Acrosport: Pyramids and balances Hands grips Hand grips are used in all phases of a pyramid-assembling, holding the formation and disassembling. 1. Hand to hand: Hands are joined in a shake-hands positions. It can be: Simple Crossed double Mixed crossed double Double 2. Claw: This grip is usually used for pulling a performer or holding a position. It can be: Simple Double 3. Hand-to-wrist: This grip is usually used for pulling a performer or holding a position. This grip is stronger than claw one. Simple Double 4. Arm-to-arm: This grip is used in advanced pyramids for support in the inverted position. 5. Interlocked wrist and hands (platform): This grip is used for climbing in pyramids and for tossing (pitching in acrobatics). 1
Assembling safety rules Base performers Strongest and heaviest participants should be the base performers. Your position must be balanced all the time and you should have a position that you could keep a long time. For example for the hands-and-knees position your back should be straight and your arms and legs should be parallel Correct hand-and-knees position Incorrect hand-and-knees position In other positions your body also must be balanced Correct standing position Correct hand support in high kneel position Correct hand support in a bent hip stand position Top performers When the base performer is supporting a top performer in a standing position on the shoulders, the back must be kept as straight as possible in order to prevent unnecessary strain on the spine Correct position Incorrect position Also in hands-and-knees position top performer must stay over the hip or shoulders so that bodyweight is supported by thighs or arms of the base performer. 2
Correct position Incorrect position English workbook Fill the blanks, If you have to fill the descriptions part, then you should speak about the grip and grasps, and positions and movements of the body of base and top. Forward thigh stand E A B C D A. Base leaning against the wall. Top standing on the bench. B. Base grasp waist of Top, who grasp wrists of base. Top step thighs of base. C. Top straightens body. D. Base shift grasp to midthighs of top, then rises to release support from wall. Top raises arms. E. Base shift grasp to Top, who steps back to bench 3
Reverse thigh stand A B C D E A B C D E Foot-to-shoulder balance A B C D E A B C D E Low Hip-to-Hand balance A B 4
A B Sit-to-foot balance A B C A Base lying on back with feet up and legs bent. Top in reverse foot-to-hand grip, sitting on feet of base and holding Base s ankles. B Base extend arms and legs to raise Top, who maintains grip of ankles of Base C Base releases feet of top, who raises legs and arms. Sit-to-foot balance A B C D A Base lying on back with feet up and legs bent, feet on buttocks of Top, and top crouched stand, holding ankles of the base. B Top leans shoulders backward into hands of Base, and releases hand from ankles of base C Top raises legs and places hands on side of hip while Base maintains support on shoulders D Top holds hip firmly to maintain horizontal position while Base extend legs and let arms on the floor. 5 5
Reverse thigh balance on a double lunge A A B C B C Reverse thigh balance on a double lunge (this is almost like the previous one) A B C A Two base performers in a high-kneel position with inside legs up. Top behind bases puts hands on inside shoulders of bases and step onto raised thighs of bases. B Bases hold top with inside hands on the inner sides of thighs of top. Outside arms of bases and arms of tops are raised sideward-upward to shoulder level. C Base performers rise to a lunge position to complete the balance. Flag balance on a double high kneel 6
A B C A Top standing with bent legs, facing bases, with hands on heads of the base performer. Bases crouched in a high-kneel position with inside legs up, and hands and inside hands and outside hands grasping thighs and ankles of top, respectively. B Top pushes from heads of bases, and bases push against thighs using ankle grasp. C Completed position has top inclined with locked knees and with arms at a shoulder level. Bases erect in a high kneel position pulling slightly to stabilize position of top s legs. 7
Taking pictures of your pyramids From now on you don t copy more pyramids and balances, you are going to make up your own ones. You have to draw your pyramid or take a picture and paste it. Remember that you have to think not only about the holding, but also about the assembling and disassembling. First Second Third Forth Fifth Sixth 8
Grasp Verbs Word Picture Example Hold Fall Pull Push Climb Shake Toss 9
Straighten Bend Support Kneel Lean (forward) Shift Rise Release Lie down 10
Face Step (forward, onto ) Crouch down, squat tumble Nouns Word Picture Example Grip Assembling Dissaslembling 11
Commands Directions Fellows Partner Performance Pyramid Balance 12
Claw Base(performer) Top(performer) Strain Spine Stag Lunge 13
Upward* Downward* 14