Having trouble with my bumps

Question
Hi Michael, my name is Jordan and I started pro wrestling training four weeks ago but I'm really struggling with my back bumps and flip bumps. I'm not really sure where on my back to land and when to put my hands down. Also with the flip bumps, I'm not sure where on my back to land and how to get my feet, hands and back to all land at the same time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm really committed to my training and want to be able to do it perfectly. Thanks!

Answer
How are you doing Jordan?

I can assist you some with your back bumps and front flip bumps, but if your instructors are not showing you things correctly, it might be time to find a new trainer or another person to explain it to you and be able to watch you.  Usually, it's something small that they should be able to correct.  

When you do the back bump, as you know, your whole back should land flat, your chin tucked to your chest, your arms extended straight out with your palms facing down, you knees bent at a 90 degree angle and your feet in the air.  Without being able to watch you, here is how I get my students into position.  I have them place their feet shoulder width apart, cross their arms in front of them with their hands on their shoulders, raise their elbows as high as they can toward the ceiling, while keeping your back straight, bend down at the knees until it's uncomfortable, then thrust your hips forward as hard as you can (causing your feet to come out from under you like a carpet was pulled from under you), and then you throw your hands back as hard as you can and tuck your chin to your chest.  If you do everything right, your shoulders should land where your feet used to be.

If your hands are hitting first, you are out of time.  If you are hitting the back of your head, you are not throwing your hips hard enough and it causes you to sit down which causes a whiplash like effect.  If you are landing on your side, you are not throwing both hips forward evenly.  If you are always getting the wind knocked out of you, grunt as you are landing so that you can't knock any wind out of yourself.  I hope that helps some with the back bump.  If you are still having trouble, try the walk method.  The walk method is where you stand in the middle of the ring and have somebody kneel down, on their hands and knees, right behind you like the old trip method, and have somebody push you over.  When the back of your legs hit the person kneeling down, you will bump.

Front flip bump usually is alot of mental errors or poor training that is screwing you up.  Try this with the front flip bump.  Have your trainers show you the hiptoss.  They are the same motion.  If they already have and you are having trouble, then try this.  Stand in the middle of the ring with both feet together.  Jump as high as you can with both feet, looking up at the ceiling.  Immediately after you jump, tuck your knees into your chest and tuck your chin to your chest.  When you land, you should be exactly like the back bump, the only difference is that your feet should hit flat on the canvas instead of in the air.  Your knees will still be bent at a 90 degree angle, your arms should still be straight out with your palms facing down and your back flat on the mat.  If that method doesn't help either, try this walk method.  Have somebody kneel down on their hands and knees.  Stand on their left side and face them.  Place your hands on their upper back parallel to their spine.  Lock your arms out.  Jump with both feet and use your partner as a vault and vault yourself right over them.  You should land correctly.

The information I have provided should help you, but your trainers need to make sure you are doing these correctly.  If you are still having problems, I recommend you find a new training school or get with one of the other guys there that has bumping all figured out and see if they can show you something that maybe your trainers aren't teaching you.  Good luck.  I hope you get it all figured out.