The Chinese tap intends to accelerate the speed of the back giant prior to the dismount. In suspension with their hands, the gymnast pulls the bar and cuts the trajectory of the giant. In the upward swing, they should gradually pike the body until it reaches the maximum point in the higher vertical. The move is very similar to an early toe-on. The piking could be increased more than 90°. In the handstand begins the opposite move. The downswing happens with a push back on the rail and opening of the body for the giant. The tap should be powerful with a strong arch from the hips. The tap should finish earlier, around lower vertical. Next follows an upswing in a strong hollow body position and the dismount. If the initial closing is correct, it naturally gives the exact timing for the following tap.
The skill starts at the highest point of the backswing. The gymnast should be in a hollow body position with their head neutral. At the bottom of the swing, the gymnast should arch slightly, making a whip. They should then return to the hollow position in the front swing. There are modifications of the tap swing. For example, in a flyaway, the tap should be prior to reaching suspension. If the gymnast needs to accelerate the swing for a giant, the tap may be slightly after the suspension. After the tap the gymnast’s body should continue in hollow until the top of the swing. After this follows the back swing. Until the bottom of the back swing the body should be exactly tight. After the suspension, the gymnast begins to hollow and become slightly piked while they shift their wrists. This prevents them from slipping off while regrasping. The back swing finishes at the very top of the move in the hollow position.
Usually, the routine begins with a Stemme. Push back on the rail and at the same time extend your body from the shoulders and the hips. After that, the move should occur in the opposite direction. Push forward on the rail, adjust the angle of shoulders and slightly pike the body from the hips. Arms are tight with the head in a neutral position. Repeat the move several times. The stemme should be reformed under the bar, w/o any swing forwards or backward.
The swing starts with a stronger than usual hollow body position. The following tap is stronger too.
The progression continues with more piking from the hips and a more aggressive tap afterwards.
This skill begins from a back giant. In the lower vertical position, the gymnast starts piking from the hips and the back, at the same time the shoulder angle should be extended. Around the upper vertical position, the gymnast should place the soles of their feet onto the bar. There are two modifications of this skill, one with the legs together and one with the legs in a straddle. When performing in a straddle, the athlete should place their feet close to their hands in a shorter straddle. The whip of the legs should be aggressive enough to ensure acceleration for the successive sole circle. Before finishing the circle in the upper vertical position, the gymnast should start pressing to a handstand. The toe-on toe-off is essential for Japanese Tap and Stalder.
In the upswing the gymnast begins to cut the trajectory, executing a strong hollow position. After the handstand follows a more active opening and early tap.
The gymnast continues to increase the cut of the upward swing and the following tap.
The coach assists by controlling the shoulder angle position and the speed of the move.
Integral part of gymnastics coaching process are skill drills. They help gymnasts to learn easier and technically correct. With GYM DRILL PRO you will find variety of ideas for the most the basic gymnastics skills. There are plenty of images with skill drill progressions. It is intended to support explicitly the qualified coaches in their daily coaching business. DO NOT practice without the guidance of proper professionals.