What is the purpose of learning brackets?? Also anyone have any tips when going bkwd to fwd on a bracket, fwd to bkwd is not so much of a problem but i get stuck both on my right and left side when going bkwed to fwd.

thanks!

The purpose of learning brackets is to have good footwork. It is part of many edge turns skaters learn to put in their footwork sections. As far as practicing the MITF bracket (and any other) patterns, they are designed to make you a better skater with good flow and edges, and replaced figures in doing so.

As to your questions, I can't understand your abbreviations, so I will let someone else answer.

sorry about my abbreviations, I'll restate it more clearly, when turning backward to forward I get stuck and can't complete the turn/bracket-- but this doesn't happen when I'm moving forward to backward. I'm keeping my arms level and stable the whole time and I keep concentrating to turn under my shoulders, my weight is on the ball of my foot when turning forward to backwards, where should it be when I'm going backward to forward?? Any tips would be so appreciated

I hope I didn't confuse those who were already confused from my first message

Make sure you have good knee action...bend before and after the turn. The turn will happen when you "reverse" your shoulders. Don't try to force it with your hips. Have you used the "table-top method" with your hands/arms before when doing turns?

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Thanks for the tips! I'm not quite sure what is the "table top method." I have gone to the boards and placed my hands on it and done the move to get a feel of it, is that what you mean?

Some people teach the "table-top" position for brackets. You want to keep your shoulders square, and have your hands low, and angled outward from your torso. Think of pressing down with your hands (not too hard), as though you were pressing them flat on a table. This often helps with upper body and core stability when learning brackets.

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~No thinking, breathing, or hesitation!~

I have this problem coming out of a backwards to forwards turn, whether a BO3 turn or BI bracket (can't do the BI 3 or BO brackets yet!). I'm told it is because my weight is too far forwards on my blades, one needs to rock to the back of the blades.

Try it 2-footed, keeping your shoulders either parallel to the barrier (it does have its uses!) or, better, with a partner - you clasp hands, keeping them raised, and do the turns together, going first one way, then the other. It's seriously good for your waistline, too - and on clean ice leaves the most interesting pattern!

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Mrs Redboots
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Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

BO brackets are murderous. BI were much, much easier for me.

According to the test manual, the purpose of brackets is to teach counter rotation.

Sounds like your shoulders are hindering your turn rather than helping. They should rotate opposite the "normal" turn (ie a three turn) and then you should just turn to them,