Level 1 & 2 Tumbling

 

As I wrote on my last blog, this post will be everything you need to know about simple tumbling. I will begin talking about the basic tumbling sequences, and work my way up to the elite tumbling passes. Tumbling is categorized into different levels according to difficulty, starting with level 1, working your way up to level 5. I will talk about just level one and two in this blog because of how much different things you can do while tumbling. I will explain how to do the simplest move, a summersault, first. To do a summersault you squat down and tuck into a ball. In one swift motion you roll over your head and back, back to where your feet are and stand up. Go  to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZjLSmH0Oew to see how to execute this skill. Next is the cartwheel, to perform a cartwheel you want to start facing front with your arms above your head, step one leg down, and look at where you are going to place your hands. Reach down with both hands, pull your back leg up into the air and land on one foot then the other and straighten up. For more on cartwheels go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTM1xajFjNU. The next skill is a lot like a cartwheel. You start of the same, but instead of traveling through the air with your legs apart, then snapping them together at the end. For a round off you snap your legs together when you reach the top, and land with your legs and feet together. When doing this skill you want to make sure your core is tight and remember to land with your arms above your head, to geive you practice going into later skills. This skill is one of the most important skills to learn because it is the basis for many upper level skills to learn. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eZ_6s_xGUc.

The most popular skill in cheerleading is the back handspring; non-cheerleaders may know this tumbling skill as a back flip. This move is done by all levels after level 1 and even done by high school cheerleaders. Starting in level one, you learn the basics of the back handspring, and after that you just add more advanced tumbling moves onto the back handspring. To do a back handspring you start with your feet together and squat down into a sitting position, as if you are sitting in a chair. Swing your arms backwards, to get momentum. Push through your toes and pull your arms up. Continue to fall backwards while arching your back. Remember not to arch your back to much, because that can cause injury. As you fall, let your legs continue to drive you upward and backward. Point your toes and extend through your ankles. Make sure you keep your head back between your arms as they approach the floor. Start to look for your landing spot on the mat. When you see the mat plant your hands on the floor, reach for the floor as you fall backwards. Keep your body arched as your hands touch the floor. Make sure you keep your arms straight so you don't hit your head on the floor. Your fingers should be pointing up and away from your face with your palms flat on the ground. Let the momentum of your legs, with your lower body still following, carry you over. End by swinging your legs over your head, until they are back on the floor again, and stand up straight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujPfdy86hJ8. In my next blog post I will write about the more advanced skills in levels three, four, and five, that use the backhand spring as a starting point.