splits

[heleen]

i was wondering,at what age do they start practising splits?It seemed strange to me that in my DD class (grade 2+3 RAD) they still don't practise splits.But maybe i've got a completely wrong idea of it since my daughter has been in rg untill now so she has been doing them since she was 6.

[Mel Johnson]

Splits are only stretches. Students in RAD 2-3 aren't strong enough to be able to control the splits yet, so the Academy doesn't advise them until they can be done safely, which is in grades 4 and 5. Rhythmic Gymnastics has a whole different way of doing splits, but in my opinion, they have the kids doing them far too early, at least in the few RG classes I've seen.

[heleen]

thank you for your reaction.So is it best to tell her not to do them at home anymore either?Because she still likes to practise them at home,she doesn't do the oversplits anymore,as they had do do in rg,but the normal 180° splits she still likes to do.

[Mel Johnson]

As long as she's well-warmed up, it shouldn't do any harm, but she might well want to hold onto a chair or a counter or something to help her stay in control as she descends.

[ddm1]

Have been curious for while now- what exactly is an oversplit and why is it harmful? Thanks.

[heleen]

Oversplit is more then 180°,they usualy practise them between two chairs.

Why they are harmfull can better be explained by someone who's more qualified to do that than I am.

[ddm1]

Thanks. Just to be clear- does this mean that when in a second position split, the legs are then moved closed from behind, or am I completely misunderstanding?

[Victoria Leigh]

ddm1, I don't understand what you mean by "...then moved closed from behind...", but, I think I can explain an oversplit. Imagine a dancer with one leg on one chair and the other leg on another chair. The chairs are a few feet apart. The dancer's pelvis will descend below the level of her legs. You also see acrobats doing this. It can be done either in a 4th or 2nd position split. HOWEVER, we do not believe that it should be done at all! And, it is definitely not needed for ballet.

[ddm1]

Thank you Victoria. I now understand what an oversplit is and it is not what I was attempting to describe! I was awkwardly trying to describe a split done on the floor with the legs as straight out to each side as possible, where the arms and stomach are then lowered down to the floor in front of the legs as low as possible and the legs are then closed together from behind so that one ends up lying fully flat on one's stomach! (Sorry- this longer explanation appears just as awkward as the first...) If by some miracle you are actually able to picture this, you will know what I thought an oversplit was, until my recent enlightenment. Thank you again!

[Sewlinda]

Just wondering...why would it be bad to do oversplits?

Thanks!

[Mel Johnson]

Because the normal hipjoint is not constructed in such a way to allow more than 180° of extension. Soft tissues can be overstretched, and even bones abraded by the practice, and if it doesn't get you now, just wait ten or so years. God'll get you for that! Can you say hip replacement?

[heleen]

we can just hope she quit in time not to have to much consequences.The reason i realy wanted her to quit was because of her flexible back,they were starting to work on that a little too much.They also had to walk "over their toes",luckely her balletteacher caught her doing that the first time she went to balletclass and told her never to do it again or she would never be able to go on pointe.

[Sewlinda]

Thanks for the info, Mel. DD has done an oversplit, but thankfully only a couple of times. At her old competition school, sometimes a teacher would pick up a girl's leg after she was already in a split, which would also produce an oversplit. This is not the practice at DD's ballet school.

[LauraR]

I think our school places undo emphasis on splits, but maybe that's just a parent opinion. The girls are constantly working on splits in one instructor's class and told they will not advance to level ___ unless they have their splits. I know splits are to benefit extensions, and it doesn't really matter what I think...the bottom line is what the school's practice is regarding splits.

[wannabe]

DD can do splits to both sides and center, all the way to the floor easily without feeling a stretch. She can also stand on one leg unsupported and lift her leg into a full split. Sometimes at the end of class, one of her teachers will "stretch" them in the following manner. They stand at the bar and the teacher lifts a leg as far as it will go. DD's leg goes into what looks like an oversplit easily and she says she feels nothing. Is this movement harmful to the hips as well?