Back Tuck (Backwards Somersault)

Updated @ 11^th Dec 2006 (Inserted a more recent video)

Seeing people perform the back tuck (the likes of Joe Eigo and Jujumufo) was one of the early inspirations for me to get into gymnastics. When I finally got to a gymnastics club the guys there were very supportive and helpful. I started out using the foam pit, jumping backwards into it; then jumping with a tuck and getting around.

Within a few sessions I had built up the confidence to do them unassisted on the tumble track!

Early back tucks (April 2005)

Shortly after this video was taken, I had a nasty crash (on that very tumble track). I hesitated in mid air and landed on my head quite badly. I have a massive mental block on that red track now, but that's another story. The key thing I want to stress is that it's best to tread cautiously rather than go too quickly. If you crash it could mean a seriously big set back.

Another thing is don't learn on a tumble track. It teaches you the wrong technique for getting height i.e. you are not jumping but rather; compressing the surface you are on. This adds an additional dimension of complexity which will lead to an increased chance of bailing the move, instead of busting it.

After the crash I stopped for a while, then learned them on trampolines - and eventually did what I should have always done.

Instructions

1.      Get a spotter, or two spotters

2.      Do it on a spring loaded floor or grass (whatever), with no mats behind you.

3.      Forget foam pits, swimming pools, mats. Just DO IT.

4.      Keep your head up, look at a focal point just above your head in front of you

5.      When you jump, don't squat too deep. Actually you hardly need to bend your legs at all

6.      Always keep your chest up on the jump, never lean forwards

7.      Jump UP - not backwards

8.      Take off your toes

9.      Keep your head facing forward and don't tuck till the height of the move, otherwise you are "snatching" the trick.

10.  The more of a time gap between jump and tuck, the better it looks

11.  Tuck!

12.  Kick out

13.  Land

Notes

• Back tucks always look better when spontaneous. If you stand with your arms up in the air for ages setting it up, it just looks whack. The best back tucks are scary to watch because they happen unexpectedly and you think for a second that the person executing the move is about to die as a result!
• All kinds of horrible shit happens when you build mental barriers. I have found that I built up many in my time i.e. I would have a very rigid way of setting a tuck up starting with my arms in the air. If you were about to execute a straight jump you would just jump with your arms starting at your sides. If you can do back tucks like this, they will look better and be higher; because you are bypassing the mental blocks associated with the previous setup.
• The best way to learn spontaneity with tucks is to have a group of buddies and all do tucks in quick succession i.e. a back tuck ring (there is a video linked later on this page).
• The higher the jump, and the more amount of time between jump and tuck, the better it looks.
• The less travel on the tuck, the better it looks. Gainers look even better.
• I have found that trying to attain the unassisted tuck by using mats and platforms only delays your progress and builds barriers that stop you from progressing. Having a mat behind you makes you jump backwards. Always tuck on the area you eventually will be tucking on assisted, just add spotters.
• I found that I got to the stage where for a very long time I could back tuck perfectly but I needed to feel the hand of a spotter on my back, even a single finger. Without this I would jump backwards and not be as powerful. It's funny how on a backtuck your body takes power away and bailing risk is increased; even though these two things are precisely what increases the probability of serious injury.
• Fear. You need to rationalise it - you need to know and understand that as long as you jump a little bit and tuck you are going to land on your knees at worst. The only risk is bailing before or during the tuck - when you are upside down in mid air there is very little you can do to save your fall. Even though a back tuck is a delecate execution of a sequence of activities, omission of the tuck is the only dangerous part hence it should always be forefront in your mind. People will be saying to you "jump higher" but everything is secondary to the TUCK.

Videos

A few recent back tucks of mine

My technique is still far from perfect. I am "setting up the move" i.e. starting with my arms up in the air - and this forces mental barriers into execution, limiting the power of the jump. I am not tucking tight enough and this indirectly leads to me not landing quite correctly.

Ross Spotting

For the benefit of the tutorial, Ross executes two back tucks correctly (one x-out).

Keiran does standing Arabian - to standing front tuck.

Pictures

Ben busting a back tuck

Mid-tuck!