson, espn.com

How gymnastics classes can make you a star

Gymnastics classes offer a wide range of both social and physical benefits for children—but they can also make your child a star! Olympic gold medal winner Gabby Douglas is the perfect example. Whether your child is in one of our Torrance gymnastics programs or dabbling in a class at school, the discipline they learn will help them excel at any sport or physical activity they try.

Gabby began training in gymnastic classes at the age of six in her hometown of Virginia Beach. By age eight, she was participating in gymnastic competitions and won her first title at the 2004 Virginia State Championships.

From there, Gabby’s participation in gymnastic competitions increased and she soon realized that she needed to get better coaching, prompting a move to Iowa to work with Liang Chow, the former coach or Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. Her dedication to the sport was unrivalled among her peers, and in 2011 she participated on the U.S. team at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, where they won the gold medal. She also was a part of the U.S. team at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, where they also won the gold. Gabby won the gold at the 2012 U.S. National Championships in uneven bars, a silver medal in the all-around, and bronze in floor. This was a strong foreshadowing of her future at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

At the Summer Olympics this year, Gabby was a part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal, but went on to win the gold medal in the individual all-around. She is the first African-American woman to win the event and the first American to win the Gold for the team and individual all-around at the same Olympics.

As Gabby’s career demonstrates, gymnastics classes provide more than just strength and flexibility training, it teaches them focus, dedication and discipline, as well as belief in striving to achieve your dreams. When you sign your child up for one of our Torrance gymnastics classes, you’re really signing them up to develop tools that will help them reach all their goals in life.

What to wear to gymnastic classes

You’ve found the perfect gymnastics center for your children and they’re so excited to get started—so now what? It’s time to make sure that they have the proper clothing that will keep them safe and free to perform all the activities required during class.

Some facilities have strict clothing policies for their students, so make sure you check with the gymnastics school you’ve chosen to see what their specific rules and guidelines are. Whether it’s a Torrance gymnastics school your child will be attending or another in the Los Angeles area, all gymnastic classes include a lot of stretching and some rigorous physical movements, so you need to ensure that they wear something sturdy yet comfortable that won’t hinder their range of motion. If a child is wearing something uncomfortable or restricting, they won’t be able to perform all the movements and could even injure themselves trying.

One of the most typical apparel items that girls wear to gymnastics classes is a leotard. While it covers the upper body, it still leaves the arms and legs free so that their movement is unrestricted. Often times, boys will wear a t-shirt and athletic shorts or sweat pants. Whether your child is attending a Torrance gymnastics school or any other in the area, they will most likely restrict children from wearing anything with zippers, snaps or other embellishments that could get caught during a movement. In addition, it’s best to make sure the clothes are not too baggy, as the instructors need to see the movement and the student’s muscles to ensure their form is correct.

Another requirement by almost every gymnastics center is that girls pull long hair back and away from their faces so it doesn’t get caught on anything and so that it stays out of their eyes. In addition, jewelry and socks should not be worn to a gymnastics school.

Image credit: blog.gkelite.com