Online Trampoline Coach

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I have made some trampoline tutorial videos which show correct technique for display in the member area, including straddle jump, seat drop half twist out, swivel hips and seat drop to front drop.

Unfortunately, my computer leeps crashing when I try to upload them, so until I can get help, I have uploaded them on you tube and will display them here too.

Here’s a tutorial on the Straddle Jump:

I will post the others as soon as possible

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Hey,

What is it about Back flips!

I get at least one email per day, asking “how to do a Back flip. (I prefer Back Somersault, as there is no such thing as a BACK FLIP on a trampoline!)

Although I have been trying to reply to all emails, it has to be said that learning how to do a backflip is 2 dimensional.

1) There is a fear factor (this is the difficult part, because it is those who MENTALLY ‘cop out’ that end up hurting themselves

2) Do you understand how a back flip works? You need to understand that you are not going to be able to ‘flip’ your head back and and ‘flip’ over! (Now you know why it is not really a ‘back flip’!)

We’ll start with #2…

You are ready for a back flip if you can do the following:

• All basic moves in my ebook.
• Seat Roll Seat (This commands control of the hips)
• Back drop roll to hands and knees (without travelling across the trampoline)
• back Drop roll over to feet (again, without travel)
• A HUGE back drop, lifting the hips and landing on a mattress
• The ability to lift your hips (with just small bounces), and ‘land’ in a tucked position
against a trampoline partner. (This is explained in my DVD)

NOW - UNDERSTAND THIS….

The Back flip goes like this… (Please use a picture in you head!)

Bounce One, Bounce Two, Bounce Three…
LIFT UP,
pull in tummy,
bring arms up,
squeeze the buttocks,
and LIFT YOUR HIPS (***THIS IS THE IMPORTANT BIT)
Tilt so your feet are at 7 O’clock and Head at 1 O’clock
AND TUCK! *** THIS IS THE OTHER IMPORTANT BIT!

The main SKILLS required for a back flip is the 2 *** Moments***

LIFT HIPS and TUCK HARD.

There is not ‘flipping’, no ‘throwing’ and nor do you need a huge bounce.

Just 3 CONTROLLED bounces, lift hips and tuck. The somersault will just happen.

# 2) FEAR

The fear of going backwards is what stops so many trying the back somersault. This is why you often need a trampoline partner. Not to help with the Skill… but to help with your head.

To get over the fear you can:-

1) Practice the Back Drops roll overs with more height and tuck hard for a faster spin
2) Use a trampoline ‘partner’ to stand (NOT BOUNCE) on the trampoline with you
3) Use a trampoline partner to Count you IN. 1, 2, 3 GO! (Big shout on the “GO”)
4) Use a mattress or Gym Mat. Place it just behind the “cross” and bounce on the cross. The mat will be slightly behind you and takes the fear of ‘crashing’ away.
5) Remember, if you get your hips up FIRST and then TUCK real tight, your WILL land on your feet, or at the very worst on your hands and knees.
6) The back flip is much easier than a front flip! (THIS IS A FACT!)
7) Once you have achieved your first one, you will never look back and you will always land on your feet

So, if you are ready to try a back flip, work on YOUR HEAD and your SKILL. Don’t try them alone, have some friends spotting you, and keep thinking about getting the hips up and pulling the knees to your chest tight.

ONE LAST TIP: I often find that ’slapping my thighs’ as I do a back flip helps. This is because your mind tells you it is afraid and doesn’t like tucking as it likes to be open, ready for the landing! By slapping your thighs you not only tuck, but the pulling of your arms from above your head to your thighs, makes you rotate faster!

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These are both very impressive Trampoline tricks - The crash dive and the lazy-back. These Trampoline tricks are for advanced trampolinists.

CRASH DIVES & LAZY BACKS

Once again, remember, you need to be able to perform all the moves in the basic trampoline course to be able to do any advanced trampoline tricks.

The Crash Dive is basically a 3/4 front somersault, landing in the back drop position. It is harder than a front somersault to feet because it is done in a layout (straight) position rather than tucked.

The crash dive is also called a Swan Dive and is very impressive to watch. There secret to performing one is taking off in the very center on the cross, keeping your eyes on the cross as you go up, and as you come down.

Take off with arms above your head, watch the cross, lift your hips and legs up to a 7 0′clock (head) and 1 o’clock position and keep watching that cross. At the last minute tuck and roll to your upper back.

Make sure you reach for the top of your jump before you rotate to the ’swan position’. Otherwise you will just throw yourself over in a ‘loose’ front somersault style.

TIP: on take off - PULL the tummy in and perform the entire trick as if you have a piece of paper between your buttocks. Point your toes and feel rigid, like a statue.

LAZY BACK

This is a 3/4 back somersault, landing in the front drop position.

Try to keep the lazy back somersault LOW while you are learning. It’s often a good idea to learn a piked back somersault first (see previous post on this blog).

Take off for a back somersault as usual, lifting the hips, but REALLY slow it down. It’s a little scary, but after the first few attempts, you will realize that SLOW is good.

If your can do a piked back, open out very early and aim to land on your hands and knees, then into front drop.

If you are doing it tucked, as soon as you have reached tuck position, immediately open out again. This is OK for learning, but the lazy back is usually performed in a straight (layout) position.

Do not attempt a layout position while learning, as the chance of falling to the head if you underestimate rotation is high. Use your tuck to get the rotation, open out and look for the trampoline bed as your come down. This is very SLOW in the tuck or piked positions… but NOT SLOW in a layout.

In a layout, you take off as if performing the back somersault to feet -with the same speed and effort on take off, then slow down once you have gone past the 12 o’clock (upside down) position. To slow down you loosen your arms and hollow your chest.

Once you have completed the crash dive landing on your back, start to do a front drop from the back drop in preparation for a ‘Ball Out” - front somersault to feet from the back drop position.

Once you have achieved a Lazy Back to front drop, start to do a back drop directly from the front drop in preparation for a “Cody” - back somersault to feet from the front drop position.

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