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Mushroom Circle

1. The proper technique for the basic mushroom circle should show a complete extension of the hips with an open chest at the 1⁄4 and 3⁄4 circle positions. Squeezing the hips and gluteus muscles tight will enable the gymnast to maintain a straight body position throughout the circle.
2. There should be a slight counter rotation and opening of the hips and chest at the 1⁄4 circle position to prevent ‘rolling the hips over’ as the circle travels around the front of the mushroom. This ‘rolling the hips over’ will cause the gymnast to pike or over-hollow in an effort to square up his hips to the mushroom at the completion of the full circle. Properly executed, the counter-rotation on the first 1⁄4 circle will allow the hips to square up as the gymnast reaches the 1⁄2 circle in the rear support position.
3. Reaching the 1⁄2 circle in the rear support position with his hips squared or slightly counter turned will enable him to ‘lead’ with his heels into the 3⁄4 circle position as he transfers his weight to his second arm. The greater the shoulder lean, the greater the circle speed and extension the gymnast will be able to achieve. The gymnast may use this lean and ‘heel drive’ action to accelerate his circle through the 3⁄4 circle position throughout the second half of the circle.
4. The gymnast should keep his shoulders erect and head or chin up as he completes the full circle so that his body remains straight and extended and he can effectively initiate the counter rotation into the next circle as he transfers his weight back to the first arm.
5. The goal is to educate the gymnast to correct circle technique. Training devices such as the floor mushroom can be used effectively to break down the various positions to achieve a proper circle technique.

Flairs

1. The proper technique for the flair should conform to the same basic elements required of a basic circle.

   The gymnast should ideally show full body extension throughout the circle. There should be a slight counter rotation of the hips and chest at the 1⁄4 circle position and this should be maintained through the 3⁄4 circle position to insure full extension.

2. The break for the flair should occur at the 3⁄4 circle position. The top leg should lift to the side and upward to initiate the straddle position as high as possible with the bottom leg driving rearward from the counter rotated position. The body should be fully extended on the break.
3. The flair should remain in an extended position around the back of the circle as much as possible enabling the gymnast to initiate an early counter rotation and extension of the hips and chest at the 1⁄4 circle position. The acceleration of the bottom leg through the 3⁄4 circle position is important in creating speed and elevation throughout the flair.
4. The legs should maintain as wide a straddle as possible throughout the entire flair.
5. Execution of the factors stated above will eventually enable the gymnast to develop a flair that can easily swing to and from the handstand potion, which is the ultimate goal of this skill.

Spindle

1. The 1⁄2 spindle in 2 circles (level 5) would be performed with a 1⁄4 spindle (90o counter turn) in one circle and another 1⁄4 spindle (90o counter turn) in the second circle. A counter turn is a turn performed in the opposite direction of the circle. For example: For a circle performed in a clockwise direction beginning on the right arm, the 90o counter turn would be performed at the 1⁄2 position to the left in the counter- clockwise direction on the left arm.
2. The second 1⁄4 spindle should be executed the same as the first, starting in the 1⁄2 position of the circle and turning on the left arm placement during the clockwise circle. At the completion of this spindle the gymnast should now be facing 180o from when he started. Using the vertical center-line of the mushroom in the front support, the gymnast should imagine pommels on either side of the line and the hand placements to be made on the turns by placing the hands on these imaginary pommels with respect to the circle and each turn.
   
   4. Czechkehre (Moore)
      1. The Czechkehre is a circle skill that allows the gymnast to turn 180 degrees in the same direction as the circle.

         The Czechkehre should start between the 3⁄4 position (second half of the circle) as the weight is shifted to the support arm.

      2. During the second half of the circle the gymnast should execute a 90o turn rearward finishing in FRONT support on both hands.
      3. From the front support the gymnast shifts his weight to the opposite arm in support completing the circle with a 90o turn forward to rear support and circling out of this position to front support. The gymnast has now completed a 180o turn starting and finishing in a front support.
      4. Using the vertical center-line of the mushroom in the front support, the gymnast should imagine pommels on either side of the line and the hand placements to be made on the turns by placing the hands on these imaginary pommels with respect to the circle and each turn.
   5. Direct Stockli A (DSA, back Moore)
      1. Similar to the Czechkehre, the DSA is a circle skill that turns 180o. The DSA starts at the 1/4 position (first half of the circle) as the gymnast executes a 90o turn on the support arm to rear support (1/4 kehre).
      2. The gymnast should then shift his weight to the opposite arm and complete the circle leading with his heels and executing 90o turn (1/4 reverse stockli) to complete the circle into front support.
      3. Using the vertical center-line of the mushroom in the front support, the gymnast should imagine pommels on either side of the line and the hand placements to be made on the turns by placing the hands on these imaginary pommels with respect to the circle and each turn.
   6. Russian Wendeswing with 360
      1. This skill should start and finish squarely in front support. There should be a 360o wendeswing turn in one circle (this should be accomplished with 4 hand placements).
      2. Starting at the 0 position, the first arm should reach forward to the quadrant C. The second arm then quickly reaches under to the quadrant B (at this point the gymnast should be at the 1⁄2 circle position with a 180o turn).
      3. The next half of the skill is the same as the first finishing the Russian in front support with a total of 360o of turn.
      4. This skill is sometimes started with a 1⁄4 reverse stockli action (90o turn). If this is the case there would be only 270o of wendeswing turn finishing in front support with a total of 360o of turn. Either technique is acceptable.
   7. Flank Dismount (Level 7)

      From front cross support facing out (back loop position) the gymnast executes a 1⁄4 circle to a landing (facing cross support).

   8. Schwabenflank

      From front cross support facing in (front loop position) the gymnast executes a 1⁄2 circle with a 180o wendeswing turn to a flank dismount.