Tumbling for Amateurs

by James Tayloe Gwathmey

KNEE THREE HIGH AND FRONTS OFF.

78. Build three high as in No. 77. No. 3 does a front off, then No. 2, and No. 1 does a standing front. Fig. [107].

STILL MOUNT.
(For Three High.)

79. (The object is for No. 2 to mount to shoulders without moving No. 1 from his tracks. This should first be practiced a number of times on the floor, and then on top of the horse or buck. When practicing a three high the top mount should always have around his waist a belt suspended from the ceiling the first few trials.) Facing each other and clasping hands, No. 1 pulls No. 2 (who jumps) on his feet, hands above head; No. 2 places left hand on top of No. 1’s head, and clasps his right hand; No. 2 bends left leg and places his foot in No. 1’s left hand; No. 1 pulls hard with right hand and lifts with left, No. 2 assisting himself by pressing hard on No. 1’s head with left hand; No. 2 places right foot on No. 1’s right shoulder and left foot on left shoulder, and comes to an erect position. Figs. [108], [109], [110].

THREE HIGH.

80. No. 2 mounts to No. 1’s shoulders and grasps No. 3’s hands (Fig. [111]) and pulls him to top of No. 1’s shoulders; No. 3 continues on up by still mount. Lean and fall. Fig. [112].

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF PROMINENT PHYSICAL DIRECTORS

New Haven, Conn.

W. G. Anderson, Associate Director Yale University Gymnasium: “I believe in ‘tumbling’ as an exercise. It makes a man quick, agile, and very sure-footed. It is a form of sport that is popular and perfectly legitimate when properly taught. We have no good book on the subject, but need one. If such a work is to be presented to those interested in this subject, it ought to be written by a man who has had much experience in actual tumbling, who is familiar with the mechanism of the body, and who is educated. Dr. James T. Gwathmey, of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., is just the person to compile a book on this form of gymnastics. He is a clever performer, a teacher of wide experience, and an educated physician. I have looked over the MS. of the Doctor’s new book, and I indorse it.”