Physical Education

GYMNASTICS

COURSE CONTENT:
I. Historical Development of Gymnastics
II. Phases of the Gymnastics Program
III. Gymnastics Terminology

I. Historical Development of Gymnastics

The sport of gymnastics, which derives its name from the ancient Greek word for
disciplinary exercises, combines physical skills such as body control, coordination,
dexterity, gracefulness, and strength with tumbling and acrobatic skills, all performed in an
artistic manner.

Gymnastics was introduced in early Greek civilization to facilitate bodily development

through a series of exercises that included running, jumping, swimming, throwing,
wrestling, and weight lifting.

The term gymnastics derives from the Greek word gymnos meaning naked
.
Gymnastics is one of the most popular Olympic sports. It combines grace, beauty,
athleticism, and strength in a thrilling display of competition that has captivated fans since
the debut of the modern Olympic Games.

Although the ancient Greeks (who invented the building called a gymnasium for them) and
Romans practiced gymnastics, the modern exercises date from the early 19th cent., when
Germany's Frederick Ludwig Jahn popularized what he called the Turnverein, an
organization of "turners."

In 1774, a Prussian, Johann Bernhard Basedow, included physical exercises with other
forms of instruction at his school in Dessau, Saxony. With this action began the
modernization of gymnastics, and also thrust the Germanic countries into the forefront in
the sport.

In the late 1700s, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn of Germany developed the side bar, the
horizontal bar, the parallel bars, the balance beam, and jumping events. He, more than
anyone else, is considered the "father of modern gymnastics."

Gymnastics flourished in Germany in the 1800s, while in Sweden a more graceful form of
the sport, stressing rhythmic movement, was developed by Guts Muth. The opening (1811)
of Jahn's school in Berlin, to promote his version of the sport, was followed by the formation
of many clubs in Europe and later in England.
 The sport was introduced to the United States by Dr. Dudley Allen Sargent, who taught
gymnastics in several U.S. universities about the time of the Civil War, and who is credited
with inventing more than 30 pieces of apparatus.
II. Phases of Gymnastics Program

Gymnastics is a complex sport. Both male and female gymnasts must have adequate
strength, power, flexibility, balance and artistry to successfully compete in every apparatus. To
accomplish their goals, gymnasts train diligently for years. The different phases of a
gymnastics program help gymnasts improve their skills, avoid injury and build up their physical
condition.

There are five phases in a gymnastics training program:

warming up
flexibility
strength training .
skill sets
Dance

Most of the phases may be done out of order, but the warm-up phase and flexibility
training should always begin each program.
The warm-up phase focuses on preparing the body for more specific and strenuous exercises.
This phase consists of cardio, such as jump rope and jogging, as well as isolated muscle rolls
from the neck down to the feet.

The flexibility phase encompasses all stretching exercises and is meant to prepare the
body for gymnastic routines. The strength training deals with building muscle and balance.

The skills training finally applies to a gymnast's main routine, such as the balance beam
or parallel bars. Dance is often incorporated into certain routines and is a healthy way to keep
the body in alignment.

III. Glossary of Terms

Aerial
A stunt in which the gymnast turns completely
over in the air without touching the apparatus
with his or her hands. Apparatus
One of the various pieces of equipment used in
All-Around gymnastics competitions.
A category of gymnastics that includes all of
the events. The all-around champion of an Arch Position
event earns the highest total score from all The body is curved backwards.
events combined.
Back-In, Full-Out
Amplitude A double salto with a full twist (the complete
The height or degree of execution of a twist performed during the second salto).
movement. In general, the higher the salto or
the more breathtaking the movement, the "Code Of Points"
better the amplitude and the score. The official FIG rulebook for judging
gymnastics skills.

Composition
The structure of a gymnastics routine. Each
individual movement or skill is a building block;
the arrangement of the moves in the exercise
is called the composition of the routine.
Deduction
Points taken off a gymnast's score for errors.
Most deductions are pre-determined, such as a
0.8 deduction for a fall from an apparatus or a
0.1 deduction for stepping out of bounds on the
floor exercise.
Dismount
To leave an apparatus at the end of a routine;
usually done with a difficult twist or salto.
Execution
The performance of a routine. Form, style, and
technique used to complete the skills constitute
the level of execution of an exercise. Bent
knees, poor toe point and an arched or loosely-
held body position are all examples of poor
execution.
FIG
The International Gymnastics Federation is
recognized by the International Olympic
Committee and is responsible for the
governance of the sport of gymnastics on the
international level.
Flexibility
The range of motion through which a body part
can move without feeling pain.
Flic-Flac
Also known as a flip-flop or back handspring.
Take off on one or two feet, jump backwards
onto hands and land on feet. This element is
used in a majority of tumbling passes on the
floor exercise. It's also used a great deal on the
balance beam.
Full-In, Back-Out
A double salto with a full twist (the complete
twist performed during the first salto).
Gaylord
On high bar, a front giant into a one-and-one-
half front salto over the bar to regrasp. First
done by U.S. gymnast Mitch Gaylord.
Giant
A swing in which the body is fully extended and
moving through a 360 degree rotation around
the bar.
Half-In, Half-Out
A double salto with a half twist on the first salto
and a half twist on the second salto.
Handspring
Springing off the hands by putting the weight
on the arms and using a strong push from the
shoulders; can be done either forward or
backward; usually a linking movement.
Kip
Movement from a position below the
equipment to a position above, usually on the
uneven bars, parallel bars or high bar.
Layout Position
A stretched body position.
Olympic Order
The international competition order that is
decided by the FIG. Olympic order for women
is vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor
exercise.
Men compete in the following order: floor
exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault,
parallel bars and horizontal bar.
Olympic order for rhythmic gymnasts is rope,
hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon.
Pike Position
Body bent forward more than 90 degrees at the
hips while the legs are kept straight.
Pirouettes
Changing direction or moving in a circular
motion by twisting in the handstand position.
Release
Leaving the bar to perform a move before re-
grasping it.
Round-Off
A dynamic turning movement, with a push-off
on one leg, while swinging the legs upward in a
fast cartwheel motion into a 90 degree turn.
The lead-off to a number of skills.
Routine
A combination of stunts displaying a full range
of skills on one apparatus.
Salto
Flip or somersault, with the feet coming up
over the head and the body rotating around the
axis of the waist.
Scissors
A combination requirement in a competitive
routine on the pommel horse, which combines
cuts and undercuts. It begins in a stride
support and ends in an opposite stride support.
Sequence
Two or more positions or skills which are
performed together creating a different skill or
activity.
"Stuck" Landing
Slang term used for when a gymnast executes
a landing with correct technique and no
movement of the feet.
Tuck
A position in which the knees and hips are bent
and drawn into the chest; the body is folded at
the waist.
Twist
Not to be confused with a salto, a twist occurs
when the gymnast rotates around the bodys
longitudinal axis, defined by the spine.
Virtuosity
The artistry, or the degree of rhythm and
harmony, displayed while a movement is
executed. In general, the more flowing and
seamless a series of skills appears to be, the
greater the virtuosity and the higher the score.
Yurchenko Vault
Round-off entry onto the board, flic-flac onto
the vaulting table and salto off of the
vaulting table. The gymnast may twist on
the way off.
References:

Strauss, M. (n.d.). A History of Gymnastics: From Ancient Greece to Modern Times. Retrieved March
12, 2017, from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/history-gymnastics-
ancient-greece-modern-times/

Lechtman, D. (n.d.). The Phases of the Gymnastic Program. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from
http://livehealthy.chron.com/phases-gymnastic-program-3558.html

Gymnastics 101: Glossary of Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2017, from
https://usagym.org/pages/gymnastics101/glossary.html