Gymnastic Moves - What Other People Are Not Telling You About Body Waves Movement
To be able to isolate movement of various parts of the body requires a certain degree of flexibility, training in the correct technique is also required, and above all else a great deal of concentration on the job in hand.
The body wave is such a fluid movement that a complete and true ripple through the entire body is extremely difficult.
Many gymnasts wave their arms around in the pretence of doing a body wave, but so often the body itself is doing very little.
For this reason, I suggest that the learning stage should deal solely with the movement of the spine, with the arms eventually following the movement rather than initiating it.
There are a number of practices which will help achieve the right sort of feeling for the body wave.
1.
Stand with the feet a little way apart, and with the arms out sideways, try to flatten the back, keeping the head in line with the body.
You might need someone to correct your position or stand sideways on to a mirror turning your head to see if you have achieved a completely flat back position.
2.
From the position described above, lift the shoulders and round the top part of the spine, pulling the stomach in and pressing the shoulder blades upwards.
3.
Relax the knees and arms, and try to round the whole of the back to obtain a curled position through the spine.
4.
From a kneeling position on the floor, sit back on the heels and curl forwards over the knees.
Gradually arch up lifting the top part of the back first, then push the hips forward and arch back leaving the head till last.
5.
Lie on your back on the floor, with arms stretched out sideways.
Arch up to sitting, pushing the chest upwards first, and leaving the head and shoulders till last, then bend forwards curling the back over the legs.
Lie down by sinking back and uncurling slowly, head touching the floor last.
6.
Finally, try the full body wave in a standing position, first facing and holding a bar or ledge about waist height, and pushing through from the ankles, knees and the hips.
Then turn sideways and practice the body wave using one arm which goes in the opposite direction to the ripple of the body.
The body wave is such a fluid movement that a complete and true ripple through the entire body is extremely difficult.
Many gymnasts wave their arms around in the pretence of doing a body wave, but so often the body itself is doing very little.
For this reason, I suggest that the learning stage should deal solely with the movement of the spine, with the arms eventually following the movement rather than initiating it.
There are a number of practices which will help achieve the right sort of feeling for the body wave.
1.
Stand with the feet a little way apart, and with the arms out sideways, try to flatten the back, keeping the head in line with the body.
You might need someone to correct your position or stand sideways on to a mirror turning your head to see if you have achieved a completely flat back position.
2.
From the position described above, lift the shoulders and round the top part of the spine, pulling the stomach in and pressing the shoulder blades upwards.
3.
Relax the knees and arms, and try to round the whole of the back to obtain a curled position through the spine.
4.
From a kneeling position on the floor, sit back on the heels and curl forwards over the knees.
Gradually arch up lifting the top part of the back first, then push the hips forward and arch back leaving the head till last.
5.
Lie on your back on the floor, with arms stretched out sideways.
Arch up to sitting, pushing the chest upwards first, and leaving the head and shoulders till last, then bend forwards curling the back over the legs.
Lie down by sinking back and uncurling slowly, head touching the floor last.
6.
Finally, try the full body wave in a standing position, first facing and holding a bar or ledge about waist height, and pushing through from the ankles, knees and the hips.
Then turn sideways and practice the body wave using one arm which goes in the opposite direction to the ripple of the body.