Tumbling – Plyometric or other training benefit?

    Posted In: Strength & Conditioning

        • Participant
          rcfan2 on November 3, 2007 at 1:22 am #13439

          Is there any plyometric like, or other transferable training benefit, for track & field athletes from tumbling?

          Specifically – competitive tumblers who perform tumbling passes (5 or more consecutive skills) with round-offs, back hand springs (flip-flops), whips, tucks, fulls?

          Understanding that these are done on "rod floors" (padded runways w/underlying fiberglass rods)…

          Any carry-over or training benefit for sprinters and/or jumpers?

        • Participant
          utfootball4 on November 3, 2007 at 1:32 am #67298

          Not sure how much benefit they have for sprinters and jumpers but for my football players we tumble almost everyday as part of our warmup before strength training. I think tumbling teaches body awareness and develop great core strength.

        • Participant
          mortac8 on November 3, 2007 at 2:30 am #67299

          He's talking about real gymnastics tumbling.  Doubt your FB players are doing that unless you have them doing parkour for plyos too.

        • Participant
          utfootball4 on November 3, 2007 at 2:33 am #67300

          He's talking about real gymnastics tumbling.  Doubt your FB players are doing that unless you have them doing parkour for plyos too.

          whats real gymnastics tumbling my friend? tumbling is tumbling.

        • Participant
          mortac8 on November 3, 2007 at 2:36 am #67301

          Boy you must have some warmup then
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vQ94-8YxU

        • Participant
          utfootball4 on November 3, 2007 at 2:38 am #67302

          Boy you must have some warmup then
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vQ94-8YxU

          we do similar stuff but not as many reps along with cartwheels etc.

        • Participant
          Chad Williams on November 3, 2007 at 4:16 am #67303

          We had a 280 lb shot putter in college who had a gymnast background and could do some back handsprings into a backflip. Now that was some tumbling!

        • Member
          winnesota on November 3, 2007 at 6:10 am #67304

          Boy you must have some warmup then
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vQ94-8YxU

          damn thats some skill right there

        • Participant
          Josh Hurlebaus on November 3, 2007 at 7:48 am #67305

          Tumbling wrecks my legs the next day cause I tend to go overboard. Life is more fun when you can flip around like a ninja.

          On a plus note, I've never done anything else that works my abs as much as doing back tucks.

        • Participant
          utfootball4 on November 3, 2007 at 9:40 am #67306

          Tumbling wrecks my legs the next day cause I tend to go overboard. Life is more fun when you can flip around like a ninja.

          On a plus note, I've never done anything else that works my abs as much as doing back tucks.

          I agree with the core comment.

        • Participant
          RunnerMan on November 3, 2007 at 11:00 am #67307

          Boy you must have some warmup then
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vQ94-8YxU

          lol, i'd pay more money to see the warm-up then the game if that's the case

        • Participant
          utfootball4 on November 3, 2007 at 11:02 am #67308

          [quote author="mortac8" date="1194037594"]
          Boy you must have some warmup then
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3vQ94-8YxU

          lol, i'd pay more money to see the warm-up then the game if that's the case
          [/quote]

          Im sure charles woodson wouldnt like that.

        • Participant
          rcfan2 on November 3, 2007 at 8:40 pm #67309

          I appreciate the feedback…

          Back to my initial question – does tumbling (again, assumming consecutive skills) meet the definition of a plyometric exercise?

          Does the "rod" floor (with it's spring action and padding) enhance or decrease any plyometric effects?

          The padding & rods obviously reduces the impact (shock) on the surface of the floor – yet (the rods) provide a mechanical rebound that creates additional height and momentum.

        • Participant
          utfootball4 on November 3, 2007 at 8:47 pm #67310

          I appreciate the feedback…

          Back to my initial question – does tumbling (again, assumming consecutive skills) meet the definition of a plyometric exercise?

          Does the "rod" floor (with it's spring action and padding) enhance or decrease any plyometric effects?

          The padding & rods obviously reduces the impact (shock) on the surface of the floor – yet (the rods) provide a mechanical rebound that creates additional height and momentum.

          Go perform them and report back and let us know.

        • Member
          winnesota on November 3, 2007 at 10:07 pm #67311

          the springy floor would decrease the plyometric effect just like a trampoline or spring board would.

          I would say its probably better used as a warm up as ut said.  leave plyos for normal surfaces, you'll get more out of them.

        • Participant
          rcfan2 on November 4, 2007 at 3:07 am #67312

          Thanks for the additional feedback.

          My question regards a track & field athlete (hurdles & HJ) – who has also been a competitive tumbler in the off season. 

          My interest is in what, if any, training effect would carry over from tumbling to track & field events.

        • Participant
          Josh Hurlebaus on November 4, 2007 at 10:06 am #67313

          I think the reason we are having trouble giving you a solid answer is because there aren't a lot of people who do such a combo. Most people when they get to a competitive level of gymnastics tend to focus on that year round.

          Given my experience, even though the floor does give added height, it is still very plyometric. The ground contact times are going to be around the same as say a depth jump but the force put out from tumbling feels like it is quite a bit more to me. This is just personal feeling and not backed up by anything, of course.

        • Participant
          rcfan2 on November 5, 2007 at 8:14 am #67314

          Yes – I suppose it's not a real common combination of sports.  She's actually a power-tumbler (see the video link posted previously) and not a gymnast (no balance beam, etc.).

          I've read where gymnastics (not tumbling) background is a plus for pole-vaulters…but haven't read anything regarding tumbling and any carry-over to track & field events.

          I would imagine most tumblers would have no problem or fear with body orientation (ie. jump w/back to the bar) in the HJ – as most tumbling skills are done backwards (and blind).  They should have fairly good body awareness in flight as well – and arching of the back should be second nature.

          I wasn't sure if the ground contact time was short enough for a plyometric benefit – and was interested in how the mat and rod floor itself would contribute (positively or negatively) – so I thought I'd post the question for brighter minds than mine. 

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