As on the floor the tuck jump on the beam is described as bringing the knees horizontal or higher at peak height. Taking off and landing is performed with one foot slightly in front of the other. As the gymnasts get better they can kick out after reaching the peak height of the tuck.
To perform this skill the gymnast must first be able to execute a front tuck from the board onto elevated soft surfaces as high as the beam. To develop the front tuck mount and to warm up the skill, the gymnast may practice runs to the spring board and perform a straight jump to land on the beam.
Most gymnasts learn Tsuk layouts and then progress to Kasamatsu layouts or Tsuk layout fulls. Some gymnasts progress to layout twisting vaults after mastering a fair tuck Tsukahara. Though it is ultimately up to the coach, we recommend the layout approach.
Although this young gymnast has some technical mistakes like bending his legs too early and holding the head out during the twist, he performs a correct and clear cruise to execute his tuck kasamatsu.
Sometimes gymnasts that are beginning to learn Kasamatsu or Tsukahara type vaults may get confused and go for a landing on the knees instead of the feet. This is a serious mistake that can cause a knee injury on a hard surface. Before the gymnasts try on a regular vaulting surface or even on resi mats over the pit, they must demonstrate a consistent ability to land feet first in loose foam.
To perform the round off back tuck dismount the gymnasts must become comfortable with making beam round-offs from two steps and a hurdle. As with many other beam skills or combinations, this dismount is mastered following a beam progression beginning on a floor line.
This is a fair example of back handspring landing on two feet to a back tuck dismount. Gymnasts must know how to perform the combination on floor, and also how to perform a beam standing back handspring to two feet and rebound. The combination is trained first on a low beam with folded mats on the sides, and the apparatus end pointing to a loose foam pit.
The arabian double requires a strong thrust of the knees and hips up to the ceiling during the setup to create a fast rotating motion. Before attempting this powerful skill on the floor besides knowing the regular arabian tuck the gymnast must be familiar with double front progressions on the pit using spring board or minitramps. Bringing the knees up but failing to do the same with the hips produces a slower rotation.
These are front views of arabian double fronts. There are some technical basic round off back handspring mistakes such as not keeping a straighter forward motion toward the round off, arms bent on the back handspring, and open cowboy tuck position on the arabian. Some other basics are fine and the tumbling speed and power are very good.
Notice on these three arabian examples how minimal changes on technical factors such as speed, set up, blocking position, hips up action, tuck position in flying phase, or landing timing can make a big difference on the end result.
This is a very good example of a well executed arabian tuck showing full body extension before the tuck. Rushing early to tuck is a common mistake that detracts from the skill beauty and presentation.
Here are some examples of a Yurchenko Tucked Full.