I know there is a lot out there on twisting but I can't find the answer to my specific question (or maybe I did but couldn't see it for all the other information out there).
I'm in the process of researching twisting to better understand the process. My understanding is that whether forwards or backwards twisting it seems that it is largely agreed that we want gymnasts to twist the same direction - either always to their left or right, generally whatever is the most comfortable for the gymnast.
I was reading Championship Gymnastics by Gerald George and he states "if the right side of the body is shortened while executing a forward somersault skill the resulting direction of the twist will be to the performers left" and "if the right side of the body is shortened while executing a backward somersault skill the resulting direction of the twist will be to the performers right".
So my question is if twisting backwards for a twist that will twist to the right the performer needs to shorten the right side of the body by pulling the right arm down and/or across the body. But what about forwards twisting if we want to twist to the right (to keep to our rule that we want forwards and backwards twisting to always twist in the same direction)? Based on the above quote from Gerald George then do we ask our gymnast to pull their arms to the left so they then twist to the right if doing a forward somersault?
See I am confused and would really like clarification. I'm sure I've missed something and the more I look the more questions arise.
I'm in the process of researching twisting to better understand the process. My understanding is that whether forwards or backwards twisting it seems that it is largely agreed that we want gymnasts to twist the same direction - either always to their left or right, generally whatever is the most comfortable for the gymnast.
I was reading Championship Gymnastics by Gerald George and he states "if the right side of the body is shortened while executing a forward somersault skill the resulting direction of the twist will be to the performers left" and "if the right side of the body is shortened while executing a backward somersault skill the resulting direction of the twist will be to the performers right".
So my question is if twisting backwards for a twist that will twist to the right the performer needs to shorten the right side of the body by pulling the right arm down and/or across the body. But what about forwards twisting if we want to twist to the right (to keep to our rule that we want forwards and backwards twisting to always twist in the same direction)? Based on the above quote from Gerald George then do we ask our gymnast to pull their arms to the left so they then twist to the right if doing a forward somersault?
See I am confused and would really like clarification. I'm sure I've missed something and the more I look the more questions arise.