Samantha's Gymnastics Journey | Queen's Cup | Hong Kong, at Last!

(This is a backdated post)

Samantha's gymnastics journey continues as she traveled to Hong Kong for an international competition.

Last year, somewhere in August, I saw that Samantha's coach posted an announcement that SRGC club was invited to Hong Kong for the Queen's Cup Gymnastics Competition. They're looking for groups with different age categories and different routines.

I kind of got thrilled but hesitated as the same time as I didn't know if Samantha would qualify. But we contacted her coach straight away and asked if Samantha could. Since they were just looking to complete a group, probably anybody could qualify (just my opinion). But still, we were thrilled when the coach said she could, of course, as long as we agree on some details for the trip.(As it turned out, the individual categories were already handpicked.)

But since it was Samantha's first time to go for an international competition, we were so excited. We didn't mind paying for extra hours of training she needed to do and all other extra expenses. We believed that when God, our Father allows us to go through situations, He would always be there to provide.

And so, from August to December, were busy preparing for the Hong Kong trip.  I also helped Samantha practice at home. She would practice at least an hour per day. One thing I liked about the preparation was she got extra training for gymnastics which really helped her a lot for her classification competition that happens twice in a year.

The best part of the Hong Kong trip was to meet my parents and sister! It's like a mini reunion for us. It was really a blessing.

Here are the photos (and a video) that would tell you more stories about Samantha's journey to Hong Kong for the Queen's Cup 2015.



Took this video from my phone but used GoPro Suite to edit the video.

Queen's Cup 2015 (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China and Malaysia)

Samantha's winning attitude

Coach Sarina receiving a certificate of participation

 Below are the photos with my parents and sister.It was a double portion of blessing that ended my year 2015 as not only we got to go to Hong Kong for an international competition for Samantha, we also got together with my parents. Really thanking our Father for the blessings.

This is just the beginning, I believe. Samantha will be traveling far and wide for more gymnastics competition. I believe that will all my heart. All these because our Father has a special plan for us as a family as we desire to reflect God's glory in our lives, in everything that we do, wherever God has placed us.

Samantha's Gymnastics Journey | Hoop Routine | Gold, Finally

I was challenged the last time when I thought Samantha would have done well, but her best was not enough. I just thought that practicing a couple of weeks everyday before the competition was enough. That's why Samantha and I had a really stressful time that season.

After the rhythmic gymnastics classification competition in June, 2015, I changed our practice schedule. Samantha started doing it almost everyday right after the competition. She would start with a warm up and whatever elements or steps introduced that week.

I found that nearing the competition time, I wasn't really stressed that much. In fact, the last week before the competition, I didn't push her much. She had back ache two weeks earlier so I was a bit worried. Good thing it went off. Hundreds of possibilities were running inside my head like... what if... what if... oh well, you know.... mothers? Hehehe. Okay, let's not get into that.

I am just glad it was nothing to worry about.

And so, this time, we prayed that somehow, Samantha would get a gold or two. Haha! Too ambitious. But then, I was more hopeful because Samantha practiced practically almost everyday... only to learn later that she wasn't doing some of her elements correctly. But we still kept our fingers crossed.

We still prayed for gold (or two) anyway.

What do we know, on that day, they changed the grading and grouping system. Usually, the girls were grouped according to the age category. Each group then would have 3 - 4 girls competing against each other. This time, 5 groups were merged into one, leaving the gymnasts to compete against 15 other gymnasts.

It was tough, we thought. But we prayed... so...

There were two routines that Samantha participated in: Ball routine and hoop routine. I had high hopes for the ball routine because she's been getting extra training for the forthcoming Queen's Cup (will talk about this later).

The results for the ball routine were posted up first. When I got the chance to check, Samantha ranked 7th out of 16.

Ok.

That was not so bad, knowing that she scored an average of 7.0. Her highest score since she joined gymnastics so far.

The hoop routine results were not posted... of all things.

So I sat on the floor, with my camera lugged, just expecting nothing... ok.. expecting a little, because I prayed, remember?

They called the winners for the ball routine first.

Then the hoop routine.

My heart skipped a beat.

3rd, place, something Chinese name; 2nd place, something Chinese name; 1st place; it was Jan Samantha! Leaped to my feet in a flash. I couldn't believe it. I was shaking holding up my camera taking photo of her getting her gold medal. She won 1st out of 16! I was blown away!

She finally did it! It was a gold, finally!

Praise God indeed, for the favour!

The next two apparatus to conquer before she goes to Grade 2 would be clubs and ribbon. I am so looking forward to those routines.

Here's Jan Samantha's winning Ball Routine performance during the 8th SRGC Rhythmic Gymnastics Classification Competition II in November, 2015.




Wanna leave you with this verse that I held on during the competition and will hold on to:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:7 (KJV)

Samantha's Gymnastics Journey | GoPro Hero 3+ | Practice at Home

Got a new baby.

Some interesting things are on the radar and Samantha's in for gymnastics competition soon. So I have been trying to practice my video taking using my new action camera, GoPro Her0 3+ Black Edition.

I have been practicing video editing using GoPro Suite, too.

This is Samantha doing her practice of rhythmic gymnastics at home, video edited using GoPro Suite.

The video below was taken using my Nikon D7000. A great need for improvement to take video  using a dslr here, I know.

Samantha's Gymnastics Journey | The Beginners' Guide

If you get a daughter and you like classic stuff.. what would you dream of your daughter doing in the future?

Yep.

Ballet.

Very classic.

So when Samantha was 4, we decided to send her to a ballet school in Taipan. She didn't like it. At first, we thought to just give it a try and give her time. We bribed her, in fact (teehee), sent her for ice skating lessons (because, yes, she loved doing it) and told her we would send her for ice skating lessons as long as she does ballet too. Parents can never go wrong when it comes to giving their best for their kids, right?

Wrong.

Samantha refused to go and it has been like this for more than a year.

After more than year, we finally got it and stopped sending her for ballet lessons (because it's expensive to do both, ballet and ice skating lessons at the same time).

For a year, we didn't do anything (talk about moving house and moving school).

One day, we walked from the church inside Summit to find a place for lunch. There, we saw gymnastics competition organised by Sarina's Rhythmic Gymastics Club. Samantha stopped all of us and said:

Wait. I wanna watch this. 

Ok.

Then later she said:

Mummy, I wanna do that.

Ok.

She started doing cartwheels and handstands after that.

She perfected her handstand after 6 months of trying to do it.

In fact, this was her last December 2013

She's been doing acrobats on her own and I feared she wouldn't do things properly. She should have a good foundation, we thought.

So we started finding gymnastics school for her.

We tried out 2 gymnastics schools first then we settled for the one nearest to our house.

Everyone's excited for Samantha. We all go to her gymnastics school and wait up outside for a couple of hours. Parents are not allowed to be inside - which is good because - you know.. some parents can be quite kiasu. If you have lived in Malaysia, you would definitely know what I mean. I mean, hey, there's already a note outside the gym that parents need to stay outside and I can still see parents hanging around inside.

Anyways, why am I complaining about parents on my first ever post about Samantha's Gymnastics Journey? Well, probably, this is going to be a battle. I really hope not.

I wanna be a parent that would want my daughter to do her best, at the same time, I want to chillax. After all, this is a sport and I want Samantha to have fun and not turned away by the pressure.

So yes, back to my story about sending her for evaluation. We went to a first gymnastics center (recommended by a friend whose daughter has been doing gym for a few years now) without knowing anything about gymnastics. Talked to the head of the school, had Samantha evaluated and we were told she would rather put Samantha for artistic gymnastics - because she's strong and short. And I was like... is that the one on the beam and the pole? (I am a dreamy type so imagine me imagining Samantha on a beam doing acrobats.

I got so excited!

Went back home to search more about artistic gymnastics... and compared it with rhythmic gymnastics. Well, this Mamooch right here thought artistic gymnastics can be quite dangerous. I know overprotectiveness kicked in. And also, most of the artistic gymnasts look so muscular. And I was like... hmmm... let's do the other one instead. LOL.

I researched more about rhythmic gymnastics. And I thought I liked all the pretty stuff they were doing.

The hubs and I talked and searched for more gymnastics school and found Sarina's. Went there the next week. Found out she only does rhythmics. We also realized it was her club that did the competition that encouraged Samantha to go for it.

Had Samantha evaluated. We were outside (remember about parents not allowed inside?) so we didn't know what she was asked to do. After 2 hours, Sarina talked to us and told us Samantha was very good so she would put her straight away in the advance class. She just needed to work hard.

On 18th January, she officially started her lessons at Little Gymnast level, skipping one level.

With the ball, rope and gymnastics shoes, sans the uniform.

So yes, Samantha's gymnastics journey has begun!

So here's a Beginner's Guide to Sending your Child to Gymnastics Classes:

1. If your daughter is doing cartwheels in the living room, flipping on your furniture and making her own gym out of every surface in your house, down the isles of the supermarket and out in the yard, that's indicative of a child who has some innate gymnastics ability. They are self teaching by mirroring what they have seen somewhere else and their desire to flip or be upside down is natural. Some kiddos cannot tolerate being upside down but some prefer to constantly be cartwheeling, we call them gymnasts. Click here for more on: Does my daughter has what it takes to be a competitive gymnast?

2. Learn the difference between artistic, rhythmic, and acrobatic gymnastics.

Artistic Gymnastics - is also called regular, uses bars, beams, floor, vault (and rings/horse/p-bars for men)

Rhythmic Gymnastics - Less acrobatic/tumbling based. More about dance, grace, fluid movement.

Acrobatic Gymnastics/Tandem/Group gymnastics - This is what you tend to see "chinese acrobats" doing, or "russian" acrobats doing, where they build human pyramids, support groups, and what cheerleaders borrowed and called "stunting."

Once you know these 3, you may choose which one you want your child to do.

3. Search for gymnastics centers around your area and don't settle on the first stop. You need to go around and compare them as to see which center will be more convenient for you.

4. Don't compare your child to other children (i.e., how come that child is more flexible than you? how come she can do that and not you?). Children are built differently and they each have different learning speed. Comparing your child to others can create pressure and stress for your child.

5. Make it fun for your child. Praise her a lot.

6. Constantly encourage her. Samantha almost wanted to quit after 2 weeks but we gently encouraged her and not push her. I showed her a lot of videos about rhythmic gymnastics and told her if she continues doing it, she can do whatever the person is doing in the video.

7. Practice with her. I try it almost every night with Samantha and give her reward if she can do hard moves. her reward is simple... I lay down on my back, put my hands and feet up and she gets to ride on my fours. It allows more bonding between us, too.

8. Pray for her. Everytime she goes to the gym, I do this. Not only it encourages her, but I also think that if we entrust our child's activities unto the Lord, He will bless everything she does and empowers her and helps her achieve what and who she is designed to be.

9. Don't be too kiasu. Just enjoy the journey with your child.

Here's how we practice at home:



Here's how we have fun:




Will be back for more update later.