The Shakti Gymnast

On Christmas day last year I got my grips and I was looking forward to wearing them.  But then my coach would not let me wear them right away since I din't have my straight arm kip consistently.  Then when I had my kip, my coach was afraid my hands were too small for grips and I would ping off the bar while wearing them.  Finally the head coach of my gym said it was okay!  Being able to wear grips is the mark of a serious gymnast.  I've definitely worked very hard for them them! Below is what my hands looked like before grips.  Before grips I had a lot of rips. There were bloody ones, regular ones, baby rips, and the bloody baby rips were the worst. Now that I have grips, my hands are protected better.  It doesn't mean I won't get a rip, it just means it will happen less often. When I started using grips I had less rips and my coaches really liked them. They are the Ginnasta brand and they are super soft. They didn't take any time to break in.  My hand

This is a poem I wrote for a poetry contest at Maitland Library earlier this year. We had to write a poem about our place in Florida History.  I want to thank Elaine Person , writer and poet, for her poetry class at the library that got me excited about writing in prose.  My Place in Florida History at Legacy Gymnastics by Anika Shakti   Fix my hair, get in the car. Drive to practice, it’s not too far. Out of the car, into the gym. Starting warm up, first we run. ‘Round and ‘round the cones we go, I like the run because it’s slow. After run we get a drink, must move quickly or be late. We get in lines and spread out, start our stretch and we’re out I start my stretch with a pike, then I do things that I like. Move on to events, Vault, Bars, Beam, and Floor, I want to do them evermore. We stretch, condition, or have fun, But not too long, my mom has come. I train for meets, because I like to compete. I get lots of medals, what a treat! Traveling al