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2. Gymnastics provides opportunity for the development of power. Rope climbing, throwing the medicine ball for distance, and gymnastic routines require maximum effort and hence develop power.
3. Gymnastics provides for the development of muscular coordination or neuromuscular control. The fundamental activities of running, climbing, and jumping are combined in a unique way in gymnastic routines. Twisting or turning, bending, circling, and swinging movements occur in rapid succession during the routines in the upright or standing position, in the hang, the support, and in various other positions. Perhaps no athletic activity other than gymnastics and tumbling provides the opportunity for the development of maximum muscular coordination and neuromuscular control and perhaps no war activity demands the acme of muscular coordination and neuromuscular control as much as aviation.
4. Gymnastics contributes to the development of suppleness, elasticity, litheness, and flexibility, permitting full range of body movement and control.
5. Gymnastics develops a sense of relocation. A series of fast forward rolls on the mats, or hip circles on the horizontal bar, or a workout on the aerowheel or trampoline, leaves the cadet extremely dizzy at first. Two weeks of practice, however, conditions him effectively so that he makes satisfactory adjustment in a short time. Both the poise and equilibrium are outcomes of the sense of re-location, which affords an awareness on the part of the aviator that he is inverted when he is flying upside down.
6. Gymnastics develops agility – quick, easy, dexterous movements. Vaulting in a variety of positions teaches the fundamental principles of body control. The naval aviator or paratrooper may be called upon to overcome unforeseen hazards and obstacles during landing operations; hence he must be adept in vaulting and in jumping. He must have overlearned the art of vaulting to the side, in a squat position, in a straddle, end-over-end, or in a dive, easily and with minimum effort. Gymnastics, then, dovetails with training on the obstacle coursesince the most effective runner is the one who can skillfully, safely, and quickly adapt his gymnastics vaulting experience to the difficulties of the course.
7. Tumbling teaches falling safely. Practically every phase of his life as a cadet, or aviator, (or as a civilian, for that matter) may be materially aided by a knowledge of tumbling. When he first takes “boot” training, when he takes conditioning hikes when he participates in football, basketball, or any other sports activity, the cadet who can tumble is that much better equipped to save himself from injury caused by falling than one who cannot tumble.
8. The cadet who is temporarily incapacitated by minor injuries may participate in specially selected gymnastics, thus keeping in condition despite his handicap.
9. Gymnastics and tumbling develop body balance which is useful to the individual throughout life. Together with climbing, vaulting and falling, these skills are directly useful in various emergency situations.
10. Gymnastics teaches the cadet how to ascend, descend, and rest on a rope, - skills which are of paramount importance from a practical standpoint.
11. Gymnastics develops a sense of daring and courage, yet discourages foolhardiness.
12. Gymnastics develops attitudes vital to the successful naval aviator: fearlessness, initiative, decisiveness, courage, perseverance, presence of mind, selfconfidence, as well as an analytical outlook and the ability to size up a situation quickly.
Taken from the CrossFit Journal Issues 30 by Greg Glassmen. A review of the Gymnastics and Tumbling, First published by the U.S. Navy in 1944
Megan catching some hang time.
Workout of the Day
Front Squats
5x1
"Annie"
50-40-30-20-10
Double Unders
Sit-Ups
Posted by Justin Bacon on 01/04 at 06:18 AM
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