Thanks for the heads up Phil. Have not seen Vitali since he got his copy of the new version but I can tell you that two years ago he thanked me profusely for getting his ideas out in the first book. He then gave me the film to make a gymnastics dvd to promote his ideas of that aspect of training and asked me to retranslate his gymnastics book.
There is always the chance of misinterpretation any time two people discuss anything -even if they both speak the same language - but I have spent enough time with him to be sure of the salient points of his technical model. I have spent far less time with Sergei but one of the things you learn as a teacher is how to ask good questions - and listen to the responses. I have asked him good questions and got the responses I quote in the book. Incidentally note the number of direct quotes from both of them -also note that I have included Petrov's original paper as an appendix so you can easily check anything I have written against the great man's own words.
That said you will note that the sub title of the book is "An Australian approach to developing pole vaulters" - in other words I have tried to show how 'ordinary' young athletes in this country can begin to master elements of the Petrov model and used young Ozzy athletes - mainly my own - to illustrate this. Anyone can pontificate on the Petrov model or describe what Bubka did, but in the end the question is whether there is a discrete technical model that other - usually less talented - athletes can use.
Then because of my intended audience I have broken this continuous chain model down into four stages of energy input. I know that Petrov does not think of the event in four stages - for him it is one movement from the first step onwards. But how do ordinary coaches come to terms with that - how does it help them to develop drills for their athletes or even observe them to provide feedback. In the book I make the point that I am not sure if he sees the flexible pole in terms of a infinite series of straight poles - but I am prepared to defend that notion and am happy to take credit for it because I believe it helps folk better understand the vault and to see how important stiff pole work is -as it clearly is to Vitali.
I have been accused of misrepresenting Petrov's ideas before and I am sure I will be again. However the next time someone tells you this - ask them when they last discussed these issues with Vitali or Sergei -or even Roman Botcharnikov or Alex Parnov.
Finally I would dearly like to know who the coach was (Perhaps private email) ????- then i could check the performances of their own athletes = perhaps he would like to put film of them up here and explain exactly what he is trying to teach them! I say this having repeatedly been asked by high school coaches the hoary old chesnut, "How does Coach AAAA at Gotham U produce a 16' vaulter? Simple, they recruit a 17' vaulter!"
Finally I will be in the USA for June and part of July - Happy to have a debate with anyone about these issues.
Its what you learn after you know it all that counts. John Wooden
