GymnasticBodies.com - Negative Back Pulls

[Kanashto]

When I go from tucked to lightly tucked Back Lever of course more load  goes on my biceps and I feel A LOT of tension at where the bicep connects to the forearm, around the elbow. Is this normal? I am using an underhand grip.

[GymnasticBodies]

Feeling tension in the elbows is correct, however if you are feeling a great deal of tension you are not yet ready for that particular strength element. Please go to the GymnasticBodiesdotcom forum to learn more about gradually preparing your elbows for the rigors of straight arm ring strength elements.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

[jloo222]

how long before i can expect to perform this? i can do the movement but with the knees tucked into the chest. i cannot keep my legs out straight.

[gymgymgymgym]

doing the same with front lever, could this be used as a stepping stone to 360 pulls?

[RioXavier]

This is pretty much like Skinning the cat, which somehow the more I do it, the less repetitions I can do next time. I'm starting to think that maybe I'm bulking up and losing flexibility or maybe overtraining.

[GymnasticBodies]

"Skinning the cat" simply refers to the german hang shoulder stretch at the bottom of the movement. Notice that for a negative back pull, we are using a back lever variation to increase the difficulty during the descent.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

[madtairam]

Coach Sommer - you should talk about two important matters and maybe make some videos on them, 1) Nutrition for gymnastics and 2) Vitamins/Supplements you use with your athletes.  Thanks.

[GymnasticBodies]

I have a nutrition forum for those very subjects on my website.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

[wayofaway]

That is amazing, I have got to get some rings.

[natcomber13]

I can nearly do the first bit, but I pike instead of going down straight. It takes some impressive strength to fall through back lever to german hang completely straight. Going back up is quite easy tho.

[GymnasticBodies]

Yes, this is considered an introductory straight body core exercise. There are far more difficult variations available.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

[86mhassani]

@natcomber13 yes I do these piked as I don't have the strength for straight body yet. Still a really tough work out and my core is starting to handle straight body for a few seconds so hopefully in a few months I will be there.

[buildingbodies]

Always look forward to your videos. Thankyou