3 Axis of Rotation in the vault

[PVDaddy]

As I have stated in previous post I believe there should be 3 Axis of Rotation of the vaulters body in the ideal vault.

The first axis of rotation occurs at the top hand. For this to occur correctly the vaulter must plant tall while standing as perfectly erect as possible with both hands extending upward as far as possible into a free take off. It is not only necessary for the top hand to be extended directly above the plant foot as high as possible with bicep pressed along the ear but the bottom hand must also be extended at least above the head. If you are not able to achieve this position while standing at plant then your grip is to wide. The key to obtaining a rotation about the top hand is to not pull after plant but to focus instead on continuing to reach up and to allow your mass and acceleration of your body with chest forward leading your body between your arms to naturally load the vaulter/pole system at the top hand. This creates a complete stretch of your body from your hands all the way through the body (especially the shoulders) to the swing leg toe. Your hands must be allowed to extend back over your head and this will naturally occur provided you continue to extend both arms upward through penetration. It is important to elevate the bottom leg to extend the range of motion of the whip and to provide a counter weight for the body so that the chest is forward leading the way through the arms. From this pre-stretched reverse-C position you will be able to generate an enormous amount of power in your whip. Provided you continue to extend your hands upward the first axis of rotation will naturally occur at the top hand throughout your down swing (It has to!). It is crucial to extend your downswing heel to the pit to make your whip and your lever as long and as powerful as possible. This position is referred to as the Active-I(The completion of the downswing Tap).

It is from this position that the axis of rotation must transfer from the top hand to the hip joint (the most powerful muscle group in the body). This begins the upswing of the whip. So the whip must come from the hip! Of course the abdomens must also be used to maximum benefit. Breaking at the hips shortens the radius of the swing and therefore maintains it velocity in the upswing. Now the axis of rotation is on the hip joint (The 2nd axis of rotation). Once your swing leg foot has passed the pole, the pole has reached maximum bend, so the chord of the pole (The line from your top hand to the butt of the pole) is now at its shortest and has also rotated (Because you did NOT pull, but extended upward) to vertical (The chord, not the pole!). You have now done EVERYTHING possible to ensure the forward role of the pole (The objective of every good and safe vault) into penetration!

Now that the chord of the pole has rolled to the vertical position and you have passed it in your upswing (which ensures the continued forward roll of the pole), you want to maintain the speed of your whip upward through a pulling effort of both arms through the shoulders (A cable effect. I have now explained why I believe this is the correct timing of the pull). This pulling effort must be maintained right through the swing through the backward leaned, rocked back position as the swing leg meets the drive leg and both the legs are vigorously straightened (Extended,Thrusted) upward along with the extension upward of the hips as the body straightens through the very active use of the back and abdominal muscles.

Throughout this process the axis of rotation changes from the hip joint to the shoulder joint (The final and 3rd axis of rotation) with the laying back of the head and shoulders in a straight line. The reason many vaulters are not good at laying back there shoulders is that they do not allow (Utilize) a full axis of rotation through their shoulder joints. The hands never pull toward the feet. To the contrary the vaulter must extend the whip leg all the way until the hip makes contact very close to the top arm elbow. This is the ideal inversion position! The pulling effort of the bottom hand must be seamlessly blended to a pushing effort of the bottom hand toward the pit to add vertical energy by pushing the vaulters body away from the pole and insure it receives the maximum amount of energy the uncoiling pole has to offer (The completion of the upswing Tap).

Even though the axis of rotation has changed from the top hand, to the hip joint, to the shoulder joint, there are two axis of rotation occurring together through the transfer period. The vaulter must ALWAYS maintain pressure out at the end of the lever of the pole (The top hand) throughout the entire off ground phase of the vault! This ensures that the pole maintains maximum bend and the shortest chord possible for its forward role and also allows the vaulter time to be in the best vertical position to receive the full and proper release of energy through the center of the vaulters body as the pole uncoils for launch off!

Now that I have explained my rational on "when and How I believe the vaulter should pull", this concludes my final post on PVP and my completion of Agenda 21.
I hope that my exhaustive, yet VERY interesting journey into understanding the art of the vault has provide someone with some benefit.

[PVDaddy]

Now that the chord of the pole has rolled to the vertical position and you have passed it in your upswing (which ensures the continued forward roll of the pole), you want to maintain the speed of your whip upward through a pulling effort of both arms through the shoulders (A cable effect. I have now explained why I believe this is the correct timing of the pull)

Should have said: Now that the pole has rolled to the vertical position and you have passed it in your upswing (which ensures the continued forward roll of the pole), you want to maintain the speed of your whip upward through a pulling effort of both arms through the shoulders (A cable effect. I have now explained why I believe this is the correct timing of the pull)

[altius]

Please don't start this again old son. As I have suggested on many occasions - go away and coach some athletes; perhaps some girls to 4m and boys to 5m. That would be at least a start.

[grandevaulter]

Good to see some activity. Hope you are all well.

[PVDaddy]

Altius if you had bothered to read post you would have known I had mentioned months ago I would make one final post defending my position as to why I believed the ideal time to pull was immediately after the vaulter broke at the hips and in this post I explained.
1) If you train the vaulter to pull prior to this time you are jeopardizing the safety and efficiency of the vault because you are limiting the elasticity of the vaulter thereby the efficiency of the swing and of equal importance the ability of the pole to roll forward. Any coach worth there salt understands the importance of this principal and safety.
2) As the swing leg foot has passed the pole, the pole has already completed the very important process of rolling over to the vertical position (From the box to the point of were the bend begins, the pole is vertical).
3) At this point in the swing the vaulter has to fight the forces of gravity in the upswing and this is assisted with the pull.
4) The vaulter is in the ideal bio-mechanical position to employ the maximum benefit of the pull. The hands are in the ideal placement.
5) It has the effect of helping to shoot the vaulter skyward at the ideal time of flyaway. And Finally
6) It has a symbiotic relation ship with the bottom hand push as the the motion is integrated into one seamless action!

These conclusions were arrived at and are the culmination of my lengthy study of the art of the vault. This is my final post young man (I wish you many more years) but please do try to get over yourself!
it is not meant as a slam to your previous theories but meant to finally put this old sleepy dog to bed! Goodnight!