The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-21

to do some limbering exercise on land
such as leaning over repeatedly to
touch the floor with the palms.
All fancy dives are composed of
somersaults and twists, and it is profit
able before taking them up to seek out
an expert gymnast and first inquire
about the particular functions of each
part of the body in executing them,
then practice few somersaults on
land, supported by the apparatus used
for beginners in all gymnasiums.
This work should be temporary, how
ever, and just enough of it should be
done to gain a general idea Of the ac-
ton. After that it is wise to stick en-
tirely to diving, for the leg and foot
work at the end of a tumble is very
different from the one prescribed for
a clean entry in the water.
There are two ways of executing the
somersaults-by tuck and by layout.
The former is the easier and should be
favored by novices.
Tor the front somersault by tuck
the arms are bent so that the elbows
are close to the sides and the hands
raised little above the shoulders and
eight or ten inches before them. Then
in leaping up and out the hands are
brought down smartly and the elbows
swung back. the head is damned down
on the chest, and the legs are crooked
so that the knees are pressed against
| the stomach Thus rolled up, tucked,
the body spins around in the air, I'M
f016 hn yJIf ic of
and enters the water fully outstretched
The tuck for the back somersault is
| made by throwing the head, shoulders
| and arms up and backward instead OF
| forward and down, but the legs are
| used in the same manner.
In both the layouts the turning mo.
mentum is gained by throwing the
| arms and head and bending the body
| at the waist, but the legs are held
straight after leaving the board, and
the diver should aim at performing the
circling flight as nearly erect as pos
| sible
The twists are introduced in pla1I
and fancy dives to make them NOR,
spectacular and may be attacked a
soon as proficiency in the former hal
been attained They consist of lat
eral roll of the body while In flight
A half twist entails a roll which vii
give back entry from forward dive
and vice versa. A full twist, or cork
screw, is made by completing the turn
SO that take-off and entry are the same
No twist should be started befor
the feet leave the board, and the roll
che no Tod nv n
waist and shoulders only, for If arm
and legs are brought into play they III
variably scissor and ruin the dive.
Work from an elevated platform
) should never be attempted by the IL
experienced, and even a skilled dive
Will avoid punishment and possible il
, jury by increasing his height grad,
ally.
An oil important thing in high divin
, is to remember to compose,for the Ell
try. On nearing the water. the hand
should be brought together over th
head palms down, the thumbs int
l locked and the arms stiffeIsed har,
The impact is SO greatEin striking ths
J, unless this is done the shoulders ma
e be thrown out of joint and hard bio
9 dealt to the top of the head.
: The body is held straight and rigi
0 until the feet are covered; then tt
muscles are relaxed, the head an
9 arms are raised, and this brings yo
e promptly to the surface. The shift
T position should not be too sudden, hoy
i ever, or the back may 1be strained