Looking for a thorough gymnastics book
I want to learn gymnastics: handstands, pike, planche, bridge, etc. There's a tiny gymnastics group in my town, but my schedule won't let me train with them. I can use their equipment as needed, though.
What would be a good choice of book or site for helping me learn gymnastics? I want thorough instructions, form tips, and suggested progressions.
To clarify: I'll be able to have people check my form, etc now and then, but not as often as I'd like, so I'm going to do most learning by myself. I'm 21 years old and quite fit. I can handstand for a couple of seconds on most tries.
(2)2 Comments
Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best
Take a look at the book Overcoming Gravity by Steven Low, which is by far the best Gymnastics book known to me. I suggest reading the Amazon reviews for more details.
EDIT:
What I personally like about this book:
Many books on strength training tell you how to train, but not why to train this way. This book goes into detail with all the relevant topics -- what kinds of motor units/muscle fibers there are and how they respond/adapt to various kinds of stresses, the neurological components of strength. It explains how to create your own routine that fits exactly your current skill and fitness level, including skill work, stretching, and strength training. It explains basics of programming and how to deal with plateaus (->periodization). It has a huge chapter on injury prevention and health management. Then it has a large collection of exercises, from basic pullups and Wall Handstands to more advanced stuff like planches, iron crosses, mannas and so on. Exercises are structured in groups, and the author provides progression charts for each group.
The cons: This book is only about the upper body (which is what gymnasts mainly care about). And an index is missing for looking things up.
Building the Gymnastic Body by Coach Sommer is good, but I consider it fairly advanced. For a beginner like me, who isn't devoting all their strength work to gymnastics, it was a bit much. You could probably get a lot out of it.
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © freshhoot.com2025 All Rights reserved.