"A" for effort

November 23, 2016 1:39 PM

Dad Tries to Copy Daughter's Gymnastic Moves (SLYT)
posted by Johnny Wallflower (14 comments total)

Needs more loud farting sounds for accuracy.
posted by roue at 1:51 PM on November 23, 2016 [5 favorites]

I saw this on Reddit earlier today. It's so awesome. Really inspiring, and make me want to be a better dad myself!
posted by My Dad at 2:02 PM on November 23, 2016 [3 favorites]

That's soo sweet - I love how the little girl has to do the encouraging "High five!" "That's a good one!" Meanwhile, dad turns it into a bit of a competition - as dads are wont to do. The little girl is pretty awesome - and the dad is surprisingly athletic.
posted by helmutdog at 2:10 PM on November 23, 2016 [4 favorites]

Stick around for the end where he needs 3 layers of cushioning to dismount (at first).
posted by poe at 2:13 PM on November 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

That's pretty cool. One of my kids is a competitive gymnast, and watching things going on in the gym, I have often observed to myself that gymnasts as young as 4 years old are doing things that most people couldn't do.

Those are some pretty low-level tricks, for a gymnast. He won't be able to keep up with her for long. But I applaud his efforts.

Also, all gymnasts, even though they are in the gym 10, 12, 16 hours a week, end up having a bunch of equipment at home. Because they never stop.
posted by Orlop at 2:15 PM on November 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

He's OK but he's no Paul Hunt.
posted by The Tensor at 2:17 PM on November 23, 2016 [7 favorites]

Impressed.
posted by 4ster at 2:23 PM on November 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

So I sent this to a ton of people today in a GIF form that was 1/3 as long as this, so thanks for the video! Longer is better! This guy has some serious heart, I'd be far too terrified to try most of this stuff.

They should post more videos over the months, I'd love to watch him improve incrementally as she rapidly becomes a phenomenal gymnast.
posted by nevercalm at 3:00 PM on November 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm skeptical. He looks like he's done a bit of gymnastics in his youth. The handstand on the balance beam is kind of a clue, no?
posted by surplus at 4:59 PM on November 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

Wow, I was expecting more fail but he's actually doing really well for someone who is presumably new to this stuff. Go dad!
posted by drlith at 5:30 PM on November 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

idk. I kind of like it better because the dad is clearly pretty athletic but still struggles to pull off the moves? Like if I, a bundle of straw tied into vaguely human shape, were flailing about on a horizontal bar it would still be funny, but it wouldn't make much of a point.
posted by wreckingball at 5:49 PM on November 23, 2016 [6 favorites]

Psshaw. My son started playing soccer and last night I went to the pub and got thoroughly sloshed watching the Sounders beat Colorado.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 6:34 PM on November 23, 2016 [5 favorites]

That handstand was dope.
posted by Bob Regular at 8:16 PM on November 23, 2016 [2 favorites]

It's a solid handstand but from a gymnastics perspective the form is terrible - legs should be together and toes pointed, like the daughter is doing. I'll also note that handstand on the balance beam is in some ways easier than a handstand on flat ground. Being able to actually grip can make a big difference.

I don't suspect he's had gymnastics training so much as he's a reasonably fit guy who's done his fair share of recreational tumbling in a goofing off sort of way - handstands and basic flips are a skillset that a lot of people figure out on their own.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 2:31 AM on November 24, 2016 [1 favorite]