Anon Kip Development

[Anonymous (0fc4)]

Is there any kind of typical progression gymnasts take when it comes to learning and mastering their kip or is it really all over the map?

Last summer during off season my 6 year old DD’s group started light heartedly working kips as they were up training for the next level even though kips aren’t necessary in this level either and much to everyone’s surprise she got it the first day they tried them. Over the next few weeks she would make them more often than not. They weren’t straight armed and pretty but they were all right. Then they started working routines as they moved into fall and up training hasn’t been as emphasized through the season. They still occasionally give kips a try here and there but they haven’t been drilling them or giving them much focus. Now she only makes maybe 1 in 10 and they’re pretty muscled up.
Is this to be expected on the kip journey (the regression and lack of consistency)?
She seemed to be understanding the motion fairly well last summer and she’s now six months older and likely more coordinated and stronger so I guess I just assumed it would be getting easier not more sporadic. I’m sure it’s also very possible that they just aren’t working them enough for her to keep progressing with it but I’m just wondering if people with more experience on how kids develop and progress in this sport can weigh in on what to expect? It sure seems like an elusive skill for many kiddos but so far she hasn’t had much experience with skills coming and going so this is new to us.

 

[Anonymous (1db2)]

For a lot of kids the first kip is a muscle up as they don't have the timing down yet and are rushing to get over the bar.

There are a lot of drills for the kip that don't seem like they are training kips, but developing core strength, extending, and understanding the timing can be done while not trying to kip per se.

 

[Dahlialover]

This is 100% normal.

 

[Anonymous (8744)]

Normal. But…. a kip is one of the most important skills in gymnastics-it is much better you take the time to teach correctly. It’s very hard to fix bent arm/leg/muscled up kips.

 

[Anonymous (762e)]

Someone posted this years ago here so I can’t take credit for it, but during the time when it seemed like a kip was never going to happen and then when it came and went and came back, I found solace in this video:

 

[Anonymous (0fc4)]

Someone posted this years ago here so I can’t take credit for it, but during the time when it seemed like a kip was never going to happen and then when it came and went and came back, I found solace in this video:

Haha I’ve seen that and it always makes me laugh.
I am really just wondering if it’s normal to get it for a while and then have it become less consistent as a good bit of time passes instead of more consistent. She’s very young and has plenty of time but with most skills six months after the first time she did it the skill has improved. Kipping seems to be the exception.