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7. The Front-Somersault Progression

If the forward roll has been learned correctly, the performer will know many of the fundamentals of the front somersault. Most tumblers can dive and do a front roll without using the arms. It should be easy, then, to spring for height, turn the re­maining forty-five degrees of a circle, and land on the feet. It is the mental hazard that keeps most pupils from learning this stunt.

The front roll should be reviewed before this progression is begun. A very fast spin should be stressed now. This is attained by snapping the head down fast and slapping the shins over into a close tuck.

When a performer does a somersault for the first time without having learned the fundamentals, he sees only a blur and has a feeling of helplessness until his feet are on the ground again. A series of assisted somersaults have been designed in which the performer can safely learn the fundamentals of the front somer­sault and get a feeling of control and a sense of timing as he spins through the air.

In the straddle-lift somersault the bottom man does all the lifting and spinning for the top man. The top man should do this stunt many times until he gets used to the front-somersault motion. In the next few assisted somersaults the performer learns to bring his knees to his chest to tuck, and then how to open up to come out of the tuck. In the foot-to-pelvis front somersault (Fig. 104) the performer begins to concentrate on getting a front spin with his head snap. In the ankle-lift front somersault (Fig. 109) he adds the use of the arms to the previous list of funda­mentals. If the performer can do these stunts in good form, he is ready for the front somersault, most of the fundamentals of which he should already have learned.

HOW TO USE THE SAFETY BELT

NOTE: Hints on how to assist the per­former without a safety belt are given with many of the following stunts or at the ends of the progressions. The safety belt is not particularly needed for the learning of the front somersaults, but some instructors and performers prefer to use it.

Fig. 93. Using Safety Belt on Straight Somersaults.

NOTICE in Figure 94 how the far hand reaches in to take up the slack in the rope as the performer turns. You must stay in close to your man.

IMPORTANT: The ropes are twisted in the direction opposite to the turn.

Fig. 94. Using Safety Belt for Round Off and Twisting Somersaults.

[Get close to your man. One hand may be used to slap the beginner under the thigh to give him spin.]

LOCKED-LEG ROCKER

Fig. 95

SIT DOWN AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE, FACING EACH OTHER, WITH LEGS SPREAD;

CLASP YOUR OWN WRIST UNDER PARTNER'S KNEES (a);

THROW HEADS FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN UNISON TO START ROCKING;

AID PARTNER BY LIFTING WITH LEGS UNDER HIS ARMS; KEEP AS CLOSE TOGETHER AS POSSIBLE.

NOTE: The locked-leg rocker may not seem to be of much importance in a tumbling program. However, it is a valuable stunt because it shows how important the head is in controlling the movements of the body. The stunt cannot be performed if the heads are not used correctly.

1. Rock around pivoting on a spot.
   
   
2. Locked-leg rocker; top man dives away and rolls to stand; bottom man backward rolls to stand.
   
   
3. Sitting rocker (Fig. 96).
   
   
4. Repeat 1 and 2 with sitting rocker.
   
   
5. Double roll from sitting rocker. Rock a few times and then go over into a double rocker roll . The top man must be sure to squeeze the bottom man's legs tight to pull him over (Fig. 97).

Fig. 97. Sitting Rocker Roll.

GROUP STUNT NO. 19

Take position for sitting rocker roll and rock three times:

(a) toward center, (b) toward corner, (c) toward cen­ter and over into double rocker roll to right.

Four double rocker rolls in semi-circle to right-hand corner.

ASSISTED SOMERSAULT OVER KNEES

Fig. 98

BOTTOM MAN

KNEES SHOULD BE SPREAD AND SOLID;

ASSIST TOP MAN UNDER BACK AS HE GOES OVER (b).

TOP MAN

USE DOUBLE-FOOT TAKE-OFF;

KEEP KNEES IN CLOSE GOING UP (a);

SNAP HEAD DOWN TO GET HIPS UP AND INTO SPIN (a);

OPEN UP AND ARCH ONTO FEET TO STOP SPIN AND LAND (c and d).

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: This is not a hand­spring from the knees. The performer does not kick up. The assisted somersault from the knees is done with a double-foot take-off, and the head is snapped forward instead of back. The knees are brought to the chest in a tuck for the spin but are extended for the landing. The objective in this stunt should be to learn how to snap the head forward to get a fast spin. It is a good plan to do a roll at the end of each front somersault of this type. If the top man does happen to get pitched for­ward too far, he will then know how to land and roll without getting hurt. The shoulder roll is the best for safety pur­poses.

VARIATIONS

1. Assisted somersault from knees, and forward roll.
   
   
2. Assisted somersault from knees; turn around, foot-to-hand balance, and ride bottom man's feet down.
   
   
3. Assisted somersault from knees; top man turns, and both backward roll.
   
   
4. Assisted somersault from knees; turn around and double roll forward.
   
   
5. Assisted somersault from knees; turn around and clasp hands; top man jumps through between bottom man's knees, pulling him up to stand.

GROUP STUNT NO. 20

( = indicates bottom men; O indicates top men.)

1. Bottom men turn right and forward roll along edge of mat to squat, and roll again to lying-down position on back, knees up.
   
   
2. Top men step forward and do assisted somersault from knees, roll to stand, and make half-turn at next corner.
   
   
3. Top men do assisted somersault over the next bottom men, rolling to stand and turn at next corner.
   
   
4. Top men make quarter-turn, step forward and clasp hands with new bottom men, jump through their knees, pull them to stand, and turn at corner.

STRADDLE-LIFT FRONT SOMERSAULT

C

Fig. 99

BOTTOM MAN

STRADDLE TOP MAN'S HEAD AND GRASP HIS WRISTS (a); LIFT WITH LEGS, KEEPING TOP MAN IN CLOSE (a to c).

TOP MAN

STAND WITH FEET SPREAD WIDE;

LEAN OVER AND PUT HANDS BACK BETWEEN LEGS, PALMS TOGETHER (a);

SPRING WITH BOTTOM MAN'S LIFT;

KEEP LEGS SPREAD AND LET BOTTOM MAN DO THE SPINNING;

KEEP KNEES STRAIGHT AS BOTTOM MAN SPINS YOU (b).

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: When the performer does a somersault for the first time, he sees only a blur. On the tenth time he may begin to recognize some of the fea­tures of his environment. After a great many somersaults, he will begin to get a sense of timing for opening his tuck and landing. To accustom the performer to the unusual sensation, this progression works up to the front somersault with a series of assists. The top man's objective in the present stunt should be to let the bottom man do all the spinning and just try to find out what things look like and feel like as the turn is made. The top man can experiment with his head. He can try putting it back, and then snap­ping it forward as he spins, and noting what happens. In each of the following stunts he will learn to do the somersault more and more by himself.

VARIATIONS

Bottom man lifts and turns top man to straddle sit on his hips; bottom man sits down backward, letting top man land on feet; dive and roll to stand; bottom man backward rolls to hand balance and snaps down.

1. Try straddle-lift front somersault with both men facing in same direc­ tion. Top man keeps palms together and locks fingers.
   
   
2. Straddle-lift front somersault, fac­ ing in same direction, and front roll.

GROUP STUNT NO. 21

(=indicates bottom men; O indicates top men.)

1. Bottom men dive and roll to cross-legged stand and half- turn left at center circle.
   
   
2. Top men roll to position for straddle-lift front somer­ sault.
   
   
3. Straddle-lift front somersault with top men rolling to stand at corner when they land.
   
   
4. Bottom men dive and roll to stand and half-turn left at corner.

NECK-THROW FRONT SOMERSAULT

Fig. 100

BOTTOM MAN

SQUAT TO GET UNDER THE WEIGHT OF PARTNER FOR THE LIFT (a);

SUPPORT AND THEN LIFT TOP MAN'S HEAD AS HE COMES OVER (b and c).

TOP MAN

PUT HEAD AS FAR OVER PARTNER'S SHOULDER AS POS­SIBLE—CHIN IN;

PUT HANDS ON HIS HIPS SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PUSH FROM THEM (a);

SPRING OFF BOTH FEET AND PUSH ON BOTTOM MAN'S HIPS AS HE LIFTS;

KEEP FEET AND KNEES IN CLOSE GOING UP (b); OPEN UP AND ARCH ONTO FEET TO LAND.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: The top man must be sure to push on his partner's hips so that there will be no strain on his own neck.

When arching onto the feet from a tuck, the hips should be extended first and then the knees, as illustrated in Figure 101.

Fig. 102. Side Neck-Threw Front Somersault.

Fig. 101. How to Stop Front Spin and Land.

 Fig 102. Side-Neck Throw

VARIATIONS

1. Neck-throw front somersault and shoulder roll.
   
   
2. Neck-throw front somersault; top man does dead-man fall backward to bottom man; double forward roll.
   
   
3. Neck-throw front somersault; bottom man executes leapfrog over partner; and both backward roll.
   
   
4. Side neck-throw front somersault (Fig. 102).

GROUP STUNT NO. 22

( = indicates bottom men; O indicates top men.)

1. Take position for neck-throw front somersault.
   
   
2. Execute it.
   
   
3. Bottom men leapfrog over top men.
   
   
4. All backward roll to stand at corner.

ASSISTED SOMERSAULT OVER BACK

Fig. 103

BOTTOM MAN

BEND OVER WITH HANDS ON KNEES (a);

BE SET TO RESIST MOMENTUM OF TOP MAN;

DO NOT LIFT WITH BACK THE FIRST FEW TIMES.

TOP MAN

TAKE OFF FROM BOTH FEET AND SPRING HIPS HIGH INTO THE AIR (a);

KEEP FEET AND KNEES IN CLOSE GOING UP (b);

LAND ON BOTTOM MAN'S BACK WITH NECK AND SHOULDERS (b);

OPEN UP AND ARCH ONTO FEET, PUSHING WITH ARMS (c and d).

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: The bottom man must crouch very low and be set to resist the momentum of the top man as he goes over. The value of this stunt is that it teaches the beginner how to get the hips high and into a spin by snapping the head down and bringing the knees to the chest.

VARIATIONS

1. Try same stunt from other direction, putting hands on bottom man's up­ per arms.
   
   
2. Assisted somersault over back, and forward roll.
   
   
3. Assisted somersault over back; bot­tom man leapfrogs over partner; neck-throw front somersault.
   
   
4. Assisted somersault over back, and shoulder roll.
   
   
5. Assisted somersault over back, for­ ward roll to squat, and go forward to lying position on stomach. Bot­ tom man steps up and lifts top man's feet with dead-man lift to inverted position for head balance.

GROUP STUNT NO. 23

 
( = indicates bottom men; O indicates top men.)

1. Bottom men roll to right along edge of mat to stand, and bend over.
   
   
2. Top men do assisted somersaults over backs of bottom men and roll to cross-legged stand with half-turn left at the next corner.
   
   
3. Repeat, back to original corner.
   
   
4. Bottom men do head-and-hand balances with legs spread to sides.
   
   
5. Top men run and dive through, rolling to stand at corners.
   
   
6. Bottom men press to hand balances, snap down and back­ ward roll to stand at corner.

FOOT-TO-PELVIS FRONT SOMERSAULT

Fig. 104

BOTTOM MAN

BE SURE THAT YOUR BACK AND SHOULDERS ARE FLAT ON MAT (a);

PUT HANDS ON PARTNER'S SHOULDERS AS HE ROCKS FORWARD (b);

DO NOT PUSH WITH LEGS UNTIL TOP MAN'S WEIGHT IS WELL OVER YOU.

TOP MAN

PLACE BOTTOM MAN'S FEET AGAINST PELVIC BONE—TOES OUT (a);

HOLD HIS ANKLES AND ROCK FORWARD OVER HIM (b);

SNAP HEAD DOWN AND KEEP FEET IN CLOSE TO BUTTOCKS (b and c);

AT HEIGHT OF PITCH OPEN UP AND ARCH ONTO FEET.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: In this stunt the top man alone controls the spin of his body. He must snap his head down to start the spin and then put it back to come out of it. After a few times the top man should be able to do this stunt without holding on or without assistance from the bottom man's hands. The bottom man should not pitch the top man for height until he can perform the stunt in balance consistently. This stunt is best assisted by the safety man as illustrated below in Figure 105. The top man's arm and neck should be caught as illustrated in Figure 106 when he rocks over the bottom man into posi­tion for the somersault.

Fig. 105. How to "Spot" Assisted Somersaults.

VARIATIONS

Fig. 106. The Inverted Grasp on Upper Arm.

1. Foot-to-pelvis front somersault with­ out holding ankles.
   
   
2. Foot-to-pelvis front somersault with­ out assistance from bottom man's hands.
   
   
3. Foot-to-pelvis front somersault in opposite direction with top man starting on side of bottom man's head.
   
   
4. Wheelbarrow, front man ducks head as stop is made; take position for foot pitch; repeat 3.
   
   
5. Foot-to-pelvis front somersault, for­ ward roll, and diving shoulder roll.

ASSISTED SOMERSAULT FROM BUTTOCKS

BOTTOM MAN

BE SET TO RESIST MOMENTUM OF TOP MAN;

CATCH TOP MAN'S SHOULDERS ON ARCHES OF YOUR FEET (a);

DO NOT PUSH WITH LEGS AT FIRST; ASSIST BY GUIDING TOP MAN OVER.

TOP MAN

GET A GOOD SPRING;

KEEP FEET IN CLOSE GOING UP (b and c);

AT HEIGHT OF BOTTOM MAN'S PUSH, OPEN UP AND ARCH OVER ONTO FEET.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: This stunt is similar to the assisted somersault from the knees except that the top man gets less assist­ance, and he is higher. For exhibition purposes the bottom man may pitch his partner for height; however, while learn­ing the front somersault, there is no ad­vantage and some danger to pitching the top man. Instead, the bottom man should just help him over onto his feet. Because the bottom man cannot watch the ap­proach of his partner, there should be a signal for starting the stunt. Someone should assist the performers at first, for safety purposes, by grasping the top man on the upper arm with the palm under the biceps and the right hand under his shoulders.

VARIATIONS

1. Assisted somersault from buttocks, and shoulder roll.
   
   
2. Assisted somersault from buttocks, half-turn, and lift bottom man by ankles to hand balance.
   
   
3. Assisted somersault from buttocks, and series of headsprings.
   
   
4. Assisted somersault from buttocks, and half-turn; supported by bottom man's legs, top man jumps through between them, grasps his hands, and pulls him to stand.
   
   
5. Assisted somersault from buttocks; top man does a series of necksprings; bottom man necksprings to feet.

GROUP STUNT NO. 24

( = indicates bottom men; 0 indicates top men.)

1. Top men dive obliquely to right, roll to cross-legged stand and make half-turn left.
   
   
2. Bottom men roll to squat and over onto shoulders into position for assisted somersault from buttocks.
   
   
3. Top men do assisted somersault from bottom men's buttocks.
   
   
4. Top men make half-turn and take grip for double roll backward.
   
   
5. Double roll backward to corner.
   
   
6. Top men assist partners to stand with dead-man lift.

HAND-TO-FOOT PITCH SOMERSAULT

Fig. 108

BOTTOM MAN

YOU MAY STEADY LEGS WITH HANDS AS ILLUSTRATED (a);

BE SURE WEIGHT OF PARTNER IS OVER YOU BEFORE YOU PITCH HIM (b);

DO NOT PITCH VERY HARD AT FIRST.

TOP MAN

GET HIPS HIGH IN AIR;

BRACE ELBOWS AGAINST RIBS—GET THEM UNDER YOU (a); KEEP FEET IN CLOSE UNTIL YOU FEEL BOTTOM MAN'S PUSH; THEN OPEN UP AND ARCH OVER ONTO FEET (c).

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: The top man's weight must rest on his elbows. If the top man does not do this stunt with his elbows braced against his ribs, the bottom man may injure him with the pitch. If this precaution is heeded, this is a fairly simple stunt. A convincing way to show how easy it is to get a spin with the head in this stunt is to place the hands on a box or bench, rest the body on the elbows, and then rock by moving the head up and down. Note what happens if the heels are brought in close to the buttocks for a tuck. The safety man should protect the beginner in this stunt in the same way as for the foot-to-pelvis front somersault.

VARIATIONS

1. Double roll forward; change grips, and hand-to-foot pitch somersault.
   
   
2. Wheelbarrow; front man ducks into position; change grips, and do hand- to-foot pitch somersault.
   
   
3. Hand-to-foot pitch somersault with top man starting from bottom man's buttocks.
   
   
4. Hand-to-foot pitch somersault; top man makes half-turn, picks bottom man up by feet, and lifts him to head-and-hand balance position with dead-man lift.

GROUP STUNT NO. 25

( = indicates bottom men; O indicates top men.)

1. Take position for double roll forward along edge of mat.
   
   
2. Roll halfway along edge of mat.
   
   
3. Hand-to-foot pitch somersault with top men rolling to stand and quarter-turn left at corner.
   
   
4. Bottom men backward roll to stand with new partner.

ANKLE-LIFT FRONT SOMERSAULT

Fig. 109

BOTTOM MAN

PUT RIGHT FOOT UNDER PARTNER'S ANKLE AND LEFT UNDER ARCH (a);

GET AS CLOSE TO HIM AS POSSIBLE;

LIFT STRAIGHT UP, KEEPING HEAD BACK AND CHIN IN.

TOP MAN

SPRING AND LIFT STRAIGHT UP WITH ARMS (a and b); BRING BOTH KNEES TO CHEST AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE (c) ; AT HEIGHT SNAP HEAD DOWN AND TUCK TO GET SPIN (c) ; OPEN UP TO LAND.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: Before trying this stunt, the pair should try lifting for height without the spin. The bottom man must get as close to his partner as possible and lift straight up under his buttocks in­stead of pulling his foot back. The top man must assist his partner by keeping the knee of his supported leg well up in front. As he jumps off the floor, he should bring his other knee to his chest. In the performance of the stunt the bottom man need not worry about getting kicked by the top man's free foot. If he lifts straight up for height, the top man will have plenty of time to bring both his knees to his chest and hold his feet in a close tuck. During the performance of the stunt, the safety man assists by catching the top man on the back of the neck as he tucks, and spin­ning him onto his feet.

IMPORTANT: Remember the following rule for all double or com­panion stunts: THE BOTTOM MAN LIFTS FOR HEIGHT ONLY; THE TOP MAN DOES HIS OWN SPINNING.

VARIATIONS

1. Step forward, and hop with half-turn into position; ankle-lift front somer­sault.
   
   
2. Ankle-lift front somersault; top man rolls back; double backward roll.
   
   
3. Ankle-lift front somersault; both men backward roll to stand.
   
   
4. Ankle-lift front somersault; both men do shoulder rolls.

GROUP STUNT NO. 26

( = indicates bottom men; O indicates top men.)

1. Bottom men do left cartwheel and then make a quarter- turn right, facing partners.
   
   
2. Top men walk forward and jump with half-turn into posi­ tion for ankle-lift front somersault.
   
   
3. Execute the somersault with top men rolling to jump with half-turn in air at corners.
   
   
4. Bottom men forward cross-legged roll to stand, turn, and backward roll to stand at corner.

FRONT SOMERSAULT

RUN AND SPRING OFF BOTH FEET, LIFTING WITH ARMS AND SHOULDERS (ELBOWS BENT);

LIFT STRAIGHT UP—HEIGHT IS VERY IMPORTANT;

AT HEIGHT OF SPRING, SNAP HEAD DOWN AND TUCK VERY CLOSELY (c);

SLAP YOUR SHINS OUT FROM UNDER YOU AND INTO SPIN AS YOU TUCK (c and d);

PUT HEAD BACK AND OPEN TUCK TO LAND (e and f).

HINTS TO BEGINNERS: A level sawdust jump­ing pit is an ideal place to learn the somersaults. When trying the front som­ersault on the mats, have them doubly thick to prevent jars. The safety man should assist the beginner by catching him on the neck with the hand as he tucks and spinning him onto his feet (Fig. 112). A good way to learn the arm and shoulder lift for height is to practice the stunt illustrated in Figure 111.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS (continued): There are two kinds of front somersaults. In the more popular form, illustrated in Figure 110, the performer lifts for height and then snaps into the spin. In the other kind (Fig. 113) the performer lands from the hop with his hands beside his ears and throws into a spin, immediately, as he is coming off the ground. This gives a fast, low spin that is useful in performing such a stunt as the front roll with a somersault on the end of it. This variation of the front somersault is called the "chop-throw somersault."

Fig. 112. "Spot" the Front Somersault in This Manner.

Fig. 113. Chop-Throw Front Somersault.

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