I have been dancing for about 15 years and love it! then 3 years ago i decided i wanted to be able to tumble in my dances, so i started taking tumbling. Now i really want to take gymnastics, with like beam vault and bars and stuff. The only thing is i dont i dont know what they will do with me cause i can do like handsprings and tucks and aerials and stuff on the floor but know nothing and can do nothing on any of the apperatices. Is that ok? Will they still let me do it. Also the place i take tumbling at is a cheerleading tumbling gym only, so i will have to go somewhere else to take gymnastics, which i dont really mind, but i only have one year left before i graduate hs and go to college. Is it ok to just take gymnastucs for one year and then not, or would it be wierd? Is 17 years old to old to start leaarning this stuff. My tumbling coach said its harder for older people to learn to flip because their brain gets in the way and tells your body you arent supposed yto be flipping upsode down. But i really really want to take gymnastics. Do you think it is a good idea?
Thanks for any input.

Of Course they will let you do it! You're there to learn, right? I know at my gym we have a class of teenagers who started when they were older. Some can tumble, but most can't. They do all the events. Some do they basics (fall flats for vault, pull overs for bars, cartwheels on beam, handstands, cartwheels and such on floor) And others do more advanced things.

They will try to get your skill on apperatus up to the level of your tumbling. From what you've told us, you seem to be level 7ish.

If you try hard, i'm sure you can get your other skils up to level 7 in 10 monthes to a year, maybe less.

So, go for it.

You will need to get the basics down on beam, bars and vault until you can move onto a higher level. Tumbling is just one part of gymnastics. So you will find you will be put in a class that has a lower level of tumbling that what you can do while you develop your beam, bars and vault. With your tumbling and dance background you will probably find that you progress through the levels much faster than others.

You will probabaly pick up vault quickly if you have good handsprings. And with your tumbling and dance beam will come quickly aswell. But bars will be very different to anything you have done in tumbling or dance so it may take a little longer to pick up.

I definatly do not think it is harder for older people to tumble. In fact I think it is easier. Your muscles are much stronger than they were when you were younger and you need strong muscles to tumble. Also young kids who are growing have less coordination of their bodies. You have been in your body and done things in your body much longer than any young kid so you will propaply have a better body awarness and spatial awarness.

Fear is a big issue for some people and can hold them back. For others fear is no problem. It is more your personality and they way you react to fear than age that will tell if you can tumble or not.

Thanks for your replies!!! You both gave me a lot of good info.
Im almost positive i am going to do it!! I think i am going to do some camps over the summer to get ready and get some skills up before fall and i start taking regular classes. i am really excited to start. I have always wanted to take gymnastics, and i think i have finally fixed my dance schedule so i can.
Thanks again

As a tumbler and dancer, you will find it HEAPS easier to pick up stuff than someone who has had no experience with either.

i did it the other way around, my artistic coaches didnt like me dancing and put pressure on me to quit so i left and took up tumbling and sports arco, our coach said a lot of people swap around as they get older and find what suits them best, im not sure how it works in america but in UK you would be 'out of age' if you were to compete. i found it quite easy to adjust.and can continue to dance which is my life.

Jess x

^^ In my gym, we have a 36 year old who still competes level 8. And there are accually people who do both rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, but useually they are terrible at artistic. They bend to much to stick landings.

I'd imagine dancers who are overly flexible have that problem?