agapit wrote:Jake Blankenship in my opinion is the closest one I know in the world to m640 model today and yes he lowers his leg and yes his takeoff jump is “soft”. His push at this time is 1.05m!!!
I took a look at his NCAA Indoors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIbIDu3r9xE&feature=youtu.be).
It is interesting that you would identify his as being closest to the m640 model today, but I think you know what you're looking for.
When I first saw him jump this way a few weeks ago, I discounted his technique as being yet another guy that drops his lead knee, or doesn't drive it up in the first place.
So I will assume that he's not being coached to keep his lead knee low?
Now that you mention it - and I wouldn't have noticed this if you hadn't mentioned it - I don't see much (if any) delay or pause in a tuck or pike. His CoG seems to be moving continuously upwards. I didn't notice this because I was distracted by his lead knee action.
I suppose there's SOME delay (and inefficiency?) in getting his CoG moving quickly upwards while he "drops" his lead knee, but once he does his weird 2-legged swing, he does seem to swing (recover?) BOTH legs up in a nice continuous motion. I know that this takes tremendous core strength, and good gymnastics agility/strength.
So if I filter out his unusual lead knee action, yes, I can see the Petrov Model, and by extension the 640 Model - based on his lack of tuck or pike.
I wonder what his intent is? Does he intentionally not drive the lead knee, or is this just a bad (or good) habit?
Kirk Bryde