Mental Blocks In Gymnastics

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Күн бұрын

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@sarahdore7884 Жыл бұрын

The world also didn’t realize the PTSD Simone experienced from Larry Nassar. She had testifying in front of Congress hanging over her head during the Olympics. It made me so sad how people were so cruel about her decision.

@asharadayne6159 10 ай бұрын

Yes! She had so much going on during Quarantine and leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. That had to have made things even worse for her.

@liukin95 Жыл бұрын

Mental blocks plagued my time as a gymnast as well. Watching what happened to Simone and how "experts" in the media reacted to it (looking at you Piers Morgan!!) was infuriating at the time.

@AnamariaUroda 6 ай бұрын

Piers Morgan has a tub of lard for brains and is an expert only at willfully failing to be a decent human being.

@SquirtlePower809 Жыл бұрын

This is a BRILLIANT analysis and explanation of just how MENTAL gymnastics really is.

@jonne2338 Жыл бұрын

In my experience as an elite gymnast the worst part about those mental blocks was that my coach didn’t wanted to believe me and yelling at me. I wish that if that didn’t happened i would have had much more fun doing gymnastics.

@kevinjewell233 Жыл бұрын

"Twisties" is when there is a disconnect, or to be more precise, nerves are not firing messages across the synapse connecting to the inner ear where we gauge our perception of body and space while flipping and twisting.

@puffball4484 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Twisties are not a mental health issue. They are a physical issue. I'm sick of people saying she stepped out because she was a wimp.

@joyfuljaj Жыл бұрын

I had thought of it as something like vertigo, but I'm not a gymnast so I wasn't sure if that was the best way to explain it. I have experienced small moments of mental blocks in dancing but in dance it's not nearly as dangerous as in gymnastics. It bothered me that former athletes I knew criticized Simone yet a mental block in their sport was not going to put their health or life at risk.

@stacyr6427 Жыл бұрын

I sure wish communicating with my coaches about this back in the 90's was acceptable. Instead we were yelled at for not focusing and made to do skills over and over despite the fact there was clearly something wrong. Would've saved many of us alot of surgeries, cortisone shots, and physical therapy from avoidable injuries....and a lot of current pain now that I'm older from those injuries. I'm glad that many coaches are acknowledging these blocks and working with gymnasts now instead of blaming them

@jacklyons2557 Жыл бұрын

Contemporaneously with Biles' withdrawal, you posted a vlog showing a much younger self in, if I remember aright, a perfectly good tumbling run when you suddenly became a rag doll in the air. Seeing it made me believe even if understanding has been slower to come. Biles was smart and lucky.

@na0566 Жыл бұрын

I have been doing trampolining for a long time now. Never had a problem. Suddenly, during warm-up at a competition, I spaced out during one of my skills. I just went into a shock moment looking down at the matt, knowing I am going to land head first. Next training I couldn't bring myself to do the combination no matter what. Even with my trainer spotting and a really thick matt, I couldn't do it. It took me half a year to get over it. I think what people don't understand about a mental block is that it isn't really a fear. I at least was never scared to get hurt or break something. For me, it was more about losing all control in the air and not being able to do anything about it. I don't think anyone understands a mental block before experiencing it themselves.

@lxs118 Жыл бұрын

Oh man, for me it was the back handspring on beam. I'm 37 now and went back to gymnastics for fun and when I get on beam, I still remember how it felt to be my 10 year old self, terrified throw it because I knew my brain would bail on the skill. I did it just fine for years after that but it's a terrifying experience for a kid - really sticks with you!

@Gettingoffthestrugglebus Жыл бұрын

Very cool video, you explained the mental block situation so well. This should be a gymnast 101 video pre-requisite to view.

@lchanceiv Жыл бұрын

Great video! It is a great explainer. I was so upset when people were saying Simone bailed on her team. This was crazy from people how can not even do a log roll

@pme8370 Жыл бұрын

I cannot believe that anyone would expect Simone to keep competing. She got so lost in the air on vault and could have broken her neck then. She was right not to have continued and risked her safety even more. Anyone who disagrees that is dumb as a box of rocks. And if Kerri Strug had had the same issue, I would have respected her the same if she backed away before doing vault.

@msbrandymo Жыл бұрын

Back then, they had no choice. If Marta was still in charge, she would NEVER have had the option to not compete. I'm so glad there was a change in guard. Winning at all costs is not a good look/thing! She had the support she needed. Finally.

@rickfitzgerald7294 Жыл бұрын

Amazing video. I'm a gymnast myself, and experienced the same problems. I think it would be really cool to research this topic in the future, as 'the twisties' isn't explained in depth. I hope you make more video's like this!

@rickfitzgerald7294 Жыл бұрын

I'm studying human movement sciences now, and I was thinking of writing a thesis about this. Your video has motivated me even further and reassured me.

@Kaalyn_HOW Жыл бұрын

I'm so so so glad elite athletes are "normalizing" this. Back when i was in, i was RELENTLESSLY shamed - by coaches, teammates, parents - and that obviously didn't help. But I also felt so bad about myself just bc I didn't know anyone else who had them and thought I was the only one ever. That I sucked, was lazy, a baby, shouldn't be a gymnast, yada yada. If I'd seen that even elites have this and they're still amazing, I would have felt so much better about mySELF, which would have helped me have the confidence to do the skills.

@FigureNastics Жыл бұрын

Thanks soooooo much for this!!!!! I have been so pissed off about how ppl with zero knowledge of gymnastics say Simone is a quitter!

@kaylapatek8421 Жыл бұрын

Mental blocks can happen in any sport. I’m an equestrian in the US but I’ve never had a mental block yet thankfully

@kurre_kallkvist Жыл бұрын

Great video! For me, mental blocks can take a few different forms which are helped by slightly different approaches. Back handsprings have long been a struggle, and continue to be at times. These are probably more of the "irrational fear" blocks for me, and the key has really been to slowly build confidence by progressions and drills. For other skills (front layout full, connecting some skills), I tend to "get lost" instead and just freeze up mid air when I don't know what to do. For these, I've found that visualisation and commitment really help...

@fredrika27 Жыл бұрын

USA Gymnastic could have prevented this YEARS AGO by firing Nasir who was s@xually abusing the gymnasts over multiple Olympics. That Simon along with Gabbie Douglas had poor concentration at the games is no surprise because they were triggered when they went into the arena. What angers me is the Federation took no precautions then to protect the gymnasts. What is even more damning is the fact that there was a lot of racial hate thrown on social media at both Simon who was said to look like a monkey and Gabbie who was called nappy headed black girl. The hate was so great towards Gabbie that she broke down and her mother intervened begging the Federation to help. As a person of color, I have had my fair share of racism and xenophobic remarks from not only poorly raised white gymnasts, but the judges as well. What is so funny is that that was back in 1975, but things haven't changed. When the three black gymnasts Konnor McClain, Shilese Jones, and Jordan Chiles won the all around 2022 US Gymnastics Championships, you'd have thought that some white gymnasts had lost their minds. The hate towards these gymnasts was so great with many of the no home training posters asking where was the spot for them not realizing that "their spots" aren't just for whites, but for the BEST gymnasts. Well I have news for these girls: the Supreme Court just ruled that race can no longer be used as a selection tool for college entrance. We've seen the prejudiced mounted toward "poor and racial minorities" in Netflix gymnasts programs. Here's the lesson: Either the gymnasts who feel they are entitled because of race or their parents money work hard and achieved or they accept the fact that poverty breeds champions who will be better than them because they want to advance their skills. Yes, the haters need to stop posting, the Federation also needs to police their social medial sites to get derogatory language of the broads and change youth's attitudes. Then the Federation wonders why the girls can't concentrate with such hateful attitudes of the fans that they refuse to defend or even intervene! Who likes to be told they don't deserve the spot they earned. Gabbie Douglas was told her second Olympic appearance was unearned despite winning several cups before Olympic selections. Now, I know that many of the viewers are just kids, but someone needs to talk to them along with their parents. Please explain to them how working hard, winning competitions and studying are what makes gymnasts--not sitting about pouting because they thought a white or my favorite a Russian gymnast was more deserving. Second, tell the staff, coaches, doctors, etc. to keep their hands off the gymnasts if they want medals. If this doesn't happen, there will be another time the US sees their medal chances go down the tubes because we don't know how to treat our gymnasts as human beings! Finally, I know that many kids watching this are under 14. That said, the Federation needs to stop acting like they have to be coddled all the time. It's this coddling that allowed Nasir to get away with what he did. Educate our gymnasts. The gym is a place to increase gymnasts' skills, strength, intelligence and social abilities. It is not a place to put one's daughter in hopes the gym will keep her innocent enough until she goes to college. Parents are setting their daughters up for failure if they think this because then they become targets and easy pickings. Likewise, the gym isn't for the rich and well healed to dictate to the poor and hard working their place in gymnastics. Either these girls change their thought pattern or be asked to leave. In conclusion we all love rainbows and unicorns, but people must understand their place in a child's life.

@quinnflips03 Жыл бұрын

Great video Rhys. Could you possibly make a video in the future of your wrist recovery routine. Because I am a young gymnast who has bad wrists and don’t know what to do to help them. And pommel horse is probably my worst apparatus so this would really help me.

@cleitonpereiraalves8579 Жыл бұрын

Hello Rhys! thanks for the clarifications. Simone is a world reference. Happy to see her returning. Hugs from Brazil 🇧🇷

@timmyflipz Жыл бұрын

In my experience it goes like this. The fully committing aspect is soooo key. The moment you fully committed to one skill in the corner before you go. and then once you go, you last second change your mind and do another skill - either in purpose or not - that is the one thing that will lead you down the slippery slope of getting twisties and mental blocks. If you told yourself you’re going to double back flip as a prerequisite to work on a twisting double, and then You end up doing a twisting double when you go, even though you told yourself you are going to only to a regular double flip, that is the exact moment you need to get yourself in check. Just stay clam and then take a step back to another skill you know you can fully commit to. Stress is the key factor for twisties and mental blocks

@brynrobuck3030 Жыл бұрын

Hi Rhys- good video! I'm also a gymnast, & yes, this is a real thing & it's highly traumatic to experience which I have myself. 2 occasions most prominent for me where both during dismounts- one from beam which absolutely scared the sh*t out of me whilst training, and the other in a competition dismount uneven bars. It's not for other people who aren't involved in the sport to give their uninformed 2 cents on, and rip on gymnasts. It's just ignorant b.s., since they've no idea what they're talking about. Thanks for the video!

@daiseycasey2718 Жыл бұрын

Nile Wilson is pretty honest on his KZbin about twisties he struggles to do less than 2 1/2 twists when he is only trying to do 1

@fordkoleski7913 Жыл бұрын

Great Video Rhys! I wish everyone could understand this.

@philipcharles207 Жыл бұрын

That was really interesting and insightful, Rhys. Thanks for your up-close perspective. It's a bizarre phenomenon, almost like a "physical amnesia" where your body can't remember how to perform motions that were previously habitual. I can't think of any examples in other sports where an athlete loses the ability to execute a skill previously mastered. Perhaps it's unique to gymanastics? I wonder if springboard divers and trampolinists (who perform similar movements) also get the twisties?

@catinabox3048 Жыл бұрын

I don't think it's limited to gymnastics, or even to sports at all. Gymnasts simply get more media attention because the stakes are higher and there's no good way of treating it apart from just taking a break. It honestly sounds quite similar to what I used to get when playing the piano, or participating in a play. I'd have memorized the songs or the lines and done them successfully many many times, but the moment I think about it consciously, I realize I don't remember-because I'd been relying so much on my subconscious and/or muscle memory that my conscious mind can't make sense of it. As soon as I start thinking about it, I realize I don't actually actively remember anything, and it trips me up because I can't just "choose" to let my subconscious take over. The more I think about it, the worse it is, but the worse it is, the more I think about it. The good thing is that in music and theater, we can sometimes try to prevent this by starting at random places (i.e. not the beginning) in practice, which forces you into a more active mindset and allows you to troubleshoot problematic areas and recreate active knowledge. I don't think that's nearly as good of an option in gymnastics because mental knowledge isn't enough when you can't feel the move anymore.

@ReticentObsessive Жыл бұрын

It definitely exists in other sports. Rick Ankiel is a good baseball example with “the yips” - he just completely lost his ability to control his pitches. He ended up changing to the minors and working his way back up as an outfield player

@teijaflink2226 Жыл бұрын

I understand being dissapointed but I was so confused how angry many people where specially as it's gymnastics you could seriously injure yourself or maybe even get killed

@ronaldhorton2438 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Rhys, this is one of the best vlogs you've made. It's really good 👍.

@sharondoyle6748 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Rhys every gymnast and coach need to see this

@Чудосемейка-э3ю Жыл бұрын

Oh gosh, that's an amazing video. I remember that time when I had to do my regular double back. After my back handspring, when I was ALREADY in the air, my brain started to tell me to stop : "nah, that's not perfect enough.." So I didn't finish my skill and fell right on my neck. That was so random and super scary. The same thing happened over and over again. Every single day, for weeks. My first attempt was always clean, even though I was literally shaking before that. And after the first one, I started to land on my back, neck or head. Moreover, I ended up completely losing control over my body so I began to stop right before my back handspring. Everybody was laughing, seeing me, falling on my head over and over again. My coach was yelling at me for almost being killed by myself. I mean, maybe that's what people call "overthinking"

@daiseycasey2718 Жыл бұрын

Love the way he says gymnastics

@Simon-oy7kf Жыл бұрын

I have the opposite problem, a million mental blocks on pommels but I lost all my fear and mental blocks on highbar, I enjoy it too much to be afraid. I've also lost my backwards twists once, and forwards twists multiple times

@silverpurkat Жыл бұрын

I always wonder if mental blocks are you fighting against your survival instincts

@Heyyy12812 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this video - super helpful and honest

@Soogle42 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video, this is so great that you can share this🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

@elizabethw.9042 Жыл бұрын

Great job Rhys!!

@roxy5588 Жыл бұрын

Simone Biles is actually coming back. I am so glad she is giving the sport another shot after a two year break. I am no gymnast but there are some people that don't actually know how dangerous the sport is. The comments that were hurled at Simone were abusive and not okay. Simone is human being and not a robot and she has feelings you know. I think the experts were putting way too much pressure on her. I fully supported Simone's decision on withdrawing from the competition for her own safety. Try again haters. What do you want to see Simone in a wheelchair not being able to move because she kept competing or do you want her to be comfortably competing without an issue. These haters are morons and are beyond ignorant.

@msbrandymo Жыл бұрын

Should she make it & gets gold, those same haters will be kissing her posterior!

@roxy5588 Жыл бұрын

@@msbrandymo I am really hoping that she does. If she does the haters will be kissing their own backsides. At the time people had nothing better to do than to hate on her. They have no idea on how damaging the Larry Nassar abuse was to her mental health because they are not walking in her shoes.

@Kitty8791 Жыл бұрын

@@roxy5588Not only that, she also didn't have her family, or fiancé (now husband) present to support her, and they have always been there for her at competitions, but weren't allowed to attend due to the CoVid-19 restrictions. In fact, important to recall that the competition was pushed back a year due to the pandemic as well & she had been training at competition level, only to find out 4-mos before the original date that it would now be held ~16-mos later. That can also interfere w/ life goals, if she had planned to retire, get married, have kids, etc . . . after the 2020 Olympics, she now had to delay these other goals. She touched on some of these things on the Versus Series on Facebook Watch, titled "Simone vs Herself."

@kohei8061 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video!

@kohei8061 Жыл бұрын

I d love to know what you do for recovery on a regular basis?

@eddietucker7005 Жыл бұрын

Nobody would want Biles to go out and hurt herself, so I’m glad she took care of herself in that aspect. I believe she had the mental block(s) due to self-pressure. Before the Olympic trials, she had all of the most difficult skills named after her. But I did not once see her stick a landing on floor or vault. She stuck on floor and vault when she was performing her regular, high scoring flips, but when she tried this “Biles” or that “Biles”, it just wasn’t going to be. Knowing she couldn’t land them with all of the world watching, even her warm ups were televised. It was too much pressure. Then she went and put “GOAT” on her leotard and the press noticed. When it became obvious she was having problems before Olympic Trials, she should have watered down her difficulty level. As a result of not taking corrective measures, she had her dream come true of being called an Olympian, but robbed another gymnast from having their dream come true. It’s still wasn’t as bad as what the Unified team did to Rosa Galyeva. She knew when her problems started and so did everyone else, simply by watching her. She should have bowed out of the Olympics graciously. The world would understand and still love and admire her. Instead, she had another gymnast stay home while she went to the Olympics to be a cheerleader. She didn’t need a spot on the team to do that.

@cookie4049 Жыл бұрын

great video man

@madsjr0601 Жыл бұрын

My 7 year old gymnast that I coach have had chronic mental blocks on skills like Miyachi in HB, Liukin & Nagornyy in Floor as well as H-flop in Pommels. He just won't do them, comes up with silly excuses like "he has to learn giants first", ofc I say it's all in his head. Without those mental blocks he would probably contend for the world title. Such a shame 😛 Do you guys have any tips for this?

@triffus Жыл бұрын

Love you for this. As a trampolinist, it's so terrifying. I was a twister. I remember as a 15 year old trying a Rudi ( 1 1/2) and doing an Adolf ( 3 1/2 ) by accident . LOSING TRICKS doesn't exist. We lost confidence and technique. Thats my opinion as a coach.

@chrissyjoy08 Жыл бұрын

The twisties isn't by itself an actual loss of confidence and/or technique, although loss of confidence often happens because of it, which can lead to a vicious cycle. However, you're right that it's not technically a loss of skill(s) either. It's a disconnect between your brain and body. Your brain has no clue how much your body is or isn't twisting and/or flipping. This happens no matter the level of gymnast or stress they're under, though the higher the level the more dangerous it becomes, and often leads to frustration, which makes it worse cause then you're putting more stress and pressure on yourself, which can also make the problem worse.