How to do a Tsukahara
A Tsukahara is a vault that gymnasts usually learn between Levels 8 and 9, once a Front Handspring Vault is solid.
Also called: tsuk, tsukahara tuck, quarter on back salto.
Quick facts
| Apparatus | Vault |
|---|---|
| Typical level (estimate) | Levels 8-9 |
| Difficulty (Stickd rating) | 8/10 |
| Time to learn after the prerequisite (estimate) | About 8 weeks |
| Whole progression (estimate) | About 14 weeks from a Front Handspring Vault |
| Fear factor (Stickd rating) | 5/5 |
Levels, ratings and timelines are Stickd estimates for planning, not USAG requirements.
What to learn before a Tsukahara
Work through these skills in order. Each one is a required step toward a Tsukahara.
- Front Handspring Vault (Levels 5-6)
Helpful but not required
Step-by-step progression
The path to a Tsukahara has 2 steps. Week counts are typical estimates for regular training.
- 1
Front Handspring Vault
Learn a Front Handspring Vault until it is solid, usually between Levels 5 and 6. About 6 weeks (estimate).
- 2
Tsukahara
Learn a Tsukahara. Allow about 8 weeks once the step before it is solid (estimate).
Drills that build a Tsukahara
- Tsukahara Vault Progressions
- Yurchenko Timer Drills
- Vault Blocking & Repulsion Drills
- Roundoff Snap-Down Drills
- Hurdle to Board Drills
- Stick Landing Drills
Technique focus areas: Tuck position, Landing, Twist initiation.
What good form looks like
Handspring entry with a 1/4-1/2 turn onto the table, then a tucked salto backward off.
- knees: tucked
- hips: flexed
- shoulders: open
Common deductions on a Tsukahara
| Deduction | What it means | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flight Angle | Insufficient angle or height in pre-flight phase | 0.1 |
| Insufficient Post-flight | Not enough height or distance in post-flight phase | 0.1 |
| Body Alignment | Body not in proper line (arch, pike, or lean) | 0.1 |
Typical values; judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is, and the judges' score is the official one.
Fear and confidence
Stickd rates a Tsukahara 5 out of 5 for fear. It involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed, height off the ground, a new kind of contact with the board or vault table. Feeling nervous about it is normal, and confidence usually builds step by step through the progression above.
Mental techniques that help
Box Breathing
A 4-count breathing pattern to calm your nervous system before attempting a scary skill.
Fear Ladder
Break the scary skill into a ladder of progressively challenging steps.
Positive Self-Talk Reframe
Replace negative fear thoughts with accurate, empowering statements.
Watch an example
Watch a Tsukahara tutorial on YouTube (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
- What level do gymnasts learn a Tsukahara?
- Gymnasts usually learn a Tsukahara between Levels 8 and 9. That is a typical range, and every gymnast and gym moves at a different pace.
- How long does it take to learn a Tsukahara?
- About 8 weeks once a Front Handspring Vault is solid, as a rough estimate. Starting from a Front Handspring Vault, the whole progression adds up to about 14 weeks. These are estimates; real timelines vary a lot from gymnast to gymnast.
- What should my gymnast learn before a Tsukahara?
- Front Handspring Vault comes directly before it. The full progression is Front Handspring Vault, then Tsukahara. Helpful but not required: Back Tuck and Roundoff.
- What are the most common deductions on a Tsukahara?
- The ones to watch for are Pre-flight Angle (usually about 0.1), Insufficient Post-flight (usually about 0.1) and Body Alignment (usually about 0.1). Judges scale each deduction by how noticeable it is.
- Is a Tsukahara scary to learn?
- It can be. Stickd rates its fear factor 5 out of 5 because it involves going backward without being able to see where you're headed, height off the ground and a new kind of contact with the board or vault table. Techniques like Box Breathing and Fear Ladder help gymnasts build confidence.