Article: Before you start flipping, pirouetting and standing on your head, you should work to reach a base level of physical conditioning. Build your muscular strength by performing calisthenics exercises such as push ups, pull ups, air squats, and crunches. Go for a jog or swim laps a couple of times a week to get in better cardiovascular shape. Begin stretching thoroughly every dayflexibility plays a critical role in gymnastics. As you progress, keep up with your strength and conditioning exercises and increase their intensity. If you have a history of serious injury or a condition that makes strenuous exercise difficult or risky, gymnastics may not be for you, but other sports are out there. Start learning all the most basic skills from the ground up. You may have performed some gymnastics moves as a kid or think you have a pretty good idea of how it's supposed to be done, but if you want to learn the right way you need to put pride aside and start from square one. Looking at each skill like it's your first time will help do away with any misconceptions you may have and orient you with the correct technique. Any expert will tell you that the most important aspect of getting good at anything is mastering the basics. Spending more time becoming confident with fundamental skills will benefit you in the long run. Some good techniques to add to your repertoire when you're first starting out are backbends, bridges, headstands, handstands, forward and backward somersaults, cartwheels and splits. Do every skill the right way or don't do it at all. Proper form and precision are the two most important components of the sport. If you learn something the wrong way, not only do you run the risk of injury but you might also establish bad habits that affect every skill that builds off that movement. Film yourself and compare it to the photo and video tutorials you're using to review your technique. Whenever you get a chance, set aside time to drill the techniques you've learned. Only work on skills that it's safe for you to do by yourself or under the supervision of an adult or someone else who can spot you. This will mostly include simple floor movementsflips and other complex skills will be too dangerous to learn on your own. Formal instruction can provide you with useful cues for learning more quickly, but the progress you're able to make depends almost entirely on how hard you're willing to study and work. Try to set aside at least three hours a week to train. Remember, practice doesn't make perfect: perfect practice makes perfect. You should always put special emphasis on the correct form when training and give it your all.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Make sure you're physically prepared. Approach each skill as a beginner. Focus on technique. Practice religiously.