How to teach the Tsukahara vault: 17 drills, step by step
You teach the Tsukahara by splitting it into a round-off or quarter-turn entry onto the table, a strong block, and a backward salto to the feet, and training each part on soft setups first. This series of 17 progressions is for coaches of women's and men's vault working with gymnasts who already have a solid handspring vault and back salto.
17 video steps · vault, vault-men
Step 1 of 17, free: Tsukahara 1
The phases
- Entry: learn the run, hurdle and turning entry onto the table with hands placed in the right order.
- Board and first flight: reach the table with an extended body and shoulders open, rather than diving early.
- Block: push off the table fast through straight arms to gain height before the salto.
- Second flight: turn the backward salto in the chosen shape, tuck, pike or layout, with the head neutral.
- Landing: open out in time and land with control on the feet.
Before you start
The gymnast should have a strong handspring vault, a confident round-off, and a solid back tuck on floor.
Common mistakes
- Turning too early or too late on the entry: the hands land off line and the block loses power.
- Bent arms on the table: little or no height for the salto.
- Pulling the head back on the salto: the body arches and rotation becomes uncontrolled.
- Opening too late: the gymnast under-rotates or lands short.
Coaching cues
- Reach long to the table
- Block and lift
- Tight shape, then open
- Eyes find the landing
All 17 steps
- Tsukahara 1
- Tsukahara 2
- Tsukahara 3
- Tsukahara 4
- Tsukahara 5
- Tsukahara 6
- Tsukahara 7
- Tsukahara 8
- Tsukahara 9
- Tsukahara 10
- Tsukahara 11
- Tsukahara 12
- Tsukahara 13
- Tsukahara 14
- Tsukahara 15
- Tsukahara 16
- Tsukahara 17
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tsukahara vault?
It is a vault with a quarter or half turn onto the table in the first flight, followed by a backward salto in the second flight. It is named after the Japanese gymnast Mitsuo Tsukahara. Round-off entry vaults belong to a separate family, the Yurchenko.
What should a gymnast learn before a Tsukahara?
A clean handspring vault with a good block, a confident back salto on floor, and comfortable orientation when turning. Most coaches also train the entry into a soft mat stack before any salto is added.
Can you teach the Tsukahara with a mat stack?
Yes. Coaches often use a raised mat landing or a soft table setup to practice the entry and block, and add the salto later. The exact setup depends on the gymnast's level and the equipment you have.
What is a Tsukahara? Read the glossary entry