gymnastics
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GymnasticsTRANSCRIPT
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is an activity and a sport involving performance of exercises
requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance and grace. Artistic
gymnastics is the best known of the gymnastics sports governed by the Fédération
Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). Artistic Gymnastics, typically involves the
women's events of uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault. Men's
events include floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar.
Gymnastics evolved from exercises used by the ancient Greeks, that included skills for
mounting and dismounting a horse, and from circus performance skills.
It is a sport involving performance of exercise requiring physical strength,
flexibility, agility, coordination, balance and grace.
The word derives from the Greek word (gymnastike), (gymnastikos), "fond of
athletic exercises", from (gymnasia), "exercise" and that from (gymnos), "naked",
because athletes exercised and competed without clothing.
The Phases of Gymnastic Program
The Germans were the greatest contributors to our present gymnastic program.
The following people were instrumental in the development of gymnastics.
1. Conditioning Program
The exercises are selected for the purpose of preparing the body for more
complicated movements and skills. Exercises for warm-up can also be selected in this
phase. This phase can also be considered as “Calisthenics” since routines can be made
out of the exercises in the conditioning program.
2. Rhythmic Gymnastic
Routines or exercise accompanied with music are called rhythmic gymnastic.
They are so called because they are performed in a rhythmical manner and the
movements are flowing. This phase includes the free hand exercises, and with the use of
light apparatus such as wands, rings, hopes, ribbons, rope. Etc. gymnastics skills, dance
skills, locomotors skills, stunts and tumbling skills are combined to form a routine on the
floor. This is where the performer can create and develop her own routine according to
their abilities.
3. Stunts
Are the activities in the form of play and test one’s streght, flexibility, balance,
agility, endurance, and coordination. This phase is especially suited to the lower grades.
4. Tumbling
This is the most important phases of the gymnastic program, because this is where
the ability of the performer is tested as he rolls to and fro; twists, turns and springs about
on the mat, floor and in the air.
5. Apparatus exercise (heavy)
This includes exercises done on the balance beam, vaulting horse. Parallel bars.
Uneven bars, rings and the trampolines.
6. Pyramid building
This phage of the program makes a picture (mural) out of body static positions.
Positions should be properly arranged and selected so that they formed the shape of the
pyramid.
Terms in gymnastic
Term Illustration Comments
ArabesqueSimilar to a scale, except with the chest
up
BridgeHolding the body in an arched-back
position
HandstandStanding on hands; entire body should
be in a straight line, from hands to toes
Hollow
Body
Position
Rounded back, shoulders at ears, tight
hips
Lounge Front leg bent, back leg straight
PikeLegs together, straight in front, body
bent forward
PirouetteA turn on a vertical axis, either on your
feet or in a handstand.
Pivot Turn
While standing in a stretched, relevé
position, with one foot in front of the
other, keeping both feet in place, turn
your entire body pivoting on your toes
PosséStanding on one foot, the other leg is
bent, toes on the knee
Relevé Standing on high toe
Scale
Balancing on one foot with the other
leg high in the air; chest is down; can
be done in a variety of positions
SplitPosition in which the legs are at 180
degrees
Straddle Both legs out to the side
StretchExtending the body as long as possible;
straight legs, straight arms
Tuck Legs bent, and bent at the hips; ideally
bringing your chin to your chest and
legs to your chest
Bars
Term Illustration Comments
Cast
Starting from a front support, bend at the hips to
generate energy to push your body above the
bar, and return to front support
Body movements
2 Types of Body Movement
Axial movement
Are movements done by a part or several part of the body in stationary place.
Locomotors movement
Are movements that bring the performer from one place to another.
1. The axial movement
a. Bend of flex - to move the body or part of the body around a wide axis
b. Lift, raise - to elevate a part of the body or the whole body to a desired level.
c. Stretch, extend, and straighten- to lengthen a part of the body.
d. Twist - to move a body around along the axis.
e. Circle - to move a body around the point.
f. Swing - to move continuously from one point to another.
g. Turn, Rotate - to change direction to move around an axis.
2. The Locomotor movements
The preparatory movement to locomotor movement
a. Point - to touch the floor with the toes, the knees well extended.
b. Step - to transfer weight from one foot to another.
c. Place - to touch the floor with the whole of the foot with slight body weight on it.
d. Spring - to push of the leg or legs on the air. It is combination of a bend on the
knees and leg stretch.
Basic position where more exercises begin
A. Standing Positions
1. Feet together or feet
parallel
The feet are feet together 910 each apart, toes pointing
forward. Arms at the side.
2. Stride Position
The feet are apart about 12 inches wide. The stride may be
wider than 12 inches. The weight of the body is on both
feet the trunk is at the center. Arms at side.
3. lungs Position
Bend one knee, the other leg is straight. Weight on both
feet. Hands on hips.
4. Half Knee Bend
Feet together, bend knees to about 45° angle; feet flat on
floor, body erect; hands on hips.
5. Full knees Bend or squat
position
The knees are fully bent; sit on the heels on the feet. The
weight of the body is on the balls of the feet.
B. Sitting Positions
1. Long Sitting Position
Sitting with legs extended forward, toes pointed; trunk
erect and hands on hips.
2. Hook sitting position
Sit on buttocks, bend knees close to the body. Trunk erect,
hands on shin of the legs.
3. Long Sitting rest position
Legs and toes are extended forward; hands at the rear on
the floor. Elbow and boy straight.
4. Tuck sitting position
Sit on buttocks, bend knees close to body; round back so
that the forehead and the knees are in contact; hold shin of
legs.
5. Side sitting position
Sitting on buttocks, spread legs apart, trunk erect, hands on
thighs
6. Stride sitting position
Sitting on buttocks, bend right or left leg in front; other leg
extended sideward, hands on knees.
7. Hurdle sitting position
Sitting on buttocks, bend right leg at the back about 90 °
angles, the other leg extended diagonally forward.
8. Heels Sit
From kneeling position, sit on the heels of the feet, toes
pointed. Hands on hips.
9. Cross Sitting
10. Frog sitting or Tailor sitting
C. kneeling Positions
1. Kneeling Position
Kneel on both knees, knees close together, body erect,
hands on hips.
2. Stride Kneeling Position
Kneeling on both knees, with knees apart.
3. Half Kneeling Position
Right or Left
Kneeling on right, left in half kneeling position in front.
Hands on hips.
4. Kneeling position one leg
Extended sideward kneeling on one leg the other extended
sideward, forward or backward.
D. lying position
1. Back or Supine Lying
Position
Lying on the back, the body is well extended, arms over
head, toes pointed
2. Front or prone lying
position
Body is well extended and in front of the body in contact
with the floor. Toes pointed arms forward.
3. Sideline Position
With the body well extended, the side of the body is in
contact with the floor, one hand on the floor over head and
other hand bent close to chest palms on floor. Toes pointed.
4. Hook Lying Position
In a back lying position, bend knees, with the feet close to
buttocks, feet flat on the floor. Arms over head.
5. Tuck Lying Position
Lying on the back, pull the knees close to the forehead,
hold shin of legs.
E. arms support position
1. Supine or Back Lying
Position
From a long lying position, lift the body with the straight
arms support. Body legs and toes well extended and one
straight line.
2. Prone or Front arm Support
From a front lying position lift the body to front arms
support; body legs and toes well extended and in one
straight line.
3. Side Arm Support
The body is supported with the right or left arm; the body is
well extended.
F. Four – Base Position
1. Dog Stand Position
From a kneeling position, place the hands on the floor,
elbows straight, toes pointed; the knees and hands are the
base of support.
2. Bridge Stand Positions
From a hook sitting lift the trunk; legs and arms in right
angle with the trunk.
G. Hand Positions
1. Hands on Waist
Place hands on waist, fingers pointing front thumbs
pointing backward.
2. Hands on Chest
Palms facing down, thumbs touching the chest, elbows in
line with the shoulders.
3. Hands on Shoulder
Bend arms from the elbow, finger tips touching the
shoulders, elbow in line with the shoulders, rib cage lifted.
4. Hands on Neck
Bend arms from the elbows, place hands behind the neck,
finger tips meeting each other, elbows in line with the
shoulders.
5. Hands on Hips
Place hands on hips, thumbs pointing back and fingers
pointing front.
H. Arm Position
1. Arms Forward
Raise arms forward with palms facing each other. Hands in
line with the shoulders, elbows slightly extended.
2. Arms Sideward
Raise arms sideward, palms facing down, finger tips in line
with the shoulder.
3. Arms Upward
Raise arms upward, palms facing each other, elbows
touching the ears, the whole arm in line with the body.
4. Arms Oblique Position
5. Arms in T – Position
Popular and Successful Gymnasts
Nadia Comaneci
Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.0 in the Olympics.
She did it at the 1976 Games, and then went on to score six more 10.0s and win three
gold medals. Comaneci was also the first Romanian gymnast to win the all-around title at
the Olympics, and is the youngest ever all-around champion. In 1979 Comaneci became
the first gymnast to win three all-around titles at the European Championships. At the
1980 Moscow Olympics, Comaneci won her second Olympic gold medal on beam, and
took home another gold on floor and a silver medal in the all-around.
Shawn Johnson
Shawn Johnson had one of the best rookie seasons ever recorded in 2007. In her
first year as a senior competitor, she won the all-around at the American Cup, Pan-
American Games, US National Championships and World Championships. Johnson did
some of the toughest skills being performed in gymnastics. She has competed a 2.5-
twisting Yurchenko, a standing full (back flip with a full twist) on beam, a tucked double-
double (two flips with two twists) on floor, and a double-twisting double layout off of
bars.
Nastia Liukin
Liukin’s father Valeri was on the Soviet team that won gold in 1988. He also won
a gold on the high bar and silvers in the all-around and parallel bars. Liukin’s mother
Anna was the 1987 world champion in clubs in rhythmic gymnastics. Valeri coaches
Nastia at the gym they own called WOGA, in Plano, Texas. Liukin is well known for her
balletic style and gorgeous long lines, but she does plenty of difficult tricks as well.
Liukin performs an Ono-half on uneven bars, a double front on floor, and a front aerial to
Arabesque on beam. She’s also attempted a quadruple twist on floor.
Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller dominated the early to mid '90s, winning seven Olympic medals
and nine World Championship medals, including two consecutive World all-around titles.
Miller's first World Championships appearance was in 1991, at age 14. She excelled,
helping the young American team (Kim Zmeskal, Kerri Strug, Betty Okino, Michelle
Campi, and Hilary Grivich) to a team silver – the highest US finish in history at that time.
Dominique Dawes
Dominique Dawes won all four events and the all-around at the 1994 US
Nationals. A three-time Olympian, Dawes represented the US in the 1992, 1996, and
2000 Games and won three Olympic medals. Dawes first competed at the US Nationals
as a junior elite in 1988. She placed an unremarkable 17th all-around, but improved to
3rd all-around in the junior division one year later.
Paul Hamm
Paul Hamm was the first US male gymnast to win a world all-around title (2003),
and also the first to win an Olympic all-around title (2004). He retired in 2004, but
returned to competition in 2007 with his eye on becoming Olympic All-Around
Champion in Beijing. In 2008, he captured both the Pacific Rim Championships and
American Cup all-around titles, but was unable to compete in Beijing due to injury. He
has retired from gymnastics, at least for now. Hamm has performed a layout double-
double on floor (two flips with two twists), three reverse hecht release moves in
combination on high bar, and a Tsukahara vault with 2.5 twists.
Chellsie Memmel
Chellsie Memmel became a two-time world champion in 2003, at age 15. A freak
foot injury kept her off the 2004 Olympic team, but a year later, Memmel won one of the
most coveted medals in gymnastics: the world all-around title. In 2006, she tore her
shoulder competing at the World Championships, but came back to earn a berth on the
2008 Olympic team.