How to Use Gymnast Hand Chalk
As you've seen on television when watching gymnastics competitions, gymnasts approach a white bucket and rub chalk on their hands or their leather grips. Knowing how to properly chalk their hands gives them an advantage in competition, and helps keep them safe. Gymnasts, weight lifters and many other athletes use chalk.
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Instructions
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Find out the regulations of the gymnastics facility where you train. Some facilities are banning the use of chalk due to the mess it makes and the difficulty in cleaning it from the equipment.
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Purchase gymnastics hand grips that are properly fitted and break them in prior to use. Hand grips are essential for success on many apparatus such as the bars and the rings.
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Use the chalk bucket to scoop up some chalk and rub it thoroughly into the hand grips. Chalking up properly will allow you to perform and swing easily on the apparatus while avoiding rips and tears in your skin. It's also essential for drying sweat, and is often used by weight lifters and rock climbers for this reason.
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Rub the chalk into the grips or into your hands and in between the fingers. Gently rub the hands or grips together and clap once or twice to remove excess chalk. Do this inside the dome shaped chalk holder so that the unused or excess chalk is returned to the chalk container for others to use. This minimizes waste and mess.
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Prior to mounting an apparatus, blow gently on each hand or grip, to make sure any chalk that has come loose from the skin is removed prior to performing or training. The proper amount of chalk reduces friction, while too much chalk reduces the gymnasts' ability to maintain a grip.
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Remove chalk from apparatus with a dry cloth. This is also effective in removing any sweat the athlete may have deposited.
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Use a chalk brush routinely on leather grips to prevent a build up of chalk in the leather. Any excess chalk left behind can damage the leather in the long run.
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